Government, voluntary and community sectors must work closely to help people with disabilities into employment, according to Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry.
Addressing delegates at the Northern Ireland Union for Supported Employment (NIUSE) conference in Belfast recently, the Minister said: “We have a responsibility to provide everyone with the necessary support to give them the best possible chance to avail of the employment opportunities.”
The conference entitled Changing Times explored the key issues facing people with disabilities, and discussed strategies and interventions to assist them and people from other disadvantaged groups to move into sustainable employment.
The Minister continued: “Staff in my Department’s Employment Service engage with employers to advocate on behalf of people with disabilities, to highlight the merits and benefits of giving people with disabilities a real chance in the workplace.
“My Department also has a range of programmes and services to help people with disabilities progress towards finding employment, and these can be accessed through the Disability Employment Service or through specially trained Employment Advisers in local Jobs and Benefits offices.”
The Minister also acknowledged the valuable work carried out by the NIUSE alliance. The conference was attended by delegates from the voluntary and community sectors, as well as representatives from statutory bodies.