{"id":1241,"date":"2023-07-02T23:54:39","date_gmt":"2023-07-02T22:54:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tuffrey-wijne.com\/?p=1241"},"modified":"2023-07-03T21:59:59","modified_gmt":"2023-07-03T20:59:59","slug":"and-the-winner-is-kingston-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.tuffrey-wijne.com\/?p=1241","title":{"rendered":"And the winner is… KINGSTON UNIVERSITY!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A couple of months ago, one of my colleagues spotted that there was an “Employer of People with a Disability” category at the National Learning Disabilities and Autism Awards<\/a>. How about nominating Kingston University? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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YES! <\/em>said Richard. We’ll nominate you! <\/em>He sat down with Tasha, one of our team members employed specifically to support him in his researcher job, and told her what to write. They also added some of the contributions of his other colleagues. This is what they sent in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/p>\nOUR NAME IS ON THE DOOR, NEXT TO THE PROFESSOR\u2019S NAME!<\/strong>

We are 4 researchers with a learning disability. Kingston University has employed us as proper members of the learning disability research team. They made it possible for us. They ran a research course. The application form was in Easy Read. Even our appraisals are in Easy Read. They employ support researchers to help us. They help us book taxis to get to work.

RICHARD:<\/strong> \u201cWe have the learning disability, we live it, we\u2019re the experts. We\u2019re more than just a pat on the back and we bring so much to this job. Working here makes me feel good about myself wearing smart clothes, going off to do a day\u2019s work, getting paid for it. I feel valued. I can now shop in places I never used to be able to. This job has opened doors for me. I get to meet different people like professors and training the nurses of the future. I feel part of society.\u201d

LEON:<\/strong> \u201cI didn\u2019t know you could be a university researcher, so I\u2019m really surprised and pleased. It\u2019s a warm, relaxed, friendly atmosphere. At lunchtime we all sit together, as equals, sharing our news.\u201d

AMANDA:<\/strong> \u201cWe can do anything we want to do in our lives if we have the right support. But not everybody will think of employing someone with a learning disability. Now other universities can see, LOOK! These people can work together as a team. Why can\u2019t WE employ someone with a learning disability?\u201d

Only 5% of people with a learning disability have paid work. Kingston University is a trail blazer by employing us. What we really like here is that people look up to us, not down at us. They treat us with respect. We feel proud working here.
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We were shortlisted. I was interviewed on Zoom. Thankfully, Richard and Amanda were in the office that day, so they could help me out – and they did. The judges said they were moved to tears by what they said, and by the short video we showed them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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