IF workshop at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, October 2012. Martin Künemund presented the project “We empower Us bh” to share knowledge and good examples to improve job opportunities for people with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.

1. Workshop
European Parliament
Strasbourg
23.10.2012
We Empower uS bH –
Better career opportunities for people with
Spina bifida and Hydrocephalus in Europe“
Andrea Nobs, Technische Universität Dortmund, Germany
Lena Rudolph, ASBH, Germany
Marcel Hoiting, Pluryn Rea College, The Netherlands
Martin Künemund, Josefsheim Bigge, Germany

2. Contents
1. Basic conditions
1.1 Sociopolitical conditions
1.2 Occupational situation of the client
2. Structure of the project
2.1 Objectives
2.2 Approach
3. Cooperation
3.1 Project partners
3.2 Support conception
4. Statements from „Experts on own affairs“
23rd October 2012 Andrea Nobs, Lena Rudolph, Marcel Hoiting, Martin Künemund
Workshop – European Parliament , Strasbourg 2

3. 1.Basic conditions
1.1 Sociopolitical conditions
• Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
• International Classification of Functioning, Disability
and Health ICF (WHO 2001)
• UN – Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities
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4. 1. Basic conditions
1.2 Occupational situation of the client
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5. Starting point
• Lack of self-determination in the field of occupation
• Affected individuals are often allocated to the same
occupational activities, such as office work
• No individual occupational profiling
• Repetitive preparation for further rehabilitation
systems (e.g. special schools tend to recommend
internships in sheltered workshops)
• Affected individuals often suffer from occupational
dissatisfaction
See Nobs/Schieferecke 2010
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6. 2. Structure of the project
2.1 Objectives
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7. Main objectives of the project
Creation of a professional support conception
European-wide networking and exchange of experiences in
the field of vocational and educational training (VET)
Enabling of individuals to become active and to act on their
own responsibility (as defined by empowerment-concept)
Participation and respect for the capability instead of calling
on presumed experts (affected individuals should be
regarded as experts on their own affairs)
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8. 2. Structure of the project
2.1 Approach
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9. Literaturanalyse
Literature analysis
Literaturanalyse
Future workshop
Questioning of affected individuals
Questioning of professionals
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10. 3. Cooperation
3.1 Project partners
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11. Josefsheim
Pluryn Bigge
Rea College Germany TU
Netherlands Dortmund
Germany
The Cedar
Foundation
Ireland ARSBH
Romania
ASBH
Dortmund SRH BBW
Germany Neckargmünd
SBH Germany
Switzerland
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12. 3. Cooperation
3.1 Support conception (Methodical tool box)
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13. Instrument 1: Guidelines for action and practical help in training and vocation
Instrument 2: Empowerment and self-management of young people with Spina
bifida and Hydrocephalus
Instrument 3: Information for professionals in the field of vocational guidance, job
placement and monitoring of youths with Spina bifida and Hydrocephalus
Instrument 4: Information, tips and hints for employers
Instrument 5: Vocational biographies
Instrument 6: Promoting activities with the help of friends, colleagues and the
social network
Instrument 7: Peer support training
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14. Instrument 1: Guidelines for action and practical help in training and
vocation
Target group: Teachers and trainers
Format: Seminar for professionals; a rubric on the project website
Objectives: - To support teachers and trainers in their development of
professional capacity and the broadening of respective
approaches
- To support and assist pupils individually when they prepare
for their career orientation process
Contents: - The principles of self-determination and self-responsibility,
(examples) resource orientation and supportive care
- Training of the guidelines
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15. Instrument 2: Empowerment and self-management
Module 1: Keeping a job
Target group: Young people with Spina bifida and
Hydrocephalus
Format: - Manual
- Training course
- Rubric on the project website
Objectives: - To face challenges in the (first) job
Contents: - To discover what problems there are
(examples) - Be able to talk about it and come up with solutions
- Communication training as main condition for solving work
problems
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16. Instrument 2: Empowerment and self-management
Module 4: Self-management training
Target group: Young people with Spina bifida and Hydrocephalus
Format: Training course; a rubric on the project website
Objectives: - To encourage self-management and solving one‘s own problems
Contents: - Tips for efficient learning
(examples) - Help against lack of concentration
- Self-confident behavior
- Dealing with stress
- Time management
- Highlighting personal hygiene
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17. Instrument 3: Information for professionals in the field of vocational
guidance, job placement and monitoring of youths with
Spina bifida and Hydrocephalus
Target groups: Rehabilitation consultants, employment consultants,
integration managers, job coaches
Format: Seminar for professionals
Objectives: - To open minds
- To improve the vocational training and employment situation
- To individually consult people with SBH
- To attempt to respect and realize students‘ career aspirations
Contents: - Basic information about the disabilities
- Sensitizing of Empowerment
- Analysis of educational and vocational biographies
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18. Instrument 4: Information, advice and tips for employers
Target group: Employers, staff members
Format: Information events; a rubric on the project website;
individual meetings
Objectives: - Disability awareness
- Improvement of the chances of integration on the labour market
Contents: - General information on the disabilities
(examples) - Disability awareness training
- Reasons to employ someone with SBH
- Benefits to employers
- Factors to consider
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19. Instrument 7: Peer Support Training
Target group: People with SBH
Format: - Training course
- Individual meetings
Objectives: - Help to help oneself
- Exchange of experiences
Contents: Module: The competence of peer support
- Deeper understanding of one‘s own disability
- Recognize the role of peer support
- Recongnize the boundaries of confidentiality
- Application of various methods of support
- Information on social services and referral to other specialized
centres
- Dealing with difficulties and problems that arise from peer support
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20. Lena Rudolph , Germany,
member of ASBH board and project team
“The exchange on a
European level is for me
particularly exciting and
inspiring“.
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21. Marcel Hoiting, The Netherlands
involved in the project as an „expert on own affairs“
„The project encouraged me
to go my own way
independently
and to stand up for others“.
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22. Thank you
for your attention
www.we-empower-us.eu