employment of intellectually disabled students/The transition of intellectually disabled students from school to world of work

1. The transition of intellectually disabled
students from school to world of work
The link between the vocational
departments/workshops and Job market
Employment of intellectually disables

2.  In Turkey, graduates of Special Education Vocational
Training Centers –mild and moderate-are supported
for employment by Turkish Employment Agency
which is a governmental organization. After
graduation they should register to the agency to be
contacted in case of a job opportunity.

3.  Besides Turkish Employment Agency, these students’
schools also help for their employment. The schools
keep the students’ files and contact addresses even
after graduation in case any business needs a staff from
these schools. At work placement the educational and
vocational background of the student is taken into
consideration (in which workshops s/he studied,
personal skills, where s/he got his/her internship
experience…)

4.  In our school not only the administration but also
with the help of some teachers a number of work
placement has been done up to now. Unfortunately
most of these have been with individual efforts and
unable to go beyond a certain point.

5.  Besides the Turkish Employment Agency and schools,
students can enhance their employment chance with
entering some exams.
 Students with mild intellectual disability who have
good academic skills can study the 12th grade at
open/distant high schools. After graduating from high
school, they can enter university entrance exams, apply
for higher education or enter the exam for disables to
become government officer (on condition of having
%40 disability report).

6.  Every year before the exam for disables to become
government officer, some courses are arranged at
Special Needs Education Schools by Ministery of
Education. The students get academic classes during
these courses. Any student with mild and moderate
disability graduated from Vocational Education
Schools can benefit from these courses free of charge.
HOWEVER;
 Since this exam includes all types of disables,
intellectually disables’ proportion who become
successful is relatively low.

7.  Students with mild and moderate disabilities after
working /practicing at different workshops in the 9th
grade(at least 2 hours at each workshop, in total 12
hours), according to their abilities and request are
evaluated by school’s Monitoring and Evaluation
board to decide at which workshop to practice and be
placed. Each year the students practice at different
workshops to specialize in and find out the best field
appealing to them.
 .

8.  With a new module system which started in 2015 , 10th
grade students get 14 hours workshopp studies a
week.Upon finishing one module they get another
one. From 10th to 12th grade with the Monitoring and
Evluation Board’s decision, students are placed at
public or private sectors for supported internship.
They get 1/3 of minimum wage. Those who are placed
at work attend school for cultural and vocational
classes once a week and for practice at workplace 4
days a week

9. The students are monitored by the coordinator teachers
from school.In case the student cannot adapt to the
work a new placement is done. If the student still has
adaptation problems can return back to full time
school education
After finishing apprenticeship, in case of demand the
student can work at the company where s/he
practiced.

10. Some of the modules being applied for mild and
moderate students are:
 Metal Workshop
 Printing Workshop
 Food&drink Workshop
 Furniture Workshop
 Horticulture Workshop
 Handcrafts workshop
 Ceramic Workshop
 Office Services Workshop

11.  According to Article 30 of Labour Law; Private sector
businesses which have 50 and over employee have to
employ up to %3 of the workers from disables.
 By year 2015, the businesses who violate this law are to
pay 2096 TL for each month they don’t employ
disables. This amount is two times more than the
minimum wage.But since this law doesn’t include only
intellectually disables (all ranges of disabilities-
including serious illnesses like cancer and heart
diseases) they have little chance to find a job. Most
businesses prefer physically disables to intellectually
disables.

12.  Within the scope of “ Sheltered Employment Project”
organizations and businesses working at education
field such as universities, public organizations,
foundations, unions, associations, NGOs and
individual initiatives that aim to make projects to help
intellectually disables and people with mental
disorders are supported by the government.

13.  With “Sheltered Employment Project” which is carried out by
Family and Social Policies Ministery’s Disabled and Old People
Care Departmens and Turkish Employment Agency a number of
achievements have been aimed:
 Increase the number of companies/firms related to disabled
employment
 Integration of moderate and especially severe disables to world
of work
 Support disability rights
 Help socialization of disables
 Increase the number of disabled workers
 Raise public awarness about disables and disability

14. Funding ;
- Approved projects will be funded with the money
obtained from the fines of other companies violating
the law about disabled employment. After evaluation
board’s decision these projects may get up to 150.000
TL (about 50.000 Euro) grant.
- In case of shut down of the business in 5 years from
the beginning or decrease the number of disabled
workers than they promised, the grant is taken back
with legal interest.

15.  Required documents from the applicants for
sheltered employment:
 Minimum %40 disability report
 Registering to Turkish Employment Agency
 Having completed 15 years of age
 Health report
 If any -diploma

17.  Down Cafe, which works under the roof of Bornova
Municipality was opened on December 3rd
International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This is a
kind of sheltered workplace project carried out by Ege
University and Bornova Municipality but officially is
not yet.The project needs some adjustments to be
accepted as sheltered workplace and supported
financially by government. 4 of our students have been
working there since the opening.

20. “Engelsiz Kafe” is
one of the places
our students have
their supported
internship. The
cafe is run by
Karşıyaka
Municipality.
ENGELSİZ KAFE-
WITHOUT
HINDRANCE