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What is Equal?The objective of EQUAL is to promote new practices to combat any kind of discrimination and inequality on the labour market, in a context of transnational Cupertino. The EQUAL Community Initiative draws on the lessons learned from the EMPLOYMENT and ADAPT programmes. Definition of the problem: lifelong learning with learning disabilityThe recent development towards a knowledge-based society puts higher demands on employees. To be able to adapt to the always changing labour situation and to keep their labour value on level, employees must re-educate themselves on a regular base. This is not obvious for people with a learning disability. Due to their learning problems it can be too hard for them to participate in a course or in training without proper accompaniment or an adapted treatment. Objective and mission: new possibilities for people with learning disabilities in the working fieldAlthough the policy is to strive for social inclusion of people with learning disabilities (LD) on the labour market, the particular needs of this target group are not acknowledged. The constitutional right to work and the provision of reasonable adaptations are very good theoretical concepts, but in the majority of cases which concern adults with LD they remain conceptual. Specific actions: problems at work as the starting pointThe specific tasks of the Learning Gateway network are:
The partnership of the Learning Gateway project has opted for a pragmatic rather than a scientific approach. We want to create practical tools that are simple to use for the detection and further management of learning disabilities on the shop floor. Furthermore we wish to raise more awareness concerning the specific nature and needs of the target groups. The Flemish Partnership (OP): a network of expert organisationsThis project is the result of intensive collaboration between different professional organisations involved in employment of special target groups:
The Transnational Cooperation (DP): specific information from other countriesIn order to reach all the project objectives there is also an elaborate transnational cooperation with other EQUAL-projects. The Flemish partnership cooperates with Poland (The partnership for Rain man - Rain man for the partnership), Finland (Lukineuvola) and the Neterlands (Kairo). Due to this an intensive exchange of expert information between several countries is possible. 
Progress and outcomesThe project is managed by a Steering Group that coordinates several Working Groups.The Detection Workgroup The literature study, a task of the Detection Workgroup, offers a solid frame of reference for further action on methodology and sensitization. In this elaborate study the consequences of dyslexia and NLD on the shop floor are being analysed. The study forms the imperative theoretical framework for the development of our new method, which is embedded in the widely used method of Supported Employment. Furthermore different common concepts such as screening, detection, assessment, ... are defined. Apart from the obvious facts and figures, the opinion of the clients themselves was also taken into account. For dyslexia this wasn’t any problem, since this target group has already been well documented on. NLD on the other hand, as a little known disability, hasn’t been explored in such a way. Therefore we organised a survey similar to a Flemish survey on dyslexia and thus interviewed adults with NLD. All of this information (literature study and survey) served as direct input for developing our validated methodology, which was the assignment of the second Working Group. The Methodology Workgroup Functional assessment is the utmost important tool to determine the special needs and the possibilities of people with a Learning Disability and it makes it possible to give them well based advice on the further development of their career. The Communication Workgroup To reach all of our objectives clear communication concerning our project is of essence. By developing a brochure and this internet site we aim to reach people with a disability, potential or current employers and the intermediary sector. The particular needs of the target group and their recognition has been compared to the current governmental policy. Our findings and statements can be found in a recommendation notice. Furthermore we adressed the government at our transnational conference in February 2006 at the International Press Centre in Antwerp and at the final conference in May 2007. More information on the conference ‘With a learning disability on the shop floor’: The project results and recommendations where disseminated at our final conference on 24th May in ‘Paterspand’ Turnhout. More information about the outcomes:
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