The story of the Companies Accessibility Network (CAN) began at an AHEAD Ireland event in 2019, where representatives from Dell Technologies, ESB, and Bank of Ireland were all actively hiring people with disabilities, yet each company expected candidates to tailor their approach to suit the individual organisation. The representatives got together and asked themselves why … Continue reading The Companies Accessibility Network – CAN, will hold its next event at Dell Technologies on 16 April 2026.

One in five PR agencies in Ireland has no employees from a diverse background. On average, just 17% of workers across the sector come from a diverse background, despite a quarter of people living in Ireland having been born elsewhere. As the industry's own research lays bare the scale of the challenge, Sonia Harris, founder … Continue reading Sonia Harris: Why the PR industry must be more reflective of society in general

17th February 2026. Pictured at the ‘AT in Action: From Rights to Reality’ event organised by St John of God Community Services and FreedomTech in Dublin today was Patrick Fitzgerald, SJOGCS DigiCoach tech peer trainer. The event was part of the Community Hub for Accessible Technology (CHAT) programme and highlighted the role of assistive technology in promoting rights, inclusion and independence for people living with a disability. PHOTO: Justin Farrelly

Jakub Gietka, was born with spinal muscular atrophy in Poland. After getting a dire prognosis and with little support from the state, Jakub created a career for himself. From 2018 freelance web design via G-COM self-employment, public sector roles at Mazovian Voivodeship Office and Protip, Roche consulting, and policy research at the Institute of Finance, … Continue reading Jakub Gietka’s Journey from Rare Disease Diagnosis to International Disability Inclusion Leader with support from One Young World and AstraZeneca

Soph Quill, Inclusion Business Partner at Barts Health NHS Trust since April, describes how the UK's largest trust—with over 25,000 staff across five East London hospitals—is revamping EDI training for bias reflection via interactive scenarios, embedding inclusive recruitment like anonymized shortlisting, and launching a St Bartholomew’s strategy around five SMART priorities: Inclusive Leadership, BHSM reduction, … Continue reading Barts Health’s Soph Quill Reveals EDI Transformation: Interactive Bias Training, Anonymized Recruitment, and Five-Pillar Strategy to Reflect how it’s Diverse Staff Backgrounds are

After 30 years in retail management, Catherine Hearns launched MyComfort.ie in 2023, to provide sustainable, ethically made migraine relief products inspired by her own health with hemiplegic migraine and related conditions. Her retail experience gave her strong business skills, while health challenges prompted a career shift from retail to entrepreneurship. She actively markets via social … Continue reading Catherine Hearns – Created Mycomfort.ie for sleep aids for migraine sufferers

Earlier this month I was invited back to my former employer - Bank of Ireland’s. I joined approximately 80 other people, including the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam, for their Neuroinclusion Strategy launch. This launch was the bank's official strategy to become a more neuroinclusive employer by recognising the need to improve inclusivity … Continue reading Bank of Ireland Leads the Way with Groundbreaking Neuroinclusion Strategy to Foster Inclusive Recruitment Neurodivergent People

WTF Happened - A new book that chronicles the legacy and lasting impact of the #WakingTheFeminists movement in Irish theatre WTF Happened, edited by Sarah Durcan with Lian Bell, was born from a belief that the story of #WakingTheFeminists deserved to be preserved for future generations. The movement challenged gender inequality at the heart of Irish theatre … Continue reading WTF Happened A new book that chronicles the legacy and lasting impact of #WakingTheFeminists movement in Irish theatre

Tinap Green is a social enterprise that is dedicated to transforming waste into opportunity while empowering the next generation. Inspired by the Creole word “Tinap,” which signifies resilience and strength in the face of adversity, the company exists to create “a greener, better world through collaboration and purposeful design.” Tinap Green supports young people aged 16–30 with … Continue reading Tinap Green: Empowering Youth and Communities Through Creativity, Upcycling, and SustainabilityAuto Draft

I am delighted to announce that my Embracing Workplace Inclusion course in Rathmines College of Further Education is back for a second year. The course aims to equip people with disabilities with the skills that they need to find a job. Advocates for people with disability can also join the course. We had a great … Continue reading Rathmines College of Further Education – An Online Evening Course for People With Disabilities Looking for Employment

The Allyship Academy (TAA) was founded by Mark Fenton and Patricia Byron, driven by their shared passion for advancing inclusion and supporting women and other marginalised groups. Both bring decades of experience as DEI specialists, leadership experts, and executive coaches, having witnessed first-hand the gap between organisational policies and the genuine behaviours needed to foster … Continue reading The Allyship Academy: Why being an Ally in the Workplace is more important than ever before

