The purpose of the report (Terms of Reference) is to review national implementation of the European Employment Strategy from a disability equality perspective, and to provide the Commission with useful evidence in support of disability policy mainstreaming. More specifically, the report will review implementation of EU Employment Strategy and the PROGRESS initiative with reference to policy implementation evidence from European countries, including the strategies addressed in the EU Disability Action Plan (such as flexicurity and supported employment).
The purpose of the report (Terms of Reference) is to review national implementation of the European Employment Strategy from a disability equality perspective, and to provide the Commission with useful evidence in support of disability policy mainstreaming. More specifically, the report will review implementation of EU Employment Strategy and the PROGRESS initiative with reference to policy implementation evidence from European countries, including the strategies addressed in the EU Disability Action Plan (such as flexicurity and supported employment).
Focusing on Iceland, this is one of a series of reports reviewing national implementation of the European Employment Strategy from a disability equality perspective. It provides an update as at November 2009 to a first report published in 2008. Evidence is summarised, along with a comment on the current economic crisis. It is then reviewed in a standardised format under the following headings: academic publications and research reports; employment statistics and trends; laws and policies, type and quality of jobs; specific examples of good practice; and conclusions and recommendations. The Icelandic government compiles data on the labour market but the authors note that this sheds little light on employment and disability. Also much of the research in Iceland focuses on people receiving disability pensions rather than disabled people in general. Based on these figures the employment rate of disabled people is 13%. The 2006 Act on Labour Market Initiatives moved responsibility for employment matters concerning disabled people to the Directorate of Labour; a process due for completion by the end of 2010. A number of recent research projects are briefly summarised. The economic crisis hit Iceland particularly hard, resulting in high rates of unemployment generally. Opinions differ as to the specific impact on the employment and training of the disabled.
Focusing on Iceland, this is one of a series of reports reviewing national implementation of the European Employment Strategy from a disability equality perspective. It provides an update as at November 2009 to a first report published in 2008. Evidence is summarised, along with a comment on the current economic crisis. It is then reviewed in a standardised format under the following headings: academic publications and research reports; employment statistics and trends; laws and policies, type and quality of jobs; specific examples of good practice; and conclusions and recommendations. The Icelandic government compiles data on the labour market but the authors note that this sheds little light on employment and disability. Also much of the research in Iceland focuses on people receiving disability pensions rather than disabled people in general. Based on these figures the employment rate of disabled people is 13%. The 2006 Act on Labour Market Initiatives moved responsibility for employment matters concerning disabled people to the Directorate of Labour; a process due for completion by the end of 2010. A number of recent research projects are briefly summarised. The economic crisis hit Iceland particularly hard, resulting in high rates of unemployment generally. Opinions differ as to the specific impact on the employment and training of the disabled.
Subject terms:
labour market, cutbacks, disabilities, employment, equal opportunities, government policy;
Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires states to provide personal assistance services. This article is based on qualitative research in Iceland, Norway and Sweden, carried out between 2012 and 2013. The overall study focused broadly on the implementation of Article 19. This article, however, reports findings based on a particular group of participants
(Publisher abstract)
Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires states to provide personal assistance services. This article is based on qualitative research in Iceland, Norway and Sweden, carried out between 2012 and 2013. The overall study focused broadly on the implementation of Article 19. This article, however, reports findings based on a particular group of participants within the larger study: non-disabled parents who coordinate personal assistance schemes for their adult son or daughter. The article examines the various ways in which the parents, the majority of whom were mothers, negotiate principles of independence, choice and autonomy for their adult son or daughter who requires intensive support, including assistance with communicating. The aim is to explore, in the context of the Convention and the principles of the independent living movement, how to acknowledge and conceptualise personal assistance schemes that require another person to manage on behalf of the user.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
disabilities, law, UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, personal assistants, human rights, independence, advocacy, parents, adults, independent living;
University of Leeds. Centre for Disability Studies
Publication year:
2014
Pagination:
59
Place of publication:
Leeds
This comparative report presents the results of research into violence against women with disabilities for the project 'Access to specialised victim support services for women with disabilities who have experienced violence', which was funded by the EU Daphne III programme. It is based on research which took place in Austria, Germany, Iceland and United Kingdom between 2013 and 2014 and involved 187 women with disabilities (106 women in focus groups and 81 women in individual interviews). The research included women with mobility and sensory impairments, women with intellectual impairments, women with mental health conditions and women with multiple impairments. Specialised service providers assisting women who have experienced violence also took part in this study (602 responses
