1. Current Practice in Skills Development for Persons with Disabilities A new research and advocacy activity – ILO Disability Programme, 2004-5 GPDD Washington 20-21 May 2004

2. International Labour Organization (ILO) Primary goal: to promote decent and productive work for women and men, including persons with disabilities, in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity The ILO works to achieve this goal through knowledge-building, advocacy and service activities

3. Skills Development for Disabled Persons – Current Practice Vocational skills training as part of social welfare, vocational rehabilitation or employment services in many countries Training provision in specialized programmes and institutions for persons with disabilities - most common Some provision through distance learning, mobile training units Some provision in secondary schools Growing attention to training in workplace Increasing emphasis on mainstream training, in training centres, apprenticeships

4. The ILO and Skills Development for Persons with Disabilities Governments reqiured to provide vocational training for disabled persons as part of a package measures to promote employment People with disabilities should have access to services provided for the general population where possible Strategic Aim 2004-5: Promote investment in quality, effective training, to improve access to labour market

5. ILO Disability Programme Activity on Skills Development, 2004-05: Collect information on current policies and practices in skills development for disabled persons in mainstream training institutions and programmes, in special centres and settings, and other formats Identify good practice

6. Progress to Date Desk Review completed, Geneva –Building on work of project ‘Employment of People with Disabilities - The Impact of Legislation’ (Govt of Ireland) –GLADNET 2 technical cooperation projects initiated –Strategies for Skills Acquisition and Work for Persons with Disabilities in Southern Africa (Govt of Flanders) –Community-based Rehabilitation: good practices in skills acquisition and work for persons with disabilities (Govt of Finland).

7. Next Steps Task Force, Advisory Group to be formed, linked to sILO offices in different Regions Fundraising Potential collaborating organizations to be approached Plan of work to be further elaborated and shared with potential collaborating organizations

8. Outputs Report on Current Trends in Skills Acquisition - Persons with Disabilities Regional Consultations on effective vocational training for persons with disabilities Guide to effective practice and innovations in vocational training for persons with disabilities in different settings