Transition of Youth with Disabilities
from School to Labour Market
Ljubljana, 11. 10. 2013
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.
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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:
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improving competences,
integration of educational institutions and employers,
better career guidance in the labour market,
new job opportunities for young people.
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European Disability Strategy 2010-2020: 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.
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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.
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Data analysis: target population in Slovenia between
2005-2012: 900-1000 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).
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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!).
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
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Transnationality:
Caritas Vienna
 Queraum. cultures - & Sozialforschung, Vienna
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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
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The project has been co-funded by the
European Social Fund and Ministry of Labour,
Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities.
36 months: December 3rd 2010 – December 3rd 2013
To help young persons with disabilities in
their transition from school to employment.
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“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.”
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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.
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.
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100 hours of practical work with target group.
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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,
…
2011
2012
2013
1. 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
2. Adopting the training programme for transition
trainers, which was originally designed in the
previous project “Trainsition”.
June 2011 – October 2011
2011
2012
2013
3. Motivating institutions and individuals to enter the
training programme for transition trainers
September 2011 – December 2011
4. Preparation for implementation of the training
programme for transition trainers
January 2011 – June 2011
2011
2012
2013
5. Transnationality - visiting the Caritas in Vienna
December 2012 & March 2013
6. Practical implementation of transition of young PwD
from school to the labour market
September 2012 – June 2013
2011
2012
2013
7. Dissemination of results
June 2013 - December 2013
Evaluation – interim & final
Coordination & management
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15 trained transition counsellors
61 (nf = 27, nm = 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.
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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.