AN IRISH awards scheme that encourages companies to employ people with disabilities and better serve customers with disabilities was yesterday unveiled in Spain.
The O2 Ability Awards, launched in Ireland five years ago, have been so successful that O2 Ireland’s parent company, telecoms giant Telefónica, has adopted the programme in its own country.
Two-thirds of Irish companies are estimated to have taken action to help people with disabilities.
Social entrepreneur Caroline Casey of the Irish disability organisation Kanchi, who conceived the awards, joined Telefónica chairman César Alierta in Madrid to unveil the scheme. It is the first time that the Ability Awards have been launched outside Ireland.
Ms Casey said: “I am very proud that a small social enterprise like Kanchi is leading the way on disability in Europe. Spanish organisations will now have the opportunity to showcase best practice in employing people with disabilities and targeting people with disabilities as customers.
“Telefónica is so important because their hand is everywhere in Spain, and they have the capability to influence other businesses and get the issue of disability re-framed in the minds of Spanish people.”
The telecoms group, which operates in 25 countries in Europe and Latin America and says it has been involved in supporting people with disabilities for 30 years, said it wanted to recognise Spanish companies that value people with disabilities, whether as employees, suppliers or customers.
