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SPECIAL PEOPLE or

SPECIAL NEEDS

Kapka PanayotovaCenter for Independent Living - Sofia

Skopje, 09th July 2012

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Corporate Social Responsibility

A relatively new concept targeting thebusiness sector to become involved inthe implementation of human rights

policies and it addresses attitudestowards diversity in society and on theworkplace by making corporations a

stakeholder to social policies

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Disability statistics

ILO estimates: 610 million disabled peopleworldwide.

There are 39 million disabled people in Europe.

Disability is estimated to affect 10% to 20% ofevery countrys population.

33% of people aged 50 65 have a disability.

41% of disabled people of working age have no

educational qualifications in comparison to 18% ofnon-disabled people.

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Where does the disability lie?

Sickness impairment disability

The disabling environment

Accessibility + technical aids +personal assistance = inclusion

Attitudes to disabled people

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Article 13 of the EU Treaty

European Directive on Equal Treatment inEmployment and Occupation was adopted inNovember 2000:

Art. 1. The purpose of this Directive is to lay downa general framework for combatingdiscrimination on the grounds of religion or belief,disability, age or sexual orientation as regards

employment and occupation, with a view to puttinginto effect in the Member States the principle ofequal treatment.

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Environment :

Cultural: welcoming, friendly

Physical: fully accessible

Institutional: inclusive, promoting

independent living, choice andempowerment

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Employment Policies:

Support for the employers to deal withreasonable accommodation for their

potential disabled employees;

Support for disabled people based on

individual assessment of their needs -transport, assistance on the job, lowercapacity to keep up with the pace of work,etc.

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The Bulgarian Example

Bulgaria is one of the countrieswith dominant special enterprisesand subsidised employment fordisabled people

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Disabilities of the System

No support for the disabled employees atall it is made for people with a disabilitystatus but not necessarily disabled;

Over bureaucratic complicatedprocedures, too much paper work;discouraging for real employers;

Provides for subsidized employment atthe level of minimum monthly salary!

Time-limited!

Corruption of the system.

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Conclusions:

1. Government makes efforts to increase economicactivity and employment rates among disabledpeople.

2. The only tool used is subsidised employmentschemes.

3. People with higher levels of dependency andcomplex needs wheelchair users, people withsevere impairments or intellectual disabilities

can barely get a job.

4. There is no monitoring and evaluation of thedisability related employment schemes.

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CSR: one of the mainstreaming tools

Generally beneficial for all parties

Encounters difficulties as well

Government support is crucial for thesuccess

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How to make it work?

Study the legislation regarding disabilities,employment and government supportoffered;

Assign a person responsible for inclusion.

Develop a plan

Stay open-minded and flexible.

Announce and advertise the CSR policyand disability employment plans.

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Employers Role :

Create supportive environment friendly for all and everyone!

Behave as an employer, i.e.demanding, not as a social service!

Compensate the shortcomings of thesystem if a disabled person meetsthe requirements of a vacantposition!

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NGOs: bridging the path betweenemployers and disabled job-seekers

At the Employers end:

- Overcome the traditional attitudes;- Design accessible physical

environment;

- Estimate the cost of hiring a disabledperson.

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NGOs: bridging the path betweenemployers and disabled job-seekers

At the disabled people end:

- Overcome the traditional disability cultureof being passive;

- Mobilise social networks of support;

- Help them organise their daily activities asdisciplined employees.

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Donts

Do not open jobs especiallydesignated for disabled employees!

Do not make assumptions about thedisabled candidates!

Do not approach the person withlesser demands or expectations thanthe job requires or than others aresubjected to!

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Thank you for yourattention!