Employer attitudes and concerns

What are the main concerns by employers around employing a person with a disability?

In recent years, government legislation has helped to reduce some of the barriers that exist within the employment sector and more employers are now taking steps to show that they are willing to recruit people with disabilities. But, while many employers are beginning to recognise the ability of people with disabilities, there are still many who do not.

The way in which employers perceive people with disabilities plays an important part in their employment. Some employers are still simply afraid to employ a person with a disability and others continue to question individual capabilities and autonomy, despite candidates having the qualifications to do the job. Employers therefore, need to focus on abilities and need to dispel some of the common myths, such as those listed below.


Myth: It is very costly to employ a person with disability

Fact: Not all employees with disabilities need workplace accommodations and in many cases, there is no additional cost to the employer when it comes to employing a person with a disability. In cases where accommodations are required, they are normally inexpensive (e.g. task lighting, screen magnifiers etc). FAS provide grants to private sector employers for assistance with more expensive accommodations. These grants cover adaptations to the workplace such as wheelchair ramps or accessible toilets and the provision of specialised equipment to facilitate a person with a disability in their work, such as enhanced computer monitors etc

Myth: Employees with a disability are absent from the workplace more than those without a disability

Fact: Disability does not equal ill health, although some disabilities may have health related issues. People who are blind or Deaf, for example, are not unhealthy people. Generally, employees with disabilities have an excellent record of attendance.

Myth: Employees with disabilities cannot do the same job as employees without disabilities

Fact: Employees with disabilities choose to develop their career the very same as their able bodied counterparts.

Myth: Other employees will have difficulty working alongside an employee with a disability

Fact: Working with a person with a disability is no different than working with an able bodied employee. Company attitude plays an important part in the successful integration of the employee with a disability. Again, FAS provides annual grants to employers for disability awareness training programmes for their employees.


Are there any case studies which demonstrate the employability of people with disabilities?


For case studies relating to disability and employment, click here


Where can I find out more information?

Access Ability provides practical supports to employers and people with disabilities in relation to employment.
http://www.accessability.ie/employerserv.htm∞


Blind in Business is a UK based charity which focuses on employment and training for people who are blind or visually impaired.
http://www.blindinbusiness.org.uk∞


‘Employers' Views of Workplace Supports: Virginia Commonwealth University Charter Business Roundtable's National Study of Employers' Experiences with Workers with Disabilities’∞ is an American publication, but is an excellent resource for employers. Chapters include:

• Chapter 1: Employers' Attitudes Toward People with Disabilities in the Workforce: Myths or Realities?
• Chapter 2: Human Resource Professionals and the Employment of People with Disabilities: A Business Perspective
• Chapter 3: How Do Front-Line Supervisors in Business Perceive the Performance of Workers with Disabilities?
• Chapter 4: Employers' Knowledge and Utilization of Accommodations
• Chapter 5: Workplace Supports: A View from Employers Who Have Hired Supported Employees

FÁS is Ireland's national training and employment authority.
http://www.fas.ie∞


Irish Jobs.ie (in association with Enable Ireland) have produced a booklet ‘AT in the workplace – a tool for everyone – A practical guide for employers and managers’.
http://www.enableireland.ie/at/pdfs/at_employment_guide.pdf∞


Muhlenbery College (USA) has a useful publication entitled ‘Employer’s guide to hidden disabilities’.
http://www.muhlenberg.edu/ocdp/emplguide/∞


Quest for Learning is an excellent website targeted at students, teachers and employers around disability issues. It inlcudes topics on study skills, disability awarenss and employability skills.
http://www.questforlearning.org∞


Skill: National Bureau for Students With Disabilities is a national charity promoting opportunities for people with disabilities in education, training and employment across the UK.
http://www.skill.org.uk/info/infosheets.asp∞

The Employers' Forum on Disability (UK) is an employers' organisation which focuses on disability.
http://www.employers-forum.co.uk∞


The National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) has a useful information leaflet entitled ‘Employing people with vision impairments’. http://www.ncbi.ie/information/education_and_employment/employing_a_person.php∞


The National Disability Authority (NDA) has an excellent publication for employers entitled ‘Ask Me Guidelines for Effective Consultation with People with Disabilities’.
http://www.nda.ie/resourceNew.nsf/askme.rtf∞


Workway is an IBEC/ ICTU led initiative designed to raise awareness around the employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
http://www.workway.ie/home/index.php∞

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