Report of Gladnet 2003 Meeting on Employment Research

Minutes of the Sixth General Assembly Meeting

International Labour Organisation (ILO) 4, route des Morillons Geneva, Switzerland, December 8 - 9, 2003

Attendance

The sixth Annual General Meeting of the Global Applied Disability Research and Information Network on Employment and Training - GLADNET - was held at the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) offices in Geneva, Switzerland on December 8 - 9, 2003. Approximately 24 participants from 12 countries were in attendance.

Presentations - December 8, 2003

Transnational Comparisons of Disability Management Systems: In Search of a Robust Policy Framework, presented by Dr. Donal McAnaney, Director, Rehab Group Roslyn Park, Dublin, Ireland

Business Owners with Disabilities: A Study of Persons with Disabilities Starting their own Business, presented by Dr. Stig Larsson and Amanda Bentsson, Malmo University Hospital, Sweden

Performance Indicators in Public and Private Re-employment Service Providers, presented by Edwin de Vos, Senior Consultant / Researcher, TNO Work and Employment, Hoofdorp, The Netherlands

Integration Management: New Approaches on Dealing with Disability Matters in Companies, presented by Dorte Bernhard, University of Cologne, Germany

Evaluation of a Re-integration Program for Clients with Psychological Problems in the ICT Domain, presented by Viktoria Arling and Will Spijkers, Institute of Psychology Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, University of Aachen, Germany

Mental Health and Work: The Extent of Evidence-based Knowledge, presented by Aldred Neufeldt, Director, Community Rehabilitation & Disability Studies, University of Calgary, Canada

Presentations - December 9, 2003

Current Practice in Skills Acquisition for People with Disabilities, presented by Barbara Murray, Manager Equity Issues Skills Development Department (IFP / Skills), International Labour Office, Geneva, Switzerland

The Mainstream Business Benefits of designing more accessible Electronic and Information Technology (E&IT), presented remotely by Steve Jacobs, President, IDEAL Group Inc., Ohio, USA

Presentation des basses de donnes Francophone sur le handicap du CTNERHI disponible sur l'Internet, presented by Marc Maudinet, Director Centre Technique national d'Etudes et de Recherches sur les handicaps et les inadaptations (CTNERHI)

How is the Internet Affecting the Lives of Disabled People?, presented by Dr. Michael Floyd, Rehabilitation Resource Centre School of Nursing, City University, London, UK

Information Technology Accessibility: Implications for Education and Employment of People with Disabilities, presented by telecast by Susanne Bruyere, Director, Program on Employment and Disability, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

The Global Information Network on Disability: a Tool to share Knowledge for Sustainable Livelihoods, presented by Moira Jones, DIrector, Disabled Peoples International (DPI), Winnipeg, Canada

GLADNET Association General Assembly In attendance: Aldred Neufeldt, GLADNET Chair / University of Calgary Stig Larsson, Lund University Amanda Bentsson, Lund University Moira Jones, Disabled Persons International Dorte Bernhard, University of Cologne Michael Kamp, Stichting Zuidwester Bert Boekhoff, Stichting Zuidwester Barbara Murray, International Labour Organization Donal McAnaney, Roslyn Rehab Edwin de Vos, GLADNET Secretary-Treasurer / TNO Misako Nomura, DINF Japan Val Lawton, GLADNET Operations Manager

The GLADNET Business meeting was held from 14h30 to 15h55 on Tuesday, December 9, 2003.

Opening Remarks Dr. Neufeldt welcomed everyone to the 6th General Assembly meeting, and thanked the ILO for their support and generous hospitality in hosting this conference and General Assembly. He observed that an AGA was not held in 2002 due to the cancellation of the Paris meeting, with which GLADNET had hoped to run a concurrent meeting. The net effect of this is that there are actions that will require ratification at this meeting.

Dr. Neufeldt informed the audience that this would be the last time he addressed a GLADNET meeting as Chair, a position he has held since 1997.

Report on Activities

1. An Annual report, including the report from the Chair, the Operations Manager, and the Auditors, covering the years 2002-2003 was made available to meeting participants. The Annual Report is available for viewing on the GLADNET website.

2. Edwin de Vos' Report on Programme Planning. Edwin reviewed planning leading to programme just concluded. It was observed that while the attendance was low and, hence disappointing, the quality of presentations and participation had been excellent.

3. Discussion of meetings attended by GLADNET representatives over the past two years, as outlined in the Annual Report. These efforts worked at aligning GLADNET with partners.

Auditor's Report and Financial Report Edwin de Vos, Treasurer, presented the Auditor’s Report for the year 2002. He also presented a summary report on revenue and expenses through October 2003.

Barbara Murray observed it would be helpful to have a breakdown of general revenue into various main sources such as funds received for the recent ILO project, other grants and contributions, rather than grouping these sources. She also suggested it would be helpful to know how much interest income there had been as contrasted with the previous year.

Concern regarding dropping membership was voiced. Michael Kamp inquired as to what the reasons for this might be. Edwin de Vos suggested that many organizations have fallen on harder times, and some have disappeared entirely. While maintaining GLADNET membership is a continuing challenge, Aldred Neufeldt suggested GLADNET might consider offering a specific service to governmental bodies in exchange for sustaining memberships.

Motions 1. Motion to accept the Auditors Report
Moved by Donal McAnaney, seconded by Michael Kamp. Carried.

2. Motion to accept the Operation Manager and Programme Reports
Moved by Michael Kamp, seconded by Donal McAnaney. Carried.

3. Motion to retain the services of the current auditor
Moved by Bert Boekhoff, seconded by Donal McAnaney. Carried.

4. Motion to ratify appointments to Board made during the previous year.
Moved by Bert Boekhoff, seconded by Michael Kamp. Carried.

5. Motion to elect new Board Last year the GLADNET Board began seeking a broadened membership from a wider range of regions, and bringing number up to the allowable limit as set out in the By-Laws. A slate of nominees was circulated.
Chair solicits discussion of Nominees
There being none, it was moved that the slate be adopted in a single vote.
Moved by Michael Kamp, seconded by Barbara Murray. Carried.

Elected to: First term (3 years) Buys, Nick (alternate-Graham Hughes), Australia Jones, Moira, Disabled Peoples’ International Larsson, Stig, Sweden McAnaney, Donal, Ireland Zeitzer, Eileen, USA

Second term (3 years) Kawamura, Hiroshi, Japan

Third term (3 years) Berkowitz, Monroe, USA

The following were ratified as Continuing Board Members with terms as shown: Beckles, Beverly Second term began in 2002 Bruyère, Susanne Second term began in 2002 DeVos, Edwin Third term began in 2002 Murray, Barbara Ex-officio Neufeldt, Aldred Third term began in 2002

Meeting interrupted to present Aldred Neufeldt with a rose wood clock, in recognition of his tenure as GLADNET Chair from 1997 to 2003

Meeting resumed at 15h25

Program discussion

1. Next meeting. Comments for GLADNET's new board regarding the program for the association's next meeting, were sought.

Barbara Murray believes that to achieve higher attendance, planning for the next meeting must begin immediately. GLADNET should aim for greater promotion so people can slot in the meeting for the new year. She suggests inviting a well-known speaker could be worthwhile.

A renowned speaker could be a costly initiative, however, it was suggested by Val Lawton, he / she could provide a telecast presentation.

Stig Larsson: believes that presenting applicable research would be more appealing to some than bringing in a renowned speaker.

Moira Jones: would like to see greater involvement from PWDs, especially from developing countries.

The chair solicited comments regarding travel costs

Moira Jones: pointed out that there are often monies available for travel for developing countries.

Michael Kamp: with adequate planning ahead, GLADNET may be able to better tailor its program according to upcoming / current research

Moira Jones: recommended GLADNET consider the Summit in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada) as a good venue. PWD's will be in attendance, and Disabled Persons' International (DPI) could assist GLADNET.

Discussion concerning next year’s programme content

Barbara Murray: presentation by someone who's made a controversial statement in the field, such as the recent OECD study, which holds some influence over policy makers but, as in the OECD study, is questionable.

GLADNET as a network has a responsibility to respond to such reports, and have the potential to reach policy makers.

Edwin de Vos: more studies of this sort will surface in the next year. He pointed out that it is not just conference that is a membership service; the Infobase, GLADMail and the promotion of networking research. The question is how to make GLADNET service useful? What should the GLADNET role be? How can GLADNET promote research together with others?

Michael Kamp: is there the possibility of GLADNET being a portal to show where researchers to go -- A place where new research is compiled and posted to members?

Aldred Neufeldt: How can GLADNET address the information overload, and 'weave through the noise' on behalf of membership?

Misako Nomura: Speaking from a Japanese perspective, GLADNET is not well publicized enough.

Aldred Neufeldt: Perhaps GLADNET needs to promote its excellence and quality; proposes establishing a public relations campaign

Dorte Bernhard: recommends collaborating with others to disseminate GLADNET news and activities.

Barbara Murray: suggests identifying a topic, such as the "trend to privatization," and surveying the membership for feedback and opinion.

Stig Larsson: agrees on Barbara’s suggested topic, but suggests, due to lack of research in the area, that such a meeting might be held as a series of workshops.

Barbara Murray: suggests the OECD Report is a partial piece of research that justifies the trend to PWDs looking after themselves. With a year's notice, we may prompt initial research. At least, GLADNET can foster informed discussion.

Aldred Neufeldt: reminded participants that the OECD and ISSA reports were considered for critical analysis for today's meeting

Barbara Murray: suggests new board members Ilene Zeitzer would make an excellent discussant. Additionally, the Australian experience would be good to highlight.

Edwin de Vos: another topic the association might consider is 'anti-discrimination legislation in Europe,' for which there is a research available.

Bert Boekhoff: These two topics work well together, and could both be presented at the same meeting. Recommends presenting both to board and membership.

Dorte Bernhard: questioned GLADMail statistics

Val Lawton: currently, there are approx. 800 GLADMail recipients. GLADNET might consider establishing a threaded discussion group this year.

Close

There being no new business, the meeting closed at 15h55 hours on December 9, 2003.

Carl Raskin Editor GLADmail Ottawa, Canada

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