Work: activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a result.
Employment: the state of having paid work
Workplace: a place where people work
I am a great believer that to have a sense of purpose, a reason to get up in the morning. to look forward to is something fundamental to our self esteem. Many people with dyspraxia/DCD sadly find paid employment rather elusive and may turn to the voluntary sector for that sense of purpose. I should say that I have two sons with Dyspraxia/DCD, one has a mild form and he is very successful both academically and professionally. My other son (now 25) has, like many other people a number of comorbid/coexisting conditions which muddy the waters for him considerably. His predominant diagnosis is dyspraxia/DCD (both motor and verbal), severe dyslexia and dyscalculia and some ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder). He is bright, enquiring, funny, sociable, very eager to please and physically fit. It would appear that he is not employable though which is to me very sad indeed. He does excellent work in the voluntary sector and like many others in the army of volunteers in this country he helps to keep alive the things that many of us enjoy and care about. The Voluntary sector can be a wonderful introduction into the world of work without many of the pressures. However the voluntary sector can have its pitfalls too.
Let me explain...
All of J's attempts have been made with thought and preparation. Potential team leaders were well informed and his difficulties have been disclosed and explained at the outset.
J's first foray into the voluntary world of work was in a charity shop selling predominantly clothes along with other items of bric a brac. This meant he spent much of his day trying to get items of clothing onto coathangers (everyone knows how to use a coat hanger surely!). Using a coat hanger requires pretty efficient motor and perceptual skills. He found it extremely difficult and even practice did not improve the battle he had with the clothes rails. More clothes ended up on the floor than on the rails. His dyscalculia made the till rather like an alien machine to him and placing crystal glasses onto a tall shelf was perhaps never a good idea. The shop managers answer was to leave him standing aimlessly in the shop where he became bored and disaffected, and he was offered less and less shifts and soon left. A very unsuccessful placement.
His second attempt was with the wonderful organisation which is Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. J loves dogs (we have three) and knows a bit about them.What could go wrong? Its 'just' dogs after all. On his first day he was placed in the food preparation area and asked to get the meals ready for 10 hungry dogs who had various dietary requirements, all of which were clearly listed on a white board. Lots of new vocabulary that J didn't understand, black writing on a white board that he could not read, lots of boxes of different foods to easily get mixed up. No one to show him. The staff welfare manager clocked the panic in his eyes and called me in to talk about the best way forward. It was decided that it would be better to keep J in one area where he could take his time and learn what was expected of him before moving onto other areas. She allowed him to shadow a member of the team and learn by doing which suits him well. ' Reasonable adjustments' in practice. He soon became quite adept at the tasks set and became a good team player. He often took the dogs out to socialise with people because he always has a warm and open smile, is personable, people like him and were drawn to talk to him about the organisation. The Charity played to his strengths.
His third and still current placement is in a local theatre. J LOVES the theatre and everything about it. His role is to meet and greet, tear tickets, show people to their seats and keep an eye out for any problems/situations that may arise.
His only 'employment' ie paid work, is working in a small but busy bistro bar one morning a week. He works in the kitchen although the very supportive manager wanted him to try front of house as he is very sociable, polite, funny and affable. However he was totally unable to cope with the quick fire questions and expectations of the clients and withdrew from that position quite quickly. He now peels veg (that took some practice and support) and washes dishes and loads the dishwasher. Things that to most people seem easy and common sense but that is not always the way for someone with a mix of complex hidden disabilities. He loves this work, not least because it pays him an actual wage, but because the team enjoy his company make him feel valued and support his needs. He would never let them down.
The point I am trying to make is that most jobs require quite an array of skills some of which have nothing to do with the actual occupation, but might be about navigation around a building, conversing about everyday things, thinking what needs to be done when there is seemingly nothing to do, using equipment and time management to name but a few. ALL very difficult things for those with dyspraxia/DCD and other difficulties.The world of work is complex and varied and there are a myriad of reasons why a job may not be successful.
Does this make getting permanent paid employment impossible?? For many people with dyspraxia/DCD it seems that it does, but I do not think that it needs to be that way. If people were able to shadow someone, have someone support them until what was asked was practised enough times to become automatic, someone who was really interested in enabling them to both survive and thrive, someone who would allow them to keep to a routine, to do what was asked of them (no more no less), to play to their strengths someone who really listened to what was needed and acted upon what they heard to enhance the probability of success a person with dyspraxia/DCd has every chance of becoming an excellent employee. I believe that people with the condition often have a great work ethic, along with loyalty, honesty, creativity, and good humour being right up at the top of their many positive characteristics. For people with dyspraxia it is often about 'tweaking' things, altering them enough to be workable, adjusting things and ensuring that other people are aware of why these adjustments need to be made.
For my son, with a severe degree of the condition along with the other things that increase the complexity of his particular profile, permanent paid employment seems a very unlikely prospect but he has found voluntary positions which he loves, which bring him into contact with others, which enable him to observe and learn, to be part of a team and to feel valued. I believe there is a real place for voluntary work and that as a society we need to see voluntary positions as the very worthy things that they are. lack of financial reward does not make something less important. However, even voluntary jobs need to be given consideration if they are to work to everyone's benefit.
For more information on Dyspraxia/DCD
The manager, spoke to both J and myself to ask how they could best meet his needs and he is never left to work alone, knows exactly what is expected of him and he carries out his tasks efficiently and politely. He feels very much part of the team and is highly regarded. He also works in another live music/event venue and looks after the clients with real passion and care. He also helps to market products by delivering flyers and via social media. J researches the acts that are to perform in his own time and so he is well informed and prepared for what to expect. He has a lanyard with his name and a position written on it (marketing assistant) and that fills him with great pride. His team leader says she is proud to have him on the team.
www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk
