Horizons’ Job Shadow Day sees largest ever level of participants
Marian Hennessy, manager of Ability@Work, the programme hosted by Horizons.
Thousands of people have been given a welcome access to employment experience, thanks to Horizons, and specifically the Job Shadow initiative they have hosted for the past 17 years.
Recently, the organisation celebrated the biggest ever Job Shadow month with 82 people supported by Horizons experiencing a day’s work experience with an employer in Cork.
Horizons (formerly Cope Foundation) supports over 3,000 children and adults with an intellectual disability and additional needs such as autism to live a life of their choosing. Horizons has more than 120 locations in Cork city and county and staff work with people supported by the organisation, as well as their families and local communities, to provide a broad range of person-centred services and supports.
One of the Horizons’ initiatives is the Job Shadow Day, which is operated by Ability@Work. Under the initiative, employers offer a one-day work experience opportunity to job seekers with disabilities during the month of April.
This year, 82 people supported by Horizons took part in the initiative, up from 70 last year. There were 97 job shadowing opportunities offered by 68 employers and 11 people supported by Horizons have gained employment as a result of the experience.
Among the employers to participate this year were Lidl Ireland, Musgrave, Cork City Council, Trigon Hotels, MTU, Arlo Technologies, Dairygold and many more.
Marian Hennessy, manager of Ability@Work, said: “We are raising awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities face trying to find employment. You may not realise it, but the small decisions you make as a company can have such enormous, life-changing, positive outcomes for a person’s life chances and future prosperity.
“Job Shadow Day is a wonderful opportunity to see the abilities and skills our young job seekers can offer.”
CEO of Horizons, Lorraine Egan, added: “The Job Shadow Day is a wonderful opportunity for the people supported by Horizons to experience life in the workplace and for employers to experience the skills people we support bring, not only to the role, but to the culture and atmosphere in the workplace. We have seen and heard how the people we support contribute so much more than is ever anticipated by employers.
Employers comment on the positivity, joy and culture enhancement experienced, which in turn, supports team building and morale and we are so grateful to the businesses that take part in the initiative.”
Aaron Daly is a previous participant of the programme and was actively seeking employment in his local area. With the support of his job coach, he took part in a one-day job shadow experience at Gilead Sciences in Carrigtwohill.
He worked alongside a Gilead employee, visiting multiple departments and sampling a variety of tasks across the site. The experience gave Aaron a valuable insight into the company’s operations and team culture and proved so successful that he was offered a job.
Aaron lives with controlled epilepsy and reduced strength in the left side of his body – factors that previously created barriers to finding suitable employment. Gilead implemented several workplace adjustments to ensure he could work safely and confidently.
These included locating his work area near trained first aiders, scheduling his work days when the onsite nurse was available, and modifying door mechanisms that were difficult to open.
Two years on, Aaron has increased both his working days and the range of tasks he completes.
Aaron said: “A big barrier for me was finding work close to home, because I don’t always have access to transport. Another barrier is my epilepsy and I needed a workplace that could support my health needs. Gilead has all of this, it’s close to home, and the team is lovely.
“Gilead is the perfect match for me. I store away lab equipment and keep the canteen areas organised and clean. Having a job has helped me meet new people and learn new skills. Gilead has given me purpose. I love my job, I work with great people, it is really a great place to work.”
Maeve Boland, facilities manager with Gilead Sciences, added: “Aaron has truly been a fantastic addition to the Gilead team. He’s consistently engaged in his work and has built strong relationships with colleagues thanks to his friendly nature and his love for coffee! Before and after each shift, Aaron takes the time, always over a cup of coffee, to chat with fellow colleagues about sporting fixtures and weekend activities, which brings a fun and positive atmosphere to the workplace.
"His placement in Gilead has helped us rethink our approach to workplace inclusion. Ability@Work did an excellent job matching us with someone who not only supports our day-to-day tasks but also thrives in a busy environment. We hope to continue working with Aaron well into the future and we also want to break down barriers for others with future engagement with Ability@Work.”
Ability@Work engages with employers across the year, and anyone who wants to get involved can contact Marian Hennessy at hennessym@horizonscork.ie
Ability@Work is funded by the ‘Workability: Pathways to employment programme,’ which is co-funded by the Government of Ireland, through the Department of Social Protection and the European Union.
Horizons is guided by the United Nations on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and provides support in line with Article 19.
For more information, visit www.horizonscork.ie
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