Vocational education and training in spite of handicap

When it comes to providing dual system vocational education and training for people with disabilities, the aim is to balance their disadvantages. But what does this mean precisely? What are the options? What does the law stipulate? Which disadvantages and limitations can result from what kinds of disabilities and how can they be taken into account in an individually appropriate manner?

The new publication "Nachteilsausgleich für behinderte Auszubildende - Handbuch für die Ausbildungs- und Prüfungspraxis" (Balancing the Disadvantages of Disabled Apprentices - Handbook for Vocational Training and Examination Practice) by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) deals with questions such as these, which frequently arise when it comes to the practical implementation of occupational inclusion. It offers application-oriented examples and suggestions for solutions, practice-oriented explanations as well as advice on where to find further information.

The handbook (in German) is addressed at all those who carry responsibility in providing dual system vocational education and training for disabled persons, in particular employees in the chambers, members of vocational training and examination committees and trainers, and of course the apprentices themselves. One key aspect that is covered are psychological issues, since these have significantly increased over the past years, constituting a particular challenge for all those involved in vocational education and training.

For example, trainers explicitly learn how to avoid and deal with disability-induced stress behaviour of apprentices. Members of examination committees are provided with suggestions as to how to maintain the professional standards whilst fulfilling their duty of balancing disadvantages, for example, by way of text-optimised examination questions, extension of time and suitable technical aids.

With this publication, the BIBB pursues the goal of promoting the dual vocational education and training provision for people with disabilities and their integration into work and employment. The handbook is the result of a co-operation project involving experts from the fields of science and professional vocational education and training practice as well as representatives of organisations for disabled persons working within a project committee under the supervision of the BIBB.

Source: Federal Insitute of Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), bibb.de, Press release, August 2014, revised by iMOVE, November 2014