Long-term Employment for the Disabled

The Region of Vorarlberg

• Vorarlberg, the westernmost state of Austria at Lake Constance, borders the Tyrol, Germany, Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein.

2,601 km2

Population + Economy

• 380,000 inhabitants

• 78% of the population are Roman Catholic

• 30% commerce and craft

• 33% trade

• 15% information/consulting

• 14% tourism

• 8% others

• change from textile industry to iron, metal and electrical industry

People with disabilities

• 5-10% of the population are people with disabilities

• 11.8% of the registered unemployed have a handicap

Initial Situation

30 social service providers offer assistance to people with disabilities

The system of government aids has led to specialization and differentiation

Companies and people with disabilities complain about the vagueness of the system

Decision of the Federal Social Services Department and the Department for Disability Aid of the provincial government of Vorarlberg to reorganise the whole system

Target Groups + Goals of the Project

Target Groups of the Project• People with disabilities

• Social institutions

• Companies

Goals of the Project• A country-wide, integrated action model for the professional

integration of people with disabilities

• All protagonists are correctly orientated on this model

Elements of the System

EnterprisesFinancing bodies: BASB, Land Vlbg. Service providers

People with disabilities Relatives Communication,Information,

Services

Requirements + Criteria for Success

• Region

• Market orientation

• Evaluation criteria

• Costs

Actual state and target state

• Placement rate

Actual and planned goal system – MbO

• Sustainability of placement

Actual and planned

• Access and degree of attractiveness for the target group

Actual and planned

Contracting bodies/partners/structure

Structure of the Project

(1) Module 1: Regional competence of integration

(2) Module 2: Regional company-orientated network

(3) Module 3: Networked implementation model

(4) Transnational Network

(5) National Network

(1) Module 1

Goals

• An innovative, functional model for the preparation, qualification and placement of people with disabilities into the free economy

• A functional instruction for the implementation of the model

Analysis of initial situation

• Collection of source data from service providers resulting from integration efforts

• Definition of the best areas in which to apply the model

(1) Module 1

Development of target model

• Development of the defining concept

• Development of the strategic concept

• Development of the organizational concept

• Development of the managerial concept

Instruction for the implementation of the model

• Compilation of all results in an implementation handbook

(2) Module 2

Goals

• Company Club is founded and implemented

• Specific ‘tool kit’ is compiled concentrating on the needs of companies in Vorarlberg

• Trial operation for a hotline is running

Study of existing consultancy models

• Market research in Vorarlberg

• National networking and research

• International cooperation for the ascertainment of best practices

(2) Module 2

Generation of action models for implementation in companies

• Conception of action models based upon the analysis

• Provision of innovative action models for the integration of people with disabilities

• Testing of activities in selected companies

Concept of a Company Club

• Needs of the companies

• Companies are active in the creation of the club

• Planning regarding the creation of a regional network

Hotline

• Specific outgoing contacts with companies (outbound)

• Competent consultation of incoming contacts (inbound) + testing

(3) Module 3

Goals

• Active participation of all service providers in planning the target model

• Clear positioning of individual service providers in the target model

• Awareness of the resulting internal changes to be made by service providers

• Completion of planning and preparatory work for the implementation of the target model

Elaboration of initial situation

• Analysis of existing models of integration

• Clarification of the differences between integration models and the target model

• Definition of required changes to be made by service providers

(3) Module 3

Development of network for target model

• Exchange of experiences and models in the national and transnational networks

• Discussion of the benefit of the target model arising for all parties

• Generation of willingness of service providers to contribute in model implementation

Finalising model networking

• Definition of the role and position of the individual service providers in the target model

• Definition of specific networking between parties with regard to contents

(3) Module 3

Planning of Implementation

• Compilation of all work results

• Elaboration of a concrete implementation plan

• Preparation of implementation

• Presentation of target model and implementation plan to contracting body

(4) Transnational Network

Goals

• Models about communication / cooperation between stakeholders

• Collection of factors for success or failure concerning placement of people with disabilities

• Identification of win–win situations to create awareness with all parties

Collection and exchange of models

• Collection of good-practice models in partner countries (Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Hungary, Austria)

• Definition of critical success factors for the placement of people with disabilities

• Definition of new solutions for the work of the stakeholders

(4) Transnational Network

Development of instruments to create awareness

• Generation of a tool box (book on success stories, brochure on win-win situations)

• Provision of an international website promoting the creation of awareness

(5) National Network

Goals

• Models to implement new offers with service providers

• Elaboration of arguments for the benefit of professional integration of people with disabilities

• Innovative offers for implementation within government aid program

Model development

• Collection of new offers for service providers

• Further preparation of concrete offers

• Definition of a change management process for service providers

(5) National Network

Elaboration of arguments concerning benefit

• Collection of win-win information (companies, people with disabilities)

• Elaboration of concrete arguments concerning benefit as the decision makers see it