Abstract
The aim of this paper is to disclose the experiences and attitudes of young people with disabilities towards their professional activities and finding a job and to discover what the main opportunities and obstacles are for the integration of young disabled people into the Lithuanian labour market. The empirical basis of this research consists of 18 in-depth interviews with 18-35 year old young people with physical disabilities. In-depth interviews with young people with physical disabilities disclosed that a successful transition into the labour market first of all depends on the educational level (especially tertiary education) of a person, acquired appropriate employability skills, etc. Young disabled people experienced stigmatized attitudes by employers and a lack of interest to employ a disabled person. It is emphasized that employers in Lithuania are unwilling to employ a disabled person due to some special requirements (e.g., work assistant services, special requirements for the workplace, shorter working hours, etc.). In the high number of cases young people with disabilities face a double stigma, e.g., young and disabled, lack of working experience, etc.
Highlights
There have been considerable changes towards the situation in the labour market and societal attitudes towards people with disabilities during the two last decades in Lithuania
On the other hand it is emphasized that disabled youth critically evaluated their employment possibilities
It is noted that “health” directors who do not understand needs as well as the situation/experience of disabled employees create social enterprises for disabled people. Such institutions as the Lithuanian labour exchange are not described as a “trustworthy institution” because it provides poor information about rights as well as the possibilities of disabled people
Summary
There have been considerable changes towards the situation in the labour market and societal attitudes towards people with disabilities during the two last decades in Lithuania. The period after regaining independence (1990), membership in the United Nations (1991) and the European Union (2004) is marked by a substantial contribution for creating and implementing strategies for social inclusion of the disabled by improving the quality of life of the disabled people and extending their life opportunities. Since the Lithuanian European Union membership, there have been new social policies as well as new initiatives created that prevent social exclusion of the disabled and stigmatization in different areas of social life. There are National level initiatives that encourage disabled people to seek education and employment more actively. The positive changes concerning the employment of the disabled were encouraged by the two State Disabled People Social Integration (20032012) and State Disabled People Social Integration (2013-2019) Programs and other legal documents regulating employment possibilities of the disabled and the protection of their rights; e.g. the Law on Equal Opportunities (2003); the Law on Social Enterprises (2004); the Law on Social Integration of the Disabled (2004); the Law on Support for Employment (2006), etc
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