Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

O’Herlihy Access Consultancy (OHAC) was tasked with developing dynamic and engaging e-learning module for disability awareness training for all staff in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).  The collaboration with OHAC has equipped DCEDIY with a comprehensive and engaging e-learning module on disability awareness, fostering a more inclusive and knowledgeable workforce. This initiative ensures that staff are well-trained to support and understand the needs of individuals with disabilities, aligning with the Department’s commitment to equality and inclusion. We provided technical advice on best practice accessibility and Universal Design concepts, project management services, and content creation expertise to ensure the training was engaging, thorough and effective

The co-design of learning content, the technical specification and the management of the project were all notable features of this project.

Co-Design of Content

OHAC carried out extensive consultation with DCEDIY at the outset of the project to understand their training requirements and objectives of the training.  The content for the e-learning modules was, therefore, based on a combination of DCEDIY’s identified learning needs and OHACs experience and knowledge of best practice disability awareness training content.  The content was tailored to the work and services carried out by DCEDIY.  Our approach in designing this content included storyboarding to illustrate the learning journey and draft content reviews to ensure alignment with DCEDIY’s objectives before final sign-off.

Once completed regular reviews of the training content were scheduled to ensure its ongoing effectiveness.  Additionally OHAC provided updates to ensure that the material remained current and accurate throughout the contract duration. OHAC provided additional advice on the identification of appropriate supplementary eLearning disability awareness modules

Technical specification

DCEDIY had certain technical requirements in relation to the e-learning modules. The e-learning content had to be compatible with the Department’s Learning Management System (LMS) and met SCORM 1.2 standards. Additionally it had to adhere to Department ICT security rules for content sharing.  Finally, OHAC also ensured that all training content was provided in an editable format for future updates.

Project Management

OHAC manged the entire project lifecycle, from course design and iteration to rollout and review. This facilitated a structured design approach, with built in design reviews and processes to refine the training content.

Note: Certain technical elements of the project were subcontracted to ESUS, a company specializing in bespoke e-learning content development for corporate clients.