Work and Access programme launched
The Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, has launched Work and Access, an exciting new Employment Programme aimed at removing barriers in the workplace for people with a disability and assist to gain or maintain employment. This new scheme replaces both the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and the Disability Awareness Support Scheme.
Work and Access offers 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 the supports they need in their workplace to do their job.
- 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.
- 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 available for employers with a paid workforce to train all their staff on disability and inclusion.
Work and Access is now open for applications.
Full information on how to apply is available at: gov.ie/workandaccess . You can also contact your local Intreo centre or email workandaccess@welfare.ie
