O2 Ability Awards 2007

Who Should Apply

Photograph of Feargal Quinn at the 2007 O2 Ability Awards

A journey not a destination.

You may also be surprised to learn that your organisation is doing more than you are aware of!

Organisations are assessed on what they ARE doing as opposed to what they’re not doing. This awards process is not only about assessing the best, it is about encouraging, promoting and learning best practice regarding the employment and inclusion of people with disabilities.

The O2 Ability Awards process provides an opportunity for your organisation to assess what it is doing well and how it can achieve higher standards. No organisation is expected to have all the answers. The employment and inclusion of people with disabilities is an ongoing journey and we simply ask that your organisation begin on that road by reflecting on what it is that you do well. The organisations that we encourage to apply are those that have begun this journey.

Attitude not numbers…

It is not the number of people with disabilities that you employ which determines your eligibility for entering - far from it. You may in fact employ only one person with a disability or be aware of none, however your organisation may recognise people with disabilities as customers; may have put in place flexible working arrangements; or have organised disability awareness training for staff. We want to encourage organisations to ask what they could do better to make the employment and inclusion of people with disabilities a practical reality.

We are looking for organisations that:

  • Have created an open and inclusive culture
  • Consider themselves ‘Employer of Choice’
  • Have recognised how including people with disabilities is an important and desired future state for an organisation
  • Recognise the importance of an accessible environment
  • Want to learn how to become a best practice organisation
  • Want to receive job applications from people with disabilities
  • Understand the importance of a safe and healthy working environment and promote well-being to all employees
  • Have demonstrated a desire to embrace diversity in their organisation
  • Want to improve their current systems
  • Are not afraid of self-assessment
  • Are willing to learn and share best practices
  • Have a positive attitude: an enthusiasm and a willingness to embark on a long-term regular review of, and continuous improvement in, policies and practices that affect people with disabilities in employment and as customers
  • Want to make a difference and contribute to real societal change

Whether you are an enterprising multinational or an SME with a handful of employees; whether you are an organisation working in the private or non-private sector; whether you are an organisation that has vast experience of working with disability, or an organisation just starting out on that journey, we encourage you to apply for the O2 Ability Awards 2007.

Note: If your organisation has applied for any of the following awards we encourage you to take part in the O2 Ability Awards 2007:

  • O2 Ability Awards 2006/2005
  • 50 Best Companies to Work for Ireland 2006/2005/2004/2003
  • The Irish Times Living Dublin Awards
  • Excellence Through People
  • The Irish Institute of Training and Development National Training Awards
  • National Awards for Excellence in Human Resource Management organised by CIPD and sponsored by Watson Wyatt

Requirement - Top Level Endorsement

While anyone within an organisation can apply on behalf of their organisation for an award, each application must be endorsed by the CEO or Managing Director. This top-level endorsement is vital as an initial statement of support and commitment by the organisation to the inclusion of diversity within the organisation.