“With the right support you can get there.”

At SeeAbility we believe everyone deserves the chance to have a career, not just a job. Our supported employment programme is here to make this happen, so that every person we support can realise their ambitions.

The journey to paid employment is varied - sometimes it begins with volunteering, a work placement, an apprenticeship or an internship. No matter how each person’s journey starts, our supported employment coaches work one-to-one with each person to break down any barriers and overcome any challenges they may be struggling with. Since its modest beginnings in early 2020, Ready, Willing and Able has grown at pace, developing into an effective supported employment programme, working every day to ensure that everyone with a disability can have a meaningful and long-lasting career.

Today the team are making a positive difference to over 60 people who have joined the journey to find work. So far nine people have successfully gained employment, with many more well on their way to finding work.

Joining the programme in May 2021, Beatrix worked alongside her Supported Employment Coach to support her to develop her skills and prepare for work. Working together, they then looked to find a job Beatrix would love to do, all the while working on her interview technique.

Just one month later, Beatrix secured an interview to work as a waitress at an award-winning restaurant in Bristol. In response to her cheery personality, passion for meeting new people and her hard work with her Ready, Willing and Able coach, Beatrix was offered the job, bringing her seven-year search to an end. Beatrix explains how it’s changed her life:

“It feels really, really good. It’s nice to earn actual money. By having a proper job, I feel a weight has lifted off my shoulders.”- Beatrix.

We have also developed a library of how-to guides to help people on their career pathways. Through these guides, people with disabilities can benefit from our expert advice, even if they are not directly supported by our supported employment coaches. Our Ready, Willing and Able team doesn’t just offer support to people with learning disabilities, autism and sight loss. They also support employers to understand the benefits of being inclusive and how to welcome people with disabilities into their workplace.

Over the past year, our team have built relationships with a wide variety of employers, who have all asked for our support as they develop disability inclusive workplaces. To ensure success for both the person and their new employer, we continue to provide support after they are hired. For example, we were able to support Emma to negotiate a new role that better matched her skills.

“It’s nice to be in a supportive workplace that know about my learning disability and can support me.”- Emma.

Emma was ready to work, but she just needed a little support to get there. Asked what advice she’d give to others, she says:

“Just keep going, it might take time to get the right job, but with the right support you can get there.”