The event was organized at the headquarters of the Rainbow of Knowledge Association, in Medgidia, in the middle of August, by Health Action Overseas Romania Foundation (HAO), within the project “Labour market Employment for young Adults with a Disability – LEAD”.
11 representatives of institutions, non-governmental organisations and other private entities which provide social services to people with disabilities attended this seminar, organised with the support of Oana Paraschiv, founding member of the mentioned Association.
The main topic of the seminar was the model of Supported Employment. On this occasion, the trainers highlighted the impact and benefits of this European model to both young adults with disabilities and employers. The methodology of the Supported Employment process, the particularities of young adults’ integration on the labour market, strategies that can be successfully applied to motivate them to get hired and keep their jobs, labour market trends and opportunities at local and county level were other topics discussed during the seminar.
The event was interactive; the participants had the opportunity to present their own opinions and experiences. According to those who attended the seminar, the integration of young adults with disabilities on the labour market is a complex process. In their opinion, the providers of employment services must work alongside other institutions and organisations which offer services and programs tailored to the specifics needs of young adults with disabilities: social services, free leisure opportunities, educational programmes like “The Second Chance in Education”, etc.
In the context of lack of supported employment services at the local level, the seminar was a good opportunity to lay the foundations for a network of professionals with skills and knowledge in providing quality integrated services for young adults with disabilities.
In the near future, there will be organised occasional meetings between HAO specialists and young adults with disabilities, beneficiaries of the organisations / institutions participating in the event, in order to be helped to find a job, taking into account their skills, interests and professional training.
