Disability Equality and Inclusion Training Grant

Charities looking to run training around Disability Equality and Inclusion (DEI) can receive up to €20,000 in grant funding from the Department of Social Protection.

The grant covers between 80 and 90% of training costs and is renewable every 12 months. This allows companies to develop a culture of disability awareness on an ongoing basis.

There are three kinds of training available:

1. General Disability Equality and Inclusion Training – General information on different kinds of disabilities and guidance on how to ensure respectful, accessible, and inclusive communications

2. Disability-specific training – Targeted training that focuses on one kind of disability (e.g. Irish Sign-Language or neurodiversity awareness)

3. Inclusive recruitment and management training for managers – Topics include addressing unconscious bias and making job specifications more accessible This funding is one of seven supports funded under Work and Access, a scheme that aims to remove or reduce barriers in the workplace for people with a disability. Work and Access is available to not-for-profit and voluntary employers, as well as to private companies. People who are self-employed can also apply for Work and Access.

Work and Access is one of many departmental supports offered to help employers, which include recruitment services, wage subsidies, and work placement programmes. A list of these supports can be found on the department’s Intreo for Employers page.

If you would like to learn more about employment supports available to your organisation, the Department of Social Protection is delivering a webinar on their grants and schemes to Cii members on 10 September at 10am. Register here.

More information is also available by emailing employer@welfare.ie.