NEWS | Reasonable Accommodation Passport
Equality legislation requires employers to make reasonable accommodation for an employee who has a disability. By doing so, employers have an opportunity to remove barriers and create an equitable workplace for all. A reasonable accommodation passport system provides a confidential live record of the barriers people face and the accommodations that have been agreed to prevent or reduce its impact in the workplace. This is a practical and effective tool in creating inclusion and equity in the workplace.
We were delighted to launch this toolkit in partnership with ICTU and Ibec. We were joined by Samantha Owen, Social Policy IBEC, David Joyce, Equality Officer at ICTU and Gillian McMahon, Head of Human Resources at BT Ireland who shared their knowledge and expertise in this area.
NEWS | Employers for Change were delighted to participate in the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) and FREE NOW Access Now conference.
Employers for Change were delighted to participate in the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) and FREE NOW Access Now conference.
Our Director Christabelle Feeney She/Her sat on the second panel of the day alongside Joan Carthy, Patrick Flanagan Maeve Monaghan and Fergus Sharpe.
The panel spoke about the importance of educating audiences as a first step towards making transport accessible for all - looking to the workplace & day to day life where changes need to be implemented to achieve accessibility for all.
If you missed it, you can watch the panel discussion here.
Full recording below:
NEWS | Launch of ‘The Future of Work and Disability - A Remote Opportunity’ research paper by Employers for Change and The Open Doors Initiative.
The research focuses on the impact of remote working on people with disabilities during Covid19 and was sponsored by Positive2Work Skillnet Ireland.
To cite: O’Donnell, Joan (2021): The Future of Work and Disability: A Remote Opportunity, Employers for Change & The Open Doors Initiative. Link.
Employers for Change and the Open Doors Initiative will launch ‘The Future of Work and Disability - A Remote Opportunity’, a research paper looking at the impact of remote working on disabled people during Covid19. The research was sponsored by Positive2Work Skillnet Ireland.
Christabelle Feeney, Director of Employers for Change at the Open Doors Initiative will launch the report alongside the research author Joan O’Donnell, Doctoral Researcher, Maynooth University & Author of Research, David Joyce, Equality & Development Policy Officer, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Alexis Goldfarb, Senior Consultant, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Vice-President at Northern Trust Corporation and Julianne Duffy Gillen, Young Adult Mentor, Explore Programme, Chime
The research lays out a number of leverage points which are based on the principles of connecting, learning and accommodating. The Open Doors Initiative and Employers for Change will take these learnings and engage with employers to ensure that we are addressing the needs of employers and employees with disabilities.
Click here to read the report in full.
NEWS | Employers for Change Social Talent Blog October 2021
Christabelle Feeney, Director, Employers for Change discusses disability inclusion in the workplace in SocialTalent's October blog post. Read the article in full at https://www.socialtalent.com/blog/diversity-and-inclusion/disability-inclusion-in-the-workplace-with-christabelle-feeney
NEWS | Employers for Change speaks to HRHeadquarters.ie August 2021
Christabelle Feeney, Director, Employers for Change speaks to Declan Collins, HRHeadquarters.ie about the barriers facing people with disabilities as they access employment opportunities, employers obligations and practical steps employers can take to make their recruitment and employment practices more accessible and inclusive. Listen back at HRHeadquarters.ie
NEWS | Employers for Change Media Coverage July 2021
Employers for Change and Ibec published a policy paper with recommendations for government on increasing the employment of people with disabilities in Ireland. Read more about the policy paper in The Irish Times. Read the Policy Paper in full on the Ibec website.
NEWS | Employers for Change Media Coverage April 2021
Image from Launch of Employers for Change. Left to Right: Síne Breslin, Bank of Ireland, Christabelle Feeney, Director of Employers for Change, Francesca McDonagh, CEO Bank of Ireland and Sinéad Burke, CEO Tilting the Lens at the launch of Employers for Change
Employers for Change in Chambers Ireland In Business Magazine
Employers for Change Director, Christabelle Feeney spoke to Chambers Ireland In Business Magazine. Read the article now on page 50 of InBUSINESS Spring 2021.
Radio Kerry Interview
Director of Employers for Change, Christabelle Feeney spoke to Amber Galwey on Kerry Radio recently about the service.
Listen back here: In Business - April 8th, 2021 | RadioKerry.ie
NEWS | Open Doors Initiative Mental Health & Working Life Seminar
Open Doors seminar on Mental Health & Working Life took place on World Health Day 2021. The seminar coincided with the launch of the Open Door’s Mental Health Toolkit and Podcast series. As we continue to work remotely, many employees and job seekers are struggling with isolation and disconnect. The toolkit and podcasts offer support and advice for mental wellbeing during these challenging times.
NEWS | Employers for Change media coverage March 2021
Silicon Republic
Silicon Republic reports on Ireland’s new disability information service.
The Irish Examiner
The Irish Examiner reports on disability activist Sinéad Burke launching new initiative for inclusive employment.
Interview with Christabelle Feeney, Director of Employers for Change
Interview on the launch of the new service and how it can help employers recruit and retain people with disabilities to strengthen their workforce.
Employers for Change · Interview with Christabelle Feeney, Director of Employers for Change
EVENT | 2nd December 2021
Join FreedomTech for the next CHAT in partnership with Employers for Change where we discuss the role Accessible and Assistive Technologies play in supporting people with disabilities to work remotely and on-site.
When: Thursday, 2nd December 2021 at 3pm
During this CHAT we will cover:
1. How can Accessible and Assistive Technology support the practicalities of remote and on-site working?
2. How well is Assistive Technology understood as a reasonable accomodation by employers and supported through workplace assessments?
3. How does national policy support an improved infrastructure of Assistive Technology supports?
If you are interested in sharing/presenting at this event please do get in touch with Sarah@freedomtech.ie
We aim to ensure that the platform is accessible and we would appreciate it if you could let us know if you have any support requirements.
Contact: Sarah@freedomtech.ie Twitter @freedomtech https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8407996/
EVENT | 1st December 2021
Join Employers for Change, the Open Doors Initiative and Towards Work to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The seminar will take place on December 1st from 10 am until 1 pm.
10.00 am: Opening address by Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Robert Troy TD.
10.10 am: Employers for Change hosts 'How employers can support the employment of persons with disabilities,' facilitated by Fiona Ferris, Deputy CEO and Head of Training and Accreditation at AsIam
11.00 am - 11.15 am: Break
11.15 am: Voices of Experience with The Open Doors Initiative
11.50 am - 12.00 pm: Break
12.00 pm: Supporting the employment of persons with disabilities- Employee & Employer Grants & Supports with Towards Work and the Department of Social Protection
1.00 pm: Close
Captioning will be provided for the seminar. Should you have any additional accommodation needs please email info@opendoorsinitiative.ie
Register on Eventbrite.
EVENT | 12th November 2021
.png)
Join Employers for Change for a seminar titled 'Creating Disability Confident and Inclusive Workplaces' with Eoin O' Herlihy, MD & Senior Accessibility Consultant, O'Herlihy Access Consultancy.
Eoin will outline how employers can become more disability confident and create an inclusive workplace for colleagues, customers and visitors. At a time when many are returning to the office or as we incorporate remote and hybrid working into the future of work, now more than ever we need to ensure we progress inclusively and do not leave disabled employees on the periphery.
Live Captioning will be provided. Please email info@employersforchange.ie should you require accommodations. Register on Eventbrite.
EVENT | 10th November 2021
.png)
Employers for Change and the Open Doors Initiative partnered with Positive2Work Skillnet on commissioning research to examine the impact of remote working during Covid19 on people with disabilities. Join us on Wednesday 10th November at 11 am for the launch of the research paper's findings.
Featuring
Christabelle Feeney, Director, Employers for Change
Joan O' Donnell, Doctoral Researcher, Maynooth University & Author of Research
David Joyce, Equality & Development Policy Officer, Irish Congress of Trade Unions
Alexis Goldfarb, Senior Consultant, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Vice-President at Northern Trust Corporation
Julianne Duffy Gillen, Young Adult Mentor, Explore Programme, Chime
Live Captioning and an ISL interpreter will be available for this webinar. Should you have an additional reasonable accommodation need, please email info@employersforchange.ie.
Register on Eventbrite.
EVENT | 29th October 2021
.png)
Join Employers for Change for a seminar titled 'Accessible & Inclusive Web Design: Key Concepts' with Vivienne Trulock-Hardy, Director, Interface Designer & Accessibility Consultant at Ilikecake Ltd. Vivienne has over twenty years of experience in web design and development and brings a wealth of knowledge in the area of accessibility and online universal design concepts and standards.
The online presence of an organisation is the front door to what it does for both jobseekers and consumers. This is often the place that people form their first opinion of your business or organisation. Accessible web design is crucial to inclusivity and attracting diverse talent to any organisation.
Live Captioning will be provided. Please email info@employersforchange.ie should you require accommodations. Register on Eventbrite.
EVENT | 5th July 2021
Employers for Change will host a seminar on 'Accessible Documentation & Assistive Technology' facilitated by Brendan McGuigan, Adult Dyslexia Coordinator and AT Specialist, Dyslexia Association of Ireland (DAT)*.
Before joining DAI, Brendan was an Assistive Technology Tutor with a Third Level Irish Institution supporting a wide range of physical and neurological learning disabilities. With ten years of experience working in the Assistive Technology field, Brendan's approach is person-centred, being mindful of fitting the technology around the individual.
In this seminar, Brendan will look at the various accessibility measures already available in some of the programmes we already use. Brendan will also give an outline of the assistive technology that employers can use to accommodate the needs of employees and create a more accessible workplace.
Live captioning will be provided. Please email info@employersforchange.ie regarding accommodations and any other queries.
Register on Eventbrite.
*The Dyslexia Association of Ireland is a national charity that provides information, assessments for dyslexia and dyscalculia, tuition for children and adults, training for teachers, parents and others and advocacy by campaigning for the needs of those with dyslexia.
EVENT | 10th June 2021
During pandemics, many people experience higher levels of anxiety, depression, stress, and sleep problems. Employees with pre-existing mental health conditions experience the largest increases in these symptoms. (Neelam, Duddu, Anyim, Neelam, & Lewis, 2021)
Rehab Group in partnership with Employers for Change is providing a bite-sized virtual information session on 'Mental Health Awareness at Work: Understanding and Supporting Employees'.
Participants will:
• Gain an understanding of mental health and mental health conditions
• Increase awareness of possible job accommodations for people who have mental health conditions.
Live Captioning will be provided. Please email info@employersforchange.ie should you require accommodations.
Register on Eventbrite.
EVENT | 31st May 2021
.png)
Employers for Change will host a Disability Awareness seminar on Inclusive Recruitment, facilitated by Stephen Kelly, MD Ability Focus.
Stephen Kelly is the Managing Director of Ability Focus and an experienced Disability Inclusion Specialist, drawing on over fifteen years of experience in the recruitment, training, and supported employment sectors.
Stephen has advised multinational organisations and large public bodies in best practice disability inclusion, trained Government representatives, and delivers disability awareness training to individuals and organisations throughout Ireland on a weekly basis.
In this session, Stephen will give tips on building an inclusive recruitment process with a key focus on disability.
Live Captioning will be provided. Please email info@employersforchange.ie should you require accommodations.
Register on Eventbrite.
EVENT | 5th May 2021
Join Employers for Change and Adam Harris, CEO AsIam to improve your understanding of disability and build your awareness.
Facilitating the workshop is Adam Harris, Founder, and CEO of AsIAm, Ireland’s National Autism Charity. Adam set up AsIAm based on his own experiences growing up as a young autistic person in Ireland. A Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awardee, Adam is a frequent contributor to media and conferences in Ireland and overseas. He has also sat and advised on many government consultative and policy committees on disability rights and inclusion. Adam was appointed to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission in July 2020.
Live Captioning will be provided. Please email info@employersforchange.ie should you require accommodations.
Register on Eventbrite.