A MODEL FOR HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ON THE TRANSITION FROM SCHOOL TO THE LABOUR MARKET

Back to Page Authors: Maja Zovko Stele, Karl Destovnik, Tatjana Dolinšek, Mojca Arh

Keywords: special needs, labour market, transition, model

Abstract: Young people have a lot of energy and the potential to set many life challenges. They learn very quickly and adapt to different situations, but the transition from the field of education into the work sphere, especially to the first job, is often a difficult step for all adolescents. The situation regarding the employment of young people with disabilities and young people with disabilities is even harder. The data show that the vast majority of them remain at home after schooling. Some are registered in the Employment Service of Slovenia, others are included in the process of vocational rehabilitation, but an only small part of them are employed. During unemployment, they lose the basic skills of employability, such as professional knowledge, work habits, self-esteem, etc. An analysis of the transition of young people with disabilities from education to the labor market has shown that the preparation of young people with disabilities should start during schooling and provide them support in the transition to employment until they stabilize at the workplace. For the above reasons, the providers of Vocational rehabilitation within the Transition of young people project have created an effective model of helping young people with disabilities from the school to the labor market. The model includes working with young people with disabilities, as well as working with their families, counselors at schools, employers, and other involved people and institutions. The basis for working with young people is an individual transition plan, which is built together with a young person on the basis of their abilities, disabilities, interests, and goals. Based on the individual plan and the objectives defined therein, we work on the motivation, empowerment, and monitoring of young people in the active transition. During this process, we work together with a professional staff of professional teams for Vocational rehabilitation, as well as with advisory and professional workers and colleagues at schools or other organizations visited by young people with disabilities. In our model, the cooperation of various institutions is of crucial importance. In our activities with juvenile adolescents, we also include parents or guardians. A very important content of our work is also cooperation with employers with the purpose of the working test, carrying out school or study practice, training and employment opportunities of adolescents. Professional workers create a network of employers motivated for training and employment of young people with disabilities, providing them with adequate professional support, as well as helping them to establish appropriate working conditions and possible adjustments to the workplace. All young people with disabilities are monitored for at least 6 to 24 months until their successful transition to employment, the next level of education, or applying to the Employment Service of Slovenia. Even after the transition, we are monitoring them for at least another 6 months until stabilization in the new environment. With the described model of work, we offer comprehensive support to young people with disabilities and significantly facilitate the transition to the labor market, as reflected in the results.