9. Workshop No 9 and 13 (Slovakia)

Time: November 9 (9:00-10:30) and (11:00-12:30)

"Hiring and retention of people with disabilities in a competitive workplace-setting"


Workshop Leader: Anna Podlesná 

Anna Podlesná is Corporate Social Responsibility manager at Profesia Company. She focuses on under-represented groups on the labor market. Anna initiated Help from the Heart program which includes a wide network of partners from the public and nonprofit sectors in Slovakia. Anna received a scholarship from the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program and was a visiting scholar at Michigan State University in 2021/2022, studying the most recent trends in employment of neurodivergent people, vocational rehabilitation and counseling and job couching. In 2019, her employer Profesia received the CSR Award Via Bona Slovakia for achievements in employment of people with special needs. In 2021, Euroguidance recognized Profesia with a National Career Award related to activities supporting employment of people with special needs.

Workshop Description: 

Participants of this workshop will learn more about current trends in employment of people with disabilities in a competitive workplace setting – in Slovakia and globally. Activities of the workshop will cover the best practices in preparation of job seekers with disabilities, data from labor market and practical resources in adjustments of the workplace reflecting individual needs.

Workshop presentation (pdf)

Profesia lab (pdf)

Article on workshop summary (pdf)