VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION IN SLOVENIA Karl Destovnik The president of assembly ZIZRS

In Slovenia, rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons is carried out via professional rehabilitation as defined in the Pension and Disability Insurance Act and via vocational rehabilitation as defined in the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of Disabled Persons Act. The status of the participating individual: with professional rehabilitation, the processed individuals are employed, with vocational rehabilitation, the individuals being processed are unemployed.

The services carried out also differ: professional rehabilitation mostly focuses on expert support with career change, training and returning to work, vocational rehabilitation involves a set of services that increase the employability of disabled persons by enabling them to train for suitable jobs, get employment, keep it, get promoted or change their professional careers. Both types of rehabilitation provide for a systemic and comprehensive addressing of issues related to the employment of disabled persons and their reintegration into the labor market.

Vocational rehabilitation system Vocational rehabilitation is a set of services that increase the employability of disabled persons (standardized services). The vocational rehabilitation services are carried out by multidisciplinary teams of trained experts working for providers of such services. Vocational rehabilitation is carried out as a public service by a network of vocational rehabilitation service providers, which are confirmed by the ministry responsible for disability care (MDDSZ).

Vocational rehabilitation services Vocational rehabilitation services intended mostly to help disabled persons in their work environment are: assistance in finding suitable work or employment, concrete workplace and work environment analysis, workplace and work environment adjustment plan.

Vocational rehabilitation services making a plan of necessary equipment and means for work, monitoring and professional help during the qualification process or education, monitoring the disabled person on his workplace after employment, assessing the achievement of work results of employed person with a disability.

Elements of the vocational rehabilitation process Process phases: Determining the rate of disability and eligibility for disability status Performing services and activities Assessing employment opportunities / employability Employment / assessment of unemployability Permanent monitoring of the outcome and support Services and activities: Aimed at users Aimed at employers Aimed at referring and other institutions Aimed at environment sources Expert team: Medical doctor, SMD Psychologist Social worker Work therapist Rehabilitation technologist Others (pedagogue, sociologist)

PROCEDURE: ZRSZ application rehabilitation committees opinion rehabilitation plan VOCATIONALVOCATIONAL REHABILITATIONREHABILITATION preliminary opinion PROVIDERS SERVICES monthly reports final evaluation order on status of a disabled person order on right to vocational rehabilitation ASSESING disabled person’s employment possibilities Disabled person IS employable Disabled person IS NOT employable social inclusion programme order ORDINARY WORK ENVIRONMENT labour market appropriate work position MOD code Statement on safety with risk assessment companies employing disabled persons supported employment sheltered employment EMPLOYMENT CENTERS order The acquisition of status of a disabled person and the right for vocational rehabilitation

Slovenian Association of Vocational Rehabilitation Providers - ZIZRS ZIZRS is comprised of a network of vocational rehabilitation service providers performing public service, which are confirmed by the ministry responsible for disability care (MDDSZ, 2008). The members have founded ZIZRS with the intention of ensuring coherent end efficient performance of common matters within common interest of her members. ZIZRS has 14 members. 1 member is a public institution, while others gained concession.

ZIZRS’ main tasks co-formulation of regulations on the field of vocational rehabilitation and employment of disabled persons; preparation and co-formulation of professional foundations for execution of vocational rehabilitation (norms, prices); organization and execution of the mandatory professional education and/or training of the expert staff working for the various providers of vocational rehabilitation.

Education ZIZRS organizes professional education for: expert staff working for the providers of vocational rehabilitation, expert staff working in companies employing disabled persons and employment centres. ZIZRS is obligated by law to organize at least 3 different professional seminars per year, covering different topics (in collaboration with RCZR at URI Soča). Expert staff is obligated to take part in at least 2 seminars per year (register, substitution for licence).

Days of vocational rehabilitation ZIZRS is the lead organizer of the main professional meeting on the field of professional and vocational rehabilitation (traditionally, more than 14 consecutive years). The meeting usually takes place over 2 days and covers different professional topics with participation of international lecturers. Co - organizers: MDDSZ, ZPIZS, ZRSZ, URI SOČA and ZIZRS.

ZIZRS collaborates in different projects and activities: ZMOREMO - Stimulating equality and preventing discrimination against disabled persons (programme PROGRESS, 4 partners). The result was a one day training programme for expert staff working in ordinary work environments. Formulation of starting points for project PREHOD (TRANSITION) of young disabled persons from education to labour market. ZIZRS is amember of European union of supported employment – EUSE.

INFORMATION ZIZRS - Združenje izvajalcev zaposlitvene rehabilitacije v Republiki Sloveniji Slovenian Association of Vocational Rehabilitation Providers Linhartova 51, 1000 Ljubljana Phone: , fax: Web page: