Ohhhhh, this is exciting .....

[pearl]

I've just read soooo many happy positive posts so thought I'd add one.

 

Got an email from Apprenticeship Lady today, asking us if we were ok with this:

 

Our City Council are currently working with a project called Valued in Public about promoting equal employment opportunities in the workplace for people with disabilities. They encourage work placements and permanent jobs. They are holding an event on the 28th February to encourage other employers to become involved. They have spoken to JP today about the possibility of him being a positive role model for our City Council!

 

They want to ask him to write down how he was feeling throughout the recruitment process and how he found the transition from college to a working environment. They may also be asking him to be filmed at work

 

They would also like us to write something about how we felt as parents and how we supported Jack throughout the process of starting work? The HR Advisor who specialises in Equal Opportunities would read it out. JP's manager would also speak at the event.

 

I am fizzing with excitement about this, not because of the event per se, but its just more confirmation that he's doing just fine & I dont need to worry. If he & they were struggling, there's no way they would be encouraging this. And it all bodes well for permanent employment at the end of his apprenticeship

Edited January 25, 2008 by pearl

[bid]

Fantastic news, Pearl

 

Bid

[llisa32]

ooooooo it is exciting!!!

 

Fantastic news and I am sooo chuffed for all of you!!

 

You must be doing the proud mum dance round the sofa!

[Mumble]

Great - well done JP :clap:

 

I'll be getting his autograph at the Greenwich Meet if he's going to be a film star

[pearl]

ooooooo it is exciting!!!

 

Fantastic news and I am sooo chuffed for all of you!!

 

You must be doing the proud mum dance round the sofa!

 

Yup like this. And I'm sober (but for how long?)

[pearl]

Great - well done JP :clap:

 

I'll be getting his autograph at the Greenwich Meet if he's going to be a film star

 

I'll get his people to talk to your people

[oxgirl]

Wow, that's fabulous news, Pearl. How fantastic it must make JP feel to know that he's a role model! You must be bursting with pride. <'>

 

~ Mel ~

[Nic m]

Fantastic news, pearl

nic

[Karen A]

Great news for you and JP.Karen.

[pearl]

Thanks everyone, its been a really good week all round, & so nice to hear good news from other folk too

[Kathryn]

Really exciting news Pearl, and well done JP!

 

K x

[Bagpuss]

Fab news Pearl

[Clare63]

How exciting, that's great news Pearl and well done JP

 

Clare x x x

[mossgrove]

:clap:

 

Simon

[ASue67]

You must be bursting with pride!!!!! Well done you and JP

[pearl]

Thanks. I couldnt sleep last night, so much whizzing round my head.

When I think of the violent little four year old he was ...

Its like a miracle.

Theres a part of me still waiting for it to go wrong ... and it might ... but I'm learning, slowly, to live in the moment, & not spoil the good times by worrying too much about the future.

[Bard]

Matthew 6:34

 

or Blake if you prefer

 

He who binds to himself a joy

Does the winged life destroy;

But he who kisses the joy as it flies

Lives in eternity's sun rise.

 

 

Well done all of the Pearl family, enjoy the moment.

[pearl]

Thanks Bard, that was lovely. <'>

[ellisisamazing]

Pearl!!! <'>

 

Brilliant and inspiring....as usual!

 

Very, very nice!

[pearl]

Thanks Lisa! I hope Ellis's head is better now <'>

[KarenT]

Wow, that's fabulous. Makes all the years of hard effort worthwhile. Huge pat on the back to the whole pearl family!

 

Karen

x

[soraya]

How wonderfull, what a great insperation you both are to all of us wondering "what happens after school" Well done to JP

[pearl]

I'm still pinching myself. Have emailed apprenticeship lady to say yes. My only reservation on googling the "valuing people" site was that it was about employing peeps with a learning difficulty. She made it clear in her email that she understood AS wasnt a learning difficulty, so I said, provided that was made clear, then go ahead. We've offered to take part in the day as well, if it isnt a parent free zone.

Woop woop!

[pearl]

UPDATE:

Apprenticeship lady she say yes

We've now been invited along as well to say our bit.

Well, mr pearl will as I'd be a heap of jelly.

Woop woop!

[Frangipani]

 

 

Frang <'>

[Kathryn]

 

Shall we all come along and heckle?

 

K x

[barefoot wend]

What exciting news! Hope all goes well. Be sure to post any links after the event.

[pearl]

UPDATE:

 

Well, it was today, & it was FAB!!!!!

