Certificates acknowledge vocational competencies of people with disabilities

The 33 graduates of the vocational education and training section of the Main-Kinzig disabled persons service (BWMK) can be proud of the certificates presented to them at a ceremony in the Hanauer Brockenhaus. The certificates are intended to help them find work in the primary employment market.

The integration of people with disabilities in working life remains a difficult challenge. National, standardised certificates documenting the abilities of handicapped persons are intended to help open doors.

33 graduates of the vocational education and training section of the Main-Kinzig disabled persons service have now been able to receive their certificates. Dr. Wolfgang Dippel, State Secretary in the Hessian Ministry for Social Affairs and Inclusion, and Marie-Christine Junker, Regional Head of the Hanau Employment Agency, presented the documents as part of the ceremony, sharing a few personal words with each of the 33 participants.

In total, 36 women and men had successfully completed the work in the vocational education and training section. Jutta Wälzlein, Head of Department at the BWMK praised the commitment and spirit shown by the successful graduates in trying something new. She added that, in the vocational education and training section of the disabled persons service, the men and women learned about different vocational areas and acquired a wide range of knowledge and skills.

Through collaboration of the BWMK with the vocational schools and companies in the region, the graduates had not only gained knowledge but had also been provided with vocational experience.

In the vocational education and training section, people who need support and supervision due to their impairments can gain vocational education and training. The individual development planning covers practical and theoretical qualifications, as well as courses in general education and interpersonal development. The education and training team also provides placement in the work areas and in the BWMK company as well as in companies in the region. Individuals also receive support and supervision when making the transition to the future workplace and in their subsequent working life.

"The possibilities provided by vocational education and training are varied," explains Astrid Rübsam, Head of Training at BWMK. As part of the placements, participants get to know the different areas so that they can ultimately decide on one of the occupational fields. These include catering, retail, office services, electronic data recording, agriculture, as well as wood and metal working.

Standardised certificates that document the skills of people with disabilities have existed across Germany since 2015. The aim is that they should make it easier, in future, for employers to assess the competencies of potential employees. The State Welfare Association of Hesse, the Hesse Ministry for Social Affairs and Inclusion, and the Employment Agency and the State Working Group of Workshops for People with Disabilities worked together on developing the certificates.

According to State Secretary Wolfgang Dippel, the two-year period of education and training is similar to other training courses. In addition, harmonization of the training content also demonstrates inclusion. However, according to Dippel, improved coaching is needed across Hesse in the consistent use of the training qualifications, and for this the providers of vocational education and training must be approached.

Dippel explained that, in order to integrate more people with impairments in the general labour market, the state of Hesse had also extended the prospects programme for improving job opportunities of people with severe disabilities. The programme supports employers who provide jobs for people with severe disabilities who are remunerated at the collectively agreed wage rate or at the usual rate for the local area. He added that, in this way and in almost two years since the start of the project, 60 transitions had been made from workshops for disabled people onto the general labour market.