Centre for Behaviour Analysis colleagues hosted a seminar by Dr Helena Vaďurová (Masaryk University) on Employing People with Disabilities in the Czech Republic: From Obligation to Recognition, followed by a book launch of Job Coaches for Adults with Disabilities: A practical guide.

Professor David Jones welcomed an audience of professionals, students, and job coaches and Professor Karola Dillenburger (editor of the book) described the European Job Coach Project and the ‘birth’ of the book.

Some of the authors made presentations on their chapters: Norman Sterritt (Triangle Progression to Employment) spoke about Job Coaching and the European Union of Supported Employment; Dr Helena Vaďurová (Masaryk University) spoke about issues for employers; Trish MacKeogh (DIT-QUB ASSISTID Fellow 2018) talked about employees with physical and sensory disabilities; Dr Brian Fennell (Middletown Centre for Autism) elaborated on his chapter regarding dealing with challenging behaviours; and Dr Lyn McKerr (School of SSESW) described her chapters regarding 'insider' views, including employees who have job coaches and professional job coaches themselves.

Disabled people are disproportionately unemployed or under-employed. Their potential to make a living and contribute economically is not fully utilised, which has negative effects not only their quality of life but on society as a whole. It is the role of the job coach to help people with disabilities to find and maintain a job. The professional qualifications and training standards for job coaches remain rather unclear in most countries, although European standards have been developed. This book is the key text in the field. It brings together authors from the European Union, USA and New Zealand. 

(from left): Dr Lyn McKerr (SSESW), Trish MacKeogh (Dublin), Dr Helena Vaďurová (Masaryk University, Czech Republic), Norman Sterritt (Triangle Housing), Prof Karola Dillenburger (SSESW), Prof David Jones.