In Poland there are currently about 100 vocational development centers (Polish – ZAZ) which employ nearly 4000 people with a severe disability.
Vocational development centers are independent entities, both in terms of organization and finance, whose purpose is to hire people with a severe and moderate disability, diagnosed with autism, mental retardation or mental illness. Such persons require special (so-called protected) employment conditions.
ZAZ can be established in areas where it is difficult to find a job under protected employment conditions, provided that the head of the district („starost”) makes a decision on the need of establishment of a vocational development center.