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BAG WfbM and EASPD at the European Parliament
Together with the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD), the Federal Association of Workshops for Adapted Work (BAG WfbM) organizes an event in the European Parliament in Brussels. The event is titled “Employment for Persons with Disabilities – Key for Social Inclusion and Personal Development” and will take place on 26th of January 2010. Two Members of the European Parliament, who are also Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, will host it: Jean Lambert and Jutta Steinruck.
The event offers the opportunity to exchange information with Members of the European Parliament on current employment policies and quality work settings for persons with disabilities, both from the point of view of persons with disabilities and staff employed in social services. Several European organisations that are engaged in this field will actively participate in this event. Among others, participants from Belgium, Italy, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Austria and France will attend.
Interventions will be given by Axel Willenberg, Board Member of BAG WfbM, and Franz Wolfmayr, President of EASPD. Axel Willenberg will stress the importance of workshops for adapted work for severely disabled persons in a world that is ruled by the economy. While a vast majority of the European population is engaged in reaching a high living standard and finding self-fulfilment, (despite the financial crisis), persons with disabilities – due to their reduced productivity and their limited education – are not able to cope on their own with market demands.
German workshops are not profit oriented, but inclusive institutions that are part of an extensive system of vocational rehabilitation institutions. They are funded mainly from public resources. Only a fraction of funding comes from financial earnings. Workshops are special work places because work is adapted to the individual needs. Occupation is accompanied by supporting, training and therapy measures, offered by specialist staff. Because the productive efficiency of workshop employees does not correspond to the requirements of profit-oriented companies, the German legislation has taken measures to support their participation in working life. Severely disabled persons employed in workshops are completely protected against dismissal; their occupation does not depend on efficiency.
The event offers the opportunity to exchange information with Members of the European Parliament on current employment policies and quality work settings for persons with disabilities, both from the point of view of persons with disabilities and staff employed in social services. Several European organisations that are engaged in this field will actively participate in this event. Among others, participants from Belgium, Italy, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Austria and France will attend.
Interventions will be given by Axel Willenberg, Board Member of BAG WfbM, and Franz Wolfmayr, President of EASPD. Axel Willenberg will stress the importance of workshops for adapted work for severely disabled persons in a world that is ruled by the economy. While a vast majority of the European population is engaged in reaching a high living standard and finding self-fulfilment, (despite the financial crisis), persons with disabilities – due to their reduced productivity and their limited education – are not able to cope on their own with market demands.
German workshops are not profit oriented, but inclusive institutions that are part of an extensive system of vocational rehabilitation institutions. They are funded mainly from public resources. Only a fraction of funding comes from financial earnings. Workshops are special work places because work is adapted to the individual needs. Occupation is accompanied by supporting, training and therapy measures, offered by specialist staff. Because the productive efficiency of workshop employees does not correspond to the requirements of profit-oriented companies, the German legislation has taken measures to support their participation in working life. Severely disabled persons employed in workshops are completely protected against dismissal; their occupation does not depend on efficiency.
