T4D TELEWORK PLATFORM TESTING

The TAP project T4D demonstrated the usability and viability of applying an existing virtual employment agency for teleworkers (TEMPLE) to improve the job opportunities for mobility handicapped people (paraplegics) from rural areas of Europe.

The project resulted from a formal request from the disabled community, represented by some of the largest hospitals and supporting institutions for paraplegics in Europe, to the TEMPLE Project Co-ordinators. Their aim was to test how a telematic application could improve the job opportunities of their disabled clients as part of an overall recovery and social re-insertion process.

TEMPLE is both:

  • an established virtual employment agency for teleworkers experienced in analysing the main trends of the labour market, in terms of new job profiles and skills;
  • a telematic platform supporting integrated applications from on-line training and technical advice for teleworkers to Webcasting.

    T4Dset out to:

  • identify, select, train and give support to the disabled teleworkers participating in the project;
  • provide the telecentres (validation sites) with the required equipment;
  • adjust and customise the existing telematic platform, in order to meet the specific requirements of the disabled teleworkers;
  • carry out a marketing campaign aimed at promoting the social and tax-related advantages of hiring disabled teleworkers;
  • validate, demonstrate and evaluate the pilot trial;
  • develop a Guideline of Good Practices.

    The main reason that companies not to employ disabled people is that they do not see their potential as ordinary workers and are unaware of grants and other tax benefits for employing disabled people. In telework, disability is not such a critical issue, since once the telework equipment is installed (and adjusted/customised if necessary), the disabled person can integrate like any other worker. Telework can overcome mobility handicaps and allow disabled people to be considered on the basis of their skills alone.

    For more information, please contact soniaectf@tst.es