People with disabilities and the development of community strategies to promote participation in the labor market

Abstract

This paper is about a retrospective study on community strategies for inclusion of People with Disabilities (PwD) at work, carried out by a university extension project in partnership with the Basic Health Unit between 2012 and 2016. The documentary research identified the profile of those served and the actions included support in group (34 encounters) and individual/family (172 assistance meetings/20 visits to the workplace). There was investment in the constitution of a community support network with public and private actors. Among the 22 participants, 10 started paid work, 6 were unemployed and 6 did not start paid work or had previous experience; the average age was 29 years and, mostly, had intellectual disability, little schooling or work experience. The group made it possible to meet the needs of the participants, to address collective issues and share information. Individual support was essential to address unique needs, considering the lack of a policy to support the permanence of PwD in companies. The creation of a network among those involved allowed the interlocution between services to deal with the issues. There was dialogue with the proposal of Supported Employment and Community Based Rehabilitation. These aspects facilitated personalized processes, demonstrating the importance and feasibility of community initiatives that may indicate public policies of access to rights.