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COM(79)572
Vol.1979/0198

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COMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(79)572final
Brussels,26thOctober1979
REPORTFROMTHECOMMISSION TOTHECOUNCIL
ONTHEINITIALCOMMUNITY ACTIONPROGRAMME' FORTHE
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION OFHANDICAPPED PERSONS
(PERIOD1974-1979 )
C0MC79)572final

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TOTHE COUNCIL ONTHE
INITIAL COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAMME FOR THE .
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION OFHANDICAPPED PERSONS
(PERIOD 197^-1979 )
1. Introduction ■-
The initial Community aotion programme for the vocational
rehabilitation ofhandicapped persons was adopted bythe Council
on27June 197^to"improve theopportunities forvocational
rehabilitation available within theCommunity tohandicapped
persons "(1).
The Commission isresponsible for taking specific steps ineach
area ofthe programme and also for coordinating and providing
general guidelines for this programme ;itisassisted inthese
tasks byagroup ofrepresentatives oftheMember States *The
time required toimplement the programme and toobtain and assess
thefirst results was longer than estimated and consequently this
report isbeing submitted after the deadline laid down bythe
Council *
(1)O.J. oftheEuropean Communities NoC80/30-32 of9July 197^

-2-
2. General review oftheimplementation oftheprogramme between 197V
and 1979
20.Theprogramme ,asdrawn upin197k ,provides for : -
- -the development ofand training innew vocational rehabilitation
methods (Title II§1oftheCouncil Resolution );
-thequalitative improvement offacilities currently inoperation
bymeans ofshort-term demonstration projects (Title II§2);
-thepossibility ofcarrying outlonger-term projects extending
themeasures just referred to (Title II§3);
-"concomitant projects "involving research and information cam­
paigns (Title III).
Abrief review ofsteps taken and projects carried out ineach of
the above areas isgiven below *
ι
21.Asregards theplanning andteaching ofnewrehabilitation methods
21.1 The Commission has set upthe European Network ofrehabilitation
and training centres envisaged inthe programme .
21.2 Ithas encouraged cooperation between thecentres'by holding bi­
lateral meetings ofV5days' duration attended bycomplete teams
and byarranging farthe topics discussed there tobefollowed up
subsequently ;1^such meetings have been held since 1977 ;annual
reports summarizing thetopics discussed during these meetings
are published .
21.3 The Commission has also arranged periodic meetings between the
directors ofthese centres inorder :
A.tostudy the jobprofile and define thetraining objectives
for rehabilitation staff ;this has been done for :
-vocational training instructors ;
-staff members incentres who are involved inplacing han­
dicapped persons ;
-staff members incentres who are involved ingiving voca­
tional guidanoe tohandicapped parsons (work still inpro­
gress );
-the directors ofthe centres .
Theresults .ofthework already completed areatpresent being
applied totraining activities organized bythecentresj

-3-
ν
B.tostudy certain matters concerning all members ofthe teams ,
inparticulars
-training these persons inmultidisciplinary work ,
-assessing the work capacity ofhandicapped persons .
Anagreement has been reached onthe general concepts tobeap­
plied and onthe aims tobepursued inthese areas *
21.^During theperiod 197^-1979 ,theCommission wasnotasked toorgan­
ize measures ofacentralized kind for the training ofrehabilitation
' personnel .Hence ,no"advanced courses "have yetbeen held ;infact ,
the training ofthe staff required has taken place aspart ofthe
projects aided bytheEuropean Social Fund (see §22.1 );these pro­
jects implemented the guidelines laid down atthe Mulhouse seminar
(lO-l^f December 1973 .)•Theexperience thus gained in"training
instructors "and the harmonization ofconcepts arrived atduring
the work mentioned above will now make iteasier toorganize Euro­
pean courses based onthe specific objectives oftheprogramme .
21.5 The directors ofcentres carry out anannual examination ofthe
activities described in§§21.2 and21o3 (assessment ofwork done ,
forecasts forthecoming year ). .V
22.Asregards the demonstration projects prepared inthe Member States
inorder taimprove thequality ofrehabilitation facilities cur­
rently inoperation ,many projects meeting the criteria laid down
inthe action programme have been carried out .
22.1 Under theterme'of Article kofCouncil Decision 71/66/EEC ,the
European Social Fund promoted demonstration projects and training
courses concerned with the vocational rehabilitation ofhandicap­
pedpersons ,which took place between 197^and1977 .Details ofthe
finance involved are given inthe Fund 'sannual report .The aims
•and content ofthese activities were analyzed bytheCommission
in1977 and1978 ;asummary ofitsfindings waspresented atthe
Conference organized bytheCommission inLuxembourg on21,22
and 23March 1979 -Itshowed that :

-^-
a)there were wide differences intheCommunity asregards the
provision ofservices required forrehabilitation (quantity
and quality ofservices provided )and theattitude ofthe
public towards thesocial andvocational integration of
handicapped persons ;.
b)inthis connection ,theMember States have responded tothe
Community action programme bytdking measures aimed :
-either atremedying theisolation ofhandicapped persons
incertain communities bymeans ofprogrammes dealing with
theindividual rehabilitation ofthese persons ,their social
andvocational integration ,and thewider provision of
services ,
-oratimproving thequality oftheservices provided through
out thecountry for the guidance ,training ,placement ,
social well-being andhealth ofhandicapped persons ;
(priority wasgiven tooneorother ofthese aims according
tothesituation obtaining -see a);
c)bypromoting these activities ,theCommunity facilitated the
- %
implementation ofnational policies ,sometimes toaconside­
rable degree .The demonstration projects provided anoppor­
tunity totest new practical measures and sometimes contri­
buted tothe early stages oftheir general application .
22.2 In1977 ,theCouncil rejected theCommission 'sproposal that it
should continue toassist these demonstration projects under
the terms ofArticle k.Asaresult ,from 1978 onwards ,allaid
from theEuropean Social Fund foractivities concerning handi­
capped persons isbeing provided inaccordance with Article 5
inits revised form ,under which steadily increasing sums of
money are being allocated .Thus ,thepromotion ofprojects of
anexperimental and innovatory character isstill possible
.and isinfact continuing .

