Service and training providers

This report focuses on the role of adapted work settings in the international framework provided by the UNCRPD; in particular, special attention has been given to Article 26 and 27, as they both deal with principles, measures and services offered by adapted work settings.
Adapted work settings, commonly known also as sheltered workshops, are not referred to in the UNCRPD. This requires clarifications for the thousands of people that benefit from their services and whose future looks therefore uncertain.
The analysis was carried out starting from three main subjects:
- what the Convention brought in general terms through its paradigm shift and the subsequent challenges for social services
- the analysis of the current text of Article 26 and 27 and the links to the role of sheltered workshop matters
- the history of the discussions around the inclusion of sheltered workshops in the UN CRPD.

Services like sheltered workshops may sometimes and very often fulfill more than one function for persons with disabilities, thus their compliance to the UN CRPD articles is particularly sensitive. In the framework of a holistic approach to persons with disabilities, where disability itself is not the focus of attention, but everything is about the individual and the enjoyment of his rights, it is of utter importance to keep a good balance between the multitude of skills, personal choices, possibilities of individual development and society’s response.    
The report provides a state of play of possible links existing between sheltered workshops and the UN CRPD in order to gain a view on future developments needed in the provision of work opportunities to persons with (intellectual) disabilities.

The full report is available here.

For more information on the report please contact Ms. Sabrina Ferraina at sabrina.ferraina@easpd.eu.

Many agencies that provide services across the EU are directly concerned with helping people with learning disabilities become employed. Employment can provide a route to better financial stability, independence, personal development and self-fulfillment. People with learning disabilities have a life-long disability and service providers do face a number of specific challenges in helping them overcome these difficulties to become employed. People with learning disabilities do have many talents and, with the right help and support, can become high quality employees.

The LABOr Knowledge Centre provides a resource for service providers across Europe wishing to gain an overview of good employment practice, supporting legislation and policy across the EU. Much of the information is supplied by service providers directly engaged in helping people with learning disabilities become employed. Through this website you can find out for a wide range of countries :

• How agencies are approaching vocational assessment and training, open market job finding and placement, workplace support and sheltered work and social enterprise provision, along with their views on best practice.
• What tools, resources and contacts they have found useful in their work.
• Links to websites and documents where more detailed information can be obtained.
• Local LABOr Project Partners for each country through which further contacts can be made and information obtained.
• Commentaries from employers and people with learning disabilities on what has helped them employ a person with a learning disability, or to be employed as a learning disabled person.
• What Labour Market Programmes (LMPs) Member States and Regional Governments use to help people with learning disabilities enter paid employment, and statistics on who is employed through them.
• Information on the legislation and policies that support getting people with learning and other disabilities into work.
• Commentaries from service provider agencies on what aspects of LMPs, policies and legislation help or hinder them in their work, and how things should change.
• Statistics on how much is spent and how many people are employed through LMPs.
  

Please click on the link Knowledge Centre to look for appropriate articles and information, or use the Search facility.

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