“If I Can, You Can”: Joshua Hoskins’ Insight Into What Inclusive Workplaces Should Look Like

Summary

Through encouragement, opportunity, and the belief that every young person deserves to belong somewhere, we can build a better future for young people with SEND. Learn more about entering the work force with insight from Joshua Hoskins and WorkFit.

Preparing young people with SEND for adulthood isn’t just about education. It’s about identity, confidence, independence, and the belief that they have a place in the world, including in the workplace.

Young people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, sensory needs, medical conditions, or complex SEND profiles all deserve the same opportunities to work, contribute, and belong.

And while guidance and frameworks matter, sometimes the clearest insight comes from someone living it.

That’s why this article centres the experience of Joshua Hoskins, a young man who works across two companies in the logistics industry, supports others through his advocacy, and speaks openly about what inclusion looks like from the inside. His words offer families, employers, and educators something invaluable: a real‑world picture of what’s possible when workplaces get inclusion right.

What Inclusion Looks Like in Practice

Before we dive into Joshua’s words, it’s worth reminding ourselves that inclusion isn’t a slogan. It’s not a policy document or a training session. It’s the day‑to‑day reality of how someone is treated, supported, and valued at work.

For young people with SEND, inclusion looks like:

• Being part of a team
• Being trusted with meaningful tasks
• Receiving support in ways that work for them
• Having colleagues who see their strengths
• Being able to learn, grow and contribute
• Feeling safe, respected and welcome

Your LinkedIn posts have become a form of advocacy. What made you decide to start sharing your journey publicly, and what kind of impact have you seen?

“As soon as I started work I loved it.  I knew that not many people with Down Syndrome (DS) work so I asked what we could do to help.  We came up with using LinkedIn as it would reach employers.  I know that other people with DS have found jobs, including me as my second employer found me through LinkedIn.  I have 5200 followers and post every week.  With help from Mum I reply to every comment.”

You’ve become a visible role model for inclusive employment. What changes would you most like to see in how companies recruit, train and support people with learning disabilities?

“WorkFit, part of Downs Syndrome Association, do an incredible job to support people with DS into employment.  They match candidates to employees, assess potential employers, provide training before employment starts, carry out reviews, provide ongoing support. I now help WorkFit by taking part in employer trainings as a co-trainer alongside the WorkFit Officer. I’d like companies to see what people with DS can do, not think about what can’t be done. They need to open their eyes!”

You often highlight the importance of being valued and respected at work. What does good workplace inclusion look like from your perspective?

“Inclusion is being a full part of the team, getting support when I need it, in the way that works for me.  I love working hard and being one of the team.  I also enjoy banter with my team, especially about football.  It’s sitting with my mates to have lunch together, joining in fundraising activities- doing everything that everyone else does.”

Many young people with Down’s syndrome look up to you. What would you want them to know about building confidence, finding opportunities and believing in themselves?

“If people look up to me that’s wonderful! I’d say you can do anything you believe you can do, ask for help and support from people you can trust, listen to what they say and go out and do it.  If I can, you can.  Be brave.  See what you can do.”

Looking ahead, what areas of advocacy are you most passionate about continuing to push for, in employment, representation, or community work?

“Ooh that’s a really tricky question.  Ideally all of them as there’s so much more needed in each area but if I have to choose one it’s about more employment opportunities for people with DS.  Finding a job can literally change someone for life, it has done for me.”

You’ve built a career across two companies in the logistics industry. What does a typical day look like for you and what parts of your job do you enjoy the most?

“I work as a parts assistant 2 days a week at Thermo King and one day a week at Movianto U.K. as a warehouse operative.  My parents drop me off and collect me.  At Thermo King I sign in, have a chat with my team, start work on time. I pick parts to go out to customers, I make up boxes and seal the boxes with tape ready for them to be sent out. I get the labels printed and put onto the boxes. I help put stock away when deliveries arrive. It’s important to keep everywhere clean and tidy, this makes sure we don’t have accidents. Sometimes customers come to collect the parts and I help them with their orders. I work as part of a team so it’s important I listen to my colleagues. I’ve learnt lots of new things and I love getting new tasks to do. I help with fire safety to support another team member. I carry out stock taking to help the team too. I love my job. The best thing is knowing that I make a difference and that the team love me working there.

