On the 8th of April, CEIPES ETS organized a conference at the CSC – Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia – Sede Sicilia in Palermo, in collaboration with BioLab and SporT21, to address the importance of integrating people with disabilities into the workforce, acknowledging their talents, skills, and potential contributions.
The event, which has also seen the participation of representatives of the Municipality of Palermo and journalists, featured a diverse range of presentations, discussions, and projects aimed at fostering a more inclusive work environment, kicking off with a presentation on the COVE project “ALLVIEW -Alliance of Centres of Vocational Excellence in the Furniture and Wood Sector“. This project aimed to create opportunities for skill development and employment within the furniture and wood sector, emphasizing the importance of vocational training and practices in the industry.
Following this, CEIPES presented the “DISENEX – Disability Entrepreneurship Expert” project, which focused on promoting self-entrepreneurship among people with disabilities. This initiative aimed to provide support, resources, and training to empower individuals with disabilities to start and manage their own businesses, thereby fostering economic independence and self-sustainability.
The event also featured a screening of the documentary film “Viaggio di Lavoro” (Work Journey), which highlighted stories of the initiatives carried out by BioLab, involving people with disabilities in the agriculture field. The film underscored the importance of autonomy, socialization, and inclusive practices in different work environments, showcasing the diverse talents and capabilities of people with disabilities and especially, from BioLab.
Besides, throughout the event, there were discussions on promoting inclusive practices in different sectors, including agriculture, tourism, and service industries. Presentations on projects such as the Erasmus+ “T4proIN” and “FEELIT” projects emphasized the importance of training and curriculum development for professionals working in inclusive tourism, aiming to create accessible and enriching experiences for individuals with disabilities.
Lastly, the event provided a platform for organizations like DunAdenzia and SporT21 to share their experiences and initiatives in promoting inclusion and empowerment among individuals with disabilities, being actively engaged in the achievement of this goal into the work labor. Particularly, SporT21 launched a project called “BeerT21 Up – da Mastri a maestri” together with the “Italian Association of People with Down Syndrome” of Termini Imerese, which aims to support the job placement of people with down syndrome in breweries.
In conclusion, the event raising awareness about the importance to focus on people with disabilities’ talents and extra-abilities, and not on the disability, breaking the cultural barriers and stereotypes. The initiatives presented by CEIPES, BioLab and SporT21 showed concrete examples of how this objective can become reality, serving as a stage to the ongoing efforts and commitment towards advancing workplace inclusion for people with disabilities.
