Once funky, always funky

An essential workshop about creating and supporting inclusive workplace environments.

This workshop, presented by Customised Employment consultant Milton Tyree, emphasises the critical nature of first impressions and the inclusion of employees with disability as regular, valued members of the workforce.

In the workshop, Milton explores practical strategies to

  • ensure that job setup, instruction, and ongoing support align with typical workplace norms
  • avoid the pitfalls of the ‘funky’ dynamic when there is a mismatch between the employee’s skills and interests and the task requirements,
  • ensure employees are seen as valuable team members rather than Human Services clients.

Session 1

Playing time: 01:13:02

Session 2

Playing time: 00:59:46

Session 3

Playing time: 01:37:31

Download the presentation slides handout

Key themes

Initial job setup

Learn how to establish employment roles that promote direct interaction and training from typical workplace trainers, ensuring employees with disability are treated as integral team members from day one.

Balancing support with independence

Discover techniques to balance necessary support and fostering independence, including an in-depth look at how to gradually reduce support to build the person’s competencies and independence.

Social Role Valorisation (SRV) principles

Learn how to enhance a person’s image and increase their competencies to ensure they are valued as an employee.

Practical Job Support strategies

Understand how to give the person relevant and actionable feedback. Learn other practical approaches to supporting the person in the workplace and their career.

Natural supports

Understand the role of natural workplace relationships in promoting genuine inclusion and how families and job coaches can facilitate, rather than hinder, these dynamics.

Family involvement

Learn how families can offer employment support while respecting workplace boundaries.

About Milton Tyree

Portrait of Milton TyreeHailing from Kentucky in the USA, Milton Tyree is a consultant working with Marc Gold & Associates, pioneers in the field of Customised Employment (CE). Alongside his decades of experience in customising employment, Milton applies the principles of Social Role Valorisation (SRV) to enhance employment outcomes for people with disability. He’s also a wonderful teacher who illustrates CE theory with real-life examples. We’re delighted he’s returning to Canberra to teach this workshop in person.

Early in his career, Milton was a high school special education teacher. While he loved teaching, he was concerned that his students were all graduating with nothing to do. Having come across the teachings of Marc Gold, he left education and began helping young (and older) adults find valued work based on their interests and skills.

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School to work banner: Imagining work, discovering work, finding work

This event was developed in 2024 as part of our School to Work project.