Learning disabilities in the workplace

Mencap Ambassador Harry Roche is Office Assistant to Mencap’s Chief Executive Jan Tregelles. Here, boss and employee discuss Harry’s learning disability and encourage employers to adopt more inclusive recruitment policies.

The UK is currently in an employment crisis – 1.4 million people have a learning disability, but only 6% of people with a disability known to social services are in paid employment.

To combat this, charity Mencap and Inclusive Employers have collaborated to created Learning Disability Work Experience Week to raise awareness. Each November employers from across the country offer week-long work placements to people with a learning disability, improving their chances of finding paid work in the future, as well as giving the organisations the chance to find out the commercial benefits of employing people with a learning disability, and challenging their perceptions of the jobs that people with a learning disability can do.

One person working to challenge these stereotypes is Harry Rouche, who has a learning disability and is an Office Assistant and Mencap Ambassador working in the office of Mencap’s Chief Executive, Jan Tregelles.

“I worked in Sainsbury’s for several years stacking shelves, but I really wanted to work in an office; it was an environment that I thought offered better opportunities and chances to develop,” says Harry.

“Mencap helped me get a job as a receptionist; it was a great chance to learn the ropes. After that, I moved into an office assistant role, and got to support Jan as an assistant and also an ambassador for Mencap. It’s an honour working with the CEO of such a large charity; Jan is a great boss. I’m a people person so my favourite part of the job is greeting Jan’s guests and making sure they have everything they need.

“So many people worry that a person with a learning disability can’t do certain jobs – but I’m proof that isn’t the case. Working closely with a CEO like Jan is a great way to break down those barriers and get people into more diverse jobs – it is just up to people to take that chance.”

Tregelles offers: “Getting a job is one of the biggest challenges for people with a learning disability. It provides people with independence, and integrates them into their communities. More than that, we know that employees with a learning disability are fantastic assets to a company. They tend to work harder, take less sick leave, boast employee morale – and that’s just the start. Harry is a great example of what a dedicated and hardworking colleague and employee people with a learning disability can be. It has been an honour to see Harry flourish in his role, and he continues to go from strength to strength; he has a fantastic career in front of him.”

Why not sign up for Learning Disability Work Experience Week in 2017? Learn more at mencap.org.uk.