Post-school Options – Employment

Ahead

What does the organisation do?
An independent non-profit organisation working to create inclusive environments in education and employment for people with disabilities.

What support may they give me?
Help individuals to source further education and training, higher education, and graduate employment.

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded by Department of Education https://www.ahead.ie/

What can I do for you? Disability Support in Higher and Further Education
https://youtu.be/hd9pLYjzumY

Better Options 2020: Student Panel
https://youtu.be/FYJKU6TqU8g

DARE you unlock new pathways to college? Access options to college in Ireland.
https://youtu.be/O_R_aLhrhs4

Technology is your Friend – Assistive Technology can be a long-term friend.
https://youtu.be/ZfJ336hXKGw

Making the most of college – Key tips on College life.
https://youtu.be/K-vR-Dwcb5U

Not sure what or where to go with your studies? Guidance on where to go.
https://youtu.be/f0Ojt7vyKUo

ASiAM

What does the organisation do?
An online e-learning session funded by the National Disability Authority and co-produced by Not So Different, Rehab Group, AsIam and WALK. ‘Inclusive Recruitment and Retention Practices’ funded by the National Disability Authority (NDA)

What support may they give me?
Supporting people with disabilities’ in the workplace.

Where are they located?
Subscription cost.

How are they funded?</br /> Nationwide

Community Employment (CE)

What does the organisation do?
Designed to help people who are longterm unemployed (or otherwise marginalised) to get back to work by offering part-time and temporary placements in jobs based within local communities.

What support may they give me?
Participants are encouraged to look for permanent jobs, based on the experience and new skills they have gained while on a Community Employment scheme.

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP). https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/unemployment_and_redundancy/employment_support_schemes/community_employment_scheme.html

Community Services Programme (CSP)

What does the organisation do?
Supports community businesses to provide local services and create employment opportunities for marginalised people.

What support may they give me?
Potential employment options

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funding administered by Pobal Government and EU funding https://www.pobal.ie/programmes/community-services-programme-csp/

Citizens Information Service

What does the organisation do?
In person supports under Disability and Employment

What support may they give me?
Online description of supports.

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded by Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_and_disability/

EmployAbility

What does the organisation do?
Provides employment support services for people with a health condition, injury, illness or disability.

What support may they give me?
Assign a Job Coach who will assist and support a jobseeker to secure employment.

Where are they located?
Nationwide support

How are they funded?
Funded by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP). https://www.gov.ie/en/service/8578c4-access-the-employability-service/

EmployAbility

What does the organisation do?
Provides employment support services for people with a health condition, injury, illness or disability.

What support may they give me?
Assign a Job Coach who will assist and support a jobseeker to secure employment.

Where are they located?
Nationwide support

How are they funded?
Funded by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_and_disability/supported_employment_for_people_with_disabilities.html#:~:text=The%20EmployAbility%20Service%20is%20an,with%20both%20jobseekers%20and%20employers

Employer Disability Information

What does the organisation do?
A service to provide employers with an expert source of advice and information on employing staff with disabilities.

What support may they give me?
Aim to enhance the confidence and competence of individual employers to employ, manage and retain staff with disabilities.

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded by Government https://enterprise-ireland.com/en/About-Us/Services/Employer-Disability-Information/

FIT (Fastrack to Information Technology)

What does the organisation do?
Provides targeted information technology training for people who are getting certain social welfare payments.

What support may they give me?
Courses include office administration, web design, broadband communications and PC maintenance.

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Non-Profit Organisation https://fit.ie/

Further Education & Training Course Hub (FETCH)

What does the organisation do?
Further Education and Training Course Hub.

What support may they give me?
Search facility below to find the course that’s right for you.

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded by Government of Ireland https://www.fetchcourses.ie/

INHEF

What does the organisation do?
A national interest group comprised of representatives of higher education providers who offer programmes of inclusive education to learners with intellectual disabilities in Ireland.

What support may they give me?
A resource for Higher education options.

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded by Department of Education http://inhef.ie/about/

Inspired

What does the organisation do?
Began in 2014 by a group of parents of adults with ID who were seeking an alternative to traditional post-secondary institutional settings

What support may they give me?
Inspired provides education, employment opportunities and community participation opportunities for adults with learning disabilities (LD).

Where are they located?
Initially, the organisation was funded entirely from the fundraising initiatives of the parents; now it is part-funded by the European Social Fund and the Health Service Executive.

How are they funded?</br /> Located in County Kerry

Intreo

What does the organisation do?
A single point of contact for all employment and income supports.

What support may they give me?
Provides unemployed persons with: employment services and income supports in one place; expert assistance and advice on employment, training and personal development opportunities from a dedicated Case Officer; and a focus on their individual needs to help a person enter or re-enter the workforce.

Where are they located?
Nationwide at 125 centres

How are they funded?
Funded by Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection https://www.gov.ie/en/directory/category/e1f4b5-intreo-offices/?referrer=/en/service/40cf48-find-your-local-intreo-office/

Irish Local Development Network (ILDN)

What does the organisation do?
Promotes area-based, integrated community-led interventions based on participative democracy to address long-term unemployment, economic marginalisation and social exclusion.

What support may they give me?
Potential employment supports in the community.

How are they funded?
Funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development (through Pobal) and it is also supported by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. https://ildn.ie/

Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU)

What does the organisation do?
A federation of unemployed people, unemployed centres, unemployed groups, community organisations and Trade Unions.

What support may they give me?
Represents and defends the rights and interests of those who want decent employment, plus it promotes and campaigns for policies to achieve full employment for all.

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded by multiple Government Departments https://www.inou.ie/

Job Clubs

What does the organisation do?
Provide a service to assist jobseekers to enter / re-enter employment through The provision of individualised supports, a ‘drop in’ service, CV preparation and formal workshops.

What support may they give me?
Enables jobseekers to take positive steps towards realising their career plans and to explore and follow-up employment opportunities.

Where are they located?
Nationwide at 10 select locations

How are they funded?
Funded by Department of Social Protection https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/614b0b-job-clubs/

JobPath

What does the organisation do?
An employment activation service provided to people who have been on the live register for more than 12 months and are trying to secure and sustain full-time paid employment or self-employment.

What support may they give me?
Support scheme operated by two private companies employed by the State (Turas Nua and Seetec).

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection & Department of Justice and Equality https://www.seetec.ie/services/your-jobpath-journey

JobsIreland

Intreo’s free online job advertising and recruitment service for job candidates and employers. https://jobsireland.ie/

JobsPlus

What does the organisation do?
An employer incentive which encourages and rewards employers who employ jobseekers on the Live Register.

What support may they give me?
It is designed to encourage employers and businesses to employ people who have been out of work for long periods.

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded by Department of Employment Supports and Social Protection https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/unemployment_and_redundancy/employment_support_schemes/jobsplus.html

KARE Community Supports and Employment Programme

What does the organisation do?
The Adult Supports Community Employment Programme is run in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection in the Kildare and Wicklow regions

What support may they give me?
Intellectual Disability and Support Programme through the Kildare and Wicklow Education Training Board

How are they funded?
Funded http://www.kare.ie/training-work-experience.php

Local Employment Service Network (LESN)

What does the organisation do?
Were set up throughout the country in response to the need to help long-term unemployed people find jobs.

What support may they give me?
Guidance counsellors can provide a person with information about training, further education and second-chance educational programmes that may be of benefit to them.

Where are they located?
Nationwide at 58 offices in the country.

How are they funded?
Funded by Department of Education and Social Protection http://www.localemploymentservices.ie/

Not So Different

What does the organisation do?
Addresses the lack of appropriate employment and educational opportunities for people who are neurodiverse.

What support may they give me?
Increase social inclusion by delivering training and supports that develop and highlight the unique abilities of neurodiverse individuals.

Where are they located?
Dublin 15

How are they funded?</br /> Pobal Funded Ability Programme

Oireachtas Work Learning Programme

What does the organisation do?
An applied learning, development and socialisation programme for adults with an intellectual disability facilitated by the Houses of the Oireachtas, KARE, and WALK.

