How to become equal in labor market

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How to become equal in labor market
Community based occupational therapy practice
with deaf and hard of hearing young persons

• Riga Stradins University
• Academic School of Occupational Therapy
• Students Marta Troka, Dita Rituma,
  Aiva Bauze, Agnese Uzkalna
• Ankara 2006

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Identification and justification of an
occupationally deprived group (1)

• There are 120 thousands disabled people in Latvia
  and only 10 of all are paid employed. 2-3 of
  all disabled people are deaf and hard of
  hearing1
• Welfare ministry of Latvia considers that
  employers have to engage persons with
  disabilities not only in state subsidized
  employment framework but also out of it in order
  to facilitate integration in labour market of
  persons with disabilities in state over all2
• But there is no quota system for people with
  disabilities and no government incentives to
  encourage employment of people with disabilities
  3

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Identification and justification of an
occupationally deprived group (2)

• People with disabilities are very loyal and
  reliable employees, which is a real plus in a
  good economy, when the person is out of
  dependence on federal support
• The work environment is unsuitable, so that
  youngsters can't take part of full value even if
  they have graduated professional or higher
  educational schools
• Lack of information about the latest and highest
  technologies, services and facilities to acquire
  utilization of it. The insufficient knowledge
  about opportunities how to use high technologies
  is obstructive factor in participating into labor
  market

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Occupational needs (1)

• They have difficulties to realize workers role
  (productivity) in their lives and become full-
  fledged workers because of communication
  difficulties
• Deaf and hard of hearing youngsters are not
  active searchers for employment
• Employees with hearing disturbances feel more
  tired and isolated than employees in general,
  their mood and work efficiency is diminished
• 60 percent of them are looking for other jobs,
  because deaf and hard of hearing people feels
  badly treated in their present jobs
• Two out of three deaf and hard of hearing people
  have trouble in communicating with colleagues and
  managers in their workplace
• Restricted accessibility to assistive
  technology reduce communication opportunities for
  this group of persons
• State tehcnical aids agency provides list of
  government paid tecnical aids, but this supply
  includes only hearing aids for deaf and hard of
  hearing persons4

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Occupational needs (2)

• There are factors that create communication
  barriers that can limit their participation in
  the workplace
• Physical and environmental barriers
• noise
• light level within a room
• distance from a speaker
• Attitudinal barriers
• stereotyping
• ignorance
• focus on disability rather than abilities

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Project development

• Participants
• 1) Approximately 30 participants members of
  NGO Efraim's will be involved in the course
• 2) Age 16 25
• 2) Different severity of audible disturbance
  level without cognitive problems
• Where Local level
• Capital city of Latvia
• When
• We have started this project in spring during
  studying Public health and continued while
  preparing assignments for IP course
• How long
• Project proposal development May 2006 November
  2006
• Project realisation December 2006 - May 2007
• (It is connected with study program)

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Purpose of project

• To facilitate competitive capacity in labour
  market for deaf and hard of hearing
• by providing information about assistive
  communication devices for target group and
  encourage to use them and providing information
  to
• occupational therapists,
• state technical aids agency,
• employers,
• and community overall

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PreparationObjective ACHIEVED (1)

• Ascertained and described the situation of
  employment of deaf and hard of hearing young
  people in Latvia
• Analyzed statistical data
• b) Assessed needs (semi structured interview with
  staff and participants of Latvia Deaf Alliance
  and her friend's organization participants of NGO
  Efraim)

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Project is carried out in 4 steps Objectives TO
ACHIEVE (2)

• 1. To search for and analyze occupational therapy
  intervention to improve the situation
• 2. To gather information and develop a booklet
  about assistive communication devices
• 3. To inform target group during intensive course
• 4. To prepare questionnaire to ascertain the
  usefulness and efficiency of the booklet

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Description of how these needs will be met by OT
together with communityOT strategies

• One of occupational therapy competencies is to
  facilitate occupational performance. To enable
  occupation assistive technologies for physical
  environment can be introduced. A wide range of
  technology is available to assist people with
  instrumental aspects of occupational
  performance5. Behavioral aspect of attitudinal
  changes are possible through adaptation of
  environment.
• As this information will be placed in website of
  Latvian deaf alliance, virtual commune will be
  using and sharing it with others
• This project is community based, because it was
  developed in interaction with target group while
  they are experts in their needs.
• It is important for CBR to
• 1. Ensure that people with
  disabilities are able to maximize their abilities
  to access regular services and opportunities and
  to become active contributors to the community
  and society at large
• 2. Activate communities to promote and
  protect the human rights of people with
  disabilities through changes within the
  community, for example, by removing barriers to
  participation6

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Activities

• Collecting information about deprived group
• Verify information (involved participants)
• Selection of technical aids and assistive devices
• Preparing of booklet (involving partners)
• Verify booklet (involved participants)
• Develop questionnaire
• Preparing seminar (together with participants)
• Management and organization of seminar
• Survey (evaluation of project)

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Indicators of Change and Outcomes

• How many of deaf and hard of hearing persons will
  be included in labour market using information
  from booklet
• Will this information improve work conditions and
  give more career opportunities
• Will employer attitudes and knowledge change
• Will OTs advise these technical assistive
  devices
• Will center of technical aids widen their
  positive supply

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Partnership (1)
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Partnership (2)
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Boudget
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Dissemination

• Presentation of booklet in two seminars one for
  target group (NGO Efraims), other for partners
  (NGO- Latvian Deaf Alliance, Latvian Occupational
  therapist association State agency Centre of
  technical aids, State employment agency)
• Booklet will be placed in website and monthly
  newspaper of Latvia Deaf Alliance
• Elaboration of bachelor thesis

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Conclusion

• Each person should have access to the rights,
  recourses, goods, services, information and
  opportunities they need to participate fully in
  all aspects of life and to make a positive
  contribution to society7.
• Deaf and hard of hearing persons can get this
  access by using assistive technologies to prevent
  environmental barriers.
• Occupational therapists can facilitate their
  behavioral changes and social inclusion through
  adaptation of environment.

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Refferences

• www.lns.lv Latvian Deaf alliance
• www.lm.gov.lv - Welfare ministry
• Rights of People with Intellectual Disabilities
  Access to Education and Employment in Latvia 2005
• Tilts uz sapratni Nr. 16, Research Latvijas
  nedzirdigie jauniei. Statistika.
  Problempunkti..
• CBR A Strategy for Rehabilitation, Equalization
  of Opportunities, Poverty Reduction and Social
  Inclusion of People with Disabilities, Joint
  paper 2004,p.2-3
• When people Cannot Participate Occupational
  deprivation, Gail Whiteford, Chapter 10
• European and National Policies on Social
  inclusion and prevention of exclusion, A Taste of
  Diversity, Hanneke van Bruggen

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• Thank You for your attention!