Intersport Elverys, is one of Ireland’s oldest sports retailers. It was founded in 1847 and it has grown from a single shop into a national brand with 44 stores and around 750 employees, maintaining a strong family-owned ethos and deep commitment to supporting Irish sport at all levels. The company’s robust Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion … Continue reading Intersport Elverys: Blending 175 years of Tradition and Innovation to Champion Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Sports Retail Market

Gewardz Health is based in Banbridge Co.Down and is a healthcare solutions provider established in 2019, originally focused on delivering enterprise-quality reward and retention programs to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) traditionally underserved by mainstream providers. In response to client needs for affordable and accessible healthcare, Gewardz Health evolved in late 2022 to develop a … Continue reading Gewardz Health: Making Affordable Healthcare Accessible for Every Irish SME and Community

Platform55 was co-founded out of a shared conviction that the existing workplace wasn’t working for working parents—or for countless others. Drawing on their personal journeys, Tracy Gunn (with a background in leadership development) and Michelle O'Keefe (from digital media) experienced firsthand the disconnect between workplace policy and reality, as well as the challenges of balancing … Continue reading Platform55: Revolutionising Support for Parents in the Workplace

With a background in mechatronics engineering and an MBA that broadened their perspective on business and leadership, the founder of Includership spent nearly nine years at Google in a variety of roles, including significant work in Diversity and Inclusion. This experience in a large, global company highlighted both the strategic importance and everyday challenges of … Continue reading Antonio Vega: Ex-Google, PHd Candidate Who is on a Mission to Make the Workplace Inclusive for All

Jen Keane is the founder PayGap.ie. Jen launched the site because of the lack of accessible, standardised gender pay gap data in Ireland. Drawing from her own challenges as a woman in tech, she built PayGap.ie as a central resource for collecting and publishing company pay gap reports. Her journey highlights the difficulties of gathering … Continue reading PayGap.ie: The Award Winning Independent Platform Holding Companies in Ireland Accountable for their Gender Pay Reporting

Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) is at the forefront of driving positive change in Irish society, championing sustainability and social inclusion for over 25 years. As a leading advisor to businesses and communities, BITCI’s vision is to inspire a movement that addresses some of the most urgent challenges of our time—climate change and social … Continue reading Business in the Community Ireland: working annually with over 500 people from marginalised communities towards employment

Stammering, affects approximately 1% of the population, meaning that over 50,000 people in Ireland live with this speech difference. The Irish Stammering Association (ISA) plays a vital role in supporting these individuals and their families, raising awareness, and advocating for greater understanding and inclusion across Irish society. Through a range of services, events, workplace and … Continue reading Irish Stammering Assocation: Supporting over 50,000 People in Ireland Who Stammer

In a world where accessibility and inclusion are increasingly recognised as essential, Gavin Neate's Neatebox is leading the charge with innovative solutions designed to empower disabled individuals. Gavin has had an incredible journey; from training guide dogs to pioneering technology that addresses everyday barriers faced by disabled people. Central to this mission is WelcoMe, a … Continue reading Neatebox and Curry’s Team Up to Transform In-Store Accessibility with WelcoMe Service Across Ireland

Founded in 2023, Accessibility Ireland is dedicated to ensuring that everyone—including people with disabilities—has equal access to digital information, products, and services. Driven by a clear mission to bridge the significant gap in education and awareness around digital accessibility in Ireland, the organisation empowers companies to create inclusive digital experiences, from websites and apps to … Continue reading Accessibility Ireland – Digital access for everyone

Building on its commitment to tackling pressing sustainability challenges, the 2050 Accelerator is entering its second year, run by Dogpatch Labs with support from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) and in partnership with industry leaders Kerry Dairy Ireland, ESB, and Coillte. This programme, with the ambition of advancing global green tech, … Continue reading Announcing Ireland’s 2050 Accelerator: A Launchpad for Global Green Tech

In a world where navigating care for loved ones can feel overwhelming, inCharge simplifies support for families and individuals alike. Founded by Karen McCormick a dedicated mother with a diverse background in community engagement, economic development, and co-production. inCharge is more than just an app; it's a mission to put individuals with disabilities and complex … Continue reading inCharge: Simplifying Care for Families and Individuals

Spike's Sight Words is more than just a board game; it's a creative solution born from a mother's desire to help her son engage with reading. The game's creator Sophie Bradley, drawing from her background in film and television, noticed how her son, unlike his sister, wasn't responding to traditional learning methods. This inspired her … Continue reading Spikes Sight Words: A Creative Boardgame that Helps Dyslexic Children Engage With Reading.

