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Vocational Training for Persons with Disabilities

The primary objective of this programme is to make young men and women with disabilities active partners of the national labour force safeguarding their human rights and paving way them to live with self-respect. Towards this end, they are made to undergo an effective rehabilitation process and offered training in a vocation to help them to improve their inborn talents.

This programme is implemented in 05 vocational training centres located in three districts.

The trainees are free to choose a course of their choice at an institute located in an area convenience to them to follow a course compatible with prevailing market trends.

Qualifications Required

• Between 16-35 Years of Age
• Single
• Being a person with disability (a certificate from a registered medical practitioner)

Selection Criteria

• Selecting from community based programmes at the Divisional Secretary Division level
• Selecting through Social Service Officers
• Selecting by calling for applications through newspaper notices
• Selecting from those who submit applications to the Director of Social Services
• Applications selected by the Department are forwarded to suitable institutions
• Selection is done by vocational training institutes having conducted interviews

Facilities Provided

• Free Residential facilities
• An Allowance of Rs. 110.00 for external trainees, Rs. 50.00 for residential trainees and Rs. 75.00 for trainees of voluntary institutions is paid.
• A Took kit to the value of Rs. 10,000.00
• A Government recognized certificate
• Employment opportunities

Special Benefits

• Sports and aesthetic activities
• Youth society activities
• Socialization programmes
• Leadership training
• Orientation and mobility training
• Sign language and Braille training

Training Period

• Depending on the course, one or two year training period

Further information can be obtained from the Social Service Officers or Development Officers of the Department of Social Services attached to Divisional Secretariats across the island.