Pobal-funded, the Ability Programme project is a three-year long employability and job-seeking skills programme for people with a physical disability aged 18–29.
The ethos of The Ability Programme is underpinned by the person-centred model of working. The person-centred model is a way of planning and discovering how a person wants to live their life and what is required to make that possible. It has developed from the social model of disability and a strengths-based approach with a background in the actions of normalisation and independent living.
The primary aim of the IWA’s Ability Programme is to fill a gap in service provision supporting young people with a physical disability to develop the skills to become independent job seekers or employees. This will, in turn, enhance their independence and support greater engagement within their local community and labour market.
As with most workers in Ireland, the current Covid-19 crisis has required the Ability team to adapt its daily procedures. All four members of the team are working from home as per government guidelines. Though we cannot meet clients face-to-face, the coaches are still supporting people remotely using the different technologies available to them. The three job coaches describe the supports they offer below:
Anne Hopkins Eastern Coach: I have adapted very well to the COVID-19 crisis and luckily this can be facilitated by my manager and my organisation. I am checking in regularly with clients to keep them motivated via phone, email, text and Skype and am continuing to support them remotely in their progression. All clients require different supports and it is great to have the tools to be able to reach out to them to ensure our routine is kept the same regardless of a physical meeting. I think this is important, as even if restrictions are lifted, my clients who are in the vulnerable bracket might not be comfortable with a physical meeting any time soon, so in this way we do not lose any time working on their progression and goals.
Joanne Dawson Southern Coach: I have been continuing to support all my clients by regularly checking in with them and doing remote sessions with via Skype or phone when requested. I have also been supporting clients by assisting them with CV’s, online courses, etc. Covid-19 certainly has not really affected me doing my job, I have just adapted to it. All my clients are very happy for the ongoing check in and continued support that’s available.
Sarah Chalke Western Coach: The support I offer to clients is now only available remotely.
How I support Ability Participants without meeting them face-to-face:
- I contact participants remotely through various mediums – telephone / text messages / emails / postal letters.
- I offer support with CV design, preparation and alteration (usually by telephone we work together using the computer to view the same on-screen document).
- I sign-post and support participants to sign-up and engage in on-line educational courses / apply for available job opportunities / make them aware of relevant virtual social events.
- I support participants where relevant to engage in interview preparation.
- It is vital to the Ability Team that clients still feel supported through this unprecedented and uncertain time. We feel very lucky that we can still be a source of support for all our participants, be that in a slightly different way to usual.
