7/3/2008 8:49:00 AM
Kate Hilpern; The Independent 3 July
So dire have job opportunities been for people with learning disabilities in recent decades that they're often referred to as the "three Fs" – food, filth and folding. But things are finally changing, and colleges – both specialist and FE – are at the forefront.For Orchard Hill College – a non-residential provision for people with the most complex needs – the first step was relocating. "A lot of specialist colleges are based in the middle of nowhere, but we deliberately moved to a high street in Wallington, Surrey, right opposite Sainsbury's and Boots, because we wanted to be in the heart of our community," says principal Caroline Allen. "The whole point was for everyone to see us popping into shops and cafés and doing work experience – which, by the way, is now easier because we're closer to more businesses. We wanted to prove that it doesn't matter if you don't have verbal communication – you can still work in a shop, for instance."Most of the learners will always need support and will never go into full-time paid employment, she admits. "But that doesn't mean they can't do part-time paid or voluntary work that interests them, and it doesn't mean they don't need strong links with the community."At first, some of the locals were a bit freaked out, she admits. "It's interesting because people now often tell us our students are 'not as disabled' as they thought. I think they probably are, but their preconceptions about how much people with disabilities can contribute were rather narrow."For many students, college winds up being a life-changing experience. When one student arrived in 2005, her school report read: "Her lack of social skills and her behaviour prevent her from being able to access work experience or college placements." But Orchard Hill wasn't having any of it, and having focused on building up her skills and responsibilities, as well as working on her communication difficulties, the student recently felt confident enough to attend an interview to work at a day centre.Independent
FE/HE/ Skills
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