A HISTORY OF WASE
World Association for Supported Employment
Language note: We acknowledge that the language used in Australia to describe employment services for people with disabilities (disability employment) differs from language used in other countries (supported employment). For the purpose of this article and to respect the traditional name of WASE, disability employment will be referred to as ‘supported employment.’
What is WASE?
The World Association for Supported Employment (WASE) is an international membership association for the supported employment sector. Comprised of a network of people and organisations united with a shared aim, to promote supported employment throughout the world.
WASE operates within the scope of the United Nations Resolution on the vocational integration of people with disabilities, using the principles and technology of Supported Employment to support persons with disabilities to attain, maintain and progress in competitive employment in the open labour market.
Three decades of advancing supported employment for people with disabilities across the globe.
WASE was established in 1995 with founding membership drawn from the European Union of Supported Employment (EUSE) and other national membership organisations. Its founding directors brought together expertise from across Europe and the United States.
From these beginnings, WASE grew into a global voice for employment of people with disabilities, and continues to foster international collaboration, encouraging the sharing of knowledge, resources and advocacy strategies across continents.
History of the World Supported Employment Conferences
1st World Supported Employment Conference, Belfast, Ireland, 14-16 June 2017
The first World Conference on Supported Employment was hosted by the Northern Ireland Union of Supported Employment (NIUSE), the European Union of Supported Employment (EUSE), the European Association of Service Providers for Disabled People (EASDP), and WASE. Delegates heard from a wide range of keynote speakers and participated in workshops spanning topics from policy to practice.At the WASE General Meeting held during the conference, new leadership was appointed and representatives from Australia, Africa, South America and Malaysia demonstrated the growing global reach of the movement.
2nd World Supported Employment Conference, Vancouver, Canada, 6-8 June 2023
Gathering over 600 delegates from 15 countries, the second world conference was held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Hosted by the Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE), Inclusion BC, BC Employment Network and WASE, the conference focused on innovation, collaboration and creativity in solutions for improving outcomes for people with disabilities. During the conference, it was announced that the next host of the World Conference would be Disability Employment Australia, with the event to be hosted in Brisbane, Australia on 17-19 March 2027.
Learn more
WASE website: https://www.wase.ca/
Board of directors: Board of Directors – WASE
UN Article 27 – Work and Employment: https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities/article-27-work-and-employment.html
Content sourced from the World Association for Supported Employment (WASE). WASE holds Consultative Status with the United Nations ECOSOC.
