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Description
The vast majority of people with intellectual disabilities are excluded from the labor market. This is mainly due to: Negative attitudes of employers. Lack of skills of PWID, Lack of information on employment opportunities. Lack of suitable workplace adjustments. Studies have shown that the tourism industry is an excellent environment in which PWID can prove their potential, as the technical requirements of the industry often include standardized and repetitive tasks. Despite the fact that tourism is an important sector of the Greek economy, the amount of PWID working on it is extremely low. This specific project aims to address the above challenges and to contribute substantially to the social inclusion of PWID by facilitating their access to work through the following actions: • Demand and work capacity studies. Transfer of know-how from Norwegian partners in the field of integration Training and certification of PWID in the provision of hotel services by a Certified Educational Center in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of professionals. Create a training manual specially configured for PWID. Practice in hotels - catering. Establishment of a Social Enterprise aiming to play a mediating role among graduates of the education and labor market program by applying the model of supported work. Actions to disseminate the results of the project and to raise community awareness on the issues of labor inclusion of the PWID. The project promoter will select the people to be trained by analyzing the needs and skills of its supporters and create a multidisciplinary team that will: Take on a training for trainers on special education issues and contribute to the whole educational process. Contribute to the creation of a Social Enterprise for the employment of PWID. Create the dissemination plan.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address the following challenges:
- Inclusion of People with Disabilities: Adults with disabilities, especially those with mental disabilities, often face barriers to accessing education, training, and employment opportunities.
- Lack of Accessible Educational Materials: Traditional educational materials were often not adapted to be accessible for people with mental disabilities.
- Limited Employment Opportunities: Graduates of training programs for individuals with disabilities typically struggle to find meaningful employment in the labor market.
The project implemented the following activities:
- Training and Certification: Nine adults with disabilities were trained and certified in various culinary fields (buffet, serving, cooking, and baking) through an adapted educational curriculum provided by IEK GRANT. They received ACTA TECHNOVLASTOS certification as assistant cooks.
- Accessible Educational Materials: The educational materials used in training were transformed into "easy-to-read" format to accommodate individuals with mental disabilities, making the materials more accessible and inclusive.
- Website Development: The project promoter created a website (www.autismreth.gr) as part of the ACTIVE CITIZENS FUND program to provide additional resources and information.
- Creation of a Social Cooperative Enterprise: The project promoted the creation of KYPSELI, a social cooperative enterprise designed to help the graduates integrate into the labor market using the supported work model.
- International Collaboration: A two-day online seminar, conducted by OSLO MET University in Norway, focused on the transfer of good practices for work integration of people with disabilities.
- Capacity Building: Training was provided to the staff, board members, and executives of the association, as well as subcontractor PUZZLE, through webinars on a variety of topics essential for the organization’s development.
- Public Awareness Campaign: Open actions were carried out to raise awareness in the community about the inclusion and empowerment of people with disabilities.
The project achieved the following results:
Beneficiaries: The primary beneficiaries were 58 adults with disabilities, specifically individuals with mental disabilities who participated in the training program, as well as the broader community and the staff of the association.
Key Outcomes:
- Nine adults with disabilities were trained and certified as assistant cooks.
- Accessible educational materials were developed in the “easy-to-read” format, ensuring that the learning content was tailored to the needs of individuals with mental disabilities.
- The creation of the KYPSELI social cooperative enterprise to assist the graduates in finding employment.
- An international exchange of knowledge and good practices was facilitated through the seminar by OSLO MET University.
- Capacity-building initiatives were successfully carried out for the association’s staff and board members, improving the organization''s overall operational skills.
- Public awareness campaigns helped raise the profile of people with disabilities and promote their inclusion.
Impact: The project significantly improved the educational and employment opportunities for adults with disabilities, enabling them to gain new skills and certifications that are recognized in the labor market. It also helped create more accessible training materials and raised public awareness on the importance of integrating individuals with disabilities into society. The establishment of KYPSELI provided a platform for graduates to transition into the workforce, while the capacity-building efforts strengthened the ability of the association to continue supporting this cause.
Summary of bilateral results
The project promoter had a good cooperation with the Norwegian project partner. Project partner conducted a two-day online seminar on the transfer of good work integration practices.