Work Placements
Work Experience and Supported Work Learning Placements are great ways to learn and practice the skills you need to secure future employment and transition into life out of school. Work placements bridge the gap between education and employment, and you gain practical, industry-specific skills and valuable insights into career paths and start building professional networks.
You can practice your communication, teamwork, problem-solving and time-management skills in a real-world setting, and gain a better understanding of yourself, your needs and preferences. This is important because knowing what you need to feel safe and do your best at work makes it easier to identify the support you need, understand your rights and advocate for yourself.
As someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, you may have additional needs and challenges at work. You need to plan for these challenges, having strategies in place to overcome challenges and work safely and to the best of your ability. You also need to be able to talk to employers about your needs, adjustments you need and how to best support you at work. Self-awareness and the ability to advocate for yourself are crucial skills for a successful transition from school to work and into adult life.
Planning for success
My Deaf Advocacy Plan for Work is a workbook resource designed to help you identify your needs, plan for challenges and talk to employers. You can download a copy here.
Steps for Success
Supporting successful transitions requires supporting students to:
- Knowing yourself.
- Developing self-confidence, self-advocacy and resilience.
- Exploring opportunities.
- Making stransitions and changes and understanding how changes affect you.
- Making decsions and setting goals
- Taking steps to achiever goals
- Asking for support and help when needed.
Start Early!
Planning for work experience should begin early, particularly if you require workplace adjustments to enable you to work safely and to the best of your ability.
Work experience placements that are more deaf-friendly or disability-inclusive are often in high demand and can fill quickly.
Many work experience opportunities offered annually by employers have fixed closing dates for applications, which may fall early in the year or even in the year before the placement takes place. These placement opportunities also typically have set dates for completion, making early research and planning essential.
Plan for hesitation, challenges and self-advocacy
While employers can’t discriminate against you because you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may encounter employer hesitation, often related to communication needs or workplace safety. You should be prepared to discuss deaf awareness, explain your individual communication needs, and negotiate any workplace adjustments with the employer before commencing a placement.
