 Disabled workers can be discriminated against |
One in five people of working age are estimated to have a long-term disability in Northern Ireland but health and safety concerns can hinder their progress according to Disability Action. A new guide, published on Thursday, aims to clarify the legal responsibilities of employers.
The guide is funded by the 26 District Councils in conjunction with equality and disability groups.
Disability Action Chief Executive Monica Wilson said the aim was to encourage good practice.
"When employers think of disability they tend to think of someone like me who is a permanent wheelchair user," she said.
"But that is not actually the case. There are many people with very small issues that could be dealt with very simply by employers but the first thing people think is health and safety, how am I going to deal with this, it is going to cost me money?
"This guide is there to say to employers there are lots of ways to think innovatively around this issue.
"Disabled people are productive, they are good employees and the way to do it is to talk to disabled people and get the technical guidance because there is plenty around."
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