Social Cooperatives of Disabled Persons in Poland: Postulates and Reality

Abstract

Disabled persons are at risk of exclusion from the labor market. Such exclusion may result in social marginalization or even social exclusion. Various legal instruments are used in attempts to prevent this phenomenon. Social cooperatives, classified as entities of the social economy, may play a significant role in the professional activation of the disabled. However, social cooperatives of disabled persons in Poland face barriers that limit their role in the process of the professional and social inclusion of disabled persons. Currently, the situation diverges considerably from the postulates formulated in justification for draft acts whose passage was to have contributed to the development of the cooperative activities of disabled persons.

Keywords

• disabled person
• social cooperative
• social cooperative of disabled persons