5
23«The programme laid down that thelessons drawn from theabove -
mentioned demonstration projects should beapplied inlonger -
term projects aimed atimproving facilities (i.e. theprovision
ofservices )notonly qualitatively but also quantitatively .
Some ofthe work currently being carried out under the terms
ofArticle 5already meets these particular requirements ,so
ithasnot yet been thought necessstry tosubmit specific
proposals totheCouncil regarding possible support forlong -
term projects .
Zk.l Asregards study and research ,the following points should be
stressed :
-the Commission has had some reference works prepared :a
comparative study .ontheorganization ofrehabilitation in
Member States and itsupdated version ;astatistical study
onthe employment ofhandicapped persons ;astudy onspecial
education ;
*
-from the beginning ofthe programme ,the assessment ofworking
capacity was marked out asanarea inwhich new knowledge
would beneeded ;experience inthis area has been exchanged
(described in§21,3 B)andresearch projects have been
promoted under theECSC Research Programme onErgonomics
and Rehabilitation ;
-inaddition ,joint projects being undertaken under the first
CREST medical research programme should help inpreventing
disability ;these are concerned with the registration of
congenital defects inthe newborn and the epidemiology
ofdeafness .

2m-.2Finally ,theprogramme provides foraninformation campaign directed
atthe general public ,which has aneducational function and aims at
facilitating thesocial integration ofhandicapped persons .The Corn­
er.mission did not' want totake immediate action inthis field ..How-*
~ .-ever ,inthecourse ofmany demonstration projects ,the public has
been involved inthesocial integration ofhandicapped persons ;with
theexperience thus gained ,theCommission isnow inaposition to .
examine what information might actually.be ofuseand toprepare a.
work plan involving possible collaboration with associations for
handicapped persons *
1 Γ
3# Current situation .Future policy
31.While theprojects described insectioii 2were under way ,the situa­
tion intheMember States changed .Significant steps were taken
during this period .Details ofthese are given inAppendix I.
32.Atpresent +member countries are faced with employment problems of .
varying severity . .
The number ofhandicapped persons receiving vocational rehabilitation
isgreater than thenumber ofsuch persons .who find work after rehab­
ilitation .Handicapped persons whohave completed their rehabilitation
remain unemployed longer than other people ,and thebenefits provided
byrehabilitation are gradually lost asaresult .Must theCommunity ,
because ofeconomic constraints ,abandon the present aim ofitswork
for thehandicapped ,namely ,toenable these persons "totake upand
hold ajob ,oranoccupation asself-employed persons ,under condi­
tions and with earnings which are equivalent ,orasnearly equivalent
aspossible ,tothose ofother workers "?(2)Will theCommunity have
toregard handicapped persons insearch ,ofwork asacategory re­
quiring special protective measures rather than normal employment ?
The Commission considers that iftheattempt tofind genuine jobs
forhandicapped persons whohave acquired areal working capacity
during their rehabilitation were tobeabandoned ,this would restrict
(2)Title I,penultimate paragraph ,ofaforementioned text

these persons *earnings ,would prolong their situation asassisted
persons andwould increase theburden onthecommunity ;theCommis­
sion therefore believes vthat theaim set in197 *+should bemain­
tained ,that the work already begun should becontinued and that
the -current difficulties must beovercome .
Toachieve this ,itisofprime importance that theprinciples and
concepts tobeused inreferring tothe placement and work of"han­
dicapped persons "should bespecified :
a.theaim ofvocational rehabilitation istoprovide aperson with
thecapacity towork ;itistherefore apreparation for achange
instatus ,which occurs when ajob isobtained ;atthat point ,
thehandicapped person should become just anormal worker ;
b.this change creates adjustment problems ;the person concerned has
tobeprepared ,assisted ahd followed upinaspecial way ;in
fact ,the real working capacity ofthehandicapped person can be
gauged only when hehas been completely rehabilitated ;the role
ofhis fellow workers isofcrucial importance here ;
c.itshould berecognized that the effort made bythehandicapped
person and the community during rehabilitation requires ,inre­
turn ,aguarantee ofemployment ;this isthereason forthe
legal provision ofplacement facilities invarious countries ;
d.inthecase ofinvalidity (when working capacity ispartial or
non-existent )theproblem ofguaranteeing anincome arises .
Apolicy can beworked out onthe basis oftheabove .
Inorder tofacilitate theemployment ofhandicapped persons after
their rehabilitation ,theCommission proposes thefollowing policy
lines :
A.Toassist firms inattaining theobjectives _sugge6ted_to_them_in
this area andinimproving thefacilities placed ^at_their_disposal
-since rehabilitation isintended toimprove vocational skills ,
firms shouls beinvolved inthis process andboth management and
labour should take aninterest init;

-firms should behelped when therecruitment ofhandicapped per­
.sons involves difficulties ordrawbacks ;
-specifice measures must betaken toencourage small firms which
.take onhandicapped persons forrehabilitation purposes ,par-..
ticularly during the first fewyears ofemployment .-
B.To_i££££ase_the_ef fectiveness ofnormal placement ,training and
^-ee«soas ma^®them more easily
accessible tohandicapped persons .Inparticular ,vocational
training centres should beable tocater formore handicapped
persons ,inaddition toother trainees ;this presupposes the
removal ofcertain obstacles and -inthelonger term -modifi­
cations inteaching methods .
C.Tocreate links between employment policy and theother policies
affecting social andvocational integration (education ,housing ,
transport ,health' ,social assistance ,etc.)by
social /health services atlocal level ,i.e. for
limited groups (between 100000and200000people )andwith the
participation ofthese groups .
D.Within this context ,toraise toasatisfactory level thequality
andcapacity ofthefacilities provided fortheseverely han^i -
capped andofspecial rehabilitation facilities .Intherehabil­
itation process andparticularly inthevocational guidance given
tohandicapped persons ,emphasis should beshifted from the con­
cept ofdeficiency towards theidentification ,development and
use ofindividual abilities ,asisindicated attheend of
Title Iofthe programme .
Implementation ofthis policy
Inorder toimplement theabove policy ,theCommission will attempt
toincrease thecoherence ,scope andeffectiveness ofitsmeasures
for thevocational integration ofhandicapped persons ,thetraining
ofpersonnel attending tothese persons and th>social integration
ofhandicapped persons *

For each ofthese areas ,and especially forvocational integration ,
the Commission :
-will direct theactivities which itorganizes intheappropriate
manner ,
-will ask the representatives ofthe Member States who are helping
ittoimplement the programme tocoordinate more effectively the
projects which receive financial aid from theCommunity ,
-will ,ifnecessary ,propose activities going beyond the present
framework ofthe action programme .
The following comments can bemade about the ways and means employed
inthevarious parts oftheprogramme (discussed insection 2of
this report ):
a.Tobecompletely effective ,the role ofthenetwork should inclu­
de,inaddition tothe exchange ofpractical experience and the
training ofpersonnel ,special research and the preparation of
information required fordisseminating theresults oftheprogram­
me.Courses atEuropean level will beplanned inthe light of
specific objectives relating totheareas listed in§
b.Inorder toenable asteady improvement ofthe rehabilitation fa­
cilities currently inoperation totake place ,theEuropean Social
Fund will continue toprovide the demonstration projects with fi­
nancial aid and toseek the best ways oftaking action bymeans
ofstudies and pilot schemes .Asstated above ,these activities
could bebetter prepared and coordinated ,inline with the aims "
ofthepolicy putforward in§33«
c.Itisdesirable that joint research projects should infuture
cover anincreasing number oftopics ,inparticular those likely -
toassist the primary and secondary prevention ofdisability and
those which may facilitate social integration .Inaddition ,the
Commission will ,inthe short term ,take action oninformation
i
inaccordance with thework plan described in§2k.2..
-d.Finally ,theCommission attaches great importance totheassistan­
ceitreceives from theWorking Party onVocfational Rehabilitation
ofHandicapped Persons ,which consists ofrepresentatives ofthe
/Member States­

-10-
Inthe course ofits work ,;this Working Party has concentrated
onthree tasks :
-helping the Commission ,
-»informing ,governments and national associations , -'■
-attempting toreach agreement onproblems ofcommon concern .
The Commission hopes that the latter role will beextended ,both
inorder tobring about abetter coordination ofnational measures
and inorder towork out joint positions *

APPENDIX I
Vocational rehabilitation ofhandicapped persons -
MEMBER STATES :SITUATION AND "FORECASTS
«
This report isasummary ofthe vocational rehabilitation and
employment facilities fordisabled persons ineach ofthemember coun­
tries ,divided into the following sections :
I
1*Programmes inprogress and facilities provided aspart ofthese
programmes .
2.ESF-supported demonstration projects for the programmes under 1.
3.Present problems and future plans .
Suggested Community policy (toprovide assistance inmeeting
priority needs andsolving problems encountered ).
Use has been made ofinformation already available totheCommission
departments and (inthecase ofsections 3and k),ofinformation col­
lected for the purpose .
BELGIUM ,
1. Under theActof16April 19&3 ,aspecial body the "Fonds na­
tional dereclassement social deshandicapes "(National Fund forthe
Social Reintegration ofDisabled Persons ),was setupinBelgium .The
Fund isfinanced byalevy onaccident insurance contributions and is
responsible for the financing and practical organization ofrehab­
ilitation ;inparticular ,this involves : «
-thedrawing upofanindividual rehabilitation programme foreach
handicapped person ; ' '
-the use ,adaptation and extension ofexisting facilities throughout
the country .
I
Asregards vocational training ,handicapped persons toalarge
extent use the same facilities asable-bodied persons :thehandicapped
person may begiven assistance inresuming his studies ,mayattend
training courses organized bythe "Office national del'emploi "(Natio­
nalLabour Office )('Royal Decree of20December 1963 )«mayreceive
training inanundertaking (viaindividual "special apprenticeship"con -
tracts)and ,finally ,mayattend vocational rehabilitation centres .

