Employers encouraged to hire people with disability

A MAJOR initiative was launched yesterday to persuade more employers to hire people with disabilities.

Minister for Trade and Commerce Michael Ahern joined forces with leading Cork employers to outline to company chief executives and managing directors the advantages of employing people with disabilities.

More than 150 business leaders from the southern region attended the conference at Jury’s Hotel, which was hosted by Alan Crosbie, chairman of Thomas Crosbie Holdings and Examiner Publications.

Funded as a flagship project by the European Year of People with Disabilities (EYPD), with support from FÁS and Equal, the ESF-supported community initiative programme, the conference featured local business leaders examining success stories in tandem with local disability awareness organisation Workway.

“There is a wealth of skills and talent that exists among people with disabilities. They are a vital, untapped resource for local employers.

"Employment is very important for everyone. It provides self-esteem and economic independence. It gives people a sense of value to know that they are contributing to the progress of the company for which they work and to the economy as a whole,” Mr Ahern said.

Mr Crosbie pledged to make a difference for the future and said the worth of the work of people with disabilities was clear.

“As leaders in Irish business, it’s important we are open to the strengths and skills of disabled candidates. We have a responsibility to seek out more alternative abilities and to reflect fully the communities we live in and the customers we serve,” Mr Crosbie said.

EYPD chairperson Angela Kerins said a campaign had been launched to persuade employers to be more open-minded and employers with job options should contact disability groups to request that CVs suitably matched to the job description are put forward for consideration.

She added that if there weren’t job options available, employers could offer a person with disability

a work-experience programme. In addition, employers could ensure that their staff receive disability awareness training to understand customer needs and ensure full inclusion of all current and future employees.

To further simplify the process of hiring people with disabilities, a 12-page booklet guide, Ready, Willing and Able, was launched at the event.

The guide has been developed to answer in a concise format the major questions employers may have and it also outlines the support structures that are available.

Produced by The Aisling Foundation with FÁS and IBEC, the guide will be available from all FÁS offices throughout the country as well as being available on the internet at http://www.theaislingfoundation.org/ability/nextsteps.html