Type of Project: Funded project Study
GISELA - Guidance and Information SErvices for Less-Abled Women - A European Study and Network

Aims The project intends to identify and develop best practices of specific guidance and placement services for women with disabilities in order to encourage their access to and participation of in training and labour market in Europe. Men and women with disabilities don't have equal opportunities regarding their employment chances. In fact, women with disabilities risk suffering from a "double discrimination", due to their disability and to their gender. Project target group The target groups that are directly involved in the project are that of women with disabilities identified in the 5 partner countries, and guidance counsellors in these countries that will take active part in the process of sharing knowledge and experiences during the project activities. Indirect target groups are organisations that represent people with disabilities, their families, and social parties and key actors that are interested in a political dialogue on disability issues on European and national level. Project activities - Desk research from both a legislative and a practical point of view on the situation of the female population with disabilities in the 5 European countries that are partner in this project, focused on their situation on the labour market and their access and participation in the education and training system. - A survey on the guidance services for women with disabilities in Europe. - Interviews will be held with so-called "privileged testimonies" or experts in the training and labour sectors, aimed at producing an handbook with guidelines for guidance counsellors towards disabled women. - Creation of 5 editorial committees (one in every partner country) consisting of women with disabilities themselves, who will manage the "news-events" area of the web site. Project results The results of the project have been presented during a final conference held in November 2007, which included the organisation of a round table of experts on the theme of guidance counselling.