Carola Rose and Petra Baumert have successfully delivered vocational training to people with learning difficulties for many years.
The training of people with learning difficulties in the integration workshops lasts for two years. All providers are certified and deliver training in accordance with nationally applicable guidelines. Those participating in vocational education and training in the integration workshops receive training provision for work in the workshop or in an outsourced place of employment. At the end there is a final examination.
Vocational training for people with learning difficulties is structured for each participant. Practical training can be provided in very well-equipped teaching rooms containing machines and tools. There are also worksheets written in language which is easy to understand, and presentations containing photos and pictograms or images. Teaching and learning tools such as these can be used in a targeted manner.
By way of example, Uwe Richard, group leader for vocational education and training, presented the teaching materials he designed and is currently using. This involves participants checking what they are already able to do and how well they understand what has been shown. This is how Uwe Richard manages to make learning fun. This knowledge can then be put to good use in workshop production. For example, machine parts are named, knowledge relating to work safety is revisited, or the stages of work in a kitchen are discussed, run through and then applied independently.
All participants in vocational education and training learn a specialism, as they would in regular training. This might be, for example, household management, garden and landscaping, or assembly. Companies in the region are important partners in cases where participants take advantage of opportunities outside the workshop for persons with disability, and complete a job trial.
Tino Jörke, himself a managing director in the integration workshops, values the work done in the vocational education and training. This is because it is here that his future employees are prepared professionally for workshop production. This is important for processing customer orders to a good standard.
Two long-standing colleagues in the integration workshops have been recognised for this reason. Great commitment and sensitivity, as well as regular continuing training, have enabled Carola Rose and Petra Baumert to successfully provide vocational training over the years to people with disabilities. This is an achievement which requires great energy, persistence and a constant stream of new ideas. These two women have been demonstrating this repeatedly for years now, and Tino Jörke respects and admires them for this reason.