Our Work
EU regulatory framework overview:
This report served as a framework for the project’s research and provided an overview on how the EU has approached employment and social protection of persons with disabilities. It summarizes key Eurostat data and the EU’s framework and monitoring progress of Members States regarding the inclusion and employment of persons with disabilities.
Download EU regulatory framework overview (PDF, 435 KB)
International policy overview:
Similar to the EU regulatory framework overview, this document helped to bring perspective and background information to the project. It provided a broader international perspective on how access to work and employment of persons with disabilities is considered in key international human rights and labour legislation. It includes an overview of the UN Agenda 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and ILO conventions and recommendations on the employment of persons with disabilities.
Download International policy overview (PDF, 467 KB)
Comparative report:
The comparative study “Towards inclusive employment of persons with disabilities” was developed in early 2020 by researchers of the “European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research” in Vienna. The report provides an assessment of the six national reports provided by each of the national partner organizations and compares their approaches and measures towards the employment of persons with disabilities. It shows how through their work integration activities the six organizations contribute to social inclusion and inclusive growth in their countries, what challenges all of them are facing, and where improvements of the policy and regulatory framework they are impacted by are required.
Download Comparative report (PDF, 1,1 MB)
Case studies:
In a series of six case studies – one for each of the national partner organizations – best practices, examples and stories from companies employing persons with disabilities are presented. The overall objective is to contribute to a better understanding of how persons with disabilities access labour markets, while recognizing the diverse legal forms and adopted approach towards the employment of workers with disabilities taken throughout Europe.
- Spain: Increasing skills and employability of workers with disabilities through continuous professional, personal and social support: The case of ILUNION’s Support Units within Special Employment Centres in Spain.
Donwload Case Study Spain (PDF, 762 Kb) - France: Gender equality in the disability movement: the APF France Handicap commitment to access to work and employment for women with disabilities.
Donwload Case Study France (PDF, 656 Kb) - Sweden: Gradually upskilling workers with disabilities to place them on the Swedish labour market: the Samhall method.
Donwload Case Study Sweden (PDF, 742 Kb) - Belgium/Flanders: The role of companies employing persons with disabilities as sub-contractors for other companies and employees working within the so-called “enclaves”: the case of WAAK.
Donwload Case Study Belgium (PDF, 646 Kb) - The Netherlands: Mobility for employees with disabilities in Dutch labour market – changes under the WSW and the Participation Act.
- Slovenia: the contribution of social economy organizations and companies employing persons with disabilities to the overall economy and benefits for the government in Slovenia: the case of Želva.
Donwload Case Study Slovenia (PDF, 789 Kb)
Policy recommendations:
Building on the work of the first phase of activity of the D-WISE Network between the kick-off in December 2018 until now, the policy recommendations is putting forward targeted policy recommendations to national and European decision-makers. This includes recommendations for instances for the areas of heterogeneity among work integration social enterprises employing persons with disabilities and linkages with the social economy sector, employment forms of persons with disabilities and transition to the open labour market, State aids, data and research, the impact of COVID-19 on companies employing persons with disabilities, and more.
Download Policy Recommendations (PDF, 348 KB)
Social Impact Report:
This report aims at presenting and proposing indicators for measuring the impact of D-WISEs. It was concluded in September 2022, after more than a year of work and a consultation process with the members of the D-WISE Network Member Organizations from across Europe.