At Movianto I go in by myself using the security measures we follow. I have great buddies who give me lots of support, they also help me to learn lots of things. These are the types of things I do: pick and pack products,  organise packages ready for deliveries to customers, print labels and put them onto packages and pallets, package products for customers,  keep the site clean and tidy,  follow instructions from my buddies colleagues and manager, work as part of a team, use a scanner and laptop, fulfilled customer orders and consignment, match boxes to paperwork, follow my personal development plan.

In both jobs, the thing that I enjoy most is being part of a team and knowing that I’m doing a really good job.”

Finding the right job after college isn’t always easy. Were there any challenges along the way, and what helped you push through them?

“When I was at college I never knew that getting a job was an option. It was always something that I’d wanted to do, but I had no idea how to get a job. Luckily my brother knew about WorkFit and spoke to my mum. She then looked into this and that’s when everything good started to happen. Without them, I don’t think that I would have found a job so I would say they were the biggest part in helping me. Molly Keal is my WorkFit Officer, she is awesome.”

You regularly highlight the importance of giving back, like donating to the foodbank each month. Why is community action such a big part of your message?

“I know I’m really lucky to have a job. Lots of people aren’t able to find work and things are very difficult for them. I’ve always been interested in helping other people as long ago as when I was at school. Once I started work I asked Mum what I could do to help other people.  We talked through different ideas and my favourite one was donating to the food bank. To make it easy we decided that I would give one hour of my pay each month to buy things that our local food bank needed. Mum checks what they need and then we go to the supermarket and she helps me choose items to the value of one hour pay. I know that this makes a real difference to people and I’m proud to do this. At different times of the year I’ll support them in a different way – for example at Easter I get Easter eggs and at Christmas I’ll buy selection boxes for the children. I’m a part of the community, the same as everybody else is, and we should all do our bit to help others.”

For young people with Down’s syndrome who want to work but aren’t sure where to start, what advice would you share from your own experience?

“For anyone with down syndrome, who wants to work, I’d say you can do this! The best advice I can give you is to look at what Workfit can do to support and get in touch with them as soon as you can. Have a think about what you like doing and what job you think you’d like to do, they will help you do the rest. I’m lucky that my mum always helps me so talk to someone else that will be able to help you too. If I can do it, you can do it!”

Looking ahead, what goals or projects are you excited about in work, advocacy, or your community work?

“My goals are to continue to do well at work and to learn new skills in both jobs, for more people with down syndrome to get jobs, to keep on fundraising for Parkland riding for the disabled Association, British disabled angling association, and to keep giving food to help our local food bank.  I want to be happy and make people proud of me.”

What Employers Can Learn from Joshua’s Experience

Joshua shows that young people with SEND want to work, and that when employers focus on strengths rather than assumptions, everything changes. Strength‑based recruitment helps employers see what a young person can do, rather than what they imagine they can’t. Joshua also highlights how much confidence grows when routines are predictable and expectations are clear, and how simple, consistent support can make a workplace feel safe and manageable.

But perhaps the most important message he shares is about belonging. Being part of a team, being included in the everyday rhythms of work, and being treated as a colleague rather than an exception, these things matter just as much as training or adjustments. When workplaces embrace this, everyone benefits. Joshua’s message to employers is direct and powerful: look at what people can do, not what you assume they can’t.

