Case Study: Menphys
Mentorship Partner: Menphys
Mentor: Disabled Children and Young People (Aged 0–25) and Their Families
Mentor: Bob Snarey
Overview
Menphys operates the Menphys Hub, a Centre of SEND Excellence, providing co-designed services that tackle social isolation, empower families, and help disabled young people thrive. Their programmes include employability training, early intervention projects, and partnership work with schools and health services.
Menphys serves children and young people with a wide range of needs, including learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities, communication differences, and complex medical conditions across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. Many beneficiaries face barriers such as exclusion from mainstream education, low income, mental health challenges, or isolation.
Why This Project Matters
Disabled young people are often excluded from mainstream training and opportunities, facing low expectations and limited exposure to the technologies shaping the future. This project addresses those gaps by:
Accessible AI Integration: Introducing AI tools in a supported, tailored way to ensure young people gain practical, real-world understanding of technologies shaping modern work.
Life Skills and Employment Preparation: Offering targeted preparation aligned with the SEND Code of Practice, which mandates support for preparation for adulthood from age 14.
Promoting Equity: Ensuring that disabled young people are not left behind in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Building Confidence: Helping beneficiaries develop skills, independence, and self-assurance to engage with future employment opportunities.
Creating Scalable, Multi-Layered Impact
Disabled young people gain confidence and practical AI skills relevant to education and work
Families and carers benefit from inclusive, accessible support structures
Programmes equip participants to navigate mainstream and alternative pathways to employment and independence
A Model for the Future
By embedding AI within accessible, co-designed life skills and employability training, Menphys demonstrates a model where technology supports equity and empowerment. This project exemplifies how disabled young people, historically excluded from technological and employment opportunities, can thrive in a rapidly changing world.