JobCentre Plus

[Dishwasher]

Anyone had any experience with approaching the jobcentre and explaining their Dyspraxia related work problems?
Im cautious about doing this in case they dont know what Im talking about.

[ishi]

You can request a meeting with their disability coordinator. They probably won't know what you're on about generally, but the coordinator should at least have some idea.

You may be able to get additional support from them to find work or to take on training etc.

[ALADDIN]

They are largely useless. DEA's are incompetent, unfriendly and lack knowledge. Job Centre Plus rarely help graduates.
Remploy, A4E, Shaw Trust, RBLI could be described as a joke.

[Avarice]

They are largely useless. DEA's are incompetent, unfriendly and lack knowledge. Job Centre Plus rarely help graduates.
Remploy, A4E, Shaw Trust, RBLI could be described as a joke.

Jobcentre Plus Staff for anything other than the supermenial are as far as ND people are concerned (with or without degrees) the spawn of Satan and the rest are what I call the do gooding industry.

[Osymandus]

Ah now this is a postcode lottery as they call it . Im in Essex near Southend . And they are great , the person I deal with has children who are Dyspraxic . And the team who look after disabilities , at least half have disabilities .

Go there and find out what your local jobcentre offer sadly it can be different . They should have training to asisist you .

[Avarice]

Go there and find out what your local jobcentre offer sadly it can be different . They should have training to asisist you .

Yes but that's been said about them outwith Essex throughout the UK for aeons and they remain too backward to be called backward.

[Avarice]

They are largely useless. DEA's are incompetent, unfriendly and lack knowledge. Job Centre Plus rarely help graduates.

Maybe we should be DEA's ALADDIN. After all when they consist often of useless old duffers and bats or know nothing little girls and boys could we do much worse?

[jackwabbit]

I took a print out of the symptoms of Dyspraxia, as well as living with dyspraxia when my son went to the job centre. On the first arrival I was told in no un to certain terms that I could not go with my son, I stopped the old battle axe in her tracks by saying “before you go any further he has Dyspraxia” I then explained the problem my son has with meeting new people & was allowed to stay with him. On seeing the advisor I explain about Dyspraxia & showed her the print outs, my son was then referred to the Disability coordinator.
She was very good & took the time to read all the information I had taken with us, to get a better understanding of the problems. She then explained that trying to get him work was going to very difficult & it was a shame that he didn’t feel he could go through an appeal she said he should never have come off ESA. Now we are going through an appeal & waiting for a tribunal date again.

[WTCCFan]

They are largely useless. DEA's are incompetent, unfriendly and lack knowledge. Job Centre Plus rarely help graduates.
Remploy, A4E, Shaw Trust, RBLI could be described as a joke.

Hi guys. Long time no see.

I don't even have a DEA now I don't think. I used to have one but that all got stopped I think. Don't know why. I know it has been some time since I last saw a DEA.

But I have been with certainly Action 4 Employment and RBLI (I think I have been with Shaw Trust) and I did get very little from A4E. The only thing I got is a better CV and application letter which in truth has not got me a job. No matter how many times I have updated and amended them. They did nothing to concentrate their efforts on my Dyspraxia.

RBLI did get me a nice volunteering number at the local Age Concern office (Now Age UK) and yes I was teaching older people about computers, but when I was elsewhere I was just drawing up event posters which I feel has more to do with their handling of me than my dyspraxia. But I never actually helped directly with the running of the show. I was not getting hands on experience.

I think my experience of these IAP (Intensive Activity Programme) courses like A4E and recently Sencia which has since been closed and divided into Ingeus and Avanti is theirs a belief that has existed where it is a negative to focus on my dyspraxia and try to believe that no matter what it is, I am capable of it.

[Saint_celestine]

hi,
im new to the site, im 24 with dyslexia and dyspraixa

i too am struggling to find work, the job centre plus was no help at all and treated me like i was a child

i am wondering though if the only work ill ever get is volenteering (sorry i know its spelt wrong). i dont mind it and i certain cases i have loved. but it would be nice to stand on my own two feet and have some independance

if anyone can suggest a way to help, or even an dea i havent thought of would be great

[kdt2402]

Wow i thought i was alone on this.

I basically forgot to attend 2 interviews, i turned up but on the wrong days thinking it was the right days and arghh!

Talk about look like a tw*tface. Everything is so difficult sometimes when it should be simple.

Now ive put in an appeal and tried to explain the dyspraxia a bit on the form but really dont wanna sound like its excuses.

We'll see anyway

Kyle

[Osymandus]

Wow i thought i was alone on this.

I basically forgot to attend 2 interviews, i turned up but on the wrong days thinking it was the right days and arghh!

Talk about look like a tw*tface. Everything is so difficult sometimes when it should be simple.

Now ive put in an appeal and tried to explain the dyspraxia a bit on the form but really dont wanna sound like its excuses.

We'll see anyway

Kyle

It's not an excuse as the DWP know full well what Dyspraxia is its in the DDA , just provide your diagnosis and this is your proof .

[kdt2402]

Do you know if the job centre will help in any way if you explain about your dyspraxia to them?

[tillydog]

For years and years (in the UK and Australia) I've tried work experience, volunteer work and paid employment but always ended up being told to leave or being sacked (amounts to the same thing). In the end I had a massive meltdown in 2007 after being sacked yet again after only 1 shift because I couldnt keep up.
Last year I got 'officially' diagnosed by a Neurologist who was really helpful and wanted to help. My Mum went with me which was good as she heard directly from the horse's mouth that I have Dyspraxia, and she finally accepted that I am who I am!
I get Disability Pension which has really helped my self esteem as I dont have that constant stress and anxiety of having to look for work.

[AlleyCat]

Hi tillydog. I think your experience of employment is sadly something which is common to quite a lot of people who have dyspraxia. On another thread on this forum, I mentioned that people who have dyspraxia often have a history of temporary and casual jobs- I think this largely happens because of other people's intolerant attitudes towards us in the workplace. I'm sure you are not the only person with dyspraxia who has found that it is much better for you psychologically to be on disability rather than trying to pursue job after job where you aren't given the opportunity to make use of your skills, instead being given menial tasks which are unsuitable for someone with dyspraxia. You're lucky you're in Australia- since the Tories came into power nearly 2 years ago, they've been trying to do everything they can to make out that anyone who isn't in work (for whatever reason) is a 'scrounger'. This attitude has led to people who can barely walk or who are terminally ill being passed by Atos as being fit for work- basically anyone who can still move their limbs is classed as being able to work (the assessments don't take account of things like the ability to do tasks quickly, which of course they should, as this is the kind of thing employers will be concerned about). The Government even want to push people with disabilities into exploitative 'work for your benefit' schemes- over the past few weeks Boycott Workfare has been stepping up its campaign against the Tories' disgraceful policies.