. It describes the achievements of the 16th Legislative Period but also the issues that need to be addressed by the new Government to be elected in September 2009. The Federal Association of Workshops for Adapted Work was asked by the Federal Government to issue a statement on the content of the report. Some of excerpts from the text are presented here:
The Federal Association of Workshops for Adapted Work agrees with the Federal Government that workshops are an important element for the (only in this way possible) participation into working life for at least 270,000 persons. The report should therefore pay a clearer tribute to this form of participation.
Regarding the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, BAG WfbM points out to the long-lasting voting process on how to translate the term of „inclusion”, that took place. The occasionally used designation „mainstreaming” in the report describes the idea of inclusion just as inadequate as the term „normality”. According to the understanding of BAG WfbM, the idea of inclusion implies that every part of society is considered equally good and has to be respected the way it is.
With regard to „Supported Employment”, BAG WfbM points out that the target group of Article 38a of Social Code Book 9 are all disabled persons, who require intensive support. This shall not exclude workshop employees. Also important to mention is the fact that participants in this measure are currently – unlike the draft’s description – not for such a long period of time familiarized with the work until a work contract is concluded. According to Article 38a of Social Code Book 9, the measure should comprise an internal individual qualification and if necessary work assistance.
BAG WfbM has also stresses that the assignment of workshops was not described correctly in the report. Workshops do still have the assignment of making participation into working life possible for persons who „because of the nature or severity of a disability can not or not yet (again) be employed in the general labour market”.
The report’s description of workshop services concentrates primarily on the transition to the general labour market. The report does not take into consideration the main services offered by workshops such entry procedure, vocational trainig, working area, outhoused vocational training and working area, areas of working promotion and many other offers for severely and multiple disabled persons.
BAG WfbM remains convinced that a better professional training of the workshop employees would offer greater chances for the transition into integration projects or the general labout market. Therefore BAG WfbM repeats its recommendations:
- at minimum of three years of vocational training in workshops should finally become binding
- workshop qualifications have to become officially recognized, so that other forms of qualification can build on them
- professional qualifications that are not provided for in legal norms have to be made possible
Workshop-funding organisations consider themselves on the right way to providing a modern rehabilitation on the basis of best possible self determination to those persons who are entitled to receive such services. They continue to support the government in adapting successful concepts such as the outhoused working places.
The Federal Association of Workshops for Adapted Work does not share the Federal Government’s view that the existing regulations are sufficient to implement the service of personal budget. Especially the two projects in which BAG WfbM is involved show that missing regulations lead to difficulties. Nevertheless, especially the project WerkstattBudget is presented as a solution that is already attracting much attention. BAG WfbM assumes that the ways developed by the legislator and services funds will receive the appropriate support for the country-wide implementation.
