Conference ‘Employment of People with Disabilities: Dreams and Reality’

On 6 December 2024, the conference “Employment of People with Disabilities: Dreams and Reality” took place at the Audiovisual Arts Centre in Alytus, dedicated to marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The event was organized by the Association of People with Disabilities and Their Parents/Guardians MIRABILIA, with support from the Ministry of Social Security and Labour and the Alytus City Municipality.

A total of 60 participants from various Lithuanian cities attended the conference, including representatives of non-governmental organizations, social workers, municipal specialists, social business creators, and people with disabilities themselves.

Key Discussion Topics and Highlights

• State support for employment.
  Vilija Maksimavičienė, Head of the Alytus Division of the Employment Service under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, presented how social workshops and employment programs can help people with disabilities acquire professional skills and integrate into the labour market.

• The role of NGOs and municipalities.
  Akvilė Voverienė, Head of the Social Welfare Division of Alytus City Municipality Administration, spoke about the importance of cooperation between municipalities and non-governmental organizations.

• Social exclusion and psychological well-being.
  Romalda Stasionienė, psychologist at the Alytus Public Health Bureau, highlighted the impact of loneliness, isolation, and stigma on the quality of life of people with disabilities.

• Experiences in creating workplaces.
  Rita Juskytė, head of the NGO “Unikalus gyvenimas,” shared practical insights on how jobs can be created for people with disabilities in Lithuania.

• Youth situation.
  Gitana Pinkevičienė, head of the association MIRABILIA, emphasized that young people with disabilities often lack leisure activities, which encourages communities to create their own initiatives.

• Social business.
  Jurgita Ribinskaitė-Glattzer, expert in social business and innovation and founder of the NGO “Geri norai,” presented how social entrepreneurship can serve as a tool for addressing societal challenges.

• Personal stories.
  Rūta Kupčinskaitė, sociologist and disability rights activist, spoke about disability narratives and how they shape possibilities for individuals to create their own path.

Participant Engagement

At the end of the conference, group discussions were held on the following topics:

• professional orientation for people with disabilities,

• leisure opportunities for young people,

• opportunities for people with disabilities in business and social entrepreneurship.

The outcomes of the discussions showed that the issue of employment among people with disabilities is relevant throughout Lithuania and requires joint efforts from the government, municipalities, and communities.

“We are pleased that participants from various cities attended the conference—this shows that the topic of employment of people with disabilities is highly important on a national scale. Only through cooperation can we achieve real change,” said Gitana Pinkevičienė, head of the MIRABILIA association.