Assisting Disabled Persons in Finding Employment

1. GLADNET Annual General Meeting, Bahrain, November 2005 Assisting Disabled Persons in Finding Employment ILO Support to Placement Services B. Murray, ILO

2. Origins: Pilot Project, Asia • Target - Asia and Pacific Decade for Disabled Persons • Project aim • To develop the capacity of employment placement services in Asian to provide services to job seekers with disabilities • Coverage • 4 countries of Asia • China, Malaysia,Thailand, Vietnam, • Duration • 1997-99

3. Project Steps • Drafting of Guidelines for Placement Personnel • Training workshops in each country • Job Placement Service managers • Placement officers • Testing of guidelines - 4 countries • Finalization, translation into national languages • Training of Trainers workshops • Conference to review and discuss - 8 countries • Guide for Employment Service Managers and Policy makers prepared, translated, widely disseminated

4. Follow-up Activities • Guidelines for Placement Officers, Policy Makers and Managers • Originals reprinted • Translated into French, Spanish, Arabic as well as 5 langauges of Asia • Customized for Caribbean and Latin American Regions • Customization underway for African Continent (French and English Speaking Countries • Translation into Portuguese envisaged - Brazil, African countries • Resource Book for Trainers • Pilot tested - Caribbean Region end 2003 • Translated and used in training - China 2004 • Translated into Arabic, currently in printing • Guide to Job and Work Analysis • Currently at printers • Materials disseminated through WAPES, ILO and USAID projects

5. Practical Guide • Disabled persons and employment • Placement officer role • Steps in assisting the job search • Cooperating with employers • Getting started

6. Developing an Effective Placement Servicefor People with Disabilities Policy Law Operational Strategy M o n i t o r i n g/ E v a l u a t i o n General/Specific Wholesale/Retail Direct Service/Self-Service Preparation For Jobs - Vocational assessment - Skills training - Pre-placement guidance - Job-seeking skills - Production Units - Work Trials Placement - Information on - job vacancies - job seekers - Contacts with employers - Technical advice - Job/Work Analysis - Job matching - Job coaching - Follow-up Self Employment - Skills training - Business skills - Access to credit - Access to raw materials - Marketing - Technical advice Publicity - Media - Seminars - Job Bazaars - Videos - Publications - Networking

7. Building Strategic Alliances Universities Research Institutes Mainstream Placement Services Non-Governmental Organizations Employers Other Ministries  Buildings  Transport Employers’ Organizations Placement Service Policy-Shapers Managers JPOs Education Ministry Disabled Peoples’ Organizations Skills Training Centres Social Workers Counsellors Job-Seekers with Disabilities Media Families

8. Conclusions drawn • Mainstream Services alone not always sufficient • Specialist services, including NGOs - great commitment and motivation, plus in-depth knowledge • Widespread interest of placement services in catering to persons with disabilities - worldwide • Great scope for further support to service development - developing and transition countries.

9. Materials available • Assisting Disabled Persons in Finding Employment - Practical Guide • Job Placement of Persons with Disabilities - Elements of an Effective Service • Resource Book for Trainers of Job Placement Officers • Guide to Job and Work Analysis See website: WWW.ilo.org/employment/disability