The Make It Work Project
MAKE IT WORK project aims to develop project results – tools and training materials – designed to provide access to employment regulations in an inclusive and accessible way for d/Deaf young job seekers. The results will be able to be used to access employment information in sign language and accessible written form by d/Deaf.
MAKE IT WORK project is directed to young deaf people, and to youth worker who works or would wish to work with deaf young people. We would also like our project to have an influence on the people from the environment of young deaf people and show them that it is worth supporting deaf person in his/her professional aspirations.
Our project will develop project results – tools and training materials – designed to provide access to employment regulations in an inclusive and accessible way for d/Deaf young job seekers. With the products of the project, d/Deaf young job seekers will be able to access employment information in sign language and accessible written form to use in their daily working lives.
They will have digital resources in sign language at their fingertips which they can refer to in their own time, replay and repeat, consult without outside help – in other words, they can use the project outputs to exercise self-determination in their employment relationships and working lives. At the same time, provide training and materials for a youth worker to give them the instrument to support the social and professional inclusion of the young deaf job seeker.
Our cause
Our main incentive is to implement activities which may faciliate D/deaf people to participate equally in educational, social and professional life in their communities. The equal and universal access to job opportunities can provide self-confidence and encouragement to take advantages of opportunities to improve social and job skills.
Our project aims to faciliate Deaf youth to overcome barriers in accessing opportunities:
Lack of specialized information
E.x. communication support options at college or support available in job search
Lack of awareness of complete range of options
It’s usual that teachers and careers advisers to be the only options d/Deaf young people for employment
Low expectations
Professionals and parents have been found to rule out career choices and direct d/Deaf young people to more ‘suitable’ courses in which they believe the young person has the best chance of qualification.
Lack quality bilingual education
Without quality bilingual education (in sign language and written language), d/Deaf young are at an extreme disadvantage in school, and later in employment.
Lack of opportunities
Lack of opportunities, particularly regarding
employment, can be source of psychological, social, emotional and economic difficulties, which may result in social exclusion
and depression.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Set of tools
Developing a set of tools helping and guiding young d/Deaf job seekers in the process of entering the labour market (translated into their languages).
Guidance
Giving young d/Deaf job seeker information about how to define what skills and competencies they already have and about how and where they can improve them.
Informed decisions
Giving young d/Deaf job seeker information about which skills and competencies are mostly required at the labour market.
Empowerment
Giving tools and instructions to youth worker about how to empower young d/Deaf job seeker and support them on their professional inclusion.
Encouragment
Encouraging career counsellors to reach Deaf young people and help them to enter the labour market effectively.