Tip 8 - Get involved
- Support and mentor young people to participate in a range of activities and experiences. These may include:
- work experience
- volunteer work
- paid work
- school or community groups
- committees, and
- leisure activities
- All of these activities will help them develop skills that will be important in their future education or employment.
- Encourage them to participate in as many experiences as they can – but remind them of the need to balance this with their studies, health, and other commitments.
- If necessary, encourage young people to practice asking for support and accommodations they might need to participate in these experiences:
- help them problem-solve ways to reduce or remove barriers they might face.
- encourage the provision of appropriate environment adaptations and accommodations.
- help them get to know their rights and responsibilities - see tip 9.
- Encourage young people to think about practical issues around participating in these types of activities:
- How will they get there?
- Will they need help getting around?
- Are there costs involved?
- There are community organisations and groups that advocate for people with disability and help raise community awareness about people with disability and the issues affecting them.
- some students may like to consider getting involved with one of these organisations
- helping to create awareness of the contributions of people with disabilities can help dispel myths in society
- while raising awareness young people could also learn more about disability, their rights and positive ways to ask for the things they need
