1 cm in ETR – Episode 3: The path through the inclusion atelier

Hello and welcome to a new part of 1cm.

In the last parts, we heard:

The 1st job market is often not good for persons with a disability.

1st Job market: The first job market means that a person works for a boss.

It is more strict on the 1 st job market. For example you have less breaks.

People find and do regular jobs in companies.

Often they do not have a disability.

Therefore they have less problems finding a regular work place.

A few persons therefore become self-employed.

Self-employed means: you are your own boss.

Others find their workplace in an inclusion atelier.

In this part, we look at 2 inclusion ateliers.

These are the APEMH and the Ligue HMC.

What is an atelier?

An atelier is a workplace.

The official name in French is: atelier d'inclusion professionnelle.

Here, persons with a disability can work.

The work fits to the person with a disability.

That means: what does the person do well? What does the person not do so well?

There is more help than on the 1st job market.

Important to know: this is real work.

The persons have a real contract.

They get a real salary.

Salary is the money you get for your work.

It is paid at the end of the month.

In Luxembourgish and French we say "Paie".

They make real products.

For example: furniture, ceramics, chocolate or food for a canteen.

David

David is 45 years old.

He works as a cook at the APEMH.

This is an atelier in the country of Luxembourg.

David was born with his disability.

He worked for many years on the 1st job market.

For 22 years, he worked for the country of Luxembourg.

Then he wanted to try something new.

David tells us how he came to the APEMH.

David says: he worked 22 years for the country of Luxembourg.

Then he wanted to work in a kitchen.

That is what he loves to do.

He did a training at the APEMH.

First in the kitchen, then in the bakery.

He chose the kitchen.

David's school years

David tells us about his school years.

That was not always easy.

David says: every person with a disability should get help.

He feels like a worker, just like everyone else.

The APEMH

The APEMH has ateliers in:

• Lampech,
• Betten,
• Housen,
• and in Bettembourg.

Laura Letsch is responsible for the kitchens of the APEMH:

• in Lampech,
• and in Betten.

Laura says what the APEMH does.

Laura says: since 2004, the workers have a fixed work contract.

They get paid.

They work like all other workers.

Laura also says why some persons like more to stay in the atelier.

Laura says: the step to the 1st job market needs a lot of preparation.

In the atelier, the persons have many friends and colleagues.

On the 1st job market, they are often the only person with a disability.

The persons can feel alone.

Training at the APEMH

The APEMH also offers a training programme.

Young adults with a disability can learn here.

The training lasts between 3 and 5 years.

At the end, many can get a work contract at the APEMH.

Laura tells us how this training works.

Laura says: the young persons try out different ateliers.

They look at what their strengths are.

What gives them happiness.

At the end, many get a work contract.

The Ligue HMC

The Ligue HMC is another organisation in the country of Luxembourg.

HMC stands for Handicap Mental et Cérébral.

That means: intellectual and physical disability.

Claudine Nosbusch is director of the Ligue HMC.

Claudine tells us what an intellectual disability means.

Claudine says: an intellectual disability is not a sickness.

Most persons have it from birth.

There are different reasons.

For example: genetic causes like trisomy 21.

Or lack of oxygen at birth.

The persons have problems:

• with learning,
• with understanding
• or with reading and writing.

Every person is different.

The Ligue HMC offers many different ateliers.

For example a carpentry workshop, a ceramics atelier and a flower shop,

There is also a canteen, a restaurant and a second-hand shop.

That is a shop where you can buy old clothes.

230 workers with learning difficulties work there.

The Ligue HMC also has apartments and houses.

90 persons live there.

What the workers think of the atelier

We met some workers from the Ligue HMC.

They told us about their experiences.

One person tells us why they are happy to be in the atelier.

This person says: on the 1st job market, they were kicked out again and again.

Their boss treated them badly.

Then they got panic attacks.

Their doctor sent them to the Ligue HMC.

They are now very happy to be there.

Another person tells us about a bad experience at the country of Luxembourg.

This person says: they worked for the country of Luxembourg.

Even though they had the status, there was no understanding.

The status is an official paper from the country of Luxembourg.

The difficult word in French is: statut de salarié handicapé.

With the status, you can work in an atelier.

Or on the 1st job market.

After 9 months, they were dismissed.

Because they had forgotten to hand in a sick note.

Their parents then contacted the Ligue HMC.

They have now worked there for 20 years.

A third person tells us about an experience at the hospital.

This person says: at the hospital, someone looked them up and down.

They wanted to know if they had a disability that you can see.

They say: you can not always see a disability.

What experts say

Christine Zimmer is director of Info Handicap.

She says: the work in the ateliers is real work.

Christine says: the persons do real work.

They do not come to work just to keep them busy.

The persons have talents and can do many things.

They make very good products.

On the 1st job market, some jobs exist less.

These jobs still exist in the ateliers.

For example bookbinding.

That means: you make books.

Or you repair old books.

Christine also tells us what the ateliers offer.

Christine says: the ateliers also work with companies and the country of Luxembourg.

They offer many services.

For example printing, making chocolate, repairing old furniture.

Everyone can use these services.

The move to the 1st job market

Different persons in the atelier want to move to the 1st job market one day.

That is possible.

But it needs preparation and help.

Christine Zimmer tells us what is important.

Christine says: the two places are just as important as the other.

The atelier and the 1st job market.

You should be able to move between the two places.

And if it does not work on the 1st job market, you should have the right to come back at any time.

Minister Max Hahn tells us what is planned.

To make this move easier.

Max Hahn says: for many persons, the atelier is the right place.

And that is good.

But it should also become easier to go to the 1st job market.

For this, there should be inclusion assistants.

These are persons who help with the move.

They help the person with the disability.

But they also help the family and the new workplace.

What David wishes for

David is very happy at the APEMH today.

But he also has wishes for what is coming next.

David says: the persons should get more money.

And they should get help.

For example with housing.

Because with the minimum pay, it is hard to find your own apartment.

What have we learned?

Ateliers are important places.

They give a chance to persons who find no work on the 1st job market.

The work in the ateliers is real work.

The persons have talents.

They only need the right help.

The bosses on the 1st job market must understand even better.

Better help is needed.

You should be able to move well between ateliers and the 1st job market.

And the ateliers and the 1st job market should work well together.

Sometimes it is just a small step that makes the difference.

Sometimes it is just one centimetre.

Next part

In the next part, we look at companies where persons with a disability already work.

And where it works well.

What do they do differently?

What can we learn from them?

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