Author: Sofia Milici
If you are an employer in Ireland and thinking about improving accessibility or disability inclusion in your organisation, there is currently government funding of up to €20,000 available to support staff training through the “Work and Access programme”.
Organisations may be unaware that structured Disability Equality and Inclusion Training can now be grant-funded under that programme. This is a live proposal, and it is specifically designed to help employers build internal capability.
As professionals in this area, we capture in this article what you need to know.
What Is Work and Access?
Work and Access is a government employment initiative introduced in July 2024 to reduce barriers for people with disabilities in the workplace.
It brings together several financial supports that help employers and employees remove practical obstacles at work. These include funding for workplace assessments, assistive technology, communication supports, personal readers, work equipment and workplace adaptations.
But one of the most strategically important elements for employers is the Disability Equality and Inclusion Training Grant.
Because while equipment matters, culture and competence matter more.
The Disability Equality and Inclusion Training Grant: What It Covers
Employers can apply for funding of up to €20,000 per year to provide structured disability equality and inclusion training for their staff.
This grant allows organisations to invest in:
- Disability awareness and understanding.
- The social model of disability.
- Inclusive recruitment and management practices.
- Reasonable accommodation processes.
- Inclusive customer service.
- Communication and respectful interaction.
- Disability-specific training (for example neurodiversity inclusion).
Organisations can apply for multiple training types within one application where appropriate.
This is more than an hour awareness session, it is about building capability that improves recruitment, retention, service delivery and organisational culture.
Who Can Apply?
The grant is open to employers in:
- The private sector.
- Community and voluntary organisations.
- Not-for-profit organisations.
If you employ staff and want to improve how your organisation includes people with disabilities, you can apply.
Unlike some other Work and Access supports, this grant does not require the organisation to meet the standard individual eligibility conditions that apply to employee-based supports. It is specifically designed to allow employers to proactively build inclusion capacity.
That makes it particularly valuable for organisations that want to act before issues arise.
The application form can be accessed on the Department of Social Protection website (opens in new tab).
How Much Funding Is Available?
Employers can receive:
- Up to €20,000 per year towards approved training costs.
- 90% of costs for certified courses.
- 80% of costs for non-certified courses.
Funding must be approved before any training is purchased. Applications are currently submitted through the Department of Social Protection while an online system is being developed.
An Employer Relations Officer reviews applications and confirms eligibility before approval and this is one of the reasons of why planning this in advance is essential.
Why This Matters for Employers?
Inclusion is no longer just a compliance issue because it affects recruitment, staff retention, customer experience, ESG performance and reputation.
A well-designed training:
- Reduces risk.
- It improves staff confidence.
- It strengthens leadership capability.
- It supports better outcomes for employees and customers with disabilities.
This grant removes one of the main barriers organisations often cite: budget.
Now, the funding is there to serve the need.
Choosing the Right Training Provider
Employers are responsible for selecting their own provider.
Training should be delivered by experienced professionals who:
- Understand the social model of disability.
- Have expertise in accessibility and Universal Design.
- Can provide accessible materials.
- Have genuine knowledge of disability policy and rights.
- Involve lived experience of disability in delivery or development.
How OHAC Can Support
At OHAC, we design and deliver structured Disability Equality and Inclusion Training aligned with best practice, Universal Design principles and practical workplace realities.
Our team includes accessibility specialists, occupational therapists and certified trainers with extensive experience supporting organisations across Ireland.
We work with employers to:
- Design tailored training programmes.
- Align content with Work and Access funding requirements.
- Deliver accessible, practical sessions.
- Support organisations in embedding learning into real workplace systems.
If your organisation is considering applying for the Disability Equality and Inclusion Training Grant, or wants to understand how to use it effectively, we are available to discuss next steps.
You can get in touch with our team or join our mailing list to stay informed on developments and improvements in Accessibility and Universal Design.