Students with disability ready to tackle the workforce

By Jack Morgan

As students with a disability near graduation, it can be an exciting but daunting time as many face the prospect of finding work.

It’s hoped the International Day of People with Disability will bring change to workplaces and more support for employees with a disability.

Malachy Browne has cerebral palsy and is non-verbal. He uses an electronic iPad-like device to communicate by using eye-movement and his head to select words.

The final year Warragul Specialist School student works at Glen Waverley police station one day a week, where he teaches police officers how to chat with people who use augmentative and alternative communication.

His work helps police communicate with people who have a disability, which can be incredibly important in emergencies.

“What if I need the cops one day” Malachy said.

Through his device, Malachy can communicate like anyone else, it just takes him a bit longer to do so.

Malachy described the job as “fun” and will continue in the same role next year.

“My [cerebral palsy] won’t stop me,” he said.

Warragul Specialist School works with students 4-5 years prior to graduation, and gives them practical experience through avenues such as Baw Baw Skills and TAFE.

As graduates leave school, there will be a range of possibilities for work and community involvement.

“It’s different for every student,” Principal Matt Hyde said.

Hyde said it was important for employers to implement support for people with a disability.

“For someone with an intellectual disability, it’s often just getting that little bit of extra time, it’s as simple as that,” he said.

18-year-old student Jack Tobin will finish school next week, he’s not really nervous about graduating.

“It is what it is, there’s nothing you can really do about it.

“I guess you just have to prepare yourself for what’s best,” Jack said.

Jack has a passion for carpentry and has secured a job with Perceus, where he mows lawns, cuts down trees, or builds things.

“With carpentry the world is your oyster, you can build a house, you can build a garage, the only boundary is your imagination,” he said.

Jack has a learning disability and autism, which means it takes longer to learn skills. But once he has learnt a skill, he’s more than capable of finishing a job.

“I get the job done, because I take a little more extra time I guess you could say there’s a little bit of my personality in there,” he said.

The Principal said the International Day of People with Disability can spearhead awareness throughout the whole year.

“The day permeates into our understanding in our normal practice, we need to change the communities’ attitude on a day-to-day basis for things to really change,” Hyde said.