ABLING YOUR COMPANY

This is the post that should have been done on Monday 13th August.

So you see, the opportunities abound - here is one that w0uld be great for both the person with the disability and for the prospective employer (score cards and things not to mention common decency!)

Hope you are all taking note!

'Abling' your company

This is a great time to give an opportunity to disabled people needing experience

Workplace staff23 July 2007 at 06h00

The first group of learners on a pilot learnership for the physically disabled at Boston City Campus and Business College are ready to move from the classroom to the workplace. According to Yolanda Roelofse, project manager at Boston, the learners have reached the stage where they need exposure to the real world of work before they can continue with their theoretical training.

"Theoretical learning has to be balanced with experiential learning," she says. "Our learners are not only ready but eager to spend some time in a work environment. "The workplace training, however, has to be relevant to the qualification so the learners can complete their portfolios of evidence and receive their NQF level 4 certificate in Business Administration.

The learnership, which falls under the auspices of the Services Seta, is designed for those who wish to become involved in the administrative functions of an organisation.The core component of the qualification offers learners skills in areas such as management of records, business writing, problem solving, project and team work, comprehension of written and verbal texts and business policies and procedures.

Qualifying learners can follow a career in a variety of fields including financial administration and data capturing among others. "Our learners have taken their physical limitations in their stride and have all done well so far," says Roelofse. "We hope that employers can, in a similar manner and with the same level of commitment, overcome their reservations about employing people with physical disabilities." Roelofse believes the benefits of employing a physically disabled person outweigh common reservations. "The national emphasis is on employing the disabled," she says. "Unfortunately, the usual regard that is given to matching people's personality traits and/or skills with the needs of the company is often discarded; this practice is encouraged by the points given to companies calculating their scores on the equal employment opportunity or black economic empowerment score cards." However Roelofse maintains that this needn't be the case. "This learnership provides companies with the ideal opportunity for them to find out what it entails to have a disabled person on their staff; someone whose traits and skills match the needs of the company.

"Should it work well for both parties, the employer can opt to employ the learner full time once he or she completes the qualification. There is however no obligation for the employer to do so." All the learners - there are nine studying in Cape Town and 55 in Joburg - have disabilities that do not prevent them from contributing meaningfully to a business. Some are visually impaired; others are amputees and wheelchair bound. Though they don't have work experience, some of the learners have studied previously and boast degrees in law and psychology.

"Before embarking on this learnership, the learners were evaluated by an occupational therapist," Roelofse explains. "There is a report on each of the learners stating what their special needs are, what assistive devices are required and so forth. Employers who take on learners will know from the outset what the limitations and/or requirements are." She points out that it is easier to accommodate someone with physical disabilities than is often perceived. "At Boston we only needed to make minor alterations to our campus," Roelofse adds. "Besides, the Seta has allocated a budget to assist employers and other institutions to provide for special needs where applicable. "

Both Boston and the Services Seta will provide assessment tools and other relevant assistance to employers who offer workplace training to these disabled learners."The first group of learners will be available from August while the second group will be ready for their experiential training from October.

For more information or to apply to temporarily employ a learner, please contact Yolanda Roelofse at 011-485-2838 or e-mail Yolanda@ boston.co.za