For this blog, we will be using “neurodiversity” to describe:
- autism
- ADHD
- intellectual and developmental disorders
- Downs Syndrome
- and psychiatric disorders
You get paid for your work, you contribute to the community, and you can make friends.
People living with disabilities face barriers to employment, but more and more, they are breaking through.
Adults often ask children:
“What do you want to be when you grow up?
Children are encouraged to think about work at a very early age.
Neurodiverse children and children with disabilities are often not asked the same questions.
Sometimes, they are treated like children all throughout their lives.
This makes it hard for them to see themselves in the workplace.
They feel they’ll need more support than employers can provide.
Building friendships and feeling like part of the community.
Finding your purpose/meaning in life.
Choice, control, and financial independence.
Feeling accomplished and valued.
Neurodiverse people are very passionate.
People with disabilities deserve encouragement to strive for the same opportunities as everyone else.
One reason why employers hesitate to hire people with a disability is the time and cost of “extra support”.
But every employee has employment support.
Many support structures already exist in the workplace, regardless of ability.
Neurodiverse workers often fit into existing supports and don’t need new structures to be made.
Support can be offered in a number of ways:
Standing desks and custom chairs.
Hybrid working environments and access to windows.
Free use of accessibility accessories and technology.
Social opportunities to build relationships with coworkers.
One-on-one catch ups with supervisors to check in, open door policies to ask questions.
Written tasks instead of verbal, using simplified language.
Regular breaks throughout the day to stim, move and rest.
Encouraging feedback instead of criticism.
Walking someone through a task that they don’t understand.
Options for communicating feelings such as picture boards.
You can also get support from organisations such as OC Connections Enterprises.
We help you navigate your job search and find work that suits your needs and ambitions.
The more people with disabilities in the workforce, the more opportunities open up.
It shows everyone what people with disabilities are capable of.
The more we talk about disability in employment and encourage neurodiverse children to think about work, the sooner inclusivity becomes the norm.
And in time, diverse workplaces will just be workplaces.
12 February 2024
For this blog, we will be using “neurodiversity” to describe: – autism– ADHD– intellectual and developmental disorders– Downs Syndrome– and psychiatric disorders Employment is an important part of people’s lives. You get paid for your work, you contribute to the community, and you can make friends. People living with disabilities face barriers to employment, but […]
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30 January 2024
Meet Mark! He’s one of our newest residents in Supported Independent Living. Mark’s journey into independent living started a month before he moved in. Jane, General Manager of Community Living, and Delwin had several meetings with Mark and his family to make sure this was the right move for him. They also hosted familiarisation meetings […]
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22 January 2024
Although the reality of our declining environment has been known for many years, strong governmental, global action has only recently been pushed to urgency. As politicians debated whether climate change was real, local enterprises and grassroots organisations started looking for fresh opportunities to support their communities by reducing landfill and pollution. Grassroots organisations and social […]
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20 January 2024
An estimated 80% of autistic women are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Women and girls seeking autism diagnoses are speaking up and advocating for appropriate support. They’re re-writing what autism means to build a more inclusive, diverse community. Our understanding of autism and how it differs from person to person is growing, and the healthcare system needs […]
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20 January 2024
80% of autistic women don’t have an autism diagnosis. Women and girls are speaking out about diagnosis and how medical support would better their lives. They are changing what autism means, so we can build a more inclusive community where everyone gets the help they need. Autistic traits differ from person to person and we […]
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8 January 2024
Meet Jacqueline. Jacqueline has been working in the Document Management department at OC Connections Enterprises since September. She was referred to our enterprise by the newly founded employment provider, Mob Jobs – a support service for First Nations people searching for work around Victoria. Through a referral from a previous colleague, Anita from Mob Jobs […]
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10 December 2023
Basil has been working for OC Connections Enterprises for 26 years. Just before COVID-19, he was made Team Leader in the Skin Packing department – a role he’s proud of. His life-partner, Christine, has been an OCCE employee for 36 years, and recently they celebrated their wedding anniversary at the Sovereign Hill Hotel in Ballarat. […]
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17 November 2023
The opening night of the SASI Art Show was a heartwarming, resounding success. Staff from across OC Connections came to support our participants in exhibiting their beautiful works of art to the community, including OC’s CEO Therese Desmond. I can only urge you to take a drive to Cube 37 in Frankston and see the […]
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8 November 2023
How do I engage in advocacy with a disability? People with disabilities make up for 15% of the world’s population. We are a diverse community, no one person is the same. People with disabilities are passionate about many things, like making the world better for people living with disabilities. But that’s not all we […]
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OC Connections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional owners of this nation. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past, present and future.
OC Connections respects Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their contribution to our society.
