Accessibility is a key facilitator for meaningful inclusion and participation, as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Minister Anne Rabbitte explains why

Since being appointed the Minister for Disability in July 2020, tackling barriers faced by people with disabilities in accessing employment has been one of my key priorities. 
This, of course, is not a job for just one Minister, but is being managed across a number of different departments.

Launched in 2015, the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for Persons with Disabilities (2015–2024) (CES) is the primary disability employment policy initiative in Ireland. 

It brings together actions by government departments and agencies to address the barriers and challenges to employment of disabled people.

The CES’ strategic priorities are to build skills, capacity and independence, to provide bridges and supports into work, to make work pay, to promote job retention and re-entry to work, to provide co-ordinated and seamless supports, and to engage employers.

Four of the key actions progressed through the CES include:

1. Progression of recommendations arising from the Make Work Pay Report (2017), which initially set out actions to help people with disabilities enter the labour force.
2. The production of an online training programme to support employers in becoming “disability confident”, which encourages managers and staff to confidentially interact with disabled people.
3. Provision of grant funding to the ‘Open Doors Initiative’, which aims to assist marginalised people who face higher barriers to employment. The funding will be used to operate the ‘Employers for Change’ information service, empowering employers with information and resources needed to hire and manage staff with disabilities.
4. The development of an Employer Awareness Campaign, which is expected to be launched in 2023.

Accessibility is a key facilitator for meaningful inclusion and participation, as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). 

One way to promote accessibility in the workplace is through the concept of universal design. Universal design is about ensuring that products, services and the environment can be accessed and used by all people. 

Universal design is also more sustainable design, as it ensures that products, services and environments will stand the test of time, particularly in the context of an ageing population. Embracing universal design from the outset avoids costly retrofitting.

The public sector also provides crucial opportunities for people with disabilities to access employment. The Government has committed to doubling the target for employment of people with disabilities in the public service from three to six percent. 

This commitment will be placed on a statutory footing with the commencement of the Assisted Decision Making Capacity (ADMC) Amendment Act 2022.

As the UNCRPD itself states, disabled people have a right to the opportunity to gain a living by work freely chosen or accepted in a labour market and work environment that is open, inclusive, and accessible to persons with disabilities. 

The Irish Government as a whole is committed to continuing to make progress in meeting all of our obligations to our disabled citizens. Central to this vision is ensuring that people with disabilities are supported to live the lives they want to, and are provided equal opportunity to do so.  

Employment and everything that is associated with it, such as gaining independence, confidence and friendships, is a key aspect to improving the lives of people with disabilities and I look forward to continuing to make progress in this area.

Anne Rabbitte, TD, is Minister of State with Responsibility for Disability