Disability Awareness Support Scheme

The Disability Awareness Support Scheme provides a maximum of €20,000 funding for private sector employers to arrange and pay for disability awareness training for staff who work with a colleague who has a disability.

The training should provide clear and accurate information to employers and employees about working with people with disabilities.

The training should be aimed at providing those taking part with an understanding and awareness of the issues surrounding disability. Also an overview of relevant anti-discrimination and equal opportunities legislation.

It should also provide specific information on:

• disabilities and abilities focusing on mobility and sensory issues
• perceptual awareness exercises that aim to dispel common myths
• disability etiquette to clarify appropriate language and behavior

The training should include information on dealing with mental health issues in the workplace.

Eligible costs include:

• fees paid for external disability awareness training programmes or courses
• fees for in-house disability awareness training by external trainers
• fees for open learning, computer or web-based disability awareness training programmes

Other costs included in the scheme are learning materials clearly associated with the relevant training programme, to a maximum of €650.

This includes:

• manuals
• books
• DVDs

You can find out more information by contacting the Workplace Supports Staff in your local area.