‘Your future has no limits’ is the inspiring message being shared with young people with additional needs and disabilities across the borough of Rochdale.
This follows a careers event organised by Rochdale’s additional needs service (RANS), part of Rochdale Borough Council, at Middleton Arena to inspire the career aspirations of local pupils aged 10-14 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
During a day packed full of careers advice, more than 60 pupils from nearby schools had the opportunity to hear from a number of successful professionals with additional needs.
This included 2-time Paralympic gold medallist and double amputee runner, Richard Whitehead MBE, who also holds the world record for the fastest marathon by a leg amputee.
This event came as national figures highlight only half the number of people in the UK with a disability aged 16-64 are in employment (52.8%), compared to 4 out of 5 people (82.5%) who don’t have a disability.
Local services have been working hard however, to address this challenge by highlighting the successful careers and futures that young people can achieve with a disability as they grow up.
Some of the other speakers included Azeem Amir, a visually impaired entrepreneur who also plays football for the England Blind Football Team, and Chris Addington, a local musician with a hearing impairment.
In addition to this, pupils and parents had the chance to speak with a range of different services which specialise in helping people with additional needs to access the right support and guidance to achieve the best outcomes.
Pupils also enjoyed a range of fun activities such as meeting and stroking guide dogs and puppies in training and playing musical instruments like the ukulele.
Azeem Amir with the organiser of the RANS careers event, Sarah Howarth.
Reflecting on the event, Azeem said:
“It fills me with warmth and joy knowing a lot of young people will go away with a changed mindset and real aspirations of what is possible.
“You can literally achieve and do anything with your life. It doesn’t matter about your background, ethnicity or impairment, you’ve just got to dream and times that dream by ten.”
One of the pupils inspired by the event was 11-year-old Amaar who, like Azeem, wants to be a footballer. Living with a hearing impairment, Amaar currently plays for a local team in Rochdale, and when he was asked what he had learned on the day, he replied: “Never ever give up on your dream.
“Even though you have a disability, you can do anything. Even if someone says you are bad or you can’t do something, don’t listen to them.”
Amaar and his mum Sinah at Middleton Arena, where the RANS careers event took place.
Amaar’s mum, Sinah, joined him at the event and described the day as very ‘insightful’ as it gave them the opportunity to have a look at what help and opportunities are available for her son.
“I’ve never allowed anyone to have that stigma where someone has pity on him (Amar) because there’s no need,” said Sinah.
“You can do anything that you put your mind to, it doesn’t mean your less able.”
Families with children who have additional needs can access lots of local support, including the council’s SEND advice service and RANS.
Rochdale Music Service musician Chris Addington with his ukulele.
Fellow speaker Chris, who has a hearing impairment like Amaar and has worked for Rochdale Music Service for the last 18 years, gave this advice to young people:
“Don’t think of your disability as an impairment.
“It should never get in the way of what you want to do.
“You see guitarists with no arms and drummers with no legs. There are ways around everything. Look at Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, both blind from birth but that didn’t stop them. They just adapted to what they could do.
“This event shows you that nothing can stop you from doing what you want to do. If you stick at something you can do it and there are ways around everything.”
Councillor Rachel Massey, cabinet member for children’s services and education, added:
“Every child and young person deserves the very best opportunities in life, and we want to empower them to achieve their goals and aspirations because their future has no limit.
“This event has been truly inspirational and shares an important message that by believing in yourself and working hard, the sky is the limit on what you can accomplish.
“Anything is possible for our young people and I have every confidence that they will go on to do amazing things and careers.”
- More on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
- SEND Advice Service
- Rochdale Additional Needs Service