Disability

Congress has huge concerns about the marked lack of progress on the part of the employers within the education system in addressing the issues pertaining to workers with disabilities. These individuals face daily challenges that are compounded by the absence of appropriate and reasonable workplace adjustment, often resulting in stress, alienation, and diminished career prospects.

Congress acknowledges the establishment of the Disability Employment Support Service (DESS) within the Education Authority and acknowledges and appreciates the work of the team within it. However, it remains clear that this has not, as yet, led to an understanding amongst employers within the service as a whole of the rights of those with disabilities, nor have firm procedures been established and mainstreamed around reasonable adjustment up to and including redeployment options to facilitate and support those with disabilities in school-based settings. 

Congress believes that the education sector falls far short of its duties and responsibilities, and of other public sector settings, in that regard. 

Congress, therefore, calls upon NIC/ ICTU to challenge the Department of Education and the Employing Authorities on this issue and support the aims and efforts of the education workers and their unions to establish: 

• robust workplace policies, practices and procedures which remove the barriers to the inclusion of disabled teachers and support staff
• professional development programmes to inform and educate school leaders and Governors regarding their duties and responsibilities under the legislation

a long-term policy for accommodating disabilities within the education sector which creates and fosters an inclusive workplace culture and environment.