Support at work with CP

Rosehip73

Hi Richard,
My son is 22 and a qualified level 3 TA in reception class at local Primary school. He is in same CP category as you. He started his first full time job in September. Since starting work, he has also been trained in speech and language assessment and has to do 2-3 hours of interventions a week on top of his role. He has to prepare all the resources, which is very time consuming, and difficult with dexterity issues! He has also taken on, (not knowing the full implications or work load but keen to please) a level 3 Early years course! He is exhausted at the end of the day, having driven home, and is lucky that mum cooks as he lives at home. He gets half an hour for lunch, and is First Aider for his class too. He struggles to get to work on time, and has no designated parking space or drop down curb. My issues is, that they don’t seem to have made any allowance for his disability, or given him any extra support! He is exhausted and overwhelmed, but loves his job.
He is very independent and not good at asking for help, but his self esteem and mental health is suffering . He also stays an hour over his finishing time, as he feels that because he is slower at doing things, he needs to make up for it, to get more achieved! Any advice is welcome, on how a concerned mother can help
Thanks

M_305

Welcome to the community.

Have you had a chance to discuss your concerns with the school?

Maybe @Richard_Scope can help you with this.

Rosehip73

No, I feel Joe as an adult should broach the subject, but he is keen to please and doesn’t want a fuss, so I’m wondering if I should step in? 

M_305

@Rosehip73 -- Yep, you are correct. So, have a chat with him about the situation and work out how you want to approach it. Hopefully, Richard and the rest of the community will give you their input as well.

Hannah_Alumni

Hello @Rosehip73

I see @Richard_Scope has been tagged. Scope also has a CP Network you can sign up for if you haven't already  

I am so sorry that they haven't made any adjustments for his disability. Is there a work colleague who also has had adjustments that he could talk to and have support from?

Richard_Scope

Hi @Rosehip73
I can understand your concerns completely. Has your son contacted Access to Work at all? They can help provide equipment that might help him in his role.

Also, this can be a sensitive area, has your son been open with his employer about how his CP can impact him? I ask this because lots of people can downplay the effects of their CP. I know I have in the past. But in the long run, this tends to lead to a lack of support further down the line.

Rosehip73

Hi Richard,
You are totally right, he does downplay the effects of CP and he’s a really positive person, so he’s not one to moan. Since my post, we emailed his line manager and told her how he was feeling, and how tiring he finds his role, and she was very supportive! They have agreed to meet every week, to see how he is coping, and they have agreed to postpone the Early Years course he had signed up for, until next year. In half term, they have also  sorted the drop down curb, so things are looking up! 

Thank you for your help and support! 

SaraC_Scope

@Rosehip73 That's great to hear.  I'm glad his employers have been responsive and your son had the confidence to share how he was feeling.  With some encouragement from you. (It's what Mums to best)