“I have a permanent need for kitchen and cleaning personnel. Then, a service provider for people with disabilities asked me to consider taking on Deolinda for an internship. Essentially, I am open to taking on interns with disabilities, and since they guaranteed to provide support whenever necessary, I offered Deolinda an opportunity. If things don’t work out, the training process will simply be discontinued and they will look for another opportunity for Deolinda.”

“Deolinda completed an internship at my hotel, lasting almost two years. She was trained to perform pantry duties, wash dishes and clean the dining area. It was beneficial for her to be in a learning environment with her peers. It was also beneficial to have the time to determine what was necessary for Deolinda to perform productively, which was rewarding for her and for us as a hotel. She did really well. Her training in pantry services went well for both her and us. She developed her skills considerably, and we benefited from her work without having to pay her a salary. Offering her a fixed-term employment contract after her internship felt like the natural next step in our relationship.”

“Regarding the necessary adaptations: These were quite easy to arrange. For Deolinda, we had to ensure that someone was available to help her if needed. She can be insecure, so it is a great help to her to have this support from a colleague. Her co-workers have become the most important factor in her inclusion in the workplace. They, in turn, were always supported by the service provider, which was of great help. In fact, we were creating natural support mechanisms.”

“Another adaptation was streamlining transport to the workplace. This had to fit within the timeframes of the husband, child or co-worker’s routes. One final adaptation was ensuring there were enough personnel to carry out the work, so we could avoid disrupting Deolinda’s routine. All these adaptations had been arranged during her internship by the time I offered her the contract.”

“Deolinda told me that she wanted to work in a hotel and that she had experience in that area. She is satisfied with her work and the tasks she performs. She doesn’t worry about the future; if she could continue doing this work with us, she’d be happy.”

“I would like to emphasise the important role played by the service provider. They played a key part in this process of inclusion. Deolinda sought the help of this service provider because she was unable to find a job. They supported her in finding this internship at my hotel. They guided and trained her. They also guided and trained her colleagues and supervisor throughout her internship. They also helped us to find the right financial support for hiring Deolinda and giving her a fixed-term contract.”

“When we decided to hire Deolinda and offered her a fixed-term employment contract, it seemed possible to include state measures that support the employment of disabled people in the open labour market. With the support of the service provider again, an assessment was carried out to evaluate Deolinda’s loss of productivity in her pantry duties. This took into account her mental illness, mild intellectual disability, and the level of performance normally required for the role. The result of this assessment was a 50% reduction in productivity, and I was paid 50% of Deolinda’s remuneration. This compensation for loss of productivity when hiring Deolinda reflected not only her functional performance, but also the effort we made to adapt to her needs, such as the need for supervision.”

“I see Deolinda as a stable and reliable asset for many years to come. Her professional integration is an important, yet normal, element of the social and environmental inclusion that we advocate. While the financial incentives contributed to Deolinda’s hiring, her performance, motivation and attendance at work are also important. Deolinda has brought unity to our team and improved the work environment and dynamics. I would certainly do it again. That’s not to say there weren’t any difficulties to overcome. However, one also has to know how to deal with Deolinda’s colleagues and ensure that the hotel runs smoothly.”