ILO Videos Encourage Hiring of Disabled Workers

People with disabilities make excellent employees according to employers filmed in four countries and highlighted in two ILO videos, AbilityAsia and AbilityThailand. These two videos, geared to an employer audience, are designed to dispel negative attitudes and stereotypes by showing powerful images of disabled people working productively and by giving voice to employers who praise their capabilities.

AbilityAsia, which is narrated by Michelle Cheung of CNBC, encourages employers to hire disabled workers by identifying specific benefit. It also educates them about methods of integrating disabled workers into workplaces. The video includes interviews with employers and their employees with disabilities and shows disabled workers on the job. Further, through interviews with experts and representatives of employer groups focusing on disability - like the Business Advisory Council in Cambodia and the Employers' Network on Disability in Sri Lanka - the message is clear: hiring people with disabilities makes good business sense.

Filmed in Thailand, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong, AbilitiyAsia illustrates how workers with disabilities can perform effectively in a variety of jobs and work settings. Although the video is primarily intended for use by employers and business associations or by non-governmental or governmental organizations making presentations to such groups, many NGOs and disabled persons organizations have found it useful for general disability awareness training or building confidence among disabled job seekers.

The separate AbilityThailand, produced in the Thai language and narrated by news anchor Karuna Buakamsri, serves as a contribution to the Kingdom of Thailand's 2002 Campaign to foster employment for workers with disabilities. Both videos follow a lively television show format, include people with various disabilities, and last for approximately 25 minutes each. They are available at no cost in VHS (video) or VCD formats.

If you are interested in obtaining a copy, please write or email us at abilityasia@ilo.org. Please give specific details about how you intend to use the video and how many employers you expect to reach.

Sample Videos (requires Real Media player):

	Introduction to video with Michelle Cheung of CNBC
	Blind telephone operators at Pacific Century Cyber World, Hong Kong
	Deaf bank clerks a Sampath Bank in Sri Lanka
	Welder disabled by landmine at Development Technology Workshop in Cambodia
	Web developer at Roynet Public Company Ltd. in Thailand

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