A network to boost ‘special abilities’
dubai — ‘Inclusion’ may have become a buzzword in Dubai since the launch of the ‘My Community’ initiative by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, in 2013, but sustainable employment for people with disabilities is now very much happening across the city.
Though much more work is still needed here to tackle disability employment, 17 candidates with cognitive disabilities have been placed in full- or part-time employment since November 2016, thanks to the launch of Emirates NBD’s ‘Careers Network’ — part of its #TogetherLimitless campaign.
A programme which enhances the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace, it currently has about 20 companies on board, offering paid placements
Once you put in that groundwork and invest in making the candidate the right fit for the job, staff turnover improves.”
Nadine O’Connor, CSR and business excellence manager, Jumeirah Creekside Hotel
to candidates, and on Tuesday, it hosted its second meet up where employers met with hopeful candidates.
For Nadine O’Connor, CSR and business excellence manager at Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, she said it is a no brainer as to why companies should focus on employing people with cognitive disabilities.
“I have been working closely with these people for about 14 years. We offer weekly vocational training to about nine students from Manzil (one of the GCC’s oldest non-profit groups focusing on social inclusion of persons with disability) and we have one employee who has transitioned from the school to our hotel.”
But not only does employment help the individual, it helps improve business results too, she said.
“Once you put in that groundwork and invest in making the candidate the right fit for the job, staff turnover improves. That’s because often, these people are very loyal and companies who invest in their employees always get better results.”
kelly@khaleejtimes.com