An initiative by
Kilmarnock Trust
in Partnership with EPIT
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Kilmarnock is establishing an employment pathway programme that provides training and work experience for school leavers with intellectual disabilities. Partnering with the Ara Institute, they're creating NZQA-accredited training (Level 1 & 2) to help participants to transition smoothly into mainstream employment, if they choose to do so. Supporting employers to be ‘ready’ is also part of this work.
The current societal model for transitioning school leavers with disabilities into employment is disjointed and siloed. It is focused on ticking boxes and not incentivised to go beyond the boundaries that the service is measured and funded to deliver. There is limited focus on training and supporting businesses to be ‘employer ready’, which puts transition at risk of not being successful.
A systems thinking approach is used to understand and enable solutions to the inequities faced by school leavers with intellectual disabilities. This includes mapping the system, identifying feedback loops and leverage points, designing interventions and evaluating impact.
By providing a holistic and supportive approach to employment, the programme can help to level the playing field for individuals with intellectual disability or neurodiversity and give them the opportunity to succeed in the workplace.
Those with intellectual disabilities experience:
Since its formation in 1958, the Kilmarnock Trust has continued to uphold the values of their founder that all people are valuable and deserving of compassion, respect and dignity. These values continue to guide them as they work towards a future where all people, including those with intellectual disabilities, have equal access to meaningful employment and development opportunities.
The Kilmarnock Trust seeks to support people with intellectual disabilities to engage meaningfully with their communities, while supporting growth in their skill sets to facilitate purposeful employment. The Trust also works to raise and maintain awareness of issues faced by people with intellectual disabilities. They believe that with the right support people with intellectual disabilities can lead fulfilling self determined lives. They are committed to supporting initiatives that provide people with intellectual disabilities the key to unlock their potential.