What support may they give me?
Aims to provide trainees with the skills, knowledge and ability to gain meaningful paid employment.

Where are they located?
Dublin

How are they funded?
Funded by the Houses of the Oireachtas and Public Appointments Service https://www.publicjobs.ie/documents/OWLProgrammeGuidetoSupportingInclusiveEmployment.pdf https://www.publicjobs.ie/documents/OWLProgrammeGuidetoSupportingInclusiveEmployment.pdf

OPEN DOORS

What does the organisation do?
Creating work opportunities for some of the marginalised members of our society.

What support may they give me?
An Ireland wide online employability platform which provides free, interactive online training to provide those aged 15-24 the skills and confidence to own their career development.

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded by Multiple Government Departments https://www.opendoorsinitiative.ie/

Pobal

What does the organisation do?
Provides management and support services to 28 programmes in the areas of Social Inclusion and Equality, Inclusive Employment and Enterprise, and Early Years and Young People.

What support may they give me?
Source of funding

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Pobal administers these programmes on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development, Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, as well as the Department of Health/HSE and a number of EU bodies. https://www.pobal.ie/

Public Appointments Service (Government)

What does the organisation do?
Leading recruiter for the Civil and Public Service, the Public Appointments Service welcomes people with disabilities to apply for career opportunities on our website.

What support may they give me?
Promote and support the development and employment of people with disabilities and promote diversity and inclusion throughout the Civil and Public Service.

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded by Government https://www.publicjobs.ie/en/people-with-disabilities

Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities

What does the organisation do?
The is a cross government approach that brings together actions by different Departments and state agencies in a concerted effort to address the barriers and challenges that impact on employment of people with disabilities.

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded by Government https://www.publicjobs.ie/documents/Comprehensive-Employment-Strategy-for-People-with-Disabilities.pdf

"Reasonable Accomodation" Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission

What does the organisation do?
The Employment Equality Acts oblige employers to make reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities.

What support may they give me?
An employer must take ‘appropriate measures’ to meet the needs of disabled people in the workforce.

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
https://www.ihrec.ie/guides-and-tools/human-rights-and-equality-for-employers/what-does-the-law-say/disability-and-reasonable-accommodation/

Skillnet Ireland

What does the organisation do?
Skillnet Ireland is national agency responsible for the promotion and facilitation of workforce learning in Ireland and funds over 50 industry representative groups, supporting over 15,000 companies and 50,000 trainees annually.

What support may they give me?
The organisation funds learning networks and free training to job-seekers, through a number of key programmes. In particular, the Employment Activation Programme provides training and work placements for those seeking employment or those seeking to re-enter the workforce.

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded from the National Training Fund (NTF) through the Department of Education and Skills (DES) https://www.skillnetireland.ie/

Skills to Work

What does the organisation do?
An Irish Government jobs campaign aimed at making it easier for jobseekers and employers to know what Government skills initiatives are available to them and to encourage businesses employ people currently on the Live Register.

What support may they give me?
A quick and easy online guide.

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded by Government www.skillsforwork.ie

Skills for Work

What does the organisation do?
Provides training and educational opportunities for those in part-time or full-time employment.

What support may they give me?
It helps people to improve the basic skills they need in the workplace such as literacy, numeracy and IT skills.Skills for Work is delivered by the Educational and Training Boards (ETBs).

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded by the Department of Education http://www.skillsforwork.ie/

Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP)

What does the organisation do?
Provides funding to address social exclusion

What support may they give me?
Community development programming to improve people’s lives.

Where are they located?
The programme is managed at a local level by 33 Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), with support from local authorities.

How are they funded?
Co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Social Fund https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/6609f4-social-inclusion-and-community-activation-programme-sicap/

SOLAS

What does the organisation do?
Funds the Education and Training Boards (ETBs)

What support may they give me?
Further education and training programmes, administers the Irish apprenticeship system

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded by the Irish Government, the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) https://www.solas.ie/

Specialsterne

What does the organisation do?
A specialist consultancy that recruits and supports talented people on the autism spectrum and those with similar neurodiverse challenges in gaining employment.

