Abilities First: Empowering Talent Beyond Limits
Skills+ 3.0 is a European initiative dedicated to enhancing the employability of young adults and adults with labor disabilities. Through national and European skills competitions, coaching tools, and employer resources, the project celebrates ability, builds confidence, and promotes inclusive workplaces across Europe. Read more
Skills Competitions as Empowerment Tools
Skills+ 3.0 leverages national and European skills competitions to empower individuals with labor disabilities. By showcasing their practical talents in real work-based contexts, participants gain recognition, build self-esteem, and increase their chances of employment.
Guided Learning with Job Coaches and Buddies
Participants are supported by trained job coaches and buddies, using a dedicated Digital Manual. This mentorship fosters personalized learning, emotional encouragement, and practical guidance, ensuring participants develop both technical and soft skills effectively.
Inclusive Workplaces Toolkit for Employers
The project equips at least 200 SMEs across Europe with a practical toolkit designed to support inclusive recruitment and workplace adaptation. It promotes diversity, accessibility, and retention of employees with disabilities.
Strong Branding and EU-Wide Dissemination
Through an active dissemination strategy—social media, events, publications, and a multilingual website—Skills+ 3.0 promotes its model across the EU, engaging employers, training providers, and policymakers to replicate and scale up its results.
OBJECTIVES
The Skills+ 3.0 project aims to improve the employability of young adults and adults with labor disabilities by creating inclusive pathways to skill recognition and workplace integration. Through national and European competitions, personalized coaching, and employer engagement, the project seeks to:
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Showcase the talents and abilities of people with disabilities rather than focusing on limitations.
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Increase participants’ self-confidence and motivation through structured, real-world challenges.
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Develop practical tools for job coaches, buddies, and employers to support inclusive training and hiring.
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Promote social and labor market inclusion by creating a replicable model that celebrates diversity and skills across Europe.
Develop New Learning Pathways for People with Labor Disabilities
Create structured and innovative learning routes that combine vocational skills, soft skills, and real-world experiences, enabling people with labor disabilities to enhance their job readiness.
Foster Transnational Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange
Strengthen cooperation between partners across Europe to share expertise, align practices, and co-create scalable tools that support inclusion and upskilling in diverse socio-economic contexts.
Design and Pilot Tailored Educational Resources
Produce user-friendly resources such as the Digital Manual and Employer Toolkit, based on real needs, to support both learners and those who guide or employ them — with a strong emphasis on accessibility and usability.
Measure and Promote the Social Impact of Inclusive Practices
Monitor and evaluate the effects of competitions, coaching, and inclusive strategies on participants and stakeholders, using data to raise awareness and influence policies that support diversity in the labor market.
NEWS
SKILLS + NATIONAL COMPETITION IN GREECE
On the 23rd of June 2021, the National Competition for Professional Skills for people with labour disabilities took place in Larissa, Greece. The event was organized by iED, and the participants were from the Daily Centre for people with disabilities...
SKILLS+ professional competitions in Burgh-Haamstede for people with a distance to the labor market from all over Europe!
For the European subsidy project SKILLS+, the award ceremony of the 10 participating European countries took place online on 8 July 2021 at Farm Molenberg in Burgh-Haamstede, organized by Stichting Kenniscentrum PRO WORK. The European teams, which consisted of people...
Победители в Европейското състезание за професионални умения за хора с увреждания – SKILLS+
Второто SKILLS+ европейско състезание за професионални умения за хора с увреждания приключи. То се проведе в различен от предвидения формат и беше предизвикателство и за участниците и за организаторите. Отбори от 10 Европейски държави представиха професионалните си...