Optimizing strategies for integrating people with disabilities into work (Opti-Work) A work-in-progress report Dr. Donal F. McAnaney Doing the right things right: People with disabilities in the labour market GLADNET Annual General Meeting Manama, Bahrein, 11/11/05

What is Opti-Work? A three year co-ordination action Funded under the EU 6 th Framework for Research & Technological Development Covering 15 Member States Aimed at creating economic & decision modelling tools At Funder, Job Seeker & Recruiter Level

The Research Partners IRV – The Netherlands ASTRI – The Netherlands University of Maastricht – The Netherlands Rehab Research & Innovation – Ireland Work Research Centre – Ireland London School of Economics – UK E Worx – Greece Rehabilitation Foundation – Finland Employers Forum on Disabilty - UK European Platform for Rehabilitation – 15 National Contact Centres

The Member States Denmark Germany France Ireland Italy Malta Netherlands Austria Portgual Slovenia Slovakia Finland UK Norway Romania

Project Deliverables System Framework Analysis Economic Models –Public Expenditure Impact Model –Employer Cost Benefit Analysis Model –Individual ‘Better Off’ Analysis Model Decision Models –Jobseeking Decision Thershold –Recruitment Decision Threshold

The Dilemma Structure Vs Agency

The Decision Threshold The Person The Job Personal Characteristics Health Condition Function, Capacity & Activity Environment Policy & Legislation Administration/Regulation Economic & Labour Market Conditions Socio-cultural factors (Attitudes) Products & Technology Mediating Services & Supports Workplace Conditions Family & Relationships

Project Design Jurisdictions X 15 System Profiles Legislation/Policy Regulation Fiscal/Economic Conditions Labour Market Performance Demographics System Elements Subsidies Supports Interventions Individual Environment Incentives Decision Models Job Seekers Recruiters Active Inactive Active Inactive Better Off Analysis Cost Benefit Analysis Public Expenditure Impact Tool Economic Models

Example of System Profiles

Current Status of PWD - % of Population

System Elements 1 N= 14 Member StatesExistsVery Effective Easily Accessible Vocational Assessment1243 Job Matching1344 Guidance & Counselling1446 Advocacy1122 Information & Advice1456 Case Management932 Assistive Technology1483 Intermediate Labour Market1343 Specialised VT1476 Job Coach1343 Support Employment1273

System Elements 2 N= 14 Member StatesExistsVery Effective Easily Accessible Incentives1425 Positive Action1241 Flexible Benefits943 Grant Application Assistance1334 Financial Support1365 Equipment Grants1475 Disability Awareness Training841 Reasonable Accommodation1055 Workplace Adaptations1473 Job Reorganisation1122 Accessible Transport1433 Personal Assistants1253

System Elements 3 N= 14 Member StatesExistsVery Effective Easily Accessible Accessibility Adviser/Ergonomist1373 Disability Equality Proofing512 Disability Positive Accreditation500 Workplace Monitoring1132 Recruitment Support Agencies1055 Productivity Related Finance1062 Financial Incentives1283 Subsidies1394 Employment Quotas823 Employment Levies513

Job Seeker Threshold Inactive Job Seekers Active Job Seekers Dependency Role Home Functions Self Development Active Citizenship Active Caring Full Time Job Part Time Job Agency Job Contract Work Self Employment Remain outside LM Seek to enter LM Threshold Health Function Activity Limitation Environment Personal Characteristics Mental Physical Sensory/Pain Voice/Speech Metabolic/Phys Progressive Stable Chronic Domestic Living Interpersonal Learning Mobility Communication Self-Care Products & Technology Physical Environment Supports & Relationships Attitudes Services & Systems Age; Gender; Ethnicity; Legal Status; Expectations; Beliefs; Level of Qualification

Recruiter Threshold Inactive Recruiter Active Recruiter Reactive Disregard Low Priority Defensive Risk Manage Avoidance Compliant Equality Proof Adapt Policy / Culture Proactive ID Candidates Job Match Passive Active Threshold System Drivers Socio- Economic Drivers HR Finance GM Internal Drivers Personal Drivers Labor Market Conditions Competitor Behaviour Social Partner Influence Economic Performance Legislation/Policy Regulation/Enforcement Incentives Supports/Services Organisational Policy Infrastrucuture Ethos & Experience Performance Indicators Type/Size/Sector Personal Experience Beliefs & Conceptions Skills & Competences

Stakeholder Focus Group A key barrier to getting people with disabilities into employment is………… When I think of why we have been successful in getting people with disabilities into work I think of……… One thing I would change to help get people with disabilities into employment would be to ………………

Stakeholder Focus Group You have been placed in charge of a budget of public money for disability issues in your country, lets say €100 million. (You can replace with national currency as appropriate) You can choose to spend this in anyway you wish on one or more of the following areas: OptionMoney Invested (€’s) Initiatives to get people with disabilities into employment in the open labour market Reforming the disability benefits system Investing in measures to improve independent living Better enforcement of laws against discrimination and exclusion Investing in changing public attitudes Improving access to cultural and leisure activities Tackling “insert here most popular option Question 2” Tackling insert here second most popular option Question 2 Insert here most popular option Question 3 Insert here second most popular option Question 3 You have been placed in charge of a budget of public money for disability issues in your country, lets say €100 million. (You can replace with national currency as appropriate) You can choose to spend this in anyway you wish on one or more of the following areas

Stakeholder Focus Group You have been placed in charge of a budget of public money for disability issues in your country, lets say €100 million. (You can replace with national currency as appropriate) You can choose to spend this in anyway you wish on one or more of the following areas: “The Ministry of Finance has unexpectedly received a higher level of tax revenues than expected due to economic growth. This means that there is an extra €100 million available for public expenditure and there are two possibilities A) Invest this money in a scheme which will definitely create 1000 extra jobs in the manufacturing and service sectors sector and also strengthen enforcement of anti-discrimination laws in the workplace. However there is no guarantee that anyone who has been long term disabled will be employed as a result of the scheme. B) Alternatively you could invest this money in a scheme targeted specifically at people with disabilities. How many jobs for people with disabilities would this scheme need to be created for you to make you feel indifferent between choosing either option A or B? There is no right or wrong answer to this question – the number of jobs that would need to be created is entirely up to you. Remember that if you invest in option B then you lose the opportunity to create 1000 jobs in the open labour market.