People with disabilities or multiple challenges in Austria face the difficulty of having little access to the primary labor market and thus their own social insurance after compulsory education, leaving them without entitlement to unemployment benefits and pensions. Typically, these individuals end up in workshops after school or failed placement attempts, where they only receive pocket money and no wages. Aside from social exclusion and lack of their own income, they have no legal claim to pensions in old age and rely on the day structures of disability facilities.

The innovative solution to the problem through our project is the holistic approach and the focus on people with disabilities or mutlieple challenges who are are confronted with a wide range of difficulties when integrating into the labour and currently just supported in workshops in Austria. The holistic approach includes preparing participants through training sessions in small groups (max. 5 people), allowing for need-oriented training units. These training sessions take place four times a week (five if you count the vocational training on Fridays) and focus on public transport training, learning labor market-relevant terms, recognizing personal strengths and abilities, boosting self-confidence and self-responsibility, and preparing for job application phases (creating resumes, practicing interviews, etc.). An action plan is created once the participants' skills profile is defined.

Participants are accompanied by placement staff during their initial trial internships, meaning they practice and consolidate public transport use, and at the internship site, the placement staff provides support. This presence allows the placement staff to reflect with the company on potential job opportunities the participant can take on, creating a win-win situation for both the person with disabilities and the company.

After a short internship (2-3 days), a longer one follows for about 12 weeks. During this time, the participant is accompanied by the placement staff, focusing on achieving the highest possible independence at the internship site. Subsequently, there is a labor leasing for up to six months, provided both parties agree, aiming for permanent employment in the company.

The placement staff remains accessible to the participant during the labor leasing and serves as a contact person for the company for any questions.

The placement staff plays a central role in the project, serving as a mediating, prejudice-reducing, motivating, and clarifying figure for companies and as a direct contact for participants, aligning the needs of both parties to achieve a successful match (employment in the primary labor market).

Additionally, a 360° feedback system is implemented. Participants are surveyed at the beginning, middle, and end of the project using a simple language questionnaire to assess their situation. A social network map is also created at these times to track how the social space of people with disabilities changes when they have a salary instead of pocket money. Relatives and close companions are also surveyed to gain a comprehensive view of the changes in participants' social environments.

The inclusion of people with disabilities or multiple challenges in the primary (general) labor market will:

1. Break down barriers and prejudices against people with disabilities at a societal level.
2. Increase self-responsibility and self-determination of people with disabilities and create the conditions for this.
3. Significantly reduce the dependence of people with disabilities on their relatives or other caregivers.
4. Employ people with disabilities regularly and pay them wages instead of pocket money for their economic contributions.
5. Ensure people with disabilities are socially insured and not co-insured with relatives, giving them legal entitlement to pensions and other social benefits in Austria.
6. Actively integrate people with disabilities into the social space, as they can participate due to their own financial means.
7. Implement long-overdue aspects (especially paragraph 27) of the UN CRPD in Austria.

On a societal level, the project has the potential to highlight existing laws that hinder inclusion, which can be brought to the (state) government, leading to a fundamental (positive) change in the labor market in collaboration with economic stakeholders for people with disabilities.

1. People with disabilities will not be excluded from the labor market from the outset.
2. People with disabilities will be enabled to lead self-determined and self-responsible lives.
3. People with disabilities will be independent and have legal entitlement to various social benefits (unemployment benefits, pensions, etc.).
4. Companies (and society as a whole) will develop a prejudice-free attitude towards people with disabilities and see them as fully-fledged employees/colleagues in the workplace.
5. New jobs (job carving) will be created, relieving qualified staff and allowing people with disabilities to take on responsible tasks in the company (win-win).
6. The current staff shortage can also be mitigated.

Thus, the project is forward-looking, innovative, and a step towards an inclusive society.