Mind the Gap – Getting people with disabilities into employment

Report by James Hyde, who is on work experience at the Centre, on yesterday’s research launch. James is a Year 11 pupil at Newtownhamilton High School:

On Wednesday 25th June, Aiden Campbell (Research Programme Development Manager), Mark McClatchey (Projects Coordinator) and I attended the Mind the Gap summit (funded by the Shared Island Civic Society Fund) in the Canal Court Hotel in Newry.

The summit was held in order to launch the Mind the Gap Report which contains key findings and recommendations from a review of disability employment policy and practice.

The conference included examples of how we can improve supported employment levels on the island of Ireland.

The main intention of the summit was to raise awareness and support for organisations which help people with disabilities find employment.

During the event many speakers came forward to inform the audience about the issue of the absence of supported employment on the island of Ireland.

Specifically, two of the speakers: Eoin Kenny and Kirby Hogan were especially influential as they have firsthand experience with the challenges which come with having a disability but not only this, they both also prove that even with a disability you can still be successful. This is proven by the fact that Eoin went on to graduate from Ulster University with a 2:1 degree in Cinematic Arts.

Furthermore, Kellie Armstrong MLA spoke at the event. She was determined to get the point across that if supported employment became a normality it would boost the economies of both the UK and the EU by billions.

After the summit I believe that the main message which was repeated numerous times throughout the conference was the idea that everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves in the workplace, without discrimination based on disabilities.

Congratulations to the Mind the Gap Cross Border Steering Group – Ability at Work, Action Mental Health, Gheel Autism Services CLG, Horizons Cork, Kare, Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities, Mencap in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Union of Supported Employment, Open Doors Initiative, Orchardville, OWL Project at Houses of the Oireachtas,  SOS Kilkenny, Triangle Progression To Employment and WALK