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Integrating Women and Girls with Disabilities into Mainstream Vocational Training
Publications and presentations Foreword and Table of Contents 1. Women with disabilities

International Labour Office

Integrating Women and Girls with Disabilities into Mainstream Vocational Training

A Practical Guide

Foo Gaik Sim

ILO East Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team
ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Bangkok

Copyright © International Labour Organization 1999

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First published 1999
ISBN 92-2-112014-7


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Printed in Thailand

Foreword

The Proclamation on the Full Participation and Equality of People with Disabilities in the Asian and Pacific Region, which has been signed by 39 nations in the region, draws attention to the fact that “social barriers and physical obstacles are especially formidable to girls and women with disabilities”. Disabled women*, as a group, have few opportunities for education, vocational training, and employment – the prerequisites for integration into society. A key approach by the ILO to give equal opportunities to people with disabilities, including women, is called mainstreaming – that is, wherever possible women with disabilities should receive training with and under the same conditions as non-disabled persons.

This guide has been developed as an ILO contribution to implementing the Agenda for Action of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, and to the Platform for Action adopted by the 1995 United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing which has called specifically for action by Governments, in cooperation with employers, workers and trade unions, international and non-governmental organizations, including women’s and youth organizations, and educational institutions to ensure access to quality education and training for, among others, women with disabilities, to improve their employment opportunities. It is also part of the ILO strategy to promote the observance of the ILO Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159), and Recommendation, 1983 (No. 168). These are the main reference documents for the ILO activities on the employment and training of disabled persons, along with the ILO Recommendation on Vocational Rehabilitation of the Disabled, 1995 (No. 99).

This guide is intended primarily for instructors and administrators in vocational training institutes in both the public and private sectors, and It will also be useful to policy-makers in vocational training as well as in employers’ and workers’ organizations. The guide discusses the main issues relating to the seriously disadvantaged position of women with disabilities and provides basic information about disability. It suggests practical actions for vocational training institutes to increase the enrolment, participation, and integration of women with disabilities into their training programmes. By doing so, it is hoped that instructors and administrators of vocational institutes will be better informed to promote equality of opportunity for disabled women in training, and in subsequent employment. While most disabled persons can participate in mainstream training, this guide is geared primarily to those who require minimum support in the learning environment.


* Note: As used in this guide, women and woman include girls.

This booklet has been prepared by Foo Gaik Sim, a consultant, working with technical guidance and advice from Barbara Murray, Senior Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation, ILO East Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team (EASMAT).

Rueben Dudley
Officer-in-Charge
ILO East Asia Multidisciplinary
Advisory Team (ILO/EASMAT)

Bangkok
December 1999


Table of contents

Foreword

1. Women with disabilities

  1. Three times disadvantaged
  2. Three essential tools
  3. Barriers to vocational training for women with disabilities
  4. Mainstream or special vocational training?

2. Understanding disability

  1. Who are persons with disabilities?
  2. Terms commonly used
  3. Causes of disability
  4. Impairment, disability, and handicap
  5. Some misconceptions about people with disabilities

3. Including women with disabilities in your vocationaltraining programmes

  1. Affirmative action
  2. Increasing enrolment
  3. Entry qualifications and course length
  4. Providing guidance on appropriate training
  5. Increasing accessibility
  6. Providing financial support
  7. Accommodation

4. Teaching people with disabilities

  1. What disabled students want and need: general
  2. Including disabled students in your teaching
  3. Examinations

5. Integrating students with disabilities into the VTC community

  1. Changing attitudes
  2. Accessibility
  3. Language: some suggestions
  4. Meeting people with disabilities

6. Review

  1. Disabled women are the most disadvantaged.
  2. Changing negative attitudes is crucial.
  3. Accessibility promotes integration.
  4. Increasing the enrolment of women with disabilities
  5. Teaching students with disabilities in your class
  6. Integrating students with disabilities into the VTC community
  7. Making linkages

Further Reading

Publications and presentations Foreword and Table of Contents 1. Women with disabilities
Integrating Women and Girls with Disabilities into Mainstream Vocational Training

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Updated 2004-12-07