New Employment Programme to help people with disabilities
- Grants of up to €25,000 available to Employers to adapt Workplace for staff
- Grants of €12,000 for individuals for Personal Assistance Equipment
- Funding available for specialist Work Coaches and Personal Readers
- Work and Access now open for applications
The Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, today launched Work and Access , an exciting new Employment Programme aimed at removing barriers that disabled people may face in the workplace.
The Minister launched the new Programme at the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone where she was joined by representatives from the Disability Sector and Employer representatives.
Work and Access offers seven key supports:
1. Workplace Needs Assessment Grants of up to €2,500 are available to enable people with a disability or health condition to identify the supports they need in their workplace to do their job.
2. Workplace Adaptations Grants of up to €25,000 are available to support employers with funding to adapt their business premises for an employee or future employee with a disability.
3. Work Equipment Grants of up to €12,000 are available towards personalised assistive equipment or technology for people with disabilities working in the business premises or working remotely.
4. Personal Reader funding is available to assist people who are blind or visually impaired with work-related reading.
5. Communication support which funds help with job interviews, job inductions, in-work meetings or performance reviews.
6. In-Work Support funding is available towards a work coach or specialist support to help a person with a disability to do their job or re-train if they move to another position.
7. Disability Equality and Inclusion Training funding is available for employers with a paid workforce to train all their staff on disability and inclusion.
Launching Work and Access, Minister Humphreys said:
“I strongly encourage employers to consider how the new Work and Access Programme can support them to make their workplaces better environments for staff with disabilities.
All that is required to make a difference in someone’s life is to give them a chance.
The team here at the Hodson Bay are a great example. They are providing full time work and part-time work so that it matches with the capacity of their employees with disabilities.
Investing in others works. It works for business and it works for the person with a disability. Work and Access provides a wide range of practical supports that I believe will make a real and positive difference in people’s lives.”
Work and Access is now open for applications. Full information on how to apply is available at: gov.ie/workandaccess . You can also contact your local Intreo centre or email workandaccess@welfare.ie