AN EXAMPLE OF WORK-BASED TRAINING AND SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT OF A PERSON WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IN PUBLIC SECTOR TEJA BANDEL CASTRO, Msc, psychologist Ljubljana, June

Basic information about the University Rehabilitation Institute Rehabilitation programs Clinical hospital for physical medicine and rehabilitation (several departments) Vocational rehabilitation centre Centre for prosthetic and orthotics Outpatient rehabilitation service Rehabilitation engineering Vocational evaluation programs Training and employment programs Department of rehabilitation of amputees Department of rehabilitation of persons after bone fractures, with rheumatoid diseases and peripheral nerve lesions Department of rehabilitation of persons after traumatic brain injury, with multiple sclerosis and neuromuscular diseases Department of rehabilitation of persons after cerebral stroke Department of rehabilitation of persons with spinal cord lesions Department of (re)habilitation of children 2

Vocational rehabilitation centre Service provision Development and research Education The Ljubljana service - Persons with physical disabilities - Blind and visually impaired The Maribor service (units in Murska Sobota and Ptuj) - Persons with physical disabilities - Persons with mental health problems 3

Target groups

Services in employment rehabilitation programme A: Counselling, encouraging and motivating an active role of disabled persons B: Preparing an expertise on the level of work ability, knowledge, work habits and vocational interests – FIRST STEP C: Assistance at accepting disability and learning about possibilities of participating in training and work D: Assistance at choosing appropriate vocational goals E: Social skills training F: Assistance at seeking for a suitable job and employment G: Workplace and work environment analysis H: Preparing a plan for work place and work environment accommodations I: Preparing a plan of necessary work equipment and aids J: Training in a workplace or chosen profession K: Follow-up and professional support at training and education L: Follow-up after employment M: Continuous evaluation of rehabilitation process N: Assessment of workplace efficiency during training and employment

Interdisciplinary team MD, occupational medicine specialist Psychologist / Clinical psychologist Social worker Occupational therapist Rehabilitaion technologist Special education teacher for blind and visually impaired Case management

CASE PRESENTATION Service „B“ Other services (A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J…) Employment

Findings in evaluation process: Female, 31 years old, high level of education. Without any previous formal working experiences. Health condition was stable (sight), but recently hospitalized in psychiatric hospital. She was active jobseeker, highly motivated, but unsuccessful with finding any employment. She exhibited low self-esteem, self-confidence; was seeking professional help.

Working in a slower pace, but detail-oriented. Less flexible, requires gradual and systematic. initiation into the working process. Deviations in cognitive functioning. Energetically equiped. Following adjustments and limitations at the work place were proposed: no lifting of heavy burdens over 5 kg, physically effortless work, only in daily shifts, without deep bending forward at the waist, without extreme and permanent time pressure and application of technical aid for people with visual impairments.

Other services A, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, M, N for 4 months. Work-based training in a field of public administration. Document sorting, classification, managing and eliminating, tasks assigned by a superior, organizing and coordinating business contacts, cooperation in coordinating different departments and organizing an archive. Individual and group sessions organized by professionals in the VRC based on a psychosocial support. Cognitive functions improved Health condition still stable (physically and mentally).

Technical aids provided by VRC (borrowing): computer with appropriate adaptations for visually impaired and electronic magnifier. Employer provided an office with appropriate lighting conditions and bigger LCD monitor

Training at the actual workplace lasted for 3 months PwD was gradually improving in acquiring work assignments. Her social skills and cooperation with co-workers as well as superiors was appropriate. She was showing immense motivation for getting the actual job and career. Process was oncluded with performing a service “N”. Depending on obtained information we found out a PwD is 100% efficient within her work assignments using aforementioned technical aids.

CONCLUSIONS Supported employment. Back then she was offered a temporary contract, by now she has a permanent. Disability Fund of the Slovenia funded technical support defined in individual support plan.

Thank you for your attention and interest. Please feel free to ask questions.