Transition of Youth with Disabilities from School to Labour Market Ljubljana, This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

 Due to economic crisis unemployment of young people has increased (mostly in developed countries); the time for finding appropriate employment has also prolonged.  Many young people are "hiding" in the educational system.  Young people are more vulnerable to poverty.  Governments are therefore looking for innovative solutions that focus on: ◦ improving competences, ◦ integration of educational institutions and employers, ◦ better career guidance in the labour market, ◦ new job opportunities for young people.

 European Disability Strategy : A Renewed Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe: - 50% rate of employment for PwD, - special attention must be paid to young people with disabilities in transition from school into labour market.

 The project is based on the fact that the transition of young disabled persons from school to the labour market in Slovenia is not integrally, systematically and adequately organised.  Poor cooperation between the institutions of education and employment.  Lack of knowledge of young people and their parents about the labor market (the system is constantly changing).  According to various data, a support system should be introduced to monitor young persons with disabilities while they are still at school and prepare them for entering the labour market.

 Data analysis: target population in Slovenia between : persons per year.  Young PwD are not registered at Employment Service of Slovenia (e.g. 36 in data for December 2012).  Case studies showed long term unemployment for youth with disabilities (no working experience at the age of 30-35). Analysis – State of the Art – I.

 In general young are very flexible, engaging in temporary and student work, working below the level of their education, etc. - institutions have remained rigid.  International studies are focusing on the fact that young people and their parents have little knowledge about the transition to the labor market and that the disclosure/hiding of disability is very complex (stigma!). Analysis – State of the Art – II.

Transition of Youth with Disabilities from School to Labour Market  Project coordinator: Racio social, Institute for Development of Social and Employment Programmes  Partners: University Rehabilitation Institute Republic of Slovenia, Development Centre for Vocational Rehabilitation and  AURIS, Intermunicipal Association of Deaf and Hard of Hearing from the Gorenjska Region

Transnationality:  Caritas Vienna  Queraum. cultures - & Sozialforschung, Vienna Associated partners:  Center for Education, Rehabilitation and Training Kamnik  Centerkontura Ltd., Ljubljana  Institute for the Death and Part Death Ljubljana  Center for Hearing and Speech Maribor  Employers' Association of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia – GIZ  Municipality Celje  Slovenian Chamber of Commerce  Employment Service of Slovenia (Ljubljana unit)  University of Ljubljana, Career Centers  IP Posočje, Ltd., Tolmin  Jazon Ltd., Ljubljana  Institute of Public Health Maribor  Clinic for Autism, Pediatric Clinic, Ljubljana

 The project has been co-funded by the European Social Fund and Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.  36 months: December 3 rd 2010 – December 3 rd 2013

 To help young persons with disabilities in their transition from school to employment.  “We must establish conditions and organisational structures that will enable professionals to work with young persons and help them in their transition from school to the labour market.”

 To train 10 professional workers that will offer assistance and support to 50 young PwD and monitor them when they make the transition from school to employment. To ensure that the professional workers perform their work successfully, they must be properly trained.

Training Programme Comprehensive training programme for professional workers:  80 hours of theoretical work in 5 modules: 1. Legislation, 2. Evaluation and assessment of competencies, 3. Learning and planning for future, 4. Partnership: schools - employers, good practices, 5. Management of transition process.  100 hours of practical work with target group.

 Physically disabled,  Deaf and hard of hearing,  Blind and visually impaired,  Individuals with intellectual/cognitive disabilities,  Individuals with learning disabilities,  Individuals with behavioral or emotional disorders,  Individuals with autism,  Individuals with cerebral palsy,  …

Background analysis of transition of young persons with disabilities from schools to the labour market in Slovenia and presentation of examples of good practices December 2010 – May 2011 Adopting the training programme for transition trainers, which was originally designed in the previous project “Trainsition”. June 2011 – October

Stages and Time Schedule Motivating institutions and individuals to enter the training programme for transition trainers September 2011 – December 2011 Preparation for implementation of the training programme for transition trainers January 2011 – June

Stages and Time Schedule Transnationality - visiting the Caritas in Vienna December 2012 & March 2013 Practical implementation of transition of young PwD from school to the labour market September 2012 – June

Stages and Time Schedule Dissemination of results June December 2013 Evaluation – interim & final 7. Coordination & management

 15 trained transition counsellors  61 (n f = 27, n m = 34) young PwD, aged above 15 years: - 43 continued with their education, - 9 included in vocational rehabilitation, - 6 employed, - 2 have dropped out of school and have not yet registered to the Employment Service of Slovenia, - 1 acquired the status in accordance with Act Concerning Social Care of Mentally and Physically Handicapped Persons.

 Good feedback from (almost) all involved participants.  Improved cooperation of professional and other institutions dealing with the transition of young PwD.  Prepared programme for the continuation of the project activities.  Development of the proposals for policy solutions at the national level.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.