Charity leader in disabled work plea

Jackie Snape, chief executive of Disability Action Yorkshire, has made the plea so those with a disability can experience life in a workplace, such as a shop, office, garage or hotel.

The charity operates a highly regarded training centre on Hornbeam Park, where people with disabilities are taught the skills required to gain paid employment or volunteering opportunities.

Mrs Snape said: “If you have a disability the chances of gaining meaningful is significantly reduced, and, sadly, for many, they never get the opportunity to experience life in the workplace.

“We would love to build up a bank of businesses from numerous sectors who, when a learner said ‘I’d want to be a mechanic, or hairdresser, or driver or chef’, we could then contact them.”

She said placements could vary in length, and that the experience could be both observational and, where possible, practical too.

She added: “The learners would be accompanied by a member of the Disability Action Yorkshire team for as long as would be needed. We would also be more than happy to help out with any disability awareness that organisations may feel they need.”