-Taken together ,these facilities satisfy thedemand fortraining ,in
terms both ofquantity and -quality .Atpresent there are nine vocational
training centres forhandicapped persons ,with atotal ofapproximately
350 places .
2. Thedemonstration projects carried out inBelgium between 197^and
1976 were quality-orientated ;theaimwas toimprove thestandard ofre^
habilitation forpersons with specific hdndicaps :blindness ,serious
speech and/orwriting problems (aphasia ),heart disorders .
3. Asaresult ofemployment incentives (sharing intheco6t of
adapting workplaces ;wage subsidies forhandicapped persons during the ad­
justment period andbefore normal efficiency isachieved ),handicapped
persons are not atadisadvantage vis-a-vis other workers . .
TheFund has had toprovide financial support forsheltered work­
shops tocompensate for the recession ;there has ,therefore ,been nore­
duction inthenumber ofplaces available (.11.011 in.1977 ».i.e. 0,111 %
■\ •
ofthetotal population ). .
' 1
Belgium has noreason tochange the rehabilitation system chosen >
in1963 .Newbills onvocational training andapprenticeship arebeing
drawn up.
All the vocationzl rehabilitation centres forhandicapped persons
are represented onaworking party which discusses problems ofcommon
concern ,including inparticular thesubjects which are being investi­
gated bytheEuropean network ofrehabilitation and training centres
(inter alia ,thetraining ofstaff ).
4. Experience inBelgium has shown that handicapped persons can suc­
cessfully follow various types oftraining (resumption ofstudies ,appren­
ticeship within anundertaking ,adult training centre orspecial centre
fordisabled persons )aslong asthey arehelped .
InBelgium emphasis isplaced onthepreparation ofthehandi­
capped person fortheactual demands ofajob .Discussions onthesub­
ject would bewelcomed and itishoped that theconditions forreceiving
aidfrom theESFmaybemade more flexible tocove"' thewhole range of
traning methods mentioned above .

-3-
The training ofrehabilitation staff needs encouragement .Itis
important togoonsheltering severely-handicapped anddisabled persons
from the effects ofeconomic recessions ontheir chances ofemployment .
DENMARK
1. On1April 1976 theSocial Assistance Act (lovomsocial bistand )
4
came into force ;several acts ,including the Rehabilitation Act ,were
repealed atthesame time andtheSocial Assistance Actgathered several
forms ofsocial support into one system .
The guiding principle isthat all social assistance ,including
vocational rehabilitation ,istreated asawhole ,sothat assistance is
provided onthe basis ofatotal assessment ,with all the features ofthe
ι
claimant andhiscircumstance (family ,workplace etc.)being taken into
account .The principle underlying the Social Assistance Act isthat en­
titlement toassistance depends solely onthe existence ofneed and not
ontheorigin ofthe need .Asecond principle isthat every attempt is
made tofind asolution tothe problems inthe general system and that
only when these attempts have been exhausted isrecourse-had toinstitu -
»
tions established inaccordance with social welfare legislation providing
for the special needs ofindividual groups .
Akey principle ofthe Social Assistance Act isthat anindividual
should apply toonly one agency inorder toobtain help insolving his
problems .Persons with vocational problems should therefore gotothe
authorities ofthe municipality inwhich they are resident and these
authorities should make the necessary enquiries and give the person in
need ofvocational assistance the advice onwhich tobase decisions about
the extent towhich vocational rehabilitation assistance should beprovi­
ded .The municipality itself authorizes support for measures ofvocational
assistance other than some forms ofaid which may beauthorized only by
aboard under acounty authority .(amtskbmmuner ).
Itisthe duty ofthecounty authority toensure that the neces­
sary institutions areprovided forvocational rehabilitation and training
and theassessment ofworking capacity and also that -sheltered workshops
areavailable where required .

-k-
Special care services fortheblind ,deaf ,epileptics ,speech
defectives ,thecrippled and the mentally handicapped continue tobe
provided inthe day care and residential institutions ofthe State or
similar State-recognized institutions ,but from 1January 1980 will be
decentralized and become theresponsibility ofcounty and local autho­
rities .
\
2* In1978 Denmark received agrant from theEuropean .Social Fund
for the implementation ofapilot project intended todetermine the
reasons underlying failures oftheexisting rehabilitation arrangements
and todevise alternative procedures which would correct such short­
comings *
3. In1977 theage limit fortheallocation oftheearly oldage
pension was brought down ,to55»thus making persons between theages
of55and 60eligible forthis pension when special social andlabour
market circumstances warranted it.Acondition for the award isthat
the applicant cannot atthe time inquestion beplaced inajob .The
pension isconsidered asabenefit provided forpersops who ,irrespective
oftheprevailing economic climate ,would find themselves without ajob
because ofstructural changes inaparticular branch .
Theopinion inDenmark isthat ,although they should notbe
viewed asformal proposals totheCommission ,thefollowing items
should beconsidered :
-theneeds ofolder persons (adaptation oftherehabilitation system );
-closer participation ofundertakings intherehabilitation process
(training attheworkplace ,measures toencourage aspeedy return
towork );
-newapproaches tosheltered employment *

