Leroy Binns
Benefits for employers
Sometimes a person with a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
may be able to do the job better than a person without a learning disability, provided that they have the right support and reasonable adjustments that they may need to do the job.
Employers are entitled to funding to help with employing someone with a learning disability as well as funding towards the equipment that they may need, or for help to travel to and from work.
There is also a job coaching
service
A service gives people what they need, like healthcare services that help people when they are ill, and support services that give people support.
where a coach will help the employee with a learning disability learn the skills of the job they have to do.
Employing a person with a learning disability means they are less likely to have time off sick which will benefit the employer.
My experiences
I have worked for Mencap in the post room for over 19 years. I have also been working in the Campaigns and
Activism
Activism is taking action to make change. Going to a campaign event with others, writing letters and speaking up are all ways to take action.
Team since 2006 which I really enjoy. I get support from the Lifestyles Team to help me with my different responsibilities in these roles.
People with and without a learning disability can work together well and make a great team. I know this first hand because I have done this for over 30 years now and am still friends with my colleagues.
I think that employing people with a learning disability is an excellent step in ensuring that there is no
discrimination
Discrimination is when someone is treated differently (usually in a bad way) because of things like their disability or their
religion
Religion is to do with the things you believe about the world. For example you may believe there is a god or something else. Examples of religions are Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism.
.
in the workplace.
Getting into work
There are apprenticeship opportunities for people with a learning disability which lasts for a year/a year and a half with support from a job coach. The apprenticeship is for people over the age of 16 or over and pays £5.30 per hour.
Mencap also runs another programme called Interns and Outcomes which support people with a learning disability aged between 16 to 24 to make steps into
employment
Employment means having a job.
, helping them to get ahead as they move in to adulthood.