Can Do Training

Focus on the ABILITY, not the DIS

What if we stopped focusing so much on what a young person can't do?

We believe we need to change the conversation.

We need to focus more on the ABILITY and less on the DIS.

Every person has abilities.

Every person also has things they find difficult.

That is not unique only to people with disability.

We all have strengths and weaknesses. We all learn differently. We all have things we are good at and things that require more time, practice, support or encouragement.

So why do we sometimes look at a young person with an intellectual disability or additional learning needs and immediately focus on what they can't do?

What if we asked a different question?

“What CAN this young person do?”

And then:

“What could they do if we gave them the right opportunity, environment, encouragement and time to learn?”

This is something we see regularly at Can Do Training.

Our students are capable of learning practical skills. They CAN communicate. They CAN develop confidence. They CAN learn workplace expectations. They CAN manage money. They CAN develop computer skills. They CAN participate in teams. They CAN learn to make telephone calls. They CAN prepare for interviews. They CAN volunteer. They CAN contribute.

They CAN and They WANT to!!!!!! Let's enable them to achieve this.

These skills don't necessarily appear overnight.

They CAN be taught, practised, reinforced and experienced.

Recently, an Occupational Therapist visited one of our sessions and reflected on the environment we had created. One observation particularly resonated with me:

“We all have capacity.”

She also observed that, with the right support, environment and encouragement, young people with disabilities can “thrive, learn, and participate meaningfully in their communities.”

That is exactly what WE believe at Can Do Training.

Australian evidence tells us there is still a significant employment gap. In 2022, 56% of Australians aged 15–64 with disability were employed compared with 82% of people without disability.

Statistics don't tell us what an individual young person is capable of.

People do.

Spend time with them.

Talk to them.

Watch them learn.

See what happens when they are provided with the opportunity to succeed.

Perhaps the question we need to ask is not:

“What is their disability?”

but:

“What is their ability?”

When we focus on ability, we start seeing possibilities.

Possibilities are where growth begins.

Reflection:

What might change for a young person if the people around them spent more time identifying what they can do rather than documenting what they cannot?

Can Do thought:

We all have an ABILITY. We all have a DIS. Let's make sure the DIS doesn't become the first thing we see.

A bit of surprise to see myself in the Toastmasters magazine today. This was a photo taken on the final evening of the recent convention in Vancouver.

Having a ball at the Toastmasters annual convention.

What a wonderful week.

Professional development, new connections and like minded fellow Sandgropers enjoying everything that Vancouver, Toastmasters and people can bring.

This ticks all the boxes.

My cup is overflowing.

Focus on the ABILITY, not the DIS

What if we stopped focusing so much on what a young person can't do?

We believe we need to change the conversation.

We need to focus more on the ABILITY and less on the DIS.

Every person has abilities.

Every person also has things they find difficult.

That is not unique only to people with disability.

We all have strengths and weaknesses. We all learn differently. We all have things we are good at and things that require more time, practice, support or encouragement.

So why do we sometimes look at a young person with an intellectual disability or additional learning needs and immediately focus on what they can't do?

What if we asked a different question?

“What CAN this young person do?”

And then:

“What could they do if we gave them the right opportunity, environment, encouragement and time to learn?”

This is something we see regularly at Can Do Training.

Our students are capable of learning practical skills. They CAN communicate. They CAN develop confidence. They CAN learn workplace expectations. They CAN manage money. They CAN develop computer skills. They CAN participate in teams. They CAN learn to make telephone calls. They CAN prepare for interviews. They CAN volunteer. They CAN contribute.

They CAN and They WANT to!!!!!! Let's enable them to achieve this.

These skills don't necessarily appear overnight.

They CAN be taught, practised, reinforced and experienced.

Recently, an Occupational Therapist visited one of our sessions and reflected on the environment we had created. One observation particularly resonated with me:

“We all have capacity.”

She also observed that, with the right support, environment and encouragement, young people with disabilities can “thrive, learn, and participate meaningfully in their communities.”

That is exactly what WE believe at Can Do Training.

Australian evidence tells us there is still a significant employment gap. In 2022, 56% of Australians aged 15–64 with disability were employed compared with 82% of people without disability.

Statistics don't tell us what an individual young person is capable of.

People do.

Spend time with them.

Talk to them.

Watch them learn.

See what happens when they are provided with the opportunity to succeed.

Perhaps the question we need to ask is not:

“What is their disability?”

instead:

“What is their ability?”

When we focus on ability, we start seeing possibilities.

Possibilities are where growth begins.

Reflection:

What might change for a young person if the people around them spent more time identifying what they can do rather than documenting what they cannot?

Can Do thought:

We all have an ABILITY. We all have a DIS. Let's make sure the DIS doesn't become the first thing we see.

This week we started our new Your Money Matters series of programs.

We know we are on the money whenever our support workers ask if they can also participate and contribute to the meaningful programs we deliver.

If you would like to know more about our programs for work, life, confidence, independence, employability feel most welcome to contact us at [email protected]

For more information about our programs, view our Courses tab on our website www.candotraining.com.au

This is a MUST read. What is the TRUE COST to students mental health and well being? Where does this lead them if it is NOT addressed?

We MUST do something more about this.

Where there is a will, there is a way.

It's all about collaboration, communication and creating opportunities.

Whose in?

The report also found that around one-quarter of the disengaged students would never end up in formal employment.

FULL STORY 👉 https://nine.social/19fU

Do you know or work with people with a disability, challenges and barriers to learning who are in or about to leave high school?

Did you know that school leavers today will have at least 8 career changes and as many as 18 jobs in the 40+ years they spend in the workplace? (That is not considering Ai and the additional challenges and barriers faced by people with a disability, challenges and barriers).

Would you like to know more about how we can work together to help make their transition from high school smoother?

At Can Do Training, we provide a one-to-one assessment developed by Sydney-based psychologists. Our assessments enable us to work with our clients to establish the jobs that “naturally fit their personality and abilities”.

Having established the outcomes, we can identify the existing gaps the client may have and tailor a training plan to enable our clients to fill that gap.

If you would like to know more about this opportunity, feel most welcome to contact us at [email protected]

www.candotraining.com.au

This week I attended the two day Spectrum Space Symposium that was held at the The University Club Of Western Australia.

It was a superbly organised and very well attended event. The speakers were incredible and I left having learned so much more about the amazing work that is happening out there for people of all neurodiversity landscapes from lived experience, autistic and disabled voices and the collective community which includes speakers of all abilities with a range of barriers to families, educators, researchers and professionals.

I left feeling so much hope for our future and I firmly believe that as this community of diversity is constantly growing, shifting and evolving, so must we. With a little bit of knowledge and creativity, I believe we can lead the way here in WA.

The exhibit sponsors for this event included Lotterywest and the Department of Communities WA. Sponsors included Amaze, Curtin University, Amherst Psychology, Positive Partnerships and Autism CRC

Together we can.