Apr 30 - Disability Society Raise Supported Employment Issues
The Disability Society says it feels it important to raise the issue of those with disabilities who are unable to find employment in Gibraltar.
A statement from the Disability Society follows below:
Supported employment is an issue which has been raised over many years by the Disability Society. When this Government came to power we wrote to invite the Minister of Employment Mr Bossano to meet with the Society so that we could share our knowledge, expertise and contacts, financial and otherwise, not only from the UK but also from Europe. Unfortunately despite repeated attempts to arrange a meeting we received no reply. One was finally organised by the Chief Minister Mr Picardo but by that time the Supported Employment Company had already been set up and our offer of help was declined. Several years down the line SEC is no more, having closed its doors without, in our opinion, accomplishing any significant progress towards meaningful employment for those with disabilities.
The issue of Supported Employment still seems to be misunderstood by many people. It is not a case of putting those with disabilities in “just any old job”. It is an innovative process that enables employment as an achievable goal for people with disabilities just as it is for non-disabled people in our society. The model uses a partnership strategy to enable people with disabilities to achieve sustainable long-term employment and businesses to employ valuable workers. With the involvement of vocational profiling and a job coach the disabled person and the employers receives the support needed to enable that person to be taken on as a fully entitled employee. Real jobs mean that the terms and conditions for people with disabilities should be the same as for everyone else including pay at the contracted going rate, equal employee benefits, safe working conditions and opportunities for career advancement.
The Disability Society is aware that the Government will state that there are some people with disabilities that have been put in positions of employment unfortunately most with no support. Regrettably they are a minority of those at present, and those in the future, who are desperate to fulfil their full potential, have a valued social role and to be treated as an equal member of our society.
