Work is how most of us meaningfully spend our days, evenings or weekends. This is how we can contribute, form friendships and even find a life partner. Imagine More believes that all people with disability can work.
Finding Work for People With Disability
We know it is not always easy for people with disability to find meaningful and valued work roles that pay award wages, but we know it is possible.
We have discovered the key to success in employment is when the skills, talents, interests, motivators and strengths of a person with disability are identified that are then matched to a work role. The conditions for workplace success need careful consideration as does the support. This type of employment is often referred to as customised employment.
To customise a job, someone must first identify a collection of tasks that should get done by the current employees but are often forgotten. These tasks can be brought together to create a customised job for a person with disability.
Another option is to establish a Microenterprise. A Microenterprise is a very small business that is simple to start, requires minimal capital and has a viable purpose.
We have many examples of how customised employment and microenterprises have been successful for people with disability .
Essential Resources About Employment and Microenterprise
We've identified these resources as essential reading on this topic. We strongly recommend that you look at these before you browse the resources below.
Animated explainer video series about Customised Employment
An animated video series developed to explain Customised Employment of people with disability.
Animated explainer video series about Customised Employment.Learn moreResources for Customised Employment
Resources for families implementing customised employment
Resources for Customised Employment.Learn moreJob Supporter Induction Package
Essential tools and knowledge to help you understand and implement Customised Employment, including the Discovery process, creating visual resumes, job development, and job support.
Job Supporter Induction Package.Learn moreCo-creating employment with Discovery
A guided tour of the Discovery process with Milton Tyree.
Co-creating employment with Discovery.Learn more
Resources About Employment and Microenterprise
Enjoy browsing our growing collection of resources.
Once funky, always funky
An essential workshop about creating and supporting inclusive workplace environments. Presented by Customised Employment consultant Milton Tyree.
Once funky, always funky.Learn moreEvery student can contribute
A 90-minute workshop by Milton Tyree showing how there are many ways to ensure that every student's potential is fully realised and valued in the workforce.
Every student can contribute.Learn moreJob Supporter Induction Package
Essential tools and knowledge to help you understand and implement Customised Employment, including the Discovery process, creating visual resumes, job development, and job support.
Job Supporter Induction Package.Learn moreOur experience in setting up a food-based micro-enterprise
Establishing a food-based micro-enterprise
Our experience in setting up a food-based micro-enterprise.Learn moreAnimated explainer video series about Customised Employment
An animated video series developed to explain Customised Employment of people with disability.
Animated explainer video series about Customised Employment.Learn moreResources for Customised Employment
Resources for families implementing customised employment
Resources for Customised Employment.Learn moreEngaging with employers and customising roles
Learn how to approach a potential employer about customising employment.
Engaging with employers and customising roles.Learn moreCustomised Employment: What it is and what it’s not
Milton Tyree explains the essential elements of authentic Customised Employment.
Customised Employment: What it is and what it’s not.Learn morePreparing for customised job development
Learn about the crucial role of the Job Developer in customising employment.
Preparing for customised job development.Learn moreWork experience: Think outside the gate (for professionals)
A three-part workshop about work experience
Work experience: Think outside the gate (for professionals).Learn moreWork experience: Think outside the gate (for families)
A three-part workshop about work experience
Work experience: Think outside the gate (for families).Learn moreSystematic Instruction
An example of Systematic Instruction to teach a skill
Systematic Instruction.Learn moreImagining work
A School to Work foundational webinar for families of students in years 7 and 8
Imagining work.Learn moreDiscovering work
A School to Work foundational webinar for families of students in years 9 and 10
Discovering work.Learn moreFinding work: Getting started
The first of two School to Work foundational webinars for families of students in years 11 and 12
Finding work: Getting started.Learn moreFinding work: The next steps
The second of two School to Work foundational webinars for families of students in years 11 and 12
Finding work: The next steps.Learn moreDeveloping a visual resume for work
Learn how to develop your own visual resume
Developing a visual resume for work.Learn moreGetting a good start in a good job
An example of Customised Employment
Getting a good start in a good job.Learn moreThink big! Go micro!
How one family helped their daughter build a microenterprise within an exciting niche
Think big! Go micro!.Learn moreFrom school to international fashion model
A young woman’s interest-driven journey towards a successful microenterprise
From school to international fashion model.Learn moreCreating a good life through meaningful employment
The story behind Ground Control by Major Tom
Creating a good life through meaningful employment.Learn moreCo-creating employment with Discovery
A guided tour of the Discovery process with Milton Tyree.
Co-creating employment with Discovery.Learn moreThe Essential Worker
How a typical school journey led to employment in a valued role
The Essential Worker.Learn moreDoing a good job of getting a good job
How to support a person with disability at work
Doing a good job of getting a good job.Learn moreThe 4 Quadrant Model of Facilitated Learning
A framework to facilitate mastery of a task.
The 4 Quadrant Model of Facilitated Learning.Learn moreThe Discovery Process
Marija Gutesa from New Leaf Lifestyle Planning explains the Discovery Process.
The Discovery Process.Learn moreTask Analysis
How to use Task Analysis to help people with disability in the workplace
Task Analysis.Learn morePlanning Early for Life After School
It’s possible for young people with a disability to thrive after school.
Planning Early for Life After School.Learn moreStories of Microenterprise
The final session of the Let's Get To Work Virtual Conference in July 2020
Stories of Microenterprise.Learn moreWhy We Need to Talk About Employment
The first session of the Let's Get To Work Virtual Conference in June 2020.
Why We Need to Talk About Employment.Learn moreGetting a Job While Still at School
Working towards a young school leaver's goal of independent living
Getting a Job While Still at School.Learn moreRuth’s Story
In this short video, Ruth shares the employment journey that led to a part-time hospitality role.
Ruth’s Story.Learn moreThe Answer is Ours to Discover: Cam Can
How this family created a small business based on their son's strengths and interests
The Answer is Ours to Discover: Cam Can.Learn moreThe Intern
Carl undertook an internship in a radio station with the help of his family, a radio station, and some NDIS funding
The Intern.Learn moreGetting Ready for Real Work
A day program or an ADE are not the only options for your son or daughter with disability
Getting Ready for Real Work.Learn moreEmployment – Nathan Basha
Nathan Basha shares his journey from school to employment.
Employment – Nathan Basha.Learn moreCustomised Employment
Valuable resources from sessions 4 and 5 of the Let's Get to Work Conference
Customised Employment.Learn moreFinding Work Through Connections and Community
Session 2 of the Let's Get To Work Conference
Finding Work Through Connections and Community.Learn moreThe Essence of a Successful Work Experience
How to use work experience to assess skills and interests
The Essence of a Successful Work Experience.Learn moreLet’s Get To Work: The Research Technician
Gus works in a valued role in a laboratory as a research technician
Let’s Get To Work: The Research Technician.Learn moreLet’s Get To Work: Zellner Services
Cameron's family and Circle of Support helped establish his microenterprise
Let’s Get To Work: Zellner Services.Learn moreLet’s Get to Work: The Admin Assistant
Jack uses SLES funding to support him to do a School-Based Apprenticeship
Let’s Get to Work: The Admin Assistant.Learn moreLet’s Get To Work: Pa’s Produce
Annie and her family created a small enterprise called Pa’s Produce.
Let’s Get To Work: Pa’s Produce.Learn more