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Supporting young disabled people with careers advice

At NCFE, our core purpose is to promote and advance learning, ensuring no young person is left behind, regardless of the barriers in their way. With that in mind, we’ve recently launched our new go the distance initiative which takes focused action against unemployment in young people during these challenging times. We’re also keen to share third party resources and support which can help individuals at a time when many are feeling anxiety about the future.

This is why we’re supporting and promoting resources from Scope. Scope is an organisation which offers an independent careers advice service, called Career Pathways, to young disabled people aged 16-25. Their career advisors work with young people to set them on the path to success, supporting them to work out what they might like to do in their future career and the actions they can take to reach these goals.

This year, of course, is a year like no other. To support with this, Career Pathways aim to offer their service to as many as possible, working with schools and colleges to provide a flexible service.

“People are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment or difference”

The Social Model of Disability is a way of viewing the world, developed by disabled people. It says that people are disabled by barriers in society, not by their impairment or difference. Career Pathways follows this model; therefore, they don’t follow any set eligibility for who can access the service and don’t require a diagnosis. If a young person identifies as disabled; having a mental health, health condition or impairment, then they can access the service.

Digital sessions to suit a young person’s needs

The young people that Career Pathways support benefit from up to three digital sessions over the course of six months, each lasting up to one hour. The young person can select how they’d like the sessions to take place, either via webchat, phone or video call. The careers advisors use the time to focus on what the young person chooses, which could include:

  • exploring what someone would like to do in the future
  • CV / application writing skills
  • overcoming barriers and building confidence
  • rights around reasonable adjustments and access to work.

Support during uncertain times

Career Pathways is aware that this year is an uncertain time for young people and want to work closely with schools and colleges - whether that be through making young people aware of the services they offer or schools / colleges actually facilitating sessions during school hours.

They also offer additional services, such as useful webinars on ‘how to get a job with little or no experience’, and interactive group sessions covering ‘how to talk about disability in the workplace.’

You can contact Career Pathways on careerpathways@scope.org.uk if you think your learners would be interested in this service, or visit their website.

At NCFE, we’re determined to play our part, helping young people to train, find, stay and progress in work in spite of the current economic and labour market context. For more information on our go the distance initiative, visit our website.

 

Channel website: https://www.ncfe.org.uk/

Original article link: https://www.ncfe.org.uk/blog/supporting-young-disabled-people-with-careers-advice

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