2007 Category Winners
Winners of an O2 Ability Category Award have gone above and beyond the level of best practice in their prospective category. We encourage you to watch the videos below, which highlight the reasons why each organisation won in their category in 2007.
Leadership
Microsoft
There are many definitions of leadership. Simply put, effective leadership can successfully move and shape the future reality of an organisation. Strong leadership can inspire and motivate employees, encouraging them to reach their true potential and enabling the organisation to reach its strategic and operational goals.
Microsoft has a strong diversity and inclusion strategy, which states that all products and services must be fully accessible. Their equal opportunities policy specifically references people with disabilities. Microsoft believes that recognising, respecting and harnessing the strengths and diversity of their work force, gives the organisation a competitive edge and strengthens their position as an employer of choice. It also leads to creative and innovative products, services and business solutions.
Microsoft also has a diversity and inclusion forum that reports directly into the governance team and focuses on education, support and policy. Their CSR strategy is called Unlimited Potential and addresses people with disabilities, long-term unemployed and students. Disability awareness training is offered to all staff and everyone undertakes diversity training.
Click “Play” on the image below to view the case study video for Microsoft.
This video is also available on YouTube and can be viewed by clicking on the following link:
Watch case study video for Microsoft on YouTube.
Environmental Accessibility
Eye Cinema Galway
Good environmental accessibility allows people with disabilities to go where everyone else has gone before. It also refers to the accessibility of information about the organisation’s products and/or services.
Eye Cinema in Galway City caters for everyone in the community. The service which they provide includes audio descriptions, screen talk showings, voice packages and sign language interpreters. Information to employees and customers is outlined in simple English and is available in alternative formats. Trained staff can communicate with customers who have speech impairments, who are visually impaired or who are deaf.
Click “Play” on the image below to view the case study video for Eye Cinema Galway.
This video is also available on YouTube and can be viewed by clicking on the following link:
Watch case study video for Eye Cinema Galway on YouTube.
Customer Service
Eye Cinema Galway
Customer Service is an organisation’s capacity to understand and harness market trends, respond and deliver services and products, to meet the evolving and diverse needs and expectations of both internal and external customers, disabled or not.
In order to empower Eye Cinema staff to delver best practice in customer service, the company organised communications training with the National Council and the Blind ad the National Association for the deaf. This offered staff invaluable information into how to welcome customers with disabilities to Eye Cinema.
Click “Play” on the image below to view the case study video for Eye Cinema Galway.
This video is also available on YouTube and can be viewed by clicking on the following link:
Watch case study video for Eye Cinema Galway on YouTube.
Recruitment and Selection
Kernan’s Centra and Services
The objective of any recruitment and selection process is to obtain the right person for the job. Attracting and recruiting the best employees is crucial to the success of any organisation.
In putting forward Kernan’s Centra as the Category Winner, one of the Judges stated: “This organisation demonstrates a level of commitment not often seen by the judging panel. The high ratio of employees with disabilities proves that there is a particularly positive disability culture. The concept of “attitude not aptitude” stands as a model to aspiring entrants in this competition.”
Click “Play” on the image below to view the case study video for Kernan’s Centra and Services.
This video is also available on YouTube and can be viewed by clicking on the following link:
Watch case study video for Kernan’s Centra and Services on YouTube.
Learning, Development and Progression
Irish Life and Permenant Plc
Leaders of successful organisations realise there is a return on investment in employee development. They design, implement and measure the success of internal employee development programs. These programs are developed to offer all employees the opportunity to build a successful career within the organisation, including employees with disabilities.
Irish Life and Permanent Plc have trained 18 Disability Liaison Officers and over 150 members of the Management Team in disability awareness training. In addition, the organisation has availed of the FAS Disability Awareness Grant. All these courses are evaluated on a regular basis to ensure effectiveness.
Click “Play” on the image below to view the case study video for Irish Life and Permanent.
This video is also available on YouTube and can be viewed by clicking on the following link:
Watch case study video for Irish Life and Permanent on YouTube.
Retention and Well-being
Eircom
Injuries and illness can strike anyone at anytime. Organisations are now becoming more aware of the cost of losing trained, knowledgeable and experienced staff. For this reason, absence management programs and retention policies are being put into place to ensure valuable employees, who acquire a disability, can return to work.
“Eircom is a good place to work and is a caring company. It also has a lot of family and work life balance initiatives in place, which make it an easier and more caring environment for people who are challenged in different ways”
Kevin Looney, Employee Assistance Programme Manager, Eircom
Click “Play” on the image below to view the case study video for Eircom.
This video is also available on YouTube and can be viewed by clicking on the following link:
Watch case study video for Eircom on YouTube.
