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[Article] Recognising disability-friendly Irish businesses

  • 28-06-2004 7:25pm
    #1
    Victor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,580 ✭✭✭✭


    I propose the Construction Industry Federation and it's members get the "Broken Wheelchair" award.

    http://www.thepost.ie/web/DocumentView/did-584643562-pageUrl--2FThe-Newspaper-2FSundays-Paper-2FNews.asp
    Recognising disability-friendly Irish businesses
    27/06/04 00:00
    By Tina-Marie O'Neill

    The O2 Ability Awards is the first awards programme to acknowledge and profile Irish businesses that demonstrate best practice in the employment of people with disabilities.

    The programme, which was launched last week by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, was designed and created by Caroline Casey of the Aisling Foundation charity.

    Fifty companies will be presented with an award in Dublin Castle in February. Casey, a 32-year-old archeologist, management consultant, adventurer, entrepreneur and managing director of her own firm, was born legally blind.

    She set up the Aisling Foundation in 2000 to raise funds for her 1,000-kilometre elephant trek across India - an exercise which captured the attention of corporate Ireland, highlighting the capabilities of someone with a disability.

    There are over 360,000 Irish people with a disability.

    Paul McNeive, managing director of Hamilton Osborne King (HOK), also attended the launch. McNeive's career in HOK was thought to be over in 1982 when he was involved in a serious traffic accident.

    He lost both legs and suffered extensive burns.

    But his optimism, determination and the support of his bosses at HOK saw McNeive back at work a mere 18 months after his accident. He was appointed the company's managing director last October.

    McNeive is the only double amputee in the world to hold a helicopter pilot's licence.

    ``The Ability Awards is an important scheme,'' said McNeive. ``It's vital to encourage companies to open their eyes to the opportunities available to them within the disability sector, particularly at a time of full employment. ``Employers have to look beyond the stigma of disability.

    A person with a disability can get written off. I lost both my legs, but that doesn't affect my job. When employers place advertisements, they usually read: `Energetic, dynamic self-starter required', which puts people with disabilities off. ``But they must be brave.

    "Corporate awareness about disability is gathering momentum.''

    Evelyn Norton, a fundraising consultant and manager of the awards scheme, said: ``On the day the scheme was launched, our website received 1,600 hits. We have received between 200 and 500 hits every day since then, so corporate Ireland is hungry for this initiative.''

    Entries for the awards must be submitted by July 9. Judging will take place from July to November, with on-site audits for the final 100 companies.

    The winners will be announced at a televised ceremony in February.

    Application forms are available at www.theabilityawards.com, or from the Aisling Foundation at 01-6340018.


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