Inclusion at Work: Four tips to Empower IDD Employees

Having an intellectual disability can make being in a work environment a challenge and a test of emotional endurance. At 24 years old and as a college graduate of Misericordia University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, I’ve experienced these challenges firsthand.

However, working alongside people with intellectual disabilities can provide great benefits. It creates an inclusive and more compassionate environment, empowering individuals to thrive by recognizing their unique strengths and challenges. Tailoring support to meet these needs can lead to a more fulfilling and successful life for everyone involved.

I encourage you to keep an open mind while reading this article as some of these tips might prove helpful in the long run.

Tip #1: Communicate Clearly

Clear communication is one of the most important things you can do. It helps build meaningful relationships, provides support, and makes the workplace more comfortable. Use straightforward and simple language when giving instructions or that person may not understand what you want them to do.

Tip #2: Be Patient

Patience is key. Allow individuals to complete tasks at their own pace, giving them the space to express themselves without feeling rushed. For example, when I worked at restaurant, I was allowed to take as much time as I needed to clean the tables as I followed all the steps. That understanding made a big difference in how I approached my work.

Tip #3: Focus on Individual Needs and Abilities

You also need to focus on individual needs and abilities. The reason being that each person with IDD is unique and comes with their own sets of challenges. Tailoring your approach to their specific communication styles and abilities is essential. During my first job as a Literacy Center Aide for the Elmcrest Children’s Center back when I used to live in New York I was focused on planning and organizing a book club for the younger kids and planning various arts and crafts revolving around the book at the time. This approach allowed me to use my strengths to make a positive impact.

Tip #4: Celebrate Small Victories

Celebrating small wins builds confidence and provides positive reinforcement An example I can think of is once again during my time as a Literacy Center Aide at Elmcrest. When we were organizing all of the fiction books and the series books under one category, I came up with the idea of organizing them in reverse alphabetical order going from Z-A to make the process a little faster and I as a result I was praised for thinking outside of the box.

Recap of Tips

To sum up, here are my key tips for working with individuals with intellectual disabilities:

1. Communicate Clearly: Use simple and direct language to make sure they understand what needs to be done.

   
   

2.  Be Patient: Allow more time than usual as they focus on getting the job done properly rather than getting the job done quickly.

3.  Focus on Individual Needs: Adapt your approach to each person’s unique abilities and communication style.

4.  Celebrate Small Victories: Give them positive reinforcement to work harder.

I think personally by using these tips to help understand more about working with people with IDD will result in more opportunities in the work force as a result. This in turn will help us create stronger and more inclusive communities as well as helping individuals with IDD become more responsible and independent adults.

If you have any questions about the article or you have experience working with people

with IDD and want to share some tips not mentioned here feel free to do so in the comment section.