It is exceptionally important to provide persons with disabilities with the environment and possibilities for social and vocational rehabilitation. These possibilities are provided by, among others, occupational therapy workshops and vocational activity establishments. They allow us to offer greater support to persons who wish to enter or return to the labour market despite the difficulties. In turn, social economy entities employ persons at risk of social exclusion – including persons with disabilities.

– We join the appeal of the Polish Association of Organisers of Vocational Actibity Establishments and Occupational Therapy Workshops to support the work of persons with disabilities during the pandemic. We mean in particular vocational activity establishments and occupational therapy workshops, but also social economy entities. Persons with disabilities do really exceptional things at these facilities. We should show solidarity and support the work of persons with disabilities – encourages Minister of Family and Social Policy Marlena Maląg.

How can I help?

– You can, for instance, order food, ornaments or Christmas cards manufactured at vocational activity establishments or occupational therapy workshops. Such manually crafted items may turn out to be a wonderful Christmas gift for a loved one – says Minister Marlena Maląg.

Where can I find a list of entities?

The list of vocational activity establishments is available at the websites of Voivodeship Offices, and the list of occupational therapy workshops – at www.niepelnosprawni.gov.pl. A list of social enterprises divided by Voivodeships is available at http://www.bazaps.ekonomiaspoleczna.gov.pl/.

Facilitations for occupational therapy workshops during the pandemic

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the unusual circumstances which we all have to face, the regulation of the Minister for Family and Social Policy concerning the operation of occupational therapy workshops during an epidemic came into force in the second half of October this year.

What has changed? So far, the maximum duration of classes in occupational therapy workshops shall not exceed 7 hours a day and 35 hours a week. If less than 35 hours per week are planned, the amount of funding will be proportionately reduced. The introduced change assumes that during the period of the epidemic – i.e. starting from 25 May this year – planning a schedule of occupational therapy workshops including less than 35 hours of classes per week will not result in the reduction of the amount of co-financing granted to the workshop.

In addition, exceeding the time limits for the admissible absence by a participant of occupational therapy workshop - if such time limit had been specified in the workshop regulations - shall not constitute grounds for removing that participant from the list of workshop participants. In response to the information obtained from occupational therapy workshops regarding the current difficulties in hiring psychologists for an employment contract, we have also made it possible to employ a psychologist on the basis of a contract other than an employment contract.