The workshop has started with the presentation of the project aims “Employment of Persons With Disabilities, Following Professional Support”, which was made by Tomislav Novosel, the president of the Association of persons with disabilities in Bjelovar. The project is being implemented for unemployed and employed persons with disabilities, and plans additional educational trainings for those who are still not employed, while it helps the employed ones to keep their jobs.

The presentation on the importance of making the influence on the employees in Republic of Croatia, was made my mr.med.sc. Mirjana Dobranovic, president of APEO and HSUTI Network. Issues such as insufficient information, mindsets and lifestyles of Croatian people and passivity of persons with disability, were pointed out as main reasons of the present situation in Croatia regarding insufficient employment of people with disabilities.

Workshop in Bjelovar

Positive examples were mentioned, such as National campaign of employing persons with disabilities called “For us, the crisis is always present”, which is being implemented by APEO, the member of HSUTI. The aims of the campaign are primarily to make the public, and especially employees, sensitive regarding the issue of persons with disabilities, and secondary to send a message to persons with disabilities that they are not to be facing their problem(s) alone.  

 

The experiences of the Association of persons with disabilities from Kutina were presented by Jozefina Kranjcec, the president of the Association. She pointed out  examples of good practice regarding the union of the association, local governance and self-rule regarding employment of the persons with disabilities. It was also pointed out, great understanding of the mayor of Kutina for this vulnerable category.

After several more presentations, very intriguing discussion was opened in which participated participants of the workshop, including vice mayor of the city of Bjelovar, representative of Croatian Bureau for Employment and others.

In the end, Mr. Tomislav Novosel has given the proposal regarding conclusions of the workshop:

  • Assist employees and persons with disabilities with realizing their rights to the means of the Fund, publish adequate CD Manual;
  • Hold lectures using the CD Manual in: Croatian Chamber of Economy (HGK), Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts (HOK) and in the Association of Accountants.
  • Support currently employed persons with disabilities;
  • Organize adequate education for those who are unemployed and tend to employ them in adequate jobs;
  • Organize workshops in Bjelovar;
  • Develop good cooperation with Family Center;
  • Achieve better cooperation with the Center for Social Care and Bureau for Employment;
  • Special attention focus to the process of schooling (elementary schools, high schools, faculties).