What support may they give me?
Our experience helps employers recruit and retain talented people and grow diverse, effective teams.

Where are they located?
A national organisation.

How are they funded?</br /> Part of the Specialist People Foundation, we contribute to a global aim of one million jobs for people on the autism spectrum.

Springboard

Provides free higher Education places for unemployed people. a person can keep their Social welfare payment for as long are they are entitled to it while they are participating on a Springboard course. www.springboardcourses.ie

Turas Nua

A privately-owned business with 29 offices. Turas Nua delivers the DEASP JobPath scheme in the Southern counties of Ireland. Turas Nus is paid by DEASP to work with both the jobseeker and employers to identify employment opportunities. https://www.turasnua.ie/

Tús

A community work placement scheme providing short-term working opportunities for unemployed people. The work opportunities are to benefit The community and are provided by community and voluntary organisations in both urban and rural areas. The Tús initiative is managed by The LDCs and Údarás na Gaeltachta for DEASP. https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/unemployment_and_redundancy/employment_support_schemes/tus.html#

Vocational training opportunities scheme (VTOS)

Operated through Local ETBs and is aimed in particular at unemployed people who are early school-leavers. it gives Participants opportunities to improve their general level of Education, gain certification, develop their skills and prepare for employment, self-employment and Further Education and training. https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/Further-Education-and-Training/Vocational-and-Training-Opportunities-Scheme-VTOS-/

WALK

What does the organisation do?
At WALK we believe that everyone who wants to work, have a job and a career can do so.

What support may they give me?
To facilitate individuals to fulfil their employment and career aspirations by supporting them to realise their potential, access opportunities and build their own natural supports.

Where are they located?
Dublin

How are they funded?
Funded by Government https://www.walk.ie/what-we-do/employment.php

Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) Programme

What does the organisation do?
On behalf of the Civil and Public Service, the Civil Service Equality Unit has worked in partnership with the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (AHEAD) to create a six month paid programme aimed at graduates with disabilities.

What support may they give me?
Opportunities through their programme to registered graduates on their website.

Where are they located?
Nationwide the WAM Programme has provided placements to over 350 graduates.

How are they funded?
Funded by Government https://www.ahead.ie/wamworks

Wage Subsidy Scheme

What does the organisation do?
Gives financial support to employers who employ people with disabilities.

What support may they give me?
A workplace support for employers from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP).

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded by Government https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/unemployment_and_redundancy/covid19_temporary_wage_subsidy_scheme.html

Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS)

What does the organisation do?
Supports long-term unemployed young people back into the workplace.

What support may they give me?
Aims to give young people the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment, while on a work placement in a host organisation. A person must be aged 18–24, unemployed and getting a qualifying social welfare payment for at least 12 months.

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded by Government https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/unemployment_and_redundancy/employment_support_schemes/national_internship_scheme.html

Youth Guarantee

What does the organisation do?
The youth guarantee would offer a young person aged 18 to 24 a job, work experience, apprenticeship, training or combined work and training within a defined period of time after leaving school or becoming unemployed.

What support may they give me?
It is recommended by the European Commission that the youth guarantee should be offered to young people within 4 months of becoming unemployed.

Where are they located?
Nationwide

How are they funded?
Funded by Government https://www.youth.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/NYCI_051_A4_accessible.pdf

Youthreach

What does the organisation do?
Provides two years integrated education, training and work experience for unemployed early school leavers without any qualifications or vocational training who are between 15 and 20 years of age.

What support may they give me?
The programme usually provides two years integrated education, training and work experience.

Where are they located?
Nationwide 6,000 places in over 100 Youthreach centres

How are they funded?
https://www.education.ie/en/Learners/Information/Youthreach

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability Article 27 on Employment

States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to work, on an equal basis with others; this includes the right to the opportunity to gain a living by work freely chosen or accepted in a labour market and work environment that is open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities. States Parties shall safeguard and promote the realization of the right to work, including for those who acquire a disability during the course of employment, by taking appropriate steps, including through legislation https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities/article-27-work-and-employment.html