Employment
People with disability have the right to work in an environment that is open, inclusive and accessible.
(United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 27).
DDWA believe that one of the best ways to obtain employment is through creating a job (known as job customisation) where the employer matches the skills of the person undertaking the work and the needs of the workplace.
The information below is designed to help people understand employment options, support available to them and steps they can take to improve their likelihood of being employed.
Resources
Kick Starting Your Child's Career Journey
Online Learning
Job Customisation
Job Customisation is an approach to finding employment that does not rely on advertised vacancies or a competitive application process. Instead, the employer is invited to focus on tasks that need to be done, across their whole business, to create new customised opportunities which are a match for the skills, motivation, interests and potential of your son or daughter with intellectual disability. This course introduces families to the process behind Job Customisation and covers 5 steps to consider.
Jessica at work at the DDWA office
Plain English job description
An example of a plain English job description for a customised Office Assistant position.
DDWA Services
Information, Guidance and Support
We provide information to people with disability, family members, carers and supporters, across Life Transition Stages to help you to Self-Advocate and Navigate Systems including:
- getting a diagnosis
- navigating disability services and the NDIS
- starting school and negotiating the school journey
- making friends
- turning 18
- getting a job
- staying safe and healthy
- starting a relationship
We also provide information and guidance to support you to self-advocate in any area where laws have an impact on the person with disability's life, such as information about State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) in respect to Guardianship and Administration matters, Child Protection, Enduring Power of Attorney, Advanced Health Directives and preparing for illness/death of a parent.
For a full list of the areas we cover, see our Focus Areas Page Here.
Cost – This is a free service.
Side by Side Peer Community
Side by Side began as a project in 2012 for families experiencing behaviour which could be seen as challenging. The project connects families experiencing challenging behaviour with other families though a supported peer group, an active online community and in person events. Side by Side is a safe place to receive support and help each other.
For information and how to join, contact:
Bronwyn Pike: bronwyn.pike@ddwa.org.au, or
Maggie Visser: maggie.visser@ddwa.org.au
Website: ddwa.org.au/services/family-peer-support-side-by-side
Independent Support Coordination
DDWA are a registered NDIS provider for support coordination.
We can support you to fully understand and implement the funded supports and services in your NDIS plan.
This service is currently at FULL CAPACITY.
More Information
Report on the Inaugural Disability Assembly Western Australia (DAWA) Job Summit held on 29 July 2022
This is a short report of our ideas from the jobs summit.
ddwa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Report-on-the-Inaugural-Dsiability-Assembly-WA-2022-.pdf
Everyone can work
The Everyone Can Work website helps people with intellectual disability to find Open employment. This is where both people with and without disability work together in regular jobs.
Ticket to Work – this website site has specific information relating to school to work transition for secondary students with disability.
