Disability Inclusive Workplaces; Past, Present and Future - 17th October

A Story From WAM to WIDE

The in person event is now SOLD OUT but please add your name to the waitlist via the registration link or alternatively register for the online launch of the WIDE Framework here

Celebrating both 20 years of WAM and the launch of the WIDE Framework, this event will explore challenges for disabled people and employers, celebrate impactful good practice, and discuss the path to further progress on closing the disability employment gap.

When: Friday October 17th, 2025 from 09:30 - 16:00

Where: Convention Centre, Dublin – in-person only event, see further below for alternative online event.

For: Irish employers, disability organisations, policy makers and individuals interested in disability inclusion in the workplace.

Over the last two decades, huge progress has been made in advancing the rights of disabled people in Ireland. The introduction of an array of legislation, the development of related government strategies, and increased participation in areas of society such as higher education mean that disability is on the agenda in a way that was difficult to foresee at the turn of the century.

Since its formation in 2005, the AHEAD Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) Programme has placed almost 800 disabled graduates in paid, mentored employment. Across this period, the programme has witnessed both the sustained talent and resilience of disabled people in their search for equitable careers, and the difference that employers committed to disability inclusion can make when they instigate organisational change initiatives to reduce barriers.

Yet, nationally, the disability employment gap in Ireland remains amongst the largest in Europe, and strong links between poverty and disability remain, due in part to barriers in accessing the labour market.

Complimenting state initiatives such as the revamped Work and Access programme and the soon to be published National Disability Strategy, more strategic action by employers will be required to make progress. In response, AHEAD and our partners in Employers for Change have teamed up to develop the Widening Inclusion of Disability in Employment (WIDE) framework to support employers to play their part.

Attendees will experience:

Disabled graduate and employer stories from across the decades exploring what works and what needs to change, marking 20 years of the AHEAD WAM Programme, a work placement programme.

The Launch of the Widening Inclusion of Disablity in Employment (WIDE) Framework by AHEAD in partnership with Employers for Change. The WIDE Framework will support organisations to hire, retain, and promote more disabled people and create a more inclusive workplace. The framework and associated self-review software is open access and is built on academic literature and significant consultation with disabled people, employers, and disability organisations.

The WAM Leaders Awards, recognising employers who have shown leadership in inclusive employment through their engagement with WAM over the last year and beyond.

Registration: This in person event is free, but registration is limited, so please book early to secure your place.

Alternative: Online Launch of the WIDE Framework

If you are interested in the launch of the WIDE Framework but prefer virtual attendance, AHEAD in partnership with Employers for change are hosting a shorter online launch event, taking place 11:30-13:00 on Friday October 24th, 2025. You can register for the alternative launch of the WIDE Framework here.