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Practical Approaches for Workplace Integration -

What Employers Can Do to Help and Hire

Debra Perry

Senior Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation

International Labour Office (ILO)

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Why help?

• Reduce economic drain

• Develop all human resources

• Design service that meet your needs

• Learn more about disability

• Good public relations

• Human rights and international standards

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R168 Specific Guidance for Employers’ Organizations

• Advise members about – VR services

– Work adjustments etc.

– The impact of production methods • Cooperate with related bodies• Promote participation of disabled workers on shop

floor• Propose policies and guidelines related to

disability

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Why hire?

• All of the above, plus• Find the best employees• Reduce costs (e.g. recruitment, training, turnover)• Abide by the law• Take advantage of incentives• Build employee morale• Demonstrate fairness and positive business traits• Diversity is good for business

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The Dupont Study (1958-1990)

• Safety

• Attendance

• Job Performance

Disabled workers are comparable to or better than non-disabled employees with regard to:

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Pre-Employment Assistance

Educate Yourself Get to know disabled people Participate in disability awareness trainingReview labour laws and VR policiesReview Codes of Practice and other publicationsVisit organizations of and for disabled persons,

schools, etc.Learn about disability and how to relate to disabled

people

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Get Involved

Provide on-the-job training and job try-outs

Provide lectures, advice or mock interviews

Participate in partnerships

Assist in developing market-driven training

Participate on boards

Provide internships, work experience and on-the-job assessments

Provide workplace tours

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Employers: Practical Approaches at Enterprise Level

• Develop a workplace policy• Remove architectural and communication

barriers• Provide disability awareness training for

managers and staff• Encourage disabled persons to apply• Make work adjustments

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Work Adjustments

Any change to the work environment, job or work practice that makes it possible for a worker with disability to perform the job or perform it more effectively.

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Examples of Work Adjustments (1)

• Making the facility accessible (e.g., adding a ramp, improved signage)

• Restructuring a job (e.g., giving a marginal function to another staff member)

• Altering when or how a job is performed (e.g., completing a task sitting instead of standing)

• Offering a different work schedule (e.g., different work hours to access transportation)

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Examples of Work Adjustments (2)

• Obtaining or modifying equipment or devices• Providing special support measures (e.g., additional

training time for slow learner)• Reassigning a worker to a new or vacant job (e.g., an

injured worker to a less physically demanding job)• Offering different modes of communication (e.g.,

writing or demonstrating for the deaf, or providing braille labels or better signage for the visually impaired)

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The Type of Adjustment Depends on:

• The individual

• The nature of the disability

• The job demands and requirements

• The work environment

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Disables people often face difficulties like:

• Getting to work and getting to work on time (Transport) • Getting inside and moving around the workplace

(Physical Accessibilty)• Using equipment tools and machinery necessary to

perform work• Communicating with supervisors, co-workers, and

clients• Fitting in and making friends

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Cost-Benefit of Adjustments

• No or negligible costs for many• E.g. Sears and Roebucks, which hires 20,000

disabled people found that 97% of adjustments cost little or no money (1972-1992)

• Many adjustments can benefit other employees or customers (e.g. ramps, better signage, uncluttered corridors)

• Some governments offer financial or tax incentives

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Getting Help

1. Publications

2. Internet Sites

3. Organizations of and for disabled persons

4. Government personnel

5. Consultants and experts

6. Disabled persons and employees

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Role in Promoting Self-Employment

• Help identify self-employment opportunities• Review business plans• Assist government workers who help disabled

entrepreneurs • Advocate for accessible marketplaces, etc.• Serve as mentors to disabled entrepreneurs• Provide contracts/work to disabled entrepreneurs• Purchase products and services from disabled persons