GERMANY
1. There are twoaspects ofgovernment action ;
-legislation which nowgives .thesame financial benefits andemployment
rights toallhandicapped persons (Acts of1Mayand7August 1974 )and
which makes asingle institution ,the "Bundesanstalt furArbeit "(Federal
Labour Office ),responsible forvocational rehabilitation andtheplace­
ment ofhandicapped persons ; -
-theAction Programme topromote therehabilitation ofhandicapped persons ,
adopted in1970 ,which aims toprovide thenecessary facilities throughout
thecountry . " -
One ofthe aims oftheprogramme istosetupanetwork of21"Berufsforderungs -
werke ''(occupational promotion centres ),toprovide special training opportuni­
ties forseverely handicapped adults ,with atotal of12000 places .18ofthese
centres are inoperation and 3under construction . ■
Another aimistosetupanetwork of"Berufsbildungswerke w(occupational trai­
ning centres )toprovide initial vocational training foryoung handicapped per­
sons .24ofthese centres ,with 7000 places ,are tobebuilt initially ,to.be
followed later byafurther 14,with 3000places ,primarily for those educa­
tionally subnormal persons whose disability poses special problems .Atpresent ,
15occupational training centres arewholly orpartly operation ,10areunder
construction and 9are attheplanning stage .
2. .Pilot schemes inGermany have been concerned with providing theoccupa­
tional promotion centres andoccupational training centres with anintegrated ,
system ofeducational aids ,comprising :
-films forvocational training (using television linked bycable with afilm
library ); '
-progress assessment programmes (used individually bythepupils with terminals
linked toacentral computer ). .
Iaaddition ,theESFhasalready provided aidforthetraining ofstaff forthe
occupational promotion centres and associated institutions .

-6-
3. Handicapped persons arenotimmune totheeffects ofthegeneral
employment situation :thenumber ofseverely handicapped persons whoare
unemployed hasincreased from 10090 (January 1974 )to50^5^(Nov.1978 ).
Young handicapped school leavers have been particularly affected .However ,
-this increase inthenumber ofunemployed severely handicapped persons is
first andforemost related tothefact that 'the "Schwerbehindertengesetz "
(Severely Disabled Persons Act)of1May1974 extended thecategory of
persons eligible toreceive benefits .
Onthebasis ofthis Act ,theFederal Government andLander carried outa
special programme ,lasting from 1November 1976 to1September 1977 ,which
wasaimed atincreasing thenumber ofjobs andtraining places available to
severely handicapped persons .Theprogramme gave employers financial incen­
tives toengage more handicapped persons (innormal orspecially adapted
workplaces ).Itwasamajor factor inbringing about theoccupational re­
integration ofapproximately 8700unemployed severely handicapped persons .
Owing tothegreat success ofthefirst special programme ,theFederal Go­
vernment andtheLander introduced on1January 1978 asecond special pro­
gramme which hasthesame objective andisduetorununtil 31December 1978 .
Under the second special programme ,7329 severely handicapped .persons
found jobs intheperiod 1January -31October 1978 *
The number ofplaces insheltered workshops ,which stood at20^1
(0,033 %ofthetotal population )in197*S istobeincreased to
60000 tocope with the .increase indemand .
Without losing -sight oftheaim ofgiving handicapped persons
asuitable vocational training ,itIssuggested that the Community
action programme should beextended tocover :
-exchanges ofviews onthe problem ofunemployment among severely
handicapped persons ;
-more extensive use ofthe ESF todeal with this problem ;
-more careful examination oftheproblem ofsheltered employment ,
andconsideration ofthefinanciel aidwhich theCommunity (ESF )
could provide for thesetting upand maintaining offacilities
for sheltered employment .

FRANCE
1. Themain guidelines arelaid down inthe 'Loi d'orientation enfaveur
despersonnes handicapees (outline lawonbehalf ofhandicapped persons )of
30June 1975 ;pians implementing this law .have tobedrawn upandadditional
measures have tobeworked out .
Thefollowing accessory rehabilitation bodies aredefined bythis law :
-the'Commissions departementales d'orientation' ('Departement 'Guidance
Boards )arerenamed 'Commissions techniques d'orientation etdereclaSsement
professionnel 1(Technical Vocational Guidance andRehabilitation Boards )
(C0T0REP )andtheir membership isenlarged toinclude representatives of
handicapped persons' associations andtrade unions ;their job istodeter­
mine who isentitled 'toreceive benefits asa'handicapped person' ,todraw
upindividual programmes ,and todecide which institutions are toprovide
therelevant benefits (these institutions arebound byC0T0REP decisions );
-these Boards work inassociation with the 'Departement"' employment offices
(which have disablement :resettlement officers )andwith thenewly-created
'Centres depreorientation' (Preliminary Guidance Centres )and *6quipes de
preparation etsuite dureclassement '(rehabilitation ,preparation andfollow -
upteams ). -
Inaddition ,thelawguarantees anincome tohandicapped persons in
employment .Thus theGovernment helps undertakings and sheltered workshops to~^
bear the costs involved inemploying handicapped persons .This should result
inmore jobs becoming available tohandicapped persons .
2. There are twokinds ofpilot scheme inFrance :.
-remedial training forhandicapped persons who have avery low level of
education ,asapreliminary tonormal rehabilitation (this applies parti­
cularly toimmigrant workers who have been thevictims ofoccupational
accidents );assessment ofneeds ,establisment ofmethods ;
-thework oftherehabilitation preparation and .follow-up .teams (multi­
disciplinary ,responsible foraDepartement ,recruited locally ).This pro­
ject ,which ,started in1974 ,hasledtothecreation ofaninitial group of
teams ;theaimnow istoimprove thecapacity ofthese teams toassist in
occupational integration and tocreate more teams sothat thewhole ofthe
country may becovered .
These activities form anintegral part ofthewhole described in§1.

