EU project to integrate the disabled into the workplace
The European Commission has invested one million euro in a project aimed at creating and developing a technological, organisational and social model that will provide new solutions for disabled people. The project is based on telework, and has been named THINK (Towards Handicap Integration Negotiating Knowledge). Research commenced in September, and is expected to continue for at least 22 months. Consisting of new methods of work and electronic commerce, the project falls under Key Action II of the User-friendly Information Society, one of the thematic programmes of the Fifth Framework programme. The Commission's one million euro investment is being matched by a consortium of companies from five Member States: Spain, Italy, Greece, and Scotland in the UK, with Portugal's TELEMAN leading the way, up to a maximum of 240 teleworkers. The main objective of the venture is to integrate those with disabilities to the extent that they are able to become self-sufficient and productive through using information and communication technologies.