455 – Labour market Employment for young Adults with a Disability – LEAD

The LEAD project focuses on transfer of know-how and a good practice models on Supported Employment service delivery for young adults with disabilities (Y/AwDs) that has proven its viability in the United Kingdom, to beneficiary partner countries: Romania, Lithuania, and Portugal, with the ultimate goal to contribute to the creation of an inclusive European labour market. The model has been transferred, adapted and implemented and has been well received by both Y/AwD and employer organisations, suggesting that it remains valid as a framework to deliver improved employment outcomes for jobseekers with a disability. The programme changed the perception of people with disabilities and their capacity to undertake paid work. It showed that with the right type of supports, people with disabilities could make a meaningful contribution, if they wished to do so. Innovative approaches on lowering youth unemployment have been developed or adopted – the training package for family members of Y/AwD established a common multicultural and multinational methodological approach that focuses on their needs, in order to better support their children in gaining and retaining employment. Our project has raised awareness and prepared the family members making employment more attainable and smoothing the transition of young adults with disabilities from school to labour market. The results were achievable thanks to the transnational cooperation among project partners, especially in assuring quality standards in delivering Supported Employment services to Y/AwD and also in elaborating the Guide of good practice. Participation in transnational collaboration was the “step up” of each partner from operating at a regional/local level to building a transnational reputation and network, developing profile, confidence and knowledge in the labour market issues.

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