Managers play an incredibly important role in creating inclusive workplaces. In many organisations, they are the first person an employee will approach when they need support, when they are struggling with an aspect of their role, or when they want to discuss a disability or request a reasonable accommodation.
For that reason, disability awareness training for managers cannot simply be about understanding terminology or learning about different types of disabilities. Managers need practical knowledge and importantly, the confidence to know what to do when these situations arise.
One of the most important areas is reasonable accommodation.
Under Section 16 of the Employment Equality Acts, employers in Ireland are required to take appropriate measures, where needed, to enable a person with a disability to access, participate in or advance in employment, unless doing so would impose a disproportionate burden. Reasonable accommodation can include changes to working hours, equipment, duties, workplace practices, training or other practical supports.
While the legal responsibility ultimately rests with the employer, it is very often a manager who has the initial conversation with the employee.
This is where good training becomes so important.
A manager does not need to become a disability expert, nor should they be expected to diagnose an employee or have all the answers. They should however, understand how to respond appropriately to a disclosure, how to explore the impact that a disability may be having at work, when reasonable accommodation should be considered and when additional HR, occupational health or specialist input may be appropriate.
There is also a very human side to this.
For an employee, telling their manager that they have a disability or that they are struggling can be an incredibly significant conversation. How the manager responds in those first few minutes can influence whether that employee feels supported, valued and comfortable remaining open about their needs.
Sometimes the most important thing a manager can say is simply: “Thank you for telling me. Let’s look at what we can do to support you.”
That approach combines good management with empathy.
At Ability Focus, our Leading Disability Inclusive Teams (management-focused disability awareness) training programmes bring these areas together. We look at disability awareness, disclosure, communication, reasonable accommodation, management responsibilities, practical workplace scenarios and how managers can create environments where employees feel comfortable asking for support.
Ability Focus is Ireland’s leading specialist provider of disability awareness training, and neurodiversity awareness training, working with organisations across the private, public, community and voluntary sectors.
There has also never been a better opportunity for eligible organisations to provide this training.
Through the Department of Social Protection’s Work and Access Scheme, eligible non-public-sector employers can receive funding towards different formats of disability awareness training, neurodiversity training and reasonable accommodation training. The scheme specifically recognises inclusive recruitment and management training, including training managers on discussing disability and disclosure and considering reasonable accommodations. Eligible training can receive funding of 90% of the cost, subject to the scheme’s criteria and approval.
Ultimately, inclusive management is not about treating everybody exactly the same. It is about understanding that people sometimes need different supports to have an equal opportunity to succeed.
When managers understand that principle (and have the knowledge and confidence to put it into practice) it really can make an enormous difference to both employees and organisations.
If your organisation is ready to advance its inclusion journey, visit Ability Focus to learn more about our Disability Awareness Training and Neurodiversity Awareness Training solutions. Empower your team, build your reputation and become a leader in workplace inclusion today.
Contact us by calling (01) 699 1150 or email info@abilityfocus.ie and we will be happy to discuss a programme to suit your training needs.