About the Employers' Forum on Disability (NI)

Why Your Organisation Should Be a Member

Employers for Disability NI, a “not for profit” organisation, offers many benefits to members.

Summary of Services provided for Members (see also Members Services)

Employers for Disability NI (EFDNI) is a not-for-profit employer organisation.  It is led by employers who value disabled employees and customers and has a membership of almost 80 organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors representing approximately 20% of the Northern Ireland workforce.

Our Board of Directors, which develops plans and directs strategy, comprises employer representatives with many years of experience of immense benefit to members. 

What services do members receive?

EFDNI provides a wide range of services to ensure that member employers and service providers are aware of their legal obligations and implement practices to attract and retain disabled employees and customers.  The services that members and their employees can avail of, either free of charge or at a discounted rate, include:

1.  Disability Support Pack:

Members get access to our comprehensive Disability Support Pack, which includes:

• eight key disability commitments
• NI’s only employer Good Practice Logo
• a practical Good Practice Guide
• Audit Tool.

The Good Practice Logo was developed for members only for use on all documentation, promotional materials, letterheads and websites.  Displaying this logo will ensure recognition as an organisation which values employees and customers with disabilities:

2  One-to-one tailored advice and information service:

A key benefit of membership is the tailored one-to-one service which is available to member employers and their employees.  EFDNI advises on good practice in each individual circumstance on a wide range of issues such as responding to a query by a customer with a disability or assisting an employee who has developed a disability to return to work following a period of absence.  Here are some examples of how we have assisted our members:

EFDNI Member Case Studies

• A member employer asked EFDNI for assistance in developing a staff disability survey.  EFDNI met with the member employer’s staff to discuss their objectives and subsequently drafted a questionnaire.  A further meeting was held to agree the document and a follow-up session to draw up actions and recommendations based on the findings.

• A member’s employee contacted EFDNI to discuss a young person with autism who is currently in training and seeking employment.  The query related to the range of support and assistance available to secure and maintain employment for this individual as well as travel to work issues.  EFDNI contacted relevant staff within Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), liaised with them regarding these issues and kept the member employee informed of progress. The outcome was that the local DEL staff were able to advise on all matters.  EFDNI staff kept in touch with the individual to ensure a satisfactory outcome was obtained.

• A member employer contacted EFDNI for good practice advice regarding administration of an aptitude test for a job applicant with dyslexia, specifically in relation to the extra time which should be allowed.  EFDNI contacted the British Dyslexia Association for general guidance.  In addition, we were able to highlight other matters which should be taken into consideration such as test room requirements, paper colour, font type and size.

• A member employer asked EFDNI for advice on car parking for disabled employees, specifically how to prioritise requirements where the availability of car parking spaces is limited.  EFDNI gave careful consideration to this query and drew up guidance relevant to these particular circumstances.  This was circulated to a number of employers with relevant experience for their comments and, having taken on board feedback received, forwarded through this advice to the member contact.

3  Disability Mediation Service which assists employers in the resolution of disability conflicts, therefore avoiding litigation

4  Access to Member Area of our website with training materials, on-line disability awareness briefing and factsheets

5  Monthly case law and news update

6  Disability awareness video, “Enabled”, and training guide for members’ in-house training sessions

6  Disability awareness training delivered by EFDNI staff, tailored to members’ needs

8  Wide range of events such as Disability Discrimination Act Case Law Seminar, Mental Health Seminar, Recruitment Good Practice Seminar

9  Networking Forum of member organisations on a geographical or sectoral basis as requested

10  Online Jobs Bulletin Board for members only to advertise job vacancies and encourage applications from people with disabilities – circulated widely to disability organisations and recruitment services for people with disabilities

11  Discounts on professional services: 

• One free consultation (one hour) and 10% discount on subsequent services of our Legal Advisers, Comerton and Hill Solicitors
• 15% discount for members who use the services of the disability organisation Visual Access NI
• 10% discount for members who use the services of the disability organisations Action Mental Health and Disability Action

The tables below highlight some differences between members and non-members:

Disability Law

Employers for Disability NI can help your organisation understand Disability Law, how it affects your organisation, and how you can develop policies and procedures that will enable you to comply with The Law.

How Does My Organisation Become a Member?

To find out how to join Employers for Disability NI, contact the Office on 028 4062 4526 or complete the Information Pack request form.