Stronger Together: Supporting Individuals with Special Needs into Employment

In May, training for employers interested in hiring individuals with special needs was held in Valmiera, Latvia, as part of the Stronger Together project. The Swedish social enterprise Restaff from Norrköping also attended the seminar, later contributing as a supporting organization in the employee training activities in Sweden organized by Coompanion Östergötland.

As part of these activities, Angelica Ljungcrantz, project leader for Stronger Together at Coompanion Östergötland, met with participants undergoing work training in Sweden. Over the course of four meetings, held on 8/5, 28/5, 10/6, and one additional date in June, she facilitated sessions with a group of six to eight participants. While a couple of participants had to leave the program when their practice period ended, the group remained active and engaged throughout the training.

The training was conducted in the format of open discussions and round table talks, encouraging participants to share their own experiences. The sessions were divided into themes such as:

• How to write a good CV and cover letter, and how to explain gaps in employment.
• The kinds of societal support available to help create a sustainable working life.
• How to describe oneself and one’s abilities in positive terms — a challenging but rewarding exercise, as many participants were not used to speaking about their strengths.
• The role of trade unions in the labor market.
• Arbetsförmedlingen offers support for workplace adjustments, including wage subsidies and assistive tools.
• Workplace safety and what makes someone feel welcome in a new job.
  

Several participants are now approaching the stage of finding regular employment. Together with Angelica, they discussed which kinds of employers she could contact on their behalf to support their job search. Many participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to talk about these issues, noting that it is rare to have such conversations with others in similar situations.

“I have never thought about the fact that I’m actually good at things,” said one participant in their 40s.

The next step is to identify inclusive workplaces ready to welcome these individuals — people with competence, life experience, and a strong desire to contribute.

Through both international and local initiatives, Coompanion Östergötland highlights the importance of supporting employers and creating inclusive opportunities for individuals re-entering the labor market. With the involvement of supportive organizations such as Restaff, the Stronger Together project continues to strengthen collaboration and generate lasting social impact.

ℹ  This activity was supported as part of STRONGER TOGETHER, an Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021-2027 project co-funded by the European Union.

Supriti Dhar
Project Coordinator
Coompanion Östergötland