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

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

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

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

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

PolicyLaw Operational Strategy Developing an Effective Placement Service for People with Disabilities General/SpecificWholesale/RetailDirect 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 M o n i t o r i n g/ E v a l u a t i o n

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

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.

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: