Total Communications CIC – Speaking Out Being Heard videos
Sophie Turner: New DISC Job Coach
By Rav Gehlon,
Managing Director, DA.
We were over the moon to win the Innovative Routes to Employment Award 2025 from Natspec. This recognition from the national representative body for our sector for our work means the world – it’s not just a pat on the back – it’s a validation of our vision to do things differently, something that felt like putting square pegs into round holes, but that is now proven to create meaningful digital careers for young people with SEND.
Reimagining routes into work
At our heart is a belief that traditional education and employment systems often fail to recognise the unique strengths and potential of young people with SEND, and that’s where DISC – our unique blend of college and professional digital workplace – was born. DISC mimics the realities of today’s digital economy, helping young people build portfolios, collaborate with real clients, and gain industry-ready skills.Whether it’s website development, podcast production, branding, or animation, our interns don’t just learn the theory – they do the practice. They work with real organisations, take real briefs, and deliver real results. Thanks to our partnership with SENDCode, a neurodivergent-led creative agency, they also benefit from mentorship, peer support, and external project placements with companies like Manchester City Council and Nexer Digital.
Our approach
We put young people at the centre of everything. Our programme is person-centred and adaptive, responding to individual aspirations, strengths, and support needs. Whatever an intern’s starting point, we meet them. Wherever an intern’s evolution takes them, we guide them.
Interns learn to work independently, collaborate on team projects, and gain confidence in professional settings, all in a supportive, inclusive environment that prioritises wellbeing just as much as technical skill.
One Supported Intern from our 23/24 cohort described it beautifully:
“As someone with ADHD, I can use my outbursts of creative energy as they come, and I’m allowed to take breaks freely, which helps me manage stress and improve productivity. DISC helped me create more with less stress — I’m exceptionally grateful.”
Real results
Our impact goes beyond the classroom. In 2022/23, half of our interns gained paid work – and all of them were still employed a year later. In 2023/24, 62.5% secured employment within just four months. Others progressed into further education, supported by our guidance and personalised progression plans.
We’re not alone in this
None of this would be possible without the incredible organisations who work alongside us. Huge thanks go out to employers like Nexer Digital, Claritas Wealth, and the National Autistic Society, who provide live briefs and hands-on experiences for our interns. We are also grateful to Manchester City Council, one of our biggest supporters in developing DISC (from scratch might we add!) – who have gone a step further by funding a full-time role for a neurodivergent young person, based at SENDCode, to enhance the quality and medium through which they share their Local Offer information to young people with SEND, and their families.
These partnerships are proof that inclusive employment isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s smart, creative, and future-proofing. Together, we’re trying to build a future where everyone gets the chance to thrive. We’re just getting started.