Potential employers need to take a panoramic view of all the talent available to them when it comes to hiring, according to the Association of Higher Education, Access and Disability (AHEAD).
That was the key message at AHEAD’s 2016 WAM seminar at the National Art Gallery recently, attended by an audience of employers, politicians, academics and people with disabilities. The event also welcomed the association’s new publication which is a step by step guide for employers to assist them on their diversity journey and ensure graduates with disabilities are included in the workplace.
Speakers at the event included Ann Heelan Executive Director of AHEAD, Leslee O’Loughlin HR Manager official partners of AHEAD, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Pat Hoey, Access Manager, University of Limerick, Fianna Fáil TD Margaret Murphy O’Mahony and Professor Michael Shevlin, School of Education Trinity College Dublin.
The issue of workplace equality was also prominent at the AHEAD conference, with Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s Leslee O’Loughlin stating that all Irish employers in both public and private sectors must go the extra mile to ensure that people with disabilities are hired on merit and given access to the same quality of work and life as all other employees. “Equality is not only central to our employment culture, it is central to our company’s foundation as we strive and continue to provide a fair and inclusive workplace.”
Fianna Fail’s spokesperson on disabilities Margaret Murphy O Mahoney welcomed the publication and the initiative of the seminar. “I am delighted to be able to be here today and meet the organisers of this event. It is so important that engagement and discussion is held with all parties and the message is translated across the employment sector. I will work with AHEAD to ensure equality in education and the workforce.”
Also speaking at the event was AHEAD Assistant Director Mary Quirke, who said that there are almost 11,000 students with disabilities in higher education across Ireland. These disabilities include blindness, deafness as well as cognitive learning disabilities such as dyslexia. “Although the education system has really opened up and now caters for people with all disabilities, it is the mindset of recruiters that sometimes lets our graduate down.
“We need to ensure that employers recognise this talent pool for what it is, talent. Our graduate may not have gone on Erasmus or J1 trips during their summers in college but they have their own talents and attributes which we believe shine through by their ability to persevere and their refusal to accept anything but equality” Quirke stated.