WCMT-Melissa-Kelly

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SECTION 3 - Resulting Action Great Expectations Project – Employers The evidence is visible – work is good for health and wellbeing. Returning to work or commencing new employment should be a societal expectation post-injury. Great Expectations is a new initiative from Kaleidoscope to engage employers. The project aims to transform attitudes by working with organisations that recognise the opportunity hiring a person with a disability presents. We will work to support them, when they ask what is possible when minds are open, accessibility is embraced and they hire a person with a SCI. The Great Expectations Project encompasses the following: 1. Educational seminars for employers 2. Formulating a business advisory committee 3. Customised organisational information on-site 4. Consumer availability 5. Monthly profiling of patients/quarterly newsletter One in five New Zealanders has a disability, making up 20% of our population, many of whom offer a unique set of skills and perspectives that bring value to our organisations, communities and economy; when the opportunity presents. Two things that we know for sure at Kaleidoscope are that disabled people make great employees and that an accessible workplace is safer for everyone. Of the spinal population we work with, most people require little or no extra support of investment to fulfil their role. Kaleidoscope has increased the employment rate in SCI from 12.3% of spinal cord injured patients being employed to 60%, our message to employers is ‘Why not enhance your profile, increase the statistics and be part of this!’ Education and awareness will be made available to employers either within their organisation or, as part of a wider community group, in a non-judgmental environment. A benefit being that, employers will have access, to an untapped labour market which is willing, keen and able; skills utilisation. Furthermore, employers will gain confidence to employ someone with a SCI, having the opportunity to ask questions. Previous or successful past patients will be available to enable employers to hear real life stories and have a discussion following. <strong>WCMT</strong> Research Fellowship 29
The topics covered will be: • Basic SCI 101 • Why it is beneficial to employ people with disabilities (SCI) - an accessible workplace is safer for all staff and having disabled staff means more customers, better served • Frequently asked questions of an employer • Accessibility of a workplace • Invited consumer to share their experience and answer any questions Figure 1. Benefits to a company when employing a person with a disability As a result of learning about the BAC that Rusk Hospital developed, Kaleidoscope will also seek to formulate our own committee. We have created an Employer Network database and will seek out potential industry leaders to become members of the BAC, as well as interested patient employers, as time progresses. <strong>WCMT</strong> Research Fellowship 30
Page 1 and 2: Specialist Spinal Vocational Rehabi
Page 3 and 4: Contents Executive summary Page 3 I
Page 5 and 6: 3. Ability Awareness Learning Exper
Page 7 and 8: is specialist spinal vocational reh
Page 9 and 10: Four specialist centres were select
Page 11 and 12: with change and uncertainty; the ne
Page 13 and 14: Work Readiness and Job Skills Train
Page 15 and 16: such as buses and trains. The servi
Page 17 and 18: the result of a water incident and
Page 19 and 20: physical and social aspects such as
Page 21 and 22: o It is so important to reintegrate
Page 23 and 24: Stoke Mandeville’s Approach to Re
Page 25 and 26: Following targeted support, the att
Page 27 and 28: for patients, including those not r
Page 29: the open cafeteria area, in which p
Page 33 and 34: • Informal talks with NZST staff
Page 35 and 36: My fellowship will contribute to th
Page 37 and 38: Appendix 1. Model Explanation of
Page 39 and 40: Whilst Kaleidoscope’s core role i
Page 41 and 42: Appendix 4. Winston Churchill Memor
Page 43 and 44: Friday, May 16 Time Appointment Whe

WCMT-Melissa-Kelly

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