Monday, 19 September 2022, 10:00–12:00 (UTC/GMT+2 or CEST)

Languages: Simultaneous interpretation in English, French, German and Spanish
(Simultaneous interpretation – Frequently asked questions)

Webinar organized in collaboration with the ISSA European Network (IEN)

The role of disability assessment has evolved significantly in the context of labour market changes in Europe in recent decades.

First, the transition from an industrial to a service economy has changed physical work requirements. The recent deployment of platform work is telling example: technology now supports work opportunities for persons with certain disabilities who had previously not been able to be employed or had to limit their working hours.

Further, population aging has increased the importance of scarce human resources for economies and companies and increased the need to support active participation in the labour market. This, together with the societal and social security implications of aging societies, has fuelled efforts for prevention and rehabilitation.

In this context, the disability assessment process plays a key role and has multiplied its objectives. Its role has traditionally been to ensure that persons with a disability get access to adequate compensation and income replacement. While this remains essential, a complementary and at least as important objective is now to allow and support individuals to make the most of their abilities and actively participate in the labour market. In this way, the process transforms from an assessment of disability to a process of reinforcing ability.

The development and implementation of disability assessment processes that effectively and efficiently fulfil these two objectives require the coordination and longer-term of view of different actors and a comprehensive medical, vocational and social view on the needs and abilities of individuals. In addition, they need to be organized in a way that the concerned persons are put in the centre of different actors and institutions.

The objective of this webinar organized by the ISSA European Network is to showcase different recent approaches in Europe and discuss the challenges and solutions in the establishment of assessment processes that promote a focus on ability and rehabilitation.

Speakers

	Dr Gert Lindenger, President of the Swedish Physicians Association of Insurance Medicine (LFFM), Sweden, and Vice President, European Union for Medicine in Assurance and Social Security (EUMASS)
	Zofia Czepulis-Rutkowska, Director, International Cooperation Department, Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), Poland
	Dr Christian Wuchter-Czerwony, Medical Advisor, Prevention, Rehabilitation and Social Medicine Department, German Federal Pension Insurance (DRV Bund), Germany
	Dr Cristina Dal Pozzo, Senior Medical Advisor, National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL), Italy
	Lex Uittenbogaard, Labour expert, and Dr Eric Van der Jagt, Insurance Physician, Employee Insurance Agency (UWV), Netherlands

This webinar will examine the following questions:

• What are major changes in disability assessment objectives, actors and processes in recent years and what are the main reasons for these reforms?
• What have been challenges, barriers and facilitating factors in integrating a rehabilitation and ability focus into disability assessment processes?
• How can the disability assessment processes be organized in a way that people and their needs and abilities are the centre of different actors and institutions potentially involved?
• How are changes in the labour market and in particular technological progress impacting on disability assessment processes and work abilities?

Agenda

• Welcome by Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano, Secretary General, International Social Security Association (ISSA)
• Introduction by the Chairperson of the ISSA European Network
• Keynote presentation, Gert Lindenger, LFFM, Sweden and EUMASS
• Case experience from ZUS, Poland
• Case experience from DRV Bund, Germany
• Case experience from INAIL, Italy
• Case experience from UWV, Netherlands
• Q&A – Panel discussion
• Conclusions

Moderated by Marjorie Lestienne, Regional Coordinator for Europe, ISSA

Practical information

The webinar is open to delegates of ISSA member institutions and invited participants without registration fee.