A seminar on „Inclusion of persons with disabilities into the educational system and the labour market – current challenges faced by workers and employers" took place in Lublin/Poland from 24 to 27 October 2024, organised by Europejski Dom Spotkań - Fundacja Nowy Staw, in cooperation with EZA and funded by the European Union.
Representatives of workers’ organisations from Poland, Spain, Lithuania, Slovakia, Italy, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France participated in the seminar, but also also representatives of NGOs, science institutions, municipal institutions and employers.
Objectives
The main objective of the seminar was a debate and then exchange good practices, opinions and ideas related to the challenges of today's labour market and education system for people with different kind of disabilities. Special attention was paid to multi-faceted debate on the situation of people with disabilities: intellectual, mental, physical at different stages of educational and professional life and attempts have been made to define conclusions and recommendations for the future.
The richness of the panel discussions was made possible by the participation of speakers representing various labour market circles: trade unions, NGOs organisations, universities, companies and municipal institutions. The panels included people from different parts of Europe measuring the problems and challenges of the labour market for workers with disabilities.
Thanks to the participation of both practitioners working in the field of disability activation on a daily basis and labour market researchers, our panels enabled the exchange of knowledge, learning about European practices, as well as providing an opportunity for discussion and networking
Main topics
During our seminar speakers and seminar audience could exchange knowledge and reflections connected with different aspects of the educational and professional situation of people with disabilities on the labour as follows:
-Difficulties in supporting people with disabilities in the long term were discussed due to the lack of sustainable funding - many NGOs run support from grant to grant; if funding is not available, activities for people with disabilities have to be suspended - lack of regularity of activities despite huge demand. The need for systemic solutions to ensure continuity of such support was emphasised
-The important role of NGOs in supporting employment was discussed - the conference presented the successes of European NGOs in helping to employ people with disabilities and in providing educational and vocational support for them
-An important aspect of the discussion at an anthropological level was the presentation of the human being as a subject of work (rather than an object) - Catholic Social Teaching was quoted pointing out and emphasising human dignity. The need for social solidarity in support of people struggling with disabilities was also clearly highlighted
-Good practices - worthy of imitation and sharing - in the provision of activation activities for people with disabilities were presented. The perspective of employers who hire people with disabilities on a daily basis and the perspective of co-workers and volunteers assisting these people were presented
-The challenges faced by employers in employing people with disabilities were discussed
-Panellists representing organisations involved in assisting people with disabilities presented the activities of their organisations - including the areas of commercial activity to which they invite people with disabilities - and shared their own perspectives on working with them - the difficulties, but also and above all the ways in which they manage their staff and discover their talents and individual potential
-Examples were presented of European corporations that are very successful in employing people with disabilities effectively using modern technology in providing them with decent working conditions
-The important role of digitalisation in adapting workplaces for people with disabilities, which is already evident in many international companies, was highlighted
-The role of universities (Spanish and Polish examples) in supporting students with disabilities as a reaction to the still existing stigma of people with mental disorders is also discussed; an example of Spanish solutions is given - where a government law obliges universities to have an office for prevention and psychopedagogical orientation to promote mental well-being among students
-Legal regulations in various European countries, which impose an obligation on employers to employ people with disabilities but also provide certain benefits (e.g. tax relief or additional funds for adapting the workplace), are discussed
-Systemic solutions in each country - both positive and unsuccessful - were presented; many panellists stressed that there is still a lot of work to be done in their countries in terms of labour laws and ministerial regulations to effectively and wisely support people with disabilities
-As part of one of the discussion panels, the results of a project by the Nowy Staw Foundation, carried out in cooperation with academic staff at Maria Curie Skłodowska University in Lublin, entitled ‘Programme for breaking stereotypes of persons on the autism spectrum’ were presented. Stereotypes and myths about people on the autism spectrum were discussed; tips on how to communicate properly with people on the spectrum were recommended, and a profile of these people was presented: the qualities they reflect at work (many positive ones, such as conscientiousness, loyalty, honesty, and creativity). In addition, the specifics of their social relationships, including their working environment, were presented. Recommendations for work and education have been made in this report under the heading: recommendations
-The role of trade unions in protecting the rights of workers with disabilities - in terms of decent pay as well as working conditions and the principles of non-discriminatory recruitment - was discussed
-It also looked at the increase in disability in Ukraine due to the war taking place there and the injuries to soldiers and civilians that affect health and becoming disabled; it also outlined what trade unions in Ukraine are currently doing to help victims of the war
-The importance of permeating the public debate on support for people with disabilities was highlighted.
Selected conclusions
-There is still a low level of awareness among employers about employing people with disabilities
-No view of the potential of a person with a disability - more attention is paid to imperfections, health problems
-Prejudices against people with disabilities still exist and they also apply to the labour market
-Lack of preparation of employers themselves to employ people with disabilities - mental, technical, formal
-Often NGO and volunteer activities are ahead of government action
-There are also still many stereotypes associated with mental disabilities - in many societies a fear of contacting/cooperating with people with mental disabilities is perpetuated
-Dialogue with people is important - empowering them to express their needs and to decide - people with disabilities should have a sense of influence and empowerment (‘nothing about us without us’ principle)
-People with disabilities are also very skilled workers - they should have the same employment opportunities as non-disabled people; their potential should be exploited
-In approaching a person with a disability, it is important to have a holistic approach and to have multiple professionals working together from the very beginning to support the child and their parents
-The people with disabilities for whom we work should be treated as causal, autonomous individuals and not as ‘our wards’
-Need for access to information for people with disabilities about educational and vocational opportunities - creation of a comprehensive information system at national, but also regional level
Recommendations:
-There is a need to create jobs in the social economy and to promote such employment
-There should be good and effective social campaigns among employers to make them want to employ people with disabilities
-The need to create appropriate working conditions in order to be able to employ people with disabilities - here there is a need for both education of employers, wider society and legal adjustments - e.g. additional financial support for employers to be able to retrofit workplaces accordingly
-Need for systemic work to support people with disabilities in their education process: work with families, teachers, educators, peers - need to build inclusive societies
-Legal changes are recommended, but they are not the only solution - the awareness of societies, especially employers, needs to be changed through appropriate training and campaigns to promote the employment of people with disabilities
-Participation of people with disabilities in decisions made in companies where they are employed is recommended
-Based on the research and results of the project ‘Programme for breaking stereotypes about people on the autism spectrum’, our experts recommend the following solutions:
In terms of social campaigns - promoting a policy of equal opportunities and awareness that everyone deserves a place in society; creating campaigns with people on the spectrum (such a film promoting the employment of people on the spectrum was also developed as part of this project) ; extending campaigns especially to employers
In terms of job activation - internship programmes and: adaptation of workplaces (e.g. quiet rooms), flexible working hours, use of technology, described, clear procedures to follow, running mentoring programmes (introductory person in the workplace, available), access to therapist and psychologist, programmes to support employers - training, funds for adaptation of workplaces; support of career counsellors which will be based on individualised approach, education of employers, cooperation with other professionals and assistance in adaptation of workplace
-One of the recommendations is also to unify the support and provision for persons with disabilities across the European Union - to introduce uniform laws governing education at all levels and employment
-The diversity of disabilities (including mental disabilities) should be taken into account in actions and regulations
-There should be an integration of the education system : school - hospital – home.