Increasing the employability skills of people with disabilities

We can Build a Better Future for All, Leaving No One Behind

Inspiring projects and entrepreneurs presented during a webinar on increasing the employability skills of people with disabilities.

One in six people in the European Union – around 80 million – have a disability that ranges from mild to severe.  Most of these people are all too often prevented from fully participating in society and the economy because of physical or other barriers, as well as discrimination.  The European Commission highlighted the importance of promoting equal opportunities for persons with disabilities for social and economic inclusion by presenting inspiring EU funded projects on increasing employability skills during a webinar held on Tuesday, 15 December 2020 from 11:00-12:30 via Zoom.

“We really need to push home the message that the integration of people with disabilities into the world of work and into society as a whole is not an act of charity. It is a basic human right and this rights-based approach must be the guiding element in our policy for our disabled fellow-citizens, who, if we define the term broadly cover a wide scope of the population,” said Michael Docherty, EUPSO Head of Section in his opening speech.

Prof. Dr. Gamze Ekici and Ph. PT. Orkun Tahir Aran from Hacettepe University presented their EU-funded project which includes the first vocational rehabilitation centre established in Ankara and is being used for evaluating work capacity, workplace analysis, functional capacity, and training needs of people with disabilities. 

‘’There is no disability when you want to make your dreams come true. Life changes when we change’’ said

Yiota Michaelidou, the owner of Paradosiakes Dimiourgies Bakery from Limassol. During the webinar she shared her entrepreneurship experience and demonstrated how the onset of a vision impairment disease could not stop her from pursuing her love of baking. She explained how careful investment into her baking business and relevant EU grant to further invest in her bakery helped to grow her business even further. Yiota represents a great example of determination and success as a disabled individual fully enjoying social and economic inclusion in society. 

Günay Kibrit from the Cyprus Turkish Orthopaedic Disability Association presented the EU funded “Skilled Workforce Successful Community” Project implemented by the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry in partnership with Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce. During his presentation Günay Kibrit provided an overview for the part of the project where especially focused on lifelong learning opportunities for people with disabilities. He explained a kitchen was established where gastronomy trainings are provided and also handicraft trainings were organised - both helped increase the employability of people with a disability. Kibrit stated that these pilot trainings have set an example for local stakeholders and the aim is that such programmes will be part of lifelong learning centres in the near future.

The EU is committed to empower people with disabilities so that they can enjoy their rights and participate fully in society and economy. The EU Disability Strategy 2010 – 2020 aimed to break down the barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from participating in society on an equal basis. The strategy outlined how the EU and local bodies can empower people with disabilities so they can enjoy their rights.

 The 2020 conference organised on 1 & 2 December as part of the European Day of Persons with Disabilities by the European Commission in partnership with the European Disability Forum, provided an opportunity to present the evaluation of the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 and to have a last round of reflections for the forthcoming Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030.