The Routine Factory app provides structure and predictability to people with intellectual disabilities by offering an easier way to track job tasks.
For individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder, participating in the workforce is a key to self-worth and independence. For employers, it’s good for business.
“It’s been shown that when employers hire diversely, they attract more customers who want to support inclusive businesses,” says Aron Jenkins, Building Blocks Coordinator at the Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE), a national association for the supported employment sector. “It also boosts employee retention because these individuals tend to not change jobs as often, so it’s a great opportunity for businesses to tap into a group of individuals who really want to be working.”
Enhancing accountability and learning
CASE recently partnered with Inclusion Winnipeg — an organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities — to find ways to make it easier for these individuals to complete their workplace tasks. They settled on an app called Routine Factory. The app works by prompting the user for their current task, letting them check it off when done, and then prompting them for the next step, thereby keeping them constantly moving and on time.
Many struggle with anxiety about next steps in their assigned tasks, so this helps with prompts and they can recheck tasks without going to a manager
By breaking complex tasks down to step-by-step visual instructions, the Routine Factory app provides structure and predictability, which is important to these clients. “Many struggle with anxiety about next steps in their assigned tasks, so this helps with prompts and they can recheck tasks without going to a manager,” says Jenkins.
Among the app’s users across Canada is an employee at IKEA, who recently used it on her own to successfully apply for college admission, as well as a group of employees at Something Beautiful Café and Gift Shop in Stonewall, Man.
Learn more about Routine Factory or Inclusion Winnipeg by visiting subscribepage.io/remote-job-coach.