 

There were about 50 delegates there from all over the NW, it was wonderful to be part of such a positive initiative.

All the intros, facts & figures were given out etc. So far so dull.

 

Then ... Mr p took the stage to talk as a parent.

Oh my .... he brought the room to life, he is sooo good at that sort of thing

He gave a brief biog of JP, told some funny stories from his childhood, & described how firstly, education and then, city council, were helping JP reach his potential. He finished by reading out JP's interview, as he was too nervous to be interviewed in person, though he came along to the event.

 

Then JP's supervisor talked from the employers pov. That was fascinating as its the first we've heard of how they adjusted things to help JP. One thing she majored on was clear communication, backing up verbal instructions with written, & providing him with a map if he had to go an errand to an office somewhere in the city. She was full of praise for him, said he was one of the most accurate photocopiers they'd ever employed (stuff comes back collated & stapled ) and said if any complicated calculations were needed, like converting hectares to acres, he was the first person they'd ask. JP meanwhile was sitting with a very pink face, not quite knowing how to react to all this praise

 

Then we all from city council took questions from the audience. I was asked about our decision to disclose, from someone who had employed an adult aspie who hadnt disclosed. It had only come to light after the employee had left & she was full of regret that they'd not known & so found it hard to help. JP's supervisor was asked about clear communication, and - lightbulb moment - when peeps thought about the adjustments that had been made, they thought, hang on, ALL employees could benefit from such clear communication

 

My only gripe about the day was that JP was described as having a learning disability, he picked up on this & asked me if he had. So I said quite firmly (in front of his supervisor who had said it) no you havent, & its not a mental health problem, its more of a processing & sensory condition. And I'm going to talk to him some more when he comes home tonight.

 

But, all in all, overwhelmingly positive, we did lots of networking, & hopefully all this will go towards helping him gain permanent employment there. Theyd be mad not to when he's doing so well, & makes them look good too, so fingers crossed....

[Bagpuss]

 

[Kathryn]

Brilliant, well done all of you!

 

 

K x

[bid]

Woop woop!!

 

Bid

[smiley]

 

[pearl]

Thanks all. Just coming down off the adrenaline high, I made about a dozen phone calls this afty sorting out probs with mum, making the most of the energy!

 

One of the facilitators had come up from Bath for the day (she has an autistic brother ) & would like us to do something similar in London. Told her our expenses could be in chocolate. We'll see if anything comes of that.

 

I think it made it REAL for everyone. Suddenly all these stats were represented by one ordinary family. And this would not have happened under their original plan, which was simply for us to provide written reports (JP included) which THEY would then read out. One of the speakers was talking about a disabled employee they had, he sounded fantastic, & I thought, why isn't he here then? So hopefully it will have set a precedent.

 

Oh I'm so proud of my boys

[ASue67]

Brill!!!!!!

[oxgirl]

Wow, that's awesome, Pearl. You're a real inspiration.

 

~ Mel ~

[pearl]

Thanks

Got a thankyou email today from JP's apprenticeship officer who couldnt be there on the day, but the director of HR reported back to her that the pearl family were brilliant! (Thats mr p & JP really as I just looked decorative )

 

They are looking at removing barriers to disabled peeps applying for jobs, from advertising through selection & probation, should start filtering down into job ads eventually.

[Karen A]

Well done all of you.Karen.

[bikergal]

Well done!

[pearl]

ANOTHER UPDATE

 

We got these two letters from the CEO of the recruitment firm hosting the VIP day:

 

Dear Mr & Mrs Pearl

I am writing to thank you for attending the Valued in Public Action Learning Event yesterday and for presenting JP's story. Your presentation and responses to questions added something very special to the event.

 

I had an opportunity to scan the feedback sheets and without exception your input was stated as one of the most helpful aspects of the day.

 

It was kind of you to give your time in this way and to share the priceless story of your own experience. I hope that you will gain some satisfaction from knowing that you have inspired another nine employers to seek the qualities JP possesses when they are recruiting new staff.

 

I hope that we will have occasion to meet again in the future and look forward to following JP's career as he goes from strength to strength.

 

Kind regards etc.

 

 

And for JP (shared with his permission):

 

Dear JP

I am writing to thank you for attending the Valued in Public Action Learning Event yesterday and for sharing your story with the group. Learning about your experience of employment and the difference being in work has made to you and your family was truly inspirational.

 

May I take this opportunity to wish you every success in your chosen career and thank you again for giving up your time to be with us. I hope that we will have occasion to meet again in the future.

 

Kind regards etc.

 

What a nice lady