Workway

Workway was established in 2001 under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to raise awareness and address barriers to the employment of people with disabilities in the private sector. Funded by the FÁS and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment under the NDP, Workway was the first employer and union led Partnership initiative in Europe to examine the reasons behind the high levels of unemployment among people with disabilities in the private sector. The materials developed by Workway represent a comprehensive and relevant resource, providing practical and user friendly information on different aspects of disability and employment and related services and, are intended to provide solutions to the barriers and problems encountered by people with disabilities, in accessing as well as within the workplace. In April 2005, Minister for Labour Affairs, Mr. Tony Killeen TD, launched the Ibec/ICTU Joint Employment Guidelines for People with Disabilities. The Employment Guidelines were the central outcome of the Workway Initiative, an Ibec/ICTU disability project.

The suite of materials developed through the project include:

· Employment guidelines best practice document

· Ability in the Workplace - a disability training template,

· The Way Ahead – A Workway policy document .

A guide for job seekers with disabilities

10/04/2014 - This guide has been developed as a tool to be used both by people with disabilities who are currently looking for employment, and by service providers who are supporting people with disabilities looking for a job. Although an individual can use this guide on their own, the ideal usage would be to combine individual activity with relevant professional advice.

Ability in the Workplace - a disability training template

10/04/2014 - Practical skills in how to supervise and manage disability in the workplace both at a policy level and practical level. In addition, presenter's guide and presenter reading appendices.

Disability and employment guidelines

10/04/2014 - Disability and employment best practice guidelines

Workway policy

10/04/2014 - This Policy Paper sets out the Workway Work Programme i.e. to critically document the project experience in the context of the existing policy framework and its implementation at local level. These reflections are intended as a contribution towards explaining and addressing (i) the persistent and unacceptably high level of unemployment among people with disabilities (estimated to be between 60% and 70%) and (ii) the significant and often interrelated barriers which are inhibiting progress towards increasing employment levels.