Employers urged to make greater use of ‘assistive technology’

Enable Ireland has called on employers to make greater use of “assistive technology” designed to help disable people participate in the workforce.

The organisation made the call to coincide with International Day of People with Disabilities.

Up to 70% of disabled people in Ireland cannot find employment, but Enable Ireland said the use of technology could help to significantly reduce this figure and would be economically beneficial.

Spokesperson Siobhan Long said: "Anybody who can earn their own living obviously is economically more independent, is less dependant on government funding for personal assistance and social supports and so on.

"So access to assistive technology has significant knock-on benefits to government and to the individual in terms of earning power."