Vision.
A world where differences in learning styles are accepted and accommodated.
Mission.
Our mission is to break down the barriers to employment for people who have difficulties learning in mainstream educational institutions. Through employment comes inclusion.
Values.
The following values underpin everything that we do, and we believe will lead to achieving our mission.
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We do not judge people, we nurture their abilities.
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Employment is the key for young people who have become excluded during their school years to, re-engage with society.
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Safe Spaces facilitate the learning, engagement, and organisation for young people with learning difficulties to carry out work. A place to share without fear.
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Work should be flexible, fun and productive.
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We will take a systemic view of social exclusion. It’s nobody’s fault that the system has broken down.
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Evidence will underlie everything that we do.
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We will publish freely our findings to promote growth outside the PALS umbrella
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We will talk widely in academic and community setting about our aims and progress
Vision.
A world where differences in learning styles are accepted and accommodated.
Mission.
Our mission is to break down the barriers to employment for people who have difficulties learning in mainstream educational institutions. Through employment comes inclusion.
Values.
The following values underpin everything that we do, and we believe will lead to our achieving our mission.
-
We do not judge people, we nurture their abilities.
-
Employment is the key for young people who have become excluded during their school years to, re-engage with society.
-
Safe Spaces facilitate the learning, engagement, and organisation for young people with learning difficulties to carry out work. A place to share without fear.
-
Work should be flexible, fun and productive.
-
We will take a systemic view of social exclusion. It’s nobody’s fault that the system has broken down.
-
Evidence will underlie everything that we do.
-
We will publish freely our findings to promote growth outside the PALS umbrella
-
We will talk widely in academic and community setting about our aims and progress
Safe Spaces.
There seem to be two options for PALS getting into work once they have finished with the education system. The first involves training, mentoring, coaching and generally trying to support them through the recruitment process into public or private sector institutions that provide employment- hopefully one who has embraced the need for understanding and tolerance. The second is in an enclave. A place away from society, and often run through charitable endeavour.
There are a new breed, however, of solutions that are cropping up. Examples of these are Specialisterne in Denmark, and a range of Social Firms in the UK, including Harry Specters, and Autism Works. These organisations are set up specifically to employ a subset of PALS (autism in each case, but there are many others) and do so in ways that are inherently supportive of the condition. They are organisations that their employees consider to be safe.
PALS Society embraces this notion of Safe Spaces and extends it beyond just the place where work is done. We want safe places for learning to happen - both learning by PALS about customers and other stakeholders, but also learning by the customers and stakeholders about PALS. We want a safe environment where work can be specified, produced and delivered. And a safe space where PALS can start to organise in ways that work for them and hence integrate better in society.
For all of this to happen, PALS need to feel safe, and feel confident to take the risks that are needed to learn and integrate. It is likely that in the past, PALS have learnt that taking risks inevitably leads to pain.