Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of People with Disabilities: From Principles to Practice Debra Perry Senior Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation International Labour Office (ILO)

Topics / Activities Challenges and Barriers International Standards ILO Conventions and Recommendations Current Trends Examples of Good Practice

The Challenge 600 million disabled people worldwide 370 million in Asia 386 million of working-age worldwide 238 million in Asia Most live in rural areas Unemployment rates are double that of the general population and as high as 80 percent Disability and poverty are linked The socioeconomic costs are high

Barriers to Employment Negative attitudes Lack of policy support Unequal access to education and training Low self-esteem, overprotective families Inaccessible buildings and transport Lack of assistive devices, support services, information

Workers with Disabilities Are capable and talented Can work and perform on par with their peers (Dupont Study (U.S.), Lou Harris poll (U.S.), Marriot (U.S.), Centrica (UK), Tricon Restaurants (Australia) Have greater job retention

The Response: Promote Full Participation International Declarations, Standards etc. Regional Decade of Disabled Persons National Legislation and Policies Service Delivery Systems and Programs Self-Help and Advocacy Groups Promoting Awareness

Timeline 1955 ILO VR Recommendation No. 99 1971 UN Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons 1975 UN Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons 1981 UN International Year of Disabled Persons 1982 UN World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons 1983-1992 UN Decade of Disabled Persons 1983 ILO VR (Disabled) Convention No. 159 1983 ILO VR (Disabled) Recommendation No. 168 1993 UN Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities 1993-2002 Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons

The ILO and People with Disabilities Decent work for all - non-discrimination Equality of opportunity Equality of treatment Mainstreaming in training and employment Choice Special measures Community participation Tripartite consultations Involvement of disabled persons and NGOs

Basic Definitions: ILO Instruments Disabled Person: An individual whose prospects of securing and retaining suitable employment are substantially reduced as a result of physical or mental impairment (introduced in R 99). Vocational Rehabilitation: That part of the continuous and coordinated process of rehabilitation which involves the provision of those vocational services, e.g. vocational guidance, vocational training and selective placement, designed to enable a disabled person to secure and retain suitable employment (introduced in R 99).

Recommendation No. 99 (1955) Covers all disabled people Identifies vocational guidance, training and placement principles Recommends approaches to implementing principles

R99: Highlights Use existing services Enable disabled people to use services Include employers and trade unions Foster cooperation between medical and VR Expand vocational opportunities Establish sheltered workshops/homebound Develop services for children and youth

Convention No. 159 (1983) Purpose of Vocational Rehabilitation Equity issues Policy and Action

Purpose of Vocational Rehabilitation To enable a disabled person to secure, retain and advance in suitable employment and thereby to further such person’s integration or reintegration into society (introduced in C 159 and R 168)

Equity Services in urban and rural areas Serve all types of disabled persons Equity Among disabled and other workers Special positive measures okay Between disabled women and men

Convention No. 159 POLICY National VR Input from employers, labor unions, and people with disabilities Fosters open employment ACTION Includes the delivery and evaluation of VR services Has provisions for competent personnel and staff training

R168: Highlights Expands VR principles Suggests measures to increase employment opportunities Encourages full community participation Provides approaches to equalize rural and urban services Identifies strategies for VR staff development Specifies mechanisms for engaging workers’, employers’ and disabled persons’ organizations

R168: Create Job Opportunities

R168: Reduce Barriers to Employment

ILO Disability Programme Policy Advice Technical Cooperation Activities Research Projects Others: Code of Practice on Disability GLADNET - Global Applied Disability and Information Network on Employment

Asia Pacific Decade Target Areas 1. National coordination 2. Legislation 3. Information, 4. Public awareness 5. Accessibility and Communication 6. Education 7. Training and Employment 8. Prevention of causes of disability 9. Rehabilitation 10. Assistive devices 11. Self-help organizations 12. Regional cooperation

Training and Employment Targets

Trends Affecting Vocational Rehabilitation From Charity to Civil Rights From the Industrial to the Knowledge Economy From Centralized to Community -based Services

Charity Civil Rights The disability movement Inclusion of all disability groups Medical to social model of disability Costs of the welfare state The business argument

Implications Disabled people involved in planning, services, and evaluation Mainstream services inclusive Services more innovative and effective All types of disabled persons served Multisectoral approaches

Industrial Knowledge Economy New focus on information and technology Globalization ICT and new work tools Businesses must be leaner, meaner and smarter Fast-paced, changing, more competitive workplace Threats and opportunities for disabled persons

Implications Training must address new technology Training must be flexible English language important New work structures (e.g. teleworking) Life-long learning important Must meet employer needs

Centralized Community More attention, autonomy to communities Fewer resources and weaker infrastructures Different needs and standards Greater reliance on informal sector and self-employment for jobs More family and community involvement

Implications Standard VR practices may not apply Each community has different resources and needs Community based services must reflect them All resources should be tapped Services and staff must be flexible and diverse Expand concept of employment (e.g. self-employment, cooperative) Poverty alleviation and income generation programs should include disabled people Full community participation