Q. Since being diagnosed with a disability, I have been eager to get back to work. What kind of supports are there for people like me looking to re-enter the workforce?
Thanks for your question. One support that immediately jumps out is a new employment programme to help people with disabilities, called Work and Access.
Work and Access is a set of supports to help people with a disability get a job or stay in work. The programme (which replaced the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and the Disability Awareness Support Scheme) is focused on removing barriers that disabled people may face in the workplace. It has supports for both employee and employer.
Supports for jobseekers, employees, or self-employed who are disabled include a workplace needs assessment, to assist in identifying the need for additional supports; communication support, for interviews and in work; in-work support, to help you perform in your position; personal readers, to assist you in work; and work equipment.
For employers, there is a workplace needs assessment, to assist in identifying employees need for additional supports; workplace adaptation, to accommodate additional employee needs; and disability equality and inclusion training, to provide employers and organisations with access to training for staff.
Overall, the programme is based around seven key supports.
Workplace Needs Assessment Grants of up to €2,500 are available to enable people with a disability or health condition to identify supports they need in their workplace.
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.
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.
Personal reader funding is available to assist people who are blind or visually impaired with work-related reading.
There is communication support which funds help with job interviews, job inductions, in-work meetings, or performance reviews.
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.
Disability equality and inclusion training funding is also available for employers with a paid workforce to train all their staff on disability and inclusion.
I hope this is helpful. Wishing you the very best in your journey back to work.
Limerick Citizens Information Centre answer your questions in the Limerick Post. If you have a question relating to social welfare issues, tenant or consumer rights, immigration, money, tax, housing, or employment, email [email protected], call 0818 075 780, or drop in to Riverstone House, Henry Street, V93 T28.
