'If we start thinking in tasks, everyone will be able to join in'

Utrecht University aims to get more people with a disability on board. Therefore the university collaborates with several organisations, including social work company Biga Groep. One of the motivators behind this successful cooperation, is Bernadette Voorendt. The secondment consultant explains to Rinske van Herwaarden, inclusion correspondent and former Biga Group employee, how to offer ánd seize opportunities within the university.   

Creating jobs

“At Biga Groep in Zeist you’ll find staff with a physical, mental or learning disability, or with a combination of those”, says Bernadette. "As a secondment consultant, I coordinate placing those people into regular organisations, like Utrecht University. Since 2016 through Biga Groep, over fifty people have been employed by the university.

By joining forces with the university we connect vacancies to job-applicants. We do this in the framework of the Participation Act. Utrecht University creates jobs based on specific tasks in departments or on the profile of a job-seeker. When someone has been placed through Biga Groep, we explore if the job and the participant are the right match and how the participant can best make use of his or her skills and qualities. When the placement turns out to be a success, after twelve months the university strives to offer the seconded employee a regular employment.”

Offering opportunities

To make sure a placement is a success for both the employee and the department, Bernadette continuously tunes in to see what is needed. “It is a matter of customisation. On rare occasions we end up having to conclude that the offered package of tasks doesn’t fit the concerning employee. But mainly I see people who grow tremendously at the university.   

'I appreciate that Utrecht University offers plenty of space when it comes to creating fitting jobs'

As a result of their disabilities, the people we work with have often already had to deal with quite a few setbacks in their lives. It is wonderful to experience how they develop themselves in such a positive way, both professionally and personally.  

Utrecht University can be proud. The majority of our people end up in a regular job at the university, which means they have all been fittingly appointed. It is pleasant to witness how the university is used to working with students and people in full development. There is, for instance, plenty of space for aligning and adjusting things regarding the newly created jobs.” 

Seizing opportunities

“What I often see is that participants don’t tend to immediately seize the opportunities that the university offers them”, says Bernadette. “Utrecht University encourages people to grow on a professional level, but not everyone uses this space to develop. A lot of seconded employees set very high standards for themselves. What could help them manage these expectations, is to learn what is realistic and what is not. When you allow yourself to make mistakes, you create room to develop.

You yourself are an example of someone who held herself back due to perfectionism”, Bernadette addresses Rinske. “You took on more responsibilities when your colleague was unexpectedly absent for several weeks. You stopped letting yourself be guided by the fear of making mistakes and did your work as well as you could. Both you and the team learned that you could do more than you initially thought. Your self-confidence grew and now you have more and more projects of your own. It might not be the most pleasant way to learn such a lesson, but this opportunity did work for you. I encourage everyone to explore what works for them.”

'Everyone is capable of completing tasks'

“Finding a fitting package of tasks and a suitable work environment can in some cases take years. Some people apply for a certain job and unluckily learn that they and the job turn out not to be compatible. However, virtually everyone is capable of completing tasks. It is the position that makes it challenging: the combination of different tasks, the speed, the level, confidence, et cetera. When you can customise more by thinking in tasks, everyone can join in.” 

Add value

“Of course I understand that it might be a bit scary to employ someone from this group”, says Bernadette. “I notice that supervisors also question themselves: ‘Am I doing it right?’. That’s why the university offers so called 'Harrietraining'. There are also ambassadors at the faculties, who are available to give advice. I know of so many cases in which the placement of an employee with a disability has turned out to be very successful and valuable for the whole department. So basically, a win-win situation.

Continuous attention for creating new jobs, costs energy, but it means so much to people”, Bernadette states, lastly. “It is valuable to contribute to that. I’d wish for everyone to get an opportunity to participate in work and to experience joy from it. So what I’d like to ask people at Utrecht University: please ask yourself if you could offer someone the chance to join in. And – in that case – please share your ideas with your faculty’s ambassador.”