‘Lawyers and doctors are not the only mark of success’ says Jewish education philanthropist

Goldsmith said: “We need to change the Friday night conversation. There are people in our community who feel excluded – people who are neurodivergent or have other disabilities. Let’s change exclusion to inclusion.”

She said that it was vital that employers and their teams underwent training on how to make their workplaces more inclusive. “We were given training by Gesher [a Jewish school for people with special educational needs] and it has changed the way we work together, and it has changed the way that we think about the world.”

Participants also heard from Shlomo Weltman, employment manager at Kisharon Langdon, who said that a challenge was the “unconscious bias” of employers towards someone with disabilities or learning difficulties.

“Employers immediately think: ‘What are the limitations of this person, rather than focusing on what they can contribute. This is the first thing that needs to change.”

The Belonging Matters conference participants listen to Sarah Sultman, co-chair of Gesher School (Photo: Leivi Saltman)[Missing Credit]

He said that what often held neurodivergent people back was the interview process and the reluctance of employers to make reasonable adjustments.

“Instead of interviewing someone, give them a two-week work trial, and if they can do it, give them the job. Or, if they need to have an interview, send the questions beforehand, so they can prepare for it,” said Weltman.

If they are subsequently offered the job, he suggested that employers “start small – give them a couple of hours a week”.

Other small adjustments could include providing someone with a pictorial sequencer of what to do, arranging a work buddy and giving a neurodivergent extra time to process information should they need it.

He added: “The most important thing is, if someone has a learning disability, to include them. Inclusion means being part of a family at work.”

Having a job also had a huge impact on mental health, said Weltman. “It gives someone a reason to wake up in the morning, to get dressed and to feel proud that they have achieved something.”

Since joining Kisharon Langdon 15 years ago, Weltman has overseen significant changes in employment opportunities for its members. “Today, our members take the Tube, they go to work, from having had zero expectation of themselves. The change is remarkable.”

Belonging Matters panel with (l-r) Debbie Rees, assistant director of programming, employment and social enterprise at Kisharon Langdon, Hardeep Rai, founder and CEO of the Kaleidoscope Group, Shlomo Weltman, employment manager at Kisharon Langdon and Racheli Yardley, autistic advocate and trainer on the Oliver McGowan programme (Photo: Leivi Saltman)[Missing Credit]

Kisharon Langdon’s members work in a range of settings, including a bike repair shop, a social enterprise shop in Temple Fortune – Equal - and the Oliver McGowan programme, which provides mandatory training from people with lived experience for NHS workers on treating autistic people and those with learning disabilities.

Racheli, who has ADHD and is autistic, is a registered nurse and an Oliver McGowan trainer. She told the audience: “I don’t believe in limits. I’m married, I drive, I run a home. I don’t believe that having autism or ADHD should lower what I want to achieve. I just have to work harder to get there.”

Leora Wilson speaking at the Belonging Matters conference (Photo: Leivi Saltman)[Missing Credit]

Leora Wilson, who is neurodivergent and the co-chair of the DWP’s apprenticeship ambassador network for London, said when she started her apprenticeship, she benefited hugely from the time her employer invested in her. She told the audience: “If you work with someone who is neurodivergent, spend time with them. It will take a lot of time, but you will see the ROI.”

Belonging Matters was organised by Norwood, the United Synagogue and Gesher School. The JC was the media partner.