Sixteen students from the Riverview Inclusion Program travelled out to Sydney Motorsport Park last week to meet and be inspired by autistic race car driver Ben Taylor. The Riverview Inclusion Program is a leader in inclusive education and works with ambassadors like Ben to help their neurodiverse students to realise their own potential.
The students were excited to head out to Sydney Motorsport Park to meet Ben and to learn about motorsport from a driver that could show them what it is like to breaking down barriers for neurodiverse people just like them. The children also had the opportunity to tour the pits with Ben and his coach, motorsport legend Fabian Coulthard.
Ben being backed by auticon, the world’s largest autistic majority company also helped the students to understand that there is a world of opportunity for them beyond the school gates. auticon with over 500 employees globally, employ autistic people in a variety of roles mainly focused on IT consulting.
In presenting to the students, Ben provided them with insights that helped them to look to the future and understand if they set goals and exercised resilience, they too could realise their dreams. The focus of the session gave the students an understanding of what it is like not to let personal boundaries define you.
Head of the Special Education and Inclusion Program at Riverview Toby Martin was grateful for the opportunity students had to meet Ben Taylor.
“Over the years, the program has benefited from connections with ambassadors who provide valuable experience and guidance for the students as they look towards the future, and Ben was great at providing insights around exactly that.”
“When approached regarding an opportunity to meet Ben, the students in the class were excited by the prospect of meeting someone who has not only overcome personal barriers but who refuses to be defined by them.”
“The students in the class have recently finished a unit of work on the Olympic and Paralympic Games and as part of that they have explored the concept of adversity, challenges, and achievement irrespective of personal circumstance. Meeting Ben offered students the opportunity to see someone who has lived experience in this area.”
Ben Taylor enjoyed connecting with the students and sharing his experiences both on and off the racetrack.
“I think it’s important to continually challenge traditional views of people on the spectrum and push boundaries so that people understand our potential to deliver a meaningful outcomes across a wide range of roles and industries. It’s so important that these children see this and understand there is more out there for them if they are determine not to let barriers get in the way of who they could be.”
“I really enjoyed showing the students through the pits, they asked some really great questions and were truly engaged in the experience.”
auticon Australia and New Zealand CEO and Managing Director Bodo Mann was pleased to see the students taking an interest in Ben and spoke about business needing to think differently about opening up roles for these students and now this would ultimately lead to greater access to innovation.
“The truth is that the greatest difference these students have is that they think differently. People can think about this as a barrier to success, but it can be the world’s greatest opportunity to access innovation.”
“Unfortunately, right now, business sees this as a barrier in Australia. The employment prospects for these children are bleak to say the least with an unemployment rate for autistic people sitting around 34% and an underemployment rate approaching 90%, the odds are really stacked against them. However, with greater diversity in business comes an approach to problem solving that is different and it is this difference that breeds innovation and innovation that ultimately improves business outcomes across the board.”
“It is time we broke down the barriers to employment for these children and started to think differently about the meaningful contribution those on the spectrum can make in the workplace.”