Written by: Mohamed S Camara | Program Coordinator | Employers for Change Introduction Hiring and retaining staff with disabilities is critical to building an inclusive and diverse workplace. In Ireland, the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 make it clear that employers have a legal obligation to provide reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. However, many myths … Continue reading Debunking Myths About Reasonable Accommodations in the Workplace: Guidance for Irish Employers

Andrew Power - Chief Revenue Officer of Vially (formally IA Labs) In a world where digital accessibility is increasingly crucial, Vially (formerly IA Labs), has been at the forefront of driving change. With a mission to make the world more inclusive through technology, Vially has developed a platform that automates digital accessibility across design, development, … Continue reading “Vially: Pioneering Digital Inclusion Through Accessibility Solutions”

In the heart of Co. Clare, a unique business, has been quietly revolutionising the way we support breastfeeding mothers. Mama’s Boobie Box, founded by Petrina O’Halloran 2021, has rapidly grown from a small startup to an international success story, offering a range of innovative products and unwavering support for new mums. Born out of Petrina’s … Continue reading Mama’s Boobie Box: Creating Innovative Breastfeeding Solutions and Support for Breastfeeding Mothers

The Frequency School is a groundbreaking initiative which unites women from all 195 countries through a global song titled “195,” inspired by the vision of producing a truly global song with a woman from all countries. Spearheaded by Martina Fuchs and produced by U.S. Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum artist Maejor, this project seeks to amplify women’s … Continue reading The Frequency School – A Global Music Initiative Uniting Women from 195 Countries to Amplify Women’s Voices at Davos World Economic Forum

OnePageCRM, founded by Michael FitzGerald, is an innovative sales management platform that reimagines Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for small businesses. Leveraging his experience with dyslexia and background in engineering and product design, Michael created a CRM solution that prioritises efficiency and user-friendly design. The platform's unique "Action Stream" feature provides a holistic view of sales … Continue reading How OnePageCRM’s Founder and CEO Michael Fitzgerald Turned His Dyslexia into a Business Advantage

Before launching The People, Kian Bakhtiari's journey was deeply rooted in a desire to create meaningful change. With a degree in Sociology from the University of Leicester, He began his career in politics, working as a researcher at the House of Parliament. There, he focused on assessing the impact of government cuts on local communities, … Continue reading From the Politics to Purpose: How Kian Bakhtiari’s The People is Redefining Marketing for Social Change

Izzy Wheels is redefining mobility with a splash of creativity and inclusivity, championing their empowering slogan, “If you can’t stand up, stand out.” Founded by sisters Ailbhe and Izzy Keane, Izzy Wheels creates vibrant, artistic wheelchair covers that allow users to express their unique style and personality. What began as a college project has blossomed … Continue reading Izzy Wheels: Empowering Wheelchair Users to ‘Stand Out’ with Art and Style

It was great to Pierre Yimbog., Co-founder of Black and Irish. The grassroots movement has become a powerful voice for the Black and mixed-race community in Ireland. Born in June 2020 as an Instagram page in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, Black and Irish began as a platform to share the stories and experiences … Continue reading Black and Irish: Amplifying Voices, Driving Change, and Fostering Inclusion in Ireland

Today, we're speaking with Ciara Mallon about the highly anticipated Caring in Business – Where Technology Meets Humanity conference, set to take place on Thursday, 10th October 2024 at the Conrad Hotel in Dublin. This one-day B2B event brings together global technology giants and innovative Irish firms to explore the intersection of technology and corporate … Continue reading The Caring in Business Conference is one of Ireland’s most important events for Diversity Equity and Inclusion

AHEAD Ireland is a prominent non-profit organization dedicated to fostering inclusive environments in education and employment for individuals with disabilities. By focusing on further education, higher education, and graduate employment, AHEAD strives to remove barriers that hinder the participation of students and graduates with disabilities. The organization provides crucial information and support to students, educators, … Continue reading AHEAD Ireland’s WAM Programme Approaches 700 Successful Placements. At the same time Shaping Inclusive Employment for Employers

ShipItCon, established in 2017, originally focused on software delivery in the gaming industry but has since broadened its scope to encompass various industries. The event continues to prioritize its mission of creating a collaborative and inclusive space for software development professionals to explore the dynamic challenges and opportunities in their field. Guided by values of … Continue reading ShipItCon 2024: Nurturing Inclusivity and Innovation in Software Delivery

Career Lab are hosting a Career Design workshop on Thursday August 8th aimed at helping attendees collaboratively work on their career plans with guidance from expert mentors such as Conor Lynch, Keith O’Malley, Ricardo Moran, and Garrick Stark. Participants will engage in activities like presenting their career ideas for feedback, brainstorming side hustles, and using … Continue reading Join Career Lab for a career planning and a side hustle workshop to help to take control of you career

Established in 2015 by Bank of Ireland, ThinkBusiness.ie serves as a comprehensive resource hub supporting Irish