After the special needs school, not everyone wants to work in a »workshop for people with disabilities«. The “abBi” project in Friedberg helps them.
Friedberg – We became self-employed, «says Julia Rolle enthusiastically. She is one of the three participants in the “Alternative Vocational Education and Training” (abBi) project. “The program is aimed at young adults with disabilities who want to get to know everyday working life on the general job market,” says Nadja Hoss, trainer and team leader for vocational training at the International Federation (IB) in Friedberg. »AbBi« has been around since mid-September, it is an alternative to the offers of the workshops for people with disabilities. There is only one comparable project nationwide.
Julia Rolle meets every Friday with the other participants Sam Hermani, Lukas Szardin and the trainer Nadja Hoss as well as social worker Tabea Trapp in the Alte Bahnhofstrasse in Friedberg. You can get there by public transport. To ensure that this and the way to the internship run without any major difficulties, they had “mobility training” at the beginning of “abBi”. Questions like »How do I get to work? What do I have to pay attention to in traffic? ”Or“ What does this traffic sign mean? ”Answered.
Project for inclusive work in Friedberg: Support in day care centers and old people’s homes
Since all participants have different requirements, it is important to convey the information in different ways, says Hoss. The focus is on individual support. “Together with the young adults, we find out where their professional skills and talents lie and we support them in trying them out.” Close cooperation with the companies and advising the participants and their parents in advance are also important.
Hermani, Rolle and Szardin are currently in their second orientation internship. In principle, every job can be tried out, says Hoss. Rolle and Szardin have opted for facilities for the elderly, Hermani works in the kindergarten. You get involved in housekeeping, service, support or laundry.
Sam Hermani helps a lot in the kitchen during his internship at the »Schatzkiste« kindergarten in Assenheim. For example, he prepares fruit for the children. Julia Rolle has a lot of fun with the tasks in the care area of the senior citizens’ residence in the park in Bad Nauheim. She is already sure: “I would like to work there later too. I prefer to work with older people than with children. «Lukas Szardin also feels at home in his internship at the Elisabethhaus in Bad Nauheim.
Individual preparation for everyday working life
In addition to support from Hoss and Trapp, there is a mentor in the internship company. »Targets are agreed together and individual work aids are developed on site. That could be an image schedule, for example, or the development of time management, ”says Hoss. She and Trapp are always there for questions and problems. “We help as much as necessary and as little as possible.” In the long term, the goal is to be no longer needed.
Friday is »reflection day«, the experiences of the week are discussed, the internship portfolio is worked on, but math, German and English are also taught. »Topics from the everyday working life of young adults are taken up and put into practice: This includes, for example, knowledge of washing marks as well as folding laundry, hygiene regulations in the kitchen and reporting sick leave at work, ”says Hoss. »Social skills are practiced in role plays. We collect ideas in a mind map and thus also train writing and reading skills. “
From internship to employment contract
The interaction between the participants is familiar. The project also includes cooking and eating together on Fridays.
The program is designed for 27 months and includes twelve weeks of classes and three internships. The third internship is an orientation internship and serves as a transition to an employment relationship subject to social insurance.
The next »abBi« year starts on September 13th. Despite restrictions due to Corona, the first year could take place so far. “I’m glad we were able to keep our jobs,” says Lukas Szardin and is looking forward to his next day at work.
Cooperation with the employment agency
»AbBi« is a project of the Internationale Bund Südwest gGmbH. Participation is financed through the personal budget by the Employment Agency.
Stefan Leyerer and Rainer Kupka from the authority support the project with their team of rehab consultants. “It complements the previous offer in a great way,” says Leyerer. “Everyone benefits from it. The young people can try things out, and the employer can get an idea of his future employee through the internship. “
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