ASSISTING DISABLED PERSONS IN FINDING EMPLOYMENT: A practical guide
by Robert Heron
Barbara Murray
| Foreword
1. People with disabilities: A diverse group
A. General
B. Barriers to employment
2. Disabled persons and employment
A. Why is employment for disabled persons important?
B. What are the problems disabled jobseekers face in finding work?
3. The placement officer's role
A. Identifying work and jobs for disabled persons
B. Overcoming obstacles
C. Contacting employers
D. Advising on legal requirements and financial assistance
E. Building linkages
F. What is expected of a placement officer?
4. Steps in assisting the job search
A. Interviewing the jobseeker
B. Recording information
C. Identifying suitable jobs
D. Matching the jobseeker and the job
5. Cooperating with employers
A. Local labour market trends
B. Convincing employers
C. Changes to the workplace and work processes
D. After placement
6. Getting started |
In the context of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, concern has been expressed about the need to strengthen the overall functioning of job placement services for people with disabilities in order to assist them in finding suitable jobs in the open labour market. Linked to this is the need to upgrade the skills of job placement officers in ministries of labour and social affairs, and in rehabilitation centres, in job identification, selection, recruitment and follow-up for disabled jobseekers.
This guide has been developed as an ILO contribution to the implementation of the Agenda for Action of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, and as a follow-up to the United Nations World Summit for Social Development which calls for particular efforts in all spheres of employment policy to ensure equal opportunity and equal treatment for people with disabilities. 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 ILO activities on the employment and training of disabled individuals.
The guide provides an overview of approaches and strategies to improve job opportunities for disabled jobseekers. It is intended for vocational guidance and placement personnel in mainstream and specialist employment services in governmental and non-governmental organizations. It will be of use to personnel providing such services to disabled people for some time, as well as those new to these tasks. It is also meant for policy-makers in labour administration.
The guide is intended as a first step in the process of dismantling the barriers disabled people face in securing employment. While it is useful to persons responsible for placing workers with all types of disability and levels of ability, it is geared, in the first instance, to people with disabilities who would be able to take up jobs in the open market, with a minimum of support, if the employment opportunity were offered.
The translation of the publication into national languages is encouraged. Comments and suggestions for its improvement are welcomed.
The booklet has been prepared by Barbara Murray, Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation, and Robert Heron, Senior Labour Administration Specialist, of the ILO East Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team. As ILO consultants, Irene Gross Herzog made a major contribution to the development of the guide and Maureen Gilbert provided invaluable advice.
W.R. Simpson
Director
ILO East Asia Multidisciplinary
Advisory Team (ILO/EASMAT)
Bangkok
November 1997
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