At KDSP, we actively work towards matching skills of an individual with Down Syndrome to a potential employment opportunity. The Skills Department’s Employment Program aims towards achieving economic and social independence for individuals with Down Syndrome. We believe all Individuals with Down Syndrome can be employed if they want to work and with the right level of support.
Through this guide, we want to provide employers with necessary tools, information and techniques to further equip them for hiring and training people with Down Syndrome. Our misinformation regarding people with Down Syndrome creates barriers in the workforce.
There are several reasons employers should hire individuals with Down Syndrome or people with disabilities, one of them being they can do the job and the other being they are capable people. Moreover, due to their friendly and positive outlook, they can be a good addition to your organization’s culture.
Employers who have employed people with Down syndrome say this has (Down Syndrome Australia, 2018):
What does the Research say?
A survey conducted in the United States took data from five hundred and eleven respondents, the results of the research suggested that only 57% of the population of individuals with Down Syndrome had paid jobs.
How can you make your organization accessible for People with Down Syndrome?
Some of the job ideas for individuals with Down Syndrome include:
1. Greeter:
Company and restaurant greeters are a great role for people who have good social skills and enjoy interacting with people.
2. Warehouse/Factory Worker:
Many warehouse and factory workers are responsible for packaging and preparing products. Individuals with Down Syndrome who have good hand eye coordination can do these tasks as they are tend to be repetitive. To facilitate further, visual cues and instructions can be added instead of verbal or written form.
3. Peer Facilitator:
Peer facilitators roles (Assistant Teachers) work the best for people who have vast knowledge and can assist their managers through various tasks. Through training and supporting peers, these individuals can thrive at any organization.
4. Hospitality:
Many repetitive tasks related to hospitality can be great for individuals with Down Syndrome who enjoy doing them. Most restaurants, cafés and hotels have these tasks which include but is not limited to clearing away tables, taking orders and washing dishes.
5. Data Entry Worker:
Individuals with Down Syndrome who have computer literacy can become data entry workers. These people if given the right support can also learn advance computer skills during their on the job training.
6. Filer:
Many organizations keep archival and manual records of their documents. Since filing is a repetitive task and requires efficiency and accuracy, many individuals with Down Syndrome can do this task with proficiency.
Through the Skills Employment Program, KDSP’s students have been provided multiple internship opportunities in different organizational setups including Habib University and Engro Fertilizers Ltd. Some of these students are:
1. Danish Wali:
Danish’s internship at Habib University’s Teaching and Learning department was a great mixture of experiential learning and on the job training. At Habib,
Head over to see Danish’s internship Journey:
2. Zahra Muhammad:
Zahra interned at Engro Fertilizers’s Commercial department and was able to learn different tasks through her on the job training. During her internship, Zahra was paired with a mentor to help her learn different job tasks which included:
Engro’s team formed a milestones plan for Zahra to help her achieve the internship goal. According to Zahra’s manager, some of her strengths are flexibility, adaptability and enthusiasm. According to the organization through Zahra’s addition to the team, they were able to learn to be more inclusive of diverse groups.
3. Rahim Ghulam Haider:
Rahim interned at Engro Fertilizers and was always willing to go an extra mile for his work and do more tasks. Rahim is an independent individual who has an overall positive outlook towards life and loves interacting with new individuals. Rahim was paired with a colleague during his internship to help him learn different job tasks. At his internship, Rahim was responsible for:
With Rahim’s welcoming personality, he was able to impact his colleagues in an extremely positive way. To see Rahim’s cheerful personality at his internship, please see:
