Working with disabilities

While disabilities and chronic illnesses can have a temporary influence, they are usually structural in nature.
Not all disabilities are visible to others. Disabilities include:

• visual impairments (e.g. blindness, tunnel vision);
• hearing impairments (e.g. hearing loss, deafness);
• mobility impairments (e.g. paraplegia, post-traumatic dystrophy, RSI);
• mental health problems (e.g. anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders);
• neurological disorders (e.g. dyslexia, autism, ADD/ADHD);
• disabilities caused by chronic illnesses (e.g. rheumatism, diabetes, Crohn's disease, ME/CFS, asthma).

AUAS strives to facilitate work for all its staff by:

• ensuring good physical accessibility;
• ensuring good digital accessibility (i.e. on our website);
• providing support during the various stages of employment (intake, progression, outflow);
• providing assistance in case of an emergency through the company emergency response coordinator;
• offering work that is better suited to people who have an occupational disability or who are at a distance to the labour market (Participation Act);
• organising vitality programmes and other facilities (facilities and support for temporary functional limitations).

Travel between home and work

If you have a chronic illness or disability that impacts the manner of your travel between home and work (for example, if you cannot use public transport), you are eligible for an allowance of €0.21 per kilometre and full reimbursement of parking charges or another method of reimbursing the costs of travel. You must coordinate this with your supervisor. Forward any agreements, signed for approval by your supervisor, to servicedesk-ac@hva.nl.

The Participation Act

The Participation Act has replaced the existing regulations and ensures maximum employment opportunities for people who have an occupational disability or are at a distance to the labour market.
Employers are now creating additional jobs for people with an occupational disability.
AUAS has set itself the objective to create at least 65 structural jobs by 2024, which it also considers part of its social role.

Jobs Agreement

People with an occupational disability or poor job prospects often have difficulty finding a job. Thanks to the Jobs Agreement, they now have the opportunity to enter the labour market.

The Jobs Agreement is aimed at the following groups:

• people with an occupational disability who come under the Participation Act and who are unable to earn the statutory minimum wage according to the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV);
• people who fall under the Young Disabled Persons Act (Wajong) and who are capable of working;
• people who are eligible to work via the Sheltered Employment Act (WSW);
• people with a job falling under the Jobseekers Employment Act (WIW) or Entry-level and Step-up Job Decree (ID).