After completing an internship in a company, Laurence Costa, who has a disability, managed to find work. She participated in the “DuoDay” system, set up by the State with the aim of promoting inclusion at work.
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This Thursday, November 21, is “DuoDay”. This is a national operation whose aim is to welcome people with disabilities for a day, for an unpaid discovery internship in a company. And this can sometimes lead to lasting employment.
This system, which is taking place for the seventh time, was put in place by the Ministry of Labor, Health and Solidarity. The objective is to promote inclusion in the world of work.
Laurence Costa, who has an invisible disability, knows this operation well. Three years ago, when she was unemployed due to neck problems, she was welcomed into an associative structure in Annecy: Aapei Epanou, for a day for “DuoDay”.
This day allowed him to find a place in the company. Previously, she was an educational instructor for children. She explains: “It changed my life. The cervical specialists, the neurosurgeons, had forbidden me this profession. They told me that the profession of educator was over for me.” She didn't think she could hold her current position, thinking so.reserved for specialized educators“. The internship allows her to realize that she can apply for it.
I felt like a piece of sunshine appeared and said to me: it's okay, you can still be educated.
Laurence CostaInstructor-educator Aapei Epanou
She completed several discovery internships and was offered a permanent contract. “I accepted immediately“, assures Laurence Costa. She has been supporting people with intellectual disabilities and autism in their daily lives for two years now.
Her position has been completely adapted, because Laurence cannot sit in front of her computer for too long because of her disability. “They adapted my screen, my chair and the car, I don't do any nights. I felt well welcomed, my disability was taken into account. This job is much easier for me to see the doctors and go see the physiotherapists“, she explains.
This year, on the occasion of the seventh edition of “DuoDay”, she decided to return the favor and in turn welcome a disabled person.
Emmanuel Depigny, disability project manager in the association adds: “It is an opportunity for people with disabilities who may be very far from employment to maintain a social connection and confirm a professional project. But also to discover a profession, a structure, professionals.“
Last year, in France, 27,000 disabled people were welcomed into a company as part of this system set up by the state. For a quarter of them, this led to an internship or job.
