Production-orientated education and training of the mentally disabled in sheltered employment (PIONIER).
OBJECTIVE
The development and realization of a production-orientated education and training system for mentally disabled people in sheltered employment in the course of the project PIONIER. It focuses on the metal and electronic branches of a workshop with a mentally disabled workforce in Alsdorf, Germany.


METHODS
For the development of the modules an assessment tool called MELBA was used to determine the abilities of the disabled people and the requirements of the tasks. Methods for the collection of this information was: observation, questionnaires and documents.


RESULTS
Three months after the introduction of educational measures the improvements of the capacity for learning and education of disabled persons was visible. In the same way the development of their self-reliance and social abilities was recorded. The metal working branch was capable of fulfilling every task with respect to quality issues and within set delivery times. The electro working branch was accomplished enough to create new workplaces and to get orders from the computer industry.


CONCLUSIONS
By the use of a qualification system like PIONIER the tasks of the disabled employees have been enlarged and enriched. In order to cope with the increase competition sheltered workshops have to realize new ways of vocational training for mentally disabled employees.
Eicker
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A
Institute of Industrial Engineering and Ergonomics, Aachen University of Technology, Germany. a.eicker@iaw.rwthaachen.de
Schneider
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S
D004495:Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000379:methods; D012759:Sheltered Workshops / Q000458:organization & administration*