Employment and Cerebral Palsy
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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Contributors
Keywords
Employment, CP, Cerebral Palsy, Labour Market, Labour Market Affiliation, Handicap
Synopsis
People with cerebral palsy (CP) have varying degrees of physical and cognitive challenges, which affect their opportunities to participate in the labor market. At the same time, there is limited knowledge about CP among employers, colleagues, and staff at job centers. This lack of awareness can lead to stereotypes, prejudices, and, in the worst cases, discrimination against people with CP. It is therefore important to gain new knowledge about employment and CP, and how best to support people with CP in becoming part of the workforce.
The study combines data from the National Patient Registry with a nationwide questionnaire survey among people with CP, as well as interviews with people with CP, job center employees, and employers. No previous study has examined employment and CP on such a comprehensive scale. The research project is a collaboration between Aalborg University, VIVE, and Aarhus University Hospital.
The research project is funded, but independent from the Elsass Foundation. We thank the Elsass Foundation for their support and for a good collaboration. We also extend our sincere thanks to CP Denmark, which has supported the dissemination of the project, and to the many people with CP who have answered our questions.
A very special thanks goes to Chief Physician Gija Rackauskaite (Neuropediatrician, Ph.D.), who has participated in the project and contributed her extensive knowledge of children and adults with CP.
Chapters
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Introduction
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Previous Studies
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Data Foundation and Methodology
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Results from the Questionnaire Survey
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Results from the Interview Study
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Conclusions
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References
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Author Biographies
Thomas Bredgaard er professor (Ph.D.) i arbejdsmarkedspolitik ved Center for Arbejdsmarkedsforskning på Aalborg Universitet. Hans primære forskningsinteresser omfatter aktive arbejdsmarkedspolitikker, arbejdsgiverengagement og inkluderende organisationer, handicap og beskæftigelse, fleksicurity, evaluering og offentlig ledelse. Thomas er studienævnsforperson på Master i Offentlig Ledelse (MPG).
Emilie Skyum-Jensen har siden 2014 arbejdet med børn, unge og voksne med psykiske og kognitive handicaps, og har særlig erfaring med autisme og udviklingshandicaps. Denne erfaring har givet hende en god praksisforståelse for mennesker med forskellige behov.
Hendes motivation for at forske i arbejdsinklusion og handicap udspringer oprindeligt fra dette socialpædagogiske arbejde med målgruppen, hvor hun indså, at en af de vigtigste faktorer for inklusion og deltagelse i samfundet er at være en del af arbejdsmarkedet – hvilket mange i denne målgruppe desværre ikke er.
Af relevante arbejdserfaringer kan Emilie nævne; SPS-mentor for socialrådgiverstuderende med psykiske lidelser og funktionsnedsættelser. Herudover har hun været aktiv i LEV – Landsforeningen for mennesker med udviklingshandicap som både frivillig og bestyrelsesmedlem.
Siden 2021 har hun fokuseret på forskningsarbejde og har opnået omfattende erfaring med kvalitative metoder. Hun har tidligere været ansat som videnskabelig assistent ved Forskningscenter for Handicap og Beskæftigelse på Aalborg Universitet, hvor hun var den primære på den kvalitative del af projektet "Hvordan øges arbejdsmarkedstilknytningen for personer med cerebral parese?"
Frederik Thuesen er seniorforsker og beskæftiger sig især med integration af udsatte grupper på arbejdsmarkedet, herunder indvandrere og personer med handicap. Han har både fokus på, hvad der har betydning for, om udsatte grupper kan få et job, og på integration på selve arbejdspladsen (herunder social kapital og trivsel på arbejdspladsen). Frederik arbejder også med evaluering af beskæftigelsesindsatsen i kommuner og jobcentre, for eksempel i forhold til implementering af lovgivning.