LEGISLATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES FOR EMPLOYERS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN BULGARIA

Abstract

The career development of people with special needs contains several components - professional training, which can be realized at school or extracurricular level; legislation and social policies to ensure access to the work environment; employers who hire people with disabilities. This article are focused on the role of employers in the process of vocational guidance and career development of people with disabilities in Bulgaria, the benefits and disadvantages of employment policies for people with disabilities, as well as the preferences and opportunities provided by the state to each employer in this context. The problem of vocational guidance and career development of people with disabilities in Bulgaria is still very relevant, although there is a serious development in terms of legislation and social policies implemented in the country. European and private company projects, which include representatives of this group, are also not numerous. Unemployment statistics among them, however, still show a negative trend. This trend has been proven by cited statistics from the National Statistical Institute in Bulgaria, as well as an analysis of what is happening in the labor market before and after the crisis caused by the Corona virus. Also, the article examines at different levels the employment of people with disabilities according to their qualifications, education and data presented in the major municipalities in the country. The text also addresses the issues related to the consultation of persons with disabilities in the process of job search, as well as in the process of adaptation of the workplace, addressing the issue related to the qualification of the specialists who provide this service. Can they only be specialists in the field of social activities or should we also look at the qualifications of special educators? Until recently, the profession of special pedagogue was associated only with the individual rehabilitation process for people with disabilities and their activities in special schools. Today, their function is far broader and perhaps career guidance and counseling should be included in their profile.