Hello, this video is about transition for Deaf young people.
I am a Transitions Officer and my role is to support young Deaf people navigate transition and share tips with them to help make the experience a smooth one.
The information in this video is for young people in work, or looking to get into work, those starting a new job, or those applying for jobs.
Perhaps you are concerned about communication, or worried about how you will fit in.
Maybe you’ve already thought about the kinds of support that might make working life easier for you – a note taker, or someone to make phone calls perhaps.
There are lots of options, and these can be funded through the Access to Work scheme.
ATW is a publicly funding employment support programme that aims to help more disabled people start or stay in work.
Thinking of applying for work?
If you apply for a job and are offered an interview, but need an interpreter or a note taker to help you communicate, you may not feel you want to approach the employer directly to ask for that support.
Instead, you can contact Access to Work, who will cover the costs of support.
Getting an interview is the first step towards employment, but ATW can help once you have got a job too.
The first thing you will need to do is to submit an online application for funding.
You will need to talk to your employer, who will be able to help you with this by confirming the number of hours support you might need.
There are a number of different kinds of support that you might find useful in the workplace.
What you choose to apply for will depend on your needs.
You may need interpreters in meetings or an online interpreter to make phone calls, or to translate your reports into written English from BSL; there are many tasks they can support you with.
An advisor from Access to Work will go through your application with you and ask questions about your particular needs, to ensure that they are met.
There is plenty more fully accessible information on the website here, in both English and BSL: www.gov.uk/access-to-work/what-youll-get
I hope you’ve found this video useful. Thanks for watching.
