title: The self-employment option for people with disabilities: a case study of 'AHVA' desk top publishing company.
abstract: From the above results of the evaluation survey it can be concluded that the participants of the 'AHVA' desktop publishing company, who are with multiple and physical disabilities and who have initiated and run their own enterprise, perceived their first year of operation as beneficial. They mastered new technical skills, learned new work-related behaviours, expanded their interpersonal competencies and felt personal growth. They all developed high motivation to make their operation successful. The case study of 'AHVA' desktop publishing company, initiated and run by a group of multiply and physically disable persons, is unique and demonstrates the positive trend for the future. It is an example of personal and group commitment to build a competitive enterprise. It is self determination rather than the actual outcome of services provided, that is the driving force behind their efforts. The team members demonstrated that persons with disabilities can indeed take charge of their lives, be masters of their own destinies, and lead a productive and meaningful life. Here, inclusion is not a one-sided process in which service providers and rehabilitation experts try to integrate persons with disabilities into the community and regular employment. Inclusion is to integrate persons with disabilities into the community and regular employment. Inclusion is achieved here by the self initiative of a group of persons with disabilities. They have created an extraordinary enterprise according to their own special needs. Non-disabled people interact with them on an equal level, as partners in a business, sharing mutual interests of quality production.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D001519:Behavior; D003200:Computer User Training; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004651:Employment; D006803:Human Development; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007557:Israel; D011643:Publishing; D012657:Self-Help Groups