The Ability Programme is co-financed by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020.

 

The Kildare Ability Programme supports young people, aged 16-19 years, with a disability who are not in education, training or employment. They work with young people who are not engaging in services to create a personal action plan and provide guidance and support throughout the process.

The programme also aims to support employers in Kildare to be more inclusive. They aim to break down barriers to provide positive opportunities to people with disabilities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The programme is launching an initiative called ‘Connected- Respected- Included’ during social inclusion week September 28th – October 2nd. The target is to engage with over 180 employers in Kildare and identify their confidence in relation to being an inclusive employer.

The employers will complete an online survey about their experience, confidence and knowledge around employing people with disabilities in Kildare. This survey will be very short and simple, and will hopefully capture the experience of employers in Kildare. The goal is to encourage employers to consider the idea of a more inclusive workplace and to create a database of employers who want to be more inclusive. This data base will then be made available to job coaches in the county who work with people who have additional needs and are job ready. These job coaches can in turn work with the employers to develop more inclusive practices on an individual basis.

All employers who engage will receive a ‘Connected- Respected- Included’ decal to display on their premises to indicate that they strive to be an inclusive business. A social media campaign will run in tandem with this and will highlight all participating employers in the county. Employers will also receive an information leaflet highlighting supports available and relevant contacts.

To take part in this initiative please visit www.countykildarelp.ie/programmes/ability-programme/ and follow the links to complete to online questionnaire.

For further information, please contact the Ability Programme Coordinator Laura Whelan on 086-4665721.

Ability is co-financed by the Irish Government and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020