Context/background: In this project the partners will develop a new skill competition model for people with disabilities - the ParaSkills Competitions. In the EU 47% of people with disability are employed, and only 28% of people with severe disability are employed. Employees with a labor disability, supported by Sheltered Workshops often have difficulty joining the open labor market due to the economic crisis, poor certification and bad image of the employees with a labor disability. Competitions like the Paralympics and skills competitions like Euro/World Skills and the Abilympics are influential instruments in creating attention and a perfect showcase to show the abilities of people with a disability and it also improves learning opportunities and creates qualified and highly motivated employees and improves their chances to join the labor market. The PSC will be a spectacular promotion of the SW employees and their professions. Employers from the open labor market will play an important role in the support of the employees with a labor disability and the promotion of the project. The project focuses on the following target groups: - Employees with a labor disability (SW employees) - Employers in the open labor market - Workers organisations - Sheltered Workshops - management - Sheltered Workshops - trainers/coaches/adult learning staff - Policy making organisations - Umbrella organisations - General public - Government (regional/EU) - Adult еducational organisations Objectives of the project: Main objectives: - Enlarge the socioeconomic participation of disabled employees in a structured and sustainable way - Improve lifelong learning possibilities for people with a labor disability and provide certification based on learning outcomes - Improve the image of disabled employees and affirm they role as reliable, important added value, interesting source of labor capacity, and are or can be trained and qualified to join the common labor market - Decrease the reluctance of organizations to employ people with a labor handicap - Improve the basic and vocational skills of disabled employees - Improve the connection between the open labor market and the disabled people - Further development of the P-Scales certification system - Increasing formal certification for people with a disability (referenced to the EQF аnd ECVET-compliant) The activities that will be developed during the PSC project : - Further development of the P-scales system and training of assessors - Selection and certification of employees with a labor disability - Extensive networking - National try-outs and national workshops in partner countries - International ParaSkills Competitions - Final webinar - Feasibility study and business plan for future ParaSkills Competitions (focus on sustainability) - Transfer of knowledge and results Methodology used: The PSC project combines ParaSkills Competitions with the innovative certification methodology P-Scales referenced to the EQF and focused on transparent assessment of learning outcomes (ECVET). Short description of the results: • Organizing 6 national try-outs and 1 European PSC (expected visitors: 80 ) • Create a base for biennial recurring PSC, with employees with a labor disability from different countries • 3-6 SW companies will join the PSC • Approx. 50 candidates (SW employees) with 4-6 different job types will be prepared and compete during the PSCs • All 50 candidates of the PSCs (national and international) will be assessed and certified (P-Scales) • At least 20 assessors in different countries are trained (train-the-trainer) to use the P-Scales assessment and certification model and platform • At least 10 trainers/coaches are involved in workshops (exchange and transfer of knowledge) • At least 10 employers are involved in the project • A workshop at all partner countries (total expected visitors: 80) • 1 final webinar, website, brochures, newsletters every 6 months, use of Facebook, Twitter, and other media like television to disseminate the results • Disseminate the results of the project to 20 countries, through existing and new networks, and to different target groups (SW companies, employers, policy makers etc.) • Feasibility report with plan for sustainable development of PSC Potential longer term benefits: This PSC create a unique and innovative event within Europe. We can raise awareness of the importance of professional excellence of the employees with a labor disability and the importance of training this target group for Europe. It also promotes the education and training excellence within the Sheltered Workshops in Europe. It creates a sustainable skill competition model which can be developed further. It increases the certification rate of people with a labor disability and tightens the gap with the open labor market. So together we meet the challenge and build on an inclusive society.