What we have learned is that educational and professional decisions can be dictated by the disability. There is a lack of information that affects professionals, both at school and among those that people with a disability know.
There is also inconsistency and a lack of information concerning what is accessible. It would be good to have a place where people with a disability could say who they are and what their disabilities are, and see what services they can access. There is a lot of help and services, but people are not aware, do not have access or have difficulty getting there. It is very difficult to find your first job or your first experience.
We have found that organizations like the External Employment Service were very helpful, that they could help people find a job. That is important. There is also volunteering. However, even if you tell people that you are willing to work as a volunteer, that you really want to help them, if they think you can't do anything, they won't want you. That is also an important aspect.
As I mentioned, there are a great deal of prejudices. We must therefore work with employers, but also with the public. Everyone knows an employer or other people. It is a matter of networking. If nobody thinks you are capable of doing the work, you obviously won't be kept in the company. Once again, it is really the employers' responsibility. People with a disability must also be allowed to speak for themselves. It is nice to give out a textbook or something like that, but if people with a disability are not involved, if it is not them expressing themselves, it is less real, less close to the true reality.
Finally, the people themselves must have a role to play in professional integration. They must know the laws, the services, etc. They must also have confidence in themselves. Programs like CAMO or other community resources can help along the way. It is very useful. People who have had a number of work experiences are more able to find a new job on their own or with less help.