(Edited publisher abstract)
This comparative report presents the results of research into violence against women with disabilities for the project 'Access to specialised victim support services for women with disabilities who have experienced violence', which was funded by the EU Daphne III programme. It is based on research which took place in Austria, Germany, Iceland and United Kingdom between 2013 and 2014 and involved 187 women with disabilities (106 women in focus groups and 81 women in individual interviews). The research included women with mobility and sensory impairments, women with intellectual impairments, women with mental health conditions and women with multiple impairments. Specialised service providers assisting women who have experienced violence also took part in this study (602 responses to an online survey and 54 individual interviews with representatives from services). Research findings are discussed in the following areas: perceptions and understanding of violence; experiences of violence and support over the life course; women's knowledge about their rights; knowledge about use of services; experience of barriers; helpful aspects of support. Suggestions for improvement and good practice are also included. The report highlights the need for support services that recognise the type and extent of violence against disabled women need to be developed, and for both mainstream and specialised strategies to be pursued.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
comparative studies, access to services, women, violence, domestic violence, disabilities, physical disabilities, sensory impairments, learning disabilities, mental health problems, rights, user views, service provision;
This report reviews national implementation in Iceland of European Union social inclusion and social protection strategies, with particular reference to equality for disabled people. It is one of a series reviewing national implementation of the open method of coordination in social inclusion and social protection, and in particular the National Strategic Reports of member states from a disability equality perspective. A main aim is to provide the Commission with useful evidence in supporting disability policy mainstreaming. The first version of the report was published in 2008; this second version is updated with information available up to November 2009. It summarises changes since the 2008 report in the areas of: housing and homelessness; new strategies and actions for the inclusion of disabled people; new changes in incomes, benefits and pensions; new changes in long-term care and support; and the implications of the economic crisis. Part 1 of the report considers social inclusion plans; part 2 considers incomes, pensions and benefits; and part 3 considers care and support. The report concludes with some recommendations and an example of best practice.
This report reviews national implementation in Iceland of European Union social inclusion and social protection strategies, with particular reference to equality for disabled people. It is one of a series reviewing national implementation of the open method of coordination in social inclusion and social protection, and in particular the National Strategic Reports of member states from a disability equality perspective. A main aim is to provide the Commission with useful evidence in supporting disability policy mainstreaming. The first version of the report was published in 2008; this second version is updated with information available up to November 2009. It summarises changes since the 2008 report in the areas of: housing and homelessness; new strategies and actions for the inclusion of disabled people; new changes in incomes, benefits and pensions; new changes in long-term care and support; and the implications of the economic crisis. Part 1 of the report considers social inclusion plans; part 2 considers incomes, pensions and benefits; and part 3 considers care and support. The report concludes with some recommendations and an example of best practice.
Subject terms:
housing, low income, pensions, policy formulation, social inclusion, social policy, social welfare, benefits, disabilities, equal opportunities, European Union;
British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72(4), April 2009, pp.144-152.
Publisher:
Sage
Several features in the school environment affect pupils with disabilities, serving as either supports or barriers to their school participation. This Icelandic study investigated differences in the pupil-environment fit of students with physical and psychosocial limitations, using the School Setting Interview (SSI). The SSI is a client-centred instrument, which focuses on school activities where adjustments need to be made to accommodate pupils with disabilities and to enable their participation. Descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U tests were employed to compare the fit of the two groups and their school environment. The results reveal that, in order to participate actively, both groups of pupils required adjustments to many school settings. Pupils with physical limitations frequently need
Several features in the school environment affect pupils with disabilities, serving as either supports or barriers to their school participation. This Icelandic study investigated differences in the pupil-environment fit of students with physical and psychosocial limitations, using the School Setting Interview (SSI). The SSI is a client-centred instrument, which focuses on school activities where adjustments need to be made to accommodate pupils with disabilities and to enable their participation. Descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U tests were employed to compare the fit of the two groups and their school environment. The results reveal that, in order to participate actively, both groups of pupils required adjustments to many school settings. Pupils with physical limitations frequently need adjustments, but their needs were met by the schools to a more satisfactory extent than were the needs of pupils with psychosocial limitations. The findings support the usability of the SSI for pupils with various types of limitations. They also stress the importance of eliciting the perspectives of the pupils themselves in order to facilitate the planning and implementation of client-centred occupational therapy interventions in school.