From RTE:A new survey has found that only one in four businesses employ a graduate with a disability. This is despite the fact that over half of businesses had interviewed candidates with a disability.
The TNS/MRBI poll of 300 businesses for the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (AHEAD) shows one-third of employers did not understand what was meant by the term 'reasonable accommodation'.
More than half did not realise this included the provision of a sign language interpreter. The figure was higher among small businesses.
Ann Healan, Executive Director of AHEAD, says employers fear some sort of reprisal if they get it wrong when recruiting or employing a graduate with a disability.
They are worried about legislation, their own knowledge of disabilities, and cost implications.The results of the survey were published at a recruitment fair for employers and graduates with disabilities that is taking place in Dublin Castle July 2, organised by Willing Able Mentoring, a FÁS funded initiative.