Employment and training for people with disabilities: the role
of Europe
David FrenchFrench and Burt Ltd
Project design, direction and evaluationPolicy analysis and
consultancy
This presentation
It is to help put Bifocal in its European context:Past, present
and future.
It reflects my experience: The outcomes of projects I have
worked on as director, partner, specialist consultant and external
evaluator.
The numerous conferences and meetings I've attended over 25
years.
The many things I have learned from talking to colleagues,
project staff, policy-makers and, of course, disabled people and
their organisations.
'Disability': a priority for Europe
The EU recognises the importance of VET in an open labour
marketTherefore equal access to VET is a European priority
Combating social exclusion is a priority of the 'Citizens'
Europe'
So action to improve equality of access became a priority in
social and economic policy as well as a key feature of relevant
European programmes
Main project themes
Developing employabilityHelping disabled people to recognise and
use their existing skills
Providing direct support and training e.g. through mentoring
Working with teachers against barriers to access and
participation in VET
Working with employers to open the workplace
Some policy implications
Access to VET is key to access to jobsBut barriers - both
explicit and hidden persist
Over-concern with physical access is a continuing problem
The 'business case' for employing disabled people is very
powerful
There is a great deal of latent support for improved practice
the challenge is to mobilise it
More policy implications
The implementation of policy works at very different speeds
within and between countries.
The 'old status quo' retains powerful support.
Overall orientation
Developing materials to enable people in mainstream
organisations to take the same responsibility for their disabled
students and employees as they wouldfor any other
What of the future?
The pressure towards progress is greater than pressure for a
retreat.
But progress won't be steady or consistent.
Project funding at European level will remain vital but getting
it will require ever- increasing ingenuity.
Development must meet local needs and circumstances.One size
does not fit all: not all users are the same.
Cultural adaptation will always be crucial.
But we must not give way on core principles
