For the last three months, Tara and her support worker Mel have been upskilling online. “Mel and I just finished learning about human rights and the United Nations, which I found very interesting,” Tara says. The 35-year-old Hireup client has been using the online learning platform, Me Plus More.
“Learning about your rights is crucial,” says Mel, who is supporting Tara to complete the lessons. “Regardless of disability you have the right to be paid, treated with respect and be free from discrimination. This is especially vital for vulnerable people whose rights are more often at risk.”
Me Plus More wants to mitigate that risk and make sure people are fully informed. The online learning platform is designed for people with intellectual disability or cognitive impairment to use independently or with their support workers. At the moment, it has two learning streams for individuals to choose from: Independent Living Skills and Women in the Workplace. Tara is doing both.
“I love doing Me Plus More. [I’ve] learnt how to get a job by knowing my strengths,” Tara says. “So far, I think I would like to work in an office job or make beds.”
The learning is accessible and accommodates to the different ways people learn, Mel explains: “The workbook is quite easy to read and comes with literacy skills, reflective questions and the courses target different learning styles such as visual and auditory.”
There are no time-constraints when using Me Plus More and each participant can “go at their own pace,” she says.
On the flip side, Me Plus More is gamified. Members receive points, badges and certificates for their achievements. Mel says there’s value in this because “the sense of accepting a challenge, being part of a community, and being accountable for the stage you’re at is motivating.”
On most weekends, during their Hireup shift, you’ll find Tara and Mel completing Me Plus More lessons. As Tara reflects on teaming up with Mel, she says: “Mel understands me and my needs. She is really good at helping me understand things when using Me Plus More.” Proving that when working towards your independence, dreams and goals, it is so much more satisfying when done together.
Discover more ways you can use education and employment support on Hireup.
