Developing disability management in the workplace

Abstract

The authors of the article are concerned with how developing disability management in the workplace could open the possibilities for work for people with disability and can be matched with the opportunities of increasing the employment rate according to the European Disability Strategy (2010–2020) objectives as well as fighting against social exclusion and practical implementation of the United Convention on the rights of this group of people. As the statistical facts and figures show, there is a problem of inadequate employment among people with disabilities and there is a negative tendency in it. The topic of this article is related to the specific situation of disability management in the workplaces in Latvia, where there is an influence of the heritage from the past – the Soviet system, economic, legal and social issues. Interviewing experts and conducting extensive literature reviews within this context show that a considerable number of disability management problems have been possible solved in the enterprises of Latvia. On the basis of these essential findings, the areas of improvement have been identified following the European Disability Strategy. The abstract is elaborated within the framework of the Lifelong Learning Programme Leonardo da Vinci project “Ability not Disability in Employment” and financial support of the European Community.