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Here are some of the Frequently Asked Questions that employers may have when considering hiring an individual with a learning disability.

The questions and answers are reproduced with permission from FAS, the Irish state employment and training agency, though the answers will apply to most work situations.

Does the person have the ability to do the job?
Will there be health and safety implications?
What about absenteeism?
Won’t it be expensive?
Will my insurance liabilities increase?
What about existing employees’ attitudes to taking on someone with a disability?
Are there business benefits to my taking on someone with a disability?

Does the person have the ability to do the job?

Look at the person’s training, skills and experience rather than his or her disability, as you would when recruiting a person who does not have a disability. People with disabilities need to be resilient to overcome many obstacles in their daily lives and international studies have shown that people with disabilities are productive, reliable and valuable employees.

Will there be health and safety implications?

A safe and healthy workplace is important for all employees and customers and is required by law. Simple adjustments and adaptations to the workplace can facilitate a person with a disability, and many companies have found that adaptations they have made for employees with disabilities benefit the whole workforce and external customers.
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What about absenteeism?

The experience of Irish and international employers is that people with disabilities have excellent attendance records. Having a disability does not necessarily mean that a person has poor health.
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Won’t it be expensive?

There are often no extra costs involved in recruiting or employing people with disabilities and not all people with a disability need adaptations or specialised equipment. However, some agencies, such as FAS, provide assistance to employers to help with costs that may be incurred in employing people with disabilities, adapting the workplace, or providing specialised equipment to facilitate a person with a disability in their work.
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Will my insurance liabilities increase?

A review of the Irish insurance market found that insurers are prepared to provide cover for people with disabilities at no additional premium. It seems there is little difficulty in obtaining insurance at normal rates once a safe working environment is provided.
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What about existing employees’ attitudes to taking on someone with a disability?

Working alongside people with disabilities is no different than working alongside anyone else. People with disabilities want to be treated in the same way as people who do not have a disability. Funding is available from FAS for Disability Awareness Training in the workplace, which can help to overcome misconceptions about working with people with disabilities.
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What are the business benefits for you?
There are many proven benefits of employing a person with a disability.

Increased Productivity
A number of international studies have demonstrated that employees with disabilities have attendance, punctuality and productivity levels equal to, if not better than, their able-bodied peers.

Enhanced Staff Morale
Staff morale and commitment to the organisation throughout the workforce has been found to increase when an organisation makes a visible commitment to employing a person with a disability.

Increased Customer Loyalty
Benefits are also noticed at a customer level: customers respond favourably towards organisations which are positive towards disability and reflect the diversity of the community.

Enhanced Public Image
Clear evidence that you are an equal opportunities employer projects a more positive image and promotes your business.