Services for People with Disabilities

1. Services for People with Disabilities Employment Supports

2. FÁS Services All FÁS Services are open to People with Disabilities and access is through our Employment Services Gateway which provides a: • Vocational Guidance Service or • refers People with Disabilities to vocational training either via Specialist Training Providers or FÁS mainline training, as appropriate In addition Employment Grants and Schemes are also available for private sector employment.

3. Summary of Employment Grants and Schemes • Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) • Reasonable Accommodation Fund incorporating: Workplace Equipment/Adaptation Grant (WEAG) Job Interview Interpreter Grant (JIIGS) Personal Reader Grant (PRGS) Employee Retention Grant Scheme (ERGS) 3. Supported Employment Programme 4. Disability Awareness Training Support Scheme (DATS)

4. 1 Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) • Financial incentive paid to private sector employers who employ disabled people to work between 21 and 39 hours per week • Subsidies are structured under 3 strands, employers can benefit under one or all • All employers except Public Service Employers • Employers must comply with statutory requirements e.g. PRSI & income tax

5. Strand I: Wage Subsidy Payment • A subsidy for a productivity shortfall perceived to be in excess of 20% when compared to a non disabled peer • The employee must work a minimum of 21 up to a maximum of 39 hours per week • The employer pays 100% of the gross wage as advertised to the employee • FÁS will subsidise the employer at a rate of €5.30 per hour

6. A company employing more than two disabled people can avail of a top-up grant to cover additional supervisory, management & other work based costs. The top-up is a % of the wage subsidyonly based on the overall number of employees 3 to 6 disabled employees 10% top-up 7 to 11 disabled employees 20% top-up 12 to 16 disabled employees 30% top-up 17 to 22 disabled employees 40% top-up 23 +disabled employees 50% top-up Strand II: Additional Management & Supervisory Costs

7. Strand III: Employment Assistance Officer • Funding of €30,000 towards the salary of an Employment Assistance Officer (EAO) is available to companies who employ 30 or more disabled employees • The EAO is to be employed in a supportive role to assist the employees with their needs in employment

8. 2 Reasonable Accommodation Fundincorporating: • Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant • Job Interview Interpreter Grant • Personal Reader Grant • Employee Retention Grant Scheme

9. 2(a) Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant (WEAG) Its aim is to counter the additional costs of adapting workplace premises or equipment arising from the individual’s disability, including those in self-employment It should not be used to provide support usually provided by employers or supports required under legislation e.g. Health & Safety

10. General Principles WEAGs • Current limit towards the cost of adaptations or equipment is up to €6,350 • Applications in excess of €6,350 are considered on an individual basis • Can be used to upgrade adaptive equipment, which may have been funded previously • It is treated as a grant • Part of the grant may be used for training in the use of the grant-aided equipment

11. Types of eligible Employment/Self-Employment (WEAGS) • Employment is • full or part-time contracted employment • permanent or temporary, for a min. 8 hrs per week • Employment is not • Voluntary work or sheltered employment, where on-going state support is already provided

12. 2(b) Job Interview Interpreter Grant (JIIG) Payable to a person who is deaf, hard of hearing or has a speech impairment, attending a job interview or induction programme • FÁS will pay a fee, as per the standard rate, for a 3 hrs period. • No limit to the number of times an individual can avail of the grant • Interpreters can be professionally qualified or a family member

13. 2(c) Personal Reader Grant • Paid to blind or visually impaired people in work, • who need assistance with job related reading • Can apply if:- • In work and need help with job related reading • Recently become visually impaired and are in danger of losing their job • Going back to an employer to do new or different work • Promotion prospects are restricted by reading difficulties A fee per hour is paid, for an agreed period, up to 640 hours per annum

14. 2(d) Employee Retention Grant Scheme Purpose is to assist employers to retain at work, employees who acquire a disability through illness or injury. • They can be offered re-training so they can continue in their current role or undertake a new role, using modified techniques • Two Stages • Stage 1 Developing a Retention Strategy – 90% of costs to a max of €2,500. • Stage 2 Implementing a Retention Strategy – 90% of costs to a max of €12,500

15. 3 Supported Employment Programme Open Labour Market Programme which provides on-the-job support to a worker with a disability. A job coach supports through 4 key areas: • helps jobseeker identify skills & interests • assists in finding suitable employment • analyses the job & plans for supports • assists the employee to develop the technical & social skills required

16. Supported Employment • Where an individual has gone through the process and has reached employment offer, they are eligible for the Wage Subsidy Scheme. • The ultimate outcome of Supported Employment is that the employee with a disability becomes independent of Job coach Support.

17. Supported Employment (continued) • Candidates must be job-ready i.e. have the training, education, motivation and ability to pursue work/career • Must need the initial support of a Job Coach to obtain & integrate into employment • Candidates cannot avail of other employment supports while on the Supported Employment Programme except the following two programmes WEAG or WSS

18. 4 Disability Awareness Training Support Scheme (DATSS) It is a grant towards the cost of Disability Awareness training for employees • Grants of 90% of eligible training costs are available to organisations for the first year, 80% eligible cost thereafter • A limit of €20,000 payable to an organisation in any one calendar year

19. Further information can be obtained: • At www.fas.ie • For information on FÁS eCollege Click http://ecollege.ie