Specialists from Valakupiai Rehabilitation Centre participated in the mobility visit in Centre de Réadaptation de Mulhouse, France
2011-10-14
In the 18th - 24th of September four specialists of Valakupiai Rehabilitation Centre visited Centre de Réadaptation de Mulhouse (CRM) - one of the biggest in France Centre, which provides medical, social and vocational rehabilitation services by implementing Leonardo da Vinci mobility project 2011 „Improving Competencies of Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists and Employers to Support Employability of Persons with Disabilities". Centre de Réadaptation de Mulhouse is established in 1946 and nowadays has about 400 employees providing services for people with physical disability, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), visual and learning disabilities.
During the visit participants were presented to the French education system, vocational rehabilitation services providing by the host organization: assessment of vocational skills and vocational orientation, vocational training and support to employment. The specialists of CRM presented innovative tools and methods being used in medical rehabilitation, self-care services, assessment of driving skills and services for persons with TBI. VRC staff was particularly surprised by pre-vocational training programs designed to help people with disabilities to prepare for vocational training. Pre-vocational training in CRM includes development of basic knowledge and skills - people with disabilities have the opportunity to learn French, arithmetic, accounting, logic, computer skills according to their needs. Pre-vocational training could be provided to persons directly in the training class or by e-learning program.
CRM actively cooperates with different organizations and companies which are employing people with disabilities. Members of the project visited „Peugeot" company and social enterprise ESAT AFAPEI Bartenheim, which has employees with intellectual disabilities.
During the visit was a mutual exchange of best practices, development of international cooperation, improvement of professionals' qualification working in the field of vocational rehabilitation and integration of people with disabilities into the labor market. This visit to one of the biggest French vocational rehabilitation centre for VRC staff gave the best opportunity not only to look at innovative tools and methods in medical, social and vocational rehabilitation, but also to know better the country, language, culture and to meet pleasant and hospitable people.