The Power of the Right Support: A Spotlight on WorkFit

Alongside Joshua’s own determination, one of the most influential parts of his journey has been the support he received through WorkFit, the Down’s Syndrome Association’s specialist supported employment programme. WorkFit provides tailored support to people who have Down’s syndrome as they explore and pursue their employment goals. Taking a person-centred approach, the programme works with individuals to understand their skills, interests and aspirations, helping to identify opportunities that are the right fit.

Joshua’s WorkFit Officer, Molly Keal, shared the following reflection on supporting him into employment:

“WorkFit is the Down’s Syndrome Association’s supported employment programme, which supports people who have Down’s syndrome into a wide range of meaningful employment opportunities. As Josh’s WorkFit Officer, I have had the pleasure of supporting him into his first job through the WorkFit programme. I first met Josh in May 2022 and carried out an initial WorkFit assessment to get to know him and find out more about his career ambitions and the workplace support that he would like to have in place. I used this information to explore career opportunities for Josh and matched his previous skills and interests to a position in the logistics industry. Josh has thrived in his role at Marshall Fleet Solutions and has since been headhunted on LinkedIn by Movianto, another fantastic logistics company that has supported him brilliantly. We have provided our WorkFit training sessions to Josh’s colleagues at Marshall Fleet Solutions and Movianto to ensure that they have the background knowledge and confidence when supporting Josh in the workplace. Josh has successfully used his LinkedIn platform as a way to raise awareness of supporting people with Down’s syndrome into employment, and he is now a co-trainer for the WorkFit Employer training sessions that we deliver ahead of a candidate starting employment. Josh is an incredibly inspiring young man who brings joy to his workplaces and he exemplifies what true inclusion looks like in the workplace.”

Molly’s insight shows just how powerful the right support can be. WorkFit doesn’t simply help someone find a job; it helps them find their job. A role that aligns with who they are and what they can offer. Alongside supporting jobseekers, WorkFit works closely with employers to create inclusive workplaces and ensure that both jobseekers and employers have the guidance and resources they need to succeed.

For families, educators and employers reading Joshua’s story, WorkFit stands out as a resource that can make the path to employment clearer, kinder and more achievable. To explore the support available for jobseekers, families and employers, visit the WorkFit webpage.

What Families Can Take From Joshua’s Story

For parents and carers, Joshua’s journey offers something deeply reassuring. It shows that the path to employment doesn’t have to be perfect or linear, and that the right support at the right time can open doors that once felt out of reach. His experience demonstrates how confidence grows through real‑world opportunities, and how young people flourish when they are valued, trusted, and encouraged to take the next step at their own pace.

It also reinforces something families often need to hear: inclusion isn’t a favour, it’s a right. Joshua’s belief in himself, and the belief others have shown in him, has shaped a future filled with purpose and pride.

How SEND Tutoring Supports Young People Preparing for Work

At SEND Tutoring, we work with young people long before they enter the workplace, helping them build the foundations that make employment possible. That includes confidence, communication, independence, and the ability to solve problems and advocate for themselves. We also help young people understand their strengths in a way that connects them to real‑world opportunities and future pathways.

A meaningful future doesn’t arrive all at once. It’s built slowly, through encouragement, opportunity, and the belief that every young person deserves to belong somewhere. Joshua’s story is a reminder of that, and a reminder that with the right support, the path forward can be wider than families sometimes dare to imagine.

Remember, not every step toward adulthood has to be a job. Sometimes it starts smaller: a routine, a responsibility, a moment of pride. Alongside Joshua’s paid work, he also volunteers, spending three days each year at Chatsworth Country Fair supporting the British Disabled Angling Association. It’s a commitment he values, and it shows how there is always something meaningful a young person can do to build independence, confidence and experience, even if employment isn’t the immediate next step.

Support for Every Learner
Discover how SEND Tutoring supports students with a wide range of needs, including Down’s syndrome, autism, dyslexia, PDA, SEMH, epilepsy, and more. 

Resources and Insights 

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Ella Jones

If you’re looking for support for a child or young person with special educational needs or a disability, book a free call with us today and find out how we can help.