People with Disabilities in Ireland
4th Floor Jervis House
Jervis Street
Dublin 1
Telephone: 01 87 21 74 4
Fax: 01 87 21 77 1
Email: info@pwdi.ie
International Day - employABILITY Through
e-Technology Targets Employers
To mark International Day of People with Disabilities on 3rd December PwDI held a series of very well attended lunchtime seminars, co-hosted by FáS and targeting employers.
In all 19 county Networks held events with the remainder due
to take place early in 2007. The theme of accessibility to information technologies was designated by the UN and PwDI used the title, “employABILITY through e-Technology.”
Speaking at the Dublin seminar held at the Great Southern Hotel, Dublin airport, CEO Michael Ringrose said: “One of the biggest losses to employers in this country is the absence of people with disabilities who are capable of, and actively seeking, work but clearly not succeeding in getting work.
“Barriers to employing people with disabilities often arise because employers lack information and fear the unknown.
These seminars are intended to highlight the benefits of employing a person with a disability.
“Employers can learn about the financial supports available to them, including the provision of disability awareness training for staff. By actively seeking to employ people with disabilities an organisation sends out the message that it is a progressive and positive place to work,” he said.
Mr Ringrose pointed out that a number of international studies have demonstrated that employees with disabilities have attendance, punctuality and productivity levels equal to, if not better than, their peers.
Speaking at Letterkenny IT on the same day PwDI Chairperson, James McClean said:
“A recent study by the National Disability Authority shows that the economic boom of the last decade did not benefit people with disabilities and only a minority are in work. Those who are, are associated with significantly lower hourly earnings than the general population. That is not acceptable.
“Employers who provide equal opportunities in access to employment, promotion and training are also far less likely to end up in court facing charges of discrimination.
“Since there are 450,000 people in Ireland with disabilities being disability friendly makes sound business sense. Customers with disabilities are now much more aware of their rights and employers need to be aware that they are obliged under law to make reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities,” said Mr McClean.
“What is sometimes not realised is that 80% of people who have a disability acquire that disability during their lifetime. Very often, with minimal changes in the workplace, an employer can retain a valuable employee,” he said.
A full information pack, co-sponsored by FÁS, was distributed to employers throughout the country.
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