Supported Internships - Aaron

Aaron is a student at Shrewsbury College who took part in the DFN Supported Internship Programme at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. From the outset, Aaron was keen to develop his social skills, build his confidence and work towards a career that offered opportunities for training and progression.

Aaron has situational mutism, which means he sometimes finds verbal communication challenging. However, he has developed a range of alternative ways to communicate effectively with those
around him. One of Aaron's most memorable traits was his fantastic sense of humour, he would often write down a daily joke to share with colleagues, something that quickly became a highlight of the day for many of the people he worked with.

During his Supported Internship, Aaron completed placements in both the Catering Department and on a hospital ward at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Supported by Enable's Job Coaches, Aaron was able to learn the responsibilities of each role while gaining confidence in his preferred communication methods when interacting with new people.

His positive attitude, warm personality and ever-present smile helped him build strong relationships with colleagues across the hospital.

Aaron was highly regarded by staff in all of his placements. Colleagues consistently praised his dedication, reliability and willingness to contribute. Many colleagues commented that he would
be greatly missed when his placement came to an end.

Following the successful completion of his Supported Internship, Aaron is now being supported by Enable's Connect to Work Team as he continues his search for paid employment. He is actively applying for jobs and is also receiving support to set up and use AssistiV, an app designed to support communication and workplace independence, helping him to achieve his employment goals.