-8-
3.^* Agroup concerned with handicapped persons hasbeen setupwithin the
"Delegation a1'emploi "(adepartment attached totheMinistry ofLabour ).
Theaim istoinfluence both thetraining andtheemployment ofhandi­
capped persons .
y
Atpresent ,thesupply ofvocational training forhandicapped persons '
meets half thedemand .This situation isto'beremedied byappropriate action
intheestablishments concerned (rehabilitation centres andsections forhandi­
capped persons inthe centres run bytheAFPA -theAdult Vocational Training
Association )andbyimproving theuseofindividual retraining contracts .
Secondly ,itishoped toimprove employment opportunities inundertakings
andsheltered workshops bymeans offinancial measures which guarantee employed
handicapped persons aminimum income andenable theundertakings where they are
employed toobtain help inbearing thecosts involved inproviding supervision
and adapting workplaces .This will bebacked upbyattempts toensure that
employers arebetter informed .
' Finally ,various working parties arestudying themeasures which should ,
betaken inorder toextend thework ofsheltered workshops ,whose capacity
(2600places in1978 ,corresponding to0,005 %ofthetotal population )is
much lower than what isneeded (l).
(l)InFrance ,thelawgives avery strict definition of'sheltered employment' -.
The places mentioned should not beconfused with theplaces provided bythe
'Centres d'aide parletravail 1(work centres )which areintended forper­
sons whose working capacity isreduced bymore than twothirds ,(thelatter
.numbered 31000in1978 ).

IRELAND
1. The 1970 Health Act made the Health Boards ,which cover the eight
administrative areas ofIreland ,responsible forproviding the services
necessary fortraining handicapped persons andadapting jobs totheir
needs .This iscarried out with the help ofacentral organization ,the
National Rehabilitation Board .In197^there were twoaims :
-toinitiate anaction programme for the'training and employment ofhan­
dicapped persons ;this programme ,drawn upbyagroup ofexperts ,was
approved bytheMinister in1975 ;
-inapplication ofthis programme ,toincrease rehabilitation facilities
byclose cooperation between theGovernment and thevoluntary associa­
tions concerned ;asaresult ofthis cooperation ,financing methods and
staff training have improved .
2. TheEuropean Social Fund has enabled the opening ofabout twenty
new community workshops and has helped toimprove the working conditions
and remuneration ofthehandicapped and their trainers inother workshops .
Ithas also contributed toanimportant degree totherestoration toa
normal working life intheir community ofhundreds ofjmentally ill ,men­
tally retarded and physically handicapped persons who had been previously
dependent onbeing maintained bythe State either inresidential centres
orbyState financial allowances .
3. Work must continue inIreland onthe 1975 programme .One ofthe
problems ismotivating handicapped persons toundergo training andtake vup
employment ;the other isthe standard and scope ofexisting facilities ..
The main aims are :
a.toimprove thearrangements fortracing handicapped persons whocould
beemployed ,forevaluating their capacities and forguiding them ;
b.toimprove training facilities
-atAnCO centres (training ofhandicapped persons inassociation with
able-bodied persons );
-insheltered workshops (training ofhandicapped persons foropen
employment );
c.theupgrading ofthestandards ofperformance ofall workshops providing
(
traning andemployment services forthehandicapped (in197 ^+Ireland had
737places insheltered workshops ,i.e. 0,02 ^&ofthetotal population );
d.theprovision ofincentives toemployers toencourage them toemploy
handicapped personso

10-
Ireland feels that 'Community action should bealong thefollowing
lines :
theprovision offinancial support (forthecreationof basic training
facilities );
^the .identification bytheNetwork ofthe most suitable and .effective
training programmes forthedifferent categories ofhandicapped persons ;
-thedevelopment ofpolicies which would give emphasis totherestoration
or .introduction ofthehandicapped person towork rather than tohis
financial support bythe State *
ITALY
1. Vocational rehabilitation has developed against the following
background :
a.Ashift ofresponsibility forvocational training ,health care and so­
cial assistance ,education ,etc .from central State institutions to ..-
.local public bodies (regions ,"comprensori "(2),communities inmoun -..
.atainous districts ,municipalities )*This process derived itsmain
impetus from two events :
-?■in1972 ,special decrees gave theregions responsibility forcertain
matters ,including vocational training ;
-decentralization wascompleted byDecree No6l6of2kJuly 1977 *in­
troduced bytheGovernment inpursuance oftheAct ontheregions and
theorganization ofthepublic service (LawNo382of22July 1975 )*
The latter decree notonly shifts responsibilities ,personnel and ser­
vices away from thecentre ;italso gives aprecise definition ofthe
roles allocated tocentral government ,theregions and local autho­
rities .
b.Theextension ofregional legislation within theframework oftwo out­
line laws .TheOutline Lawonvocational training (No8^5of23Decem­
ber 1978 )defines theareas inwhich action atregional level istobe
taken andtheprinciples onwhich such action should bebased ;these
areas include "theprofessional qualifications ofdisabled ^andhandi­
capped persons andthemeasures needed toenable them toexercise their
right tovocational training "(Article kd.)«Lav ,No833of23Decem­
ber1978 sets upanational health service ,guaranteeing health care
(2)The "comprensorio "isaterritorial unit used insocial andeconomic
planning which ishalfway between aregion andamunicipality .

-11-
forevery citizen onanequal basis ,with aview topromoting personal ,
family andcommunity life *Inspecific geographical areas ,existing
institutions are expected towork together ina"local health unit "
which provides health care *
c.Areorganization atlocal level ofthe services providing social and
health benefits .The geographical framework isthe same both for social
andhealth services .Within this framework ,planning isdone indepen­
dently ;users areallowed toparticipate and account istaken ofspe­
cial needs .This enables an .overall health programme tobeestablished ,
linking prevention with therapy and rehabilitation .Inthis way handi­
capped persons find their needs asmembers ofthecommunity metbythe
services designed for the whole community ,and remain integrated
during their rehabilitation .Help towards their integration isprovided
byLawNo517ofhAugust 1977 ontheintegration ofhandicapped pupils
into schools ,andbyLawNa180of13May1978 ,which regulates preven­
tive measures ,treatment and rehabilitation for the mentally ill within
the general health services * .
d.Theproblem ofintegrating handicapped persons ,thus envisaged,' direct­
lyaffects the community and islinked totheproblems ofthepopula­
tion asawhole ;although posed atlocal level ,ithas infact awider
political and practical context .The collective agreements deal with
those aspects oftheproblem which are connected with work *
2. Thedemonstration projects supported bytheESF provide the sort
ofaidmentioned above and often concern mentally-handicapped persons .
They aresponsored bylocal authorities (regions ,provinces )andarecon- '
cerned not only with the training and integration ofhandicapped persons ,
butalso with influencing the social .environment ;the initiators are
gradually led todefine their policy The training ofrehabilitation staff
forms anintegral part ofsuch projects *
Aproject carried out intheperiod 197^-1977 andinvolving ex­
periments conducted bydifferent groups (inRome ,Bologna andVerona )in
collaboration with anational body (ENAIP )hasshown that theforging
ofnewlinks between thehandicapped person andthecommunity

-12-
(the "socialization "ofthehandicapped person )isaprerequisite ofre­
habilitation and not aninevitable result oftheacquisition ofvocational .
"skills ;amethod based onthis principle has .been proposed asaresult of
this project .
J
Itisintended toapply this method widely during theperiod -
1977-1980 bymeans ofmeasures taken throughout thecountry .This develop -t
ment has been planned with the support of«thetrade unions ;itinvolves .
the exchange ofexperience and the^training ofinstructors atnational .
level .
3. Current problems include :
-a.ensuring that local authorities actually perform the tasks assigned to
them bylaw ,and reorganizing services atlocal level ;
b.intensifying vocational rehabilitation measures onbehalf ofvictims ?
ofoccupational disease and accidents ,soastoguarantee them con­
tinuity ofemployment ;
c.doing more toexpand theprovision ofvocational rehabilitation facil­
ities inthe Mezzogiorno ,onthebasis ofmeasures now under way ;
d»supporting the individual efforts ofinstructors and staff engaged in
current projects with aperipatetic training programme .
*f. Aid from theESF isessential ,for theprogress ofrehabilitation
inItaly .Itishoped that there will bemuch closer cooperation atCom­
munity level ,inparticular within theEuropean Network .
LUXEMBOURG
1. TheGrand-Duchy isbecoming less dependent onforeign countries
for rehabilitation services .Recent activities comprise i
a.anewhospital inLuxembourg with surgical ,traumatology andortho­
paedic services equipped forfunctional rehabilitation ;
b.vocational rehabilitation formentally handicapped young adults (in
thesheltered workshop atCapellen )andthephye'.cally handicapped
(atanewcentre inDudelange ).

13
2. TheESFprovides financial aid forthese demonstration projects .
\
J>.b . Toprovide continuity between medical andvocational rehabilita­
tion ,exercise training andpreliminary occupational retraining services
areplanned .^Tnthesame context ,acardiovascular rehabilitation centre
atMondorf isplanned .
NETHERLANDS
1. Sofar ,the main object has been tooffer toall citizens whether
ornot they come under acontributory scheme !:
-medical treatment and rehabilitation inthe event ofsickness ;
-anadequate income ifemployment isinterrupted ;
-specially adapted employment forpersons unfit fornormal work .
The1976 General Disability Insurance Act (AAW )brought thebene-
» I
fits guaranteed toworkers bytheDisability Insurance Act (WAO)into
general application :oneperson intenwill benefit in1980 .In1978 there
were 70000 jobs insheltered workshops in .theNetherlands (corresponding
to0,5%ofthetotal population ,which isthehighest rate intheCommu -
%
nity )..
2. The Netherlands has asked for aid from the ESF for one demonstra­
tion project .
3. Rehabilitation policy asawhole has been examined bythe Govern­
ment ,which inJune 1978 putbefore Parliament ageneral paper containing
short-term plans .
'Thedifficulty nowencountered inplacing handicapped persons in
normal workplaces could beovercome bys
a.measures enabling those who become handicapped toremain inthe firm
where they areworking (nowbeing studied );
b.financial measures tofacilitate placement :wage subsidies ,paid when
handicapped persons are placed inopen employment ;application of
Article WoftheWorking Incapacity Insurance Act (placement with
gradually diminishing wage subsidies );

#-1^-
Cmmore pressure onondertakmgs toemploy handicapped persons (atthe
moment there isnoclear definition ofwhat constitutes ahandicap or
anycompulsory registration ;,thepercentage ofplaces compulsorily
available inundertakings »2%oftheworkforce -istoolow ;there
are noformal employment obligations );
d.supply oftemporary .staff byaprivate non-profit -making organization <
r.^working inclose collaboration with employment offices .This enables
employers toemploy handicapped persons over asix-month trial period
without entering into anycommitments ;
e.taking into consideration thespecial training requirements ofadult
handicapped persons (there arenospecial training facilities inthe
Netherlands ). -
A-.; >Anestablishment onthelines ofthe "Beruf sforderungswerke "is
tobeopened aspart oftheLucasstichting inHoensbroek .;Asimilar centre ,
for -young handicapped persons ,isabout toopen inGroesbeek ("Werkenrode ").
Generally ,itisthought desirable that the European Network should bemore
active ,particularly inthe training ofinstructors and inresearch .
' k •
UNITED KINGDOM
1. .The United Kingdom government has encouraged rehabilitation inthe
fields ofpublic health and employment .
1Inrecent years ithas been policy formedical rehabilitation
services tobeimproved andexpanded .Money wasallocated toenable hospi­
tals andcentres carrying outgood rehabilitation practice tobedesignated
asDemonstration Centres toshow what could bedone torehabilitate pa­
tients andprovide professional training forstaff .There are21such
' '
centres .The recruitment oftherapists has been encouraged ,salaries im­
proved ,and institutes researching into aspects ofrehabilitation develo­
ped .Therapists have been assigned togive advice onplanning district
remedial services .Medical rehabilitation continues tobeapriority in
planning guidelines forhealth service development .

-15-
TheManpower Services Commission (MSC )took over responsibility
fortheoperation of ,employment andtraining services fordisabled peo­
plefrom theDepartment ofEmployment inJuly 1976 .TheMSCoperates
through itsEmployment Service Division (ESD),Special Programmes Divi­
sion (SPD )andTraining Services Division (TSD ).InFebruary 1978 theMSC
published itsProgramme "Developing Employment andTraining Services for
Disabled People ",which set out inbroad ,terms theaims and objectives
for the service over the next 5-10 years *Plans for the future includes
a.Areview ofthestatutory 3%quota scheme fortheemployment ofre- ,
gistered disabled people ,which will beundertaken byMSC inlate
1979 ^MSC isaware ofthe fact that there appears tobeanincreasing
disinclination among disabled people toregister assuch ,and there
arecurrently more unemployed unregistered disabled people (72000 )
than there are unemployed registered disabled people looking for
work (about 66500). '
b.Improvements intraining ofspecialist placement staff (DROs ),and a
National Training Centre was set uptothis end in1975 .
c.Improvement intheuseofEmployment Rehabilitation Centres (ERCs ).
Ν,27ERCs are now inoperation ,and about 2200 people are taking re­
habilitation courses inone month .Some 15000 courses were completed
in1977-1978 .Rehabilitation methods arebeing reviewed bythespecial
Research Centre setupin1976 ,and itisintended toundertake a
wider review ofthe future role ofERCs .
d.Developing the training services fordisabled people operated through
TSD ,and improving theaccess ofdisabled people toexisting training
services .TSD directly supports four residential training colleges
(RTCs )fordisabled people runbyvoluntary organizations .Areview
and research programme istobeundertaken totest possible additions
tocurrent training provision and toindicate the extent ofunmet
training needs among disabled people . 1
e.Theprovision ofspecial aids toemployment forindividual disabled
people will continue .Financial assistance canalso begiven to
- . \
disabled people setting upbusiness ontheir ownaccount *Special at-..
tention isbeing given tothereading needs ofblind employees ,and
themeans whereby theprovision ofaids can benefit from advances in
modem technology .

-16-
f.Continuing support fortheprovision ofsheltered employment by
.Remploy Ltd.,Local Authorities and other organizastions .In1977-1978
there were about 13350 severely disabled people working insheltered
conditions (about 0,02k %ofthetotal population ).MSCaims tomake
.greater use ofsheltered workshop capacity inthenear future ,and to
review standards ofentry into such workshops .Italso promotes in­
dustrial enclaves (currently 23exist )which give severely disabled
«
people theopportunity ofworking inopen industry under controlled
conditions .
g.Developing the "Positive Policies "campaign started inthe summer of
1977 ,whereby direct contacts are setupbetween DROs and employers
with aview topersuading employers toadopt and implement policies
favourable tothe recruitment ,induction ,training and retention of
disabled people .Two schemes also introduced in1977 toprovide fi­
nancial assistance toemployers who adapt premises orequipment to
enable disabled people tobeemployed orretained and ascheme to
give temporary financial aid ,atthe discretion ofthe DRO ,toan
employer taking onadisabled person who would not otherwise have
been offered ajob ,have been extended beyond their tinitial trial
. .periods .
h.Action asnecessary inthe light ofareport produced bytheNational
Advisory Ceuncil ontheEmployment ofDisabled People concerning the
rehabilitation and resettlement ofmentally ill people
Provision ofvocational rehabilitation services for disabled
people inNorth Ireland follow asimilar pattern tothose inGreat Britain
2. During theperiod oftheinitial Community action programme ,the
ESFsupported programmes andprojects included pilot hospital centres
and medical rehabilitation ;DROtraining ;employment rehabilitation in
ERGs andthrough agencies ;training projects andaproject concerned
with theresettlement ofseverely disabled young persons andthepro­
blems they encounter when they leave school .
3. Future plans have been described inparagraph 1.

-17
4. The following aresuggested elements offuture Community policy :
-Development ofadvice and guidance toemployers ontheemployment of
dis±>led people and the spread ofknowledge about good employment prac­
tices for disabled people atwork .
-Encouragement ofnational policies aimed atproviding supportive ser­
vices ,inallaspects ,fordisabled peop (leinthelabour market ;and
encouragement formodification /adaptation tothese tomeet changing
patterns ofneed .
ι .
-Ensuring that disabled people benefit asmuch aspossible from job
creation ,work experience and similar programmes *. ,
-Ensuring that vocational training foremployment ismade available to .
disabled people who need it.-
-Encouragement and spread ofinformation ,.study andresearch onthe pro -*
vision and effectiveness ofresettlement ,rehabilitation and training
policies within the Member States .
-Intervention oftheESF toensure maximum benefit forthelargest ^pos­
sible number ofdisabled people . »