EASPD and THE NET International Conference: ‘Opening Doors: how can disability support services unlock the open labour market?‘. Hosted in Athens, Greece on 17-18 October 2024, our upcoming conference seeks to focus on bringing together and sharing practical methodologies, tools and legislation that can help to create more choices and options for persons with disabilities on the open labour market.The conference will:
- Identify different support models proven to create opportunities for persons with disabilities on the open labour market.
- Showcase practical methods available to support persons with disabilities to access inclusive employment opportunities.
- Inspire businesses with strategies that create a more inclusive working environment.
- Exchange on legal frameworks that increase inclusive open labour market opportunities.
For more information click the link below:
Conference Report: Opening Doors: How can disability support services unlock the open labour market.
Location: Athens, Greece
Date: 17th/18th/19th October 2024
The recent conference held in Athens for disability service providers focused on the critical theme of: “Opening Doors: How can disability support services unlock the open labour market” This event brought together service providers, policymakers, advocates, and individuals with disabilities to discuss the barriers, opportunities, and strategies related to enhancing employment accessibility for persons with disabilities. The conference emphasized the importance of inclusive employment practices and addressed both systemic challenges and innovative solutions aimed at increasing participation of disabled individuals in the workforce.
The panels and workshops had these objectives:
1. To examine current barriers preventing persons with disabilities from accessing the employment market.
2. To showcase best practices and successful employment initiatives from around the world.
3. To explore the role of technology, policy, and collaboration in enhancing employment opportunities.
4. To engage in discussions on how disability service providers can better support individuals in seeking and retaining employment.
5. To develop actionable strategies and partnerships aimed at improving accessibility in the labour market.
The panels were followed by smaller workshops that tackled the following areas.
Barriers to Employment, Stigma and Discrimination, Skills Gap and Inaccessible Work Environments
On a positive note, speakers from multinational companies shared success stories of how their successful initiatives manage to implement disability friendly workplace adaptations.
The conference in Athens highlighted both the challenges and potential solutions to improving employment accessibility for persons with disabilities. While there are still significant barriers to be addressed, the sharing of best practices, technological innovations, and collaborative approaches showcased a positive path forward. The speakers emphasised the need for governments, businesses, and disability service providers to work together to create an inclusive job market where persons with disabilities can thrive.
The EASPD also held small working groups that focused on project implementation that used EU funding. The areas included Arts and Culture, Education and Employment together with Research and Innovation. EASPD members explained how to get involved in a project and how to apply for funding, both for projects undertaken by one entity or by multiple organisations within EU. These workshops were very informative and encouraged networking between the various entities that were attending the conference. Voting for the new EASPD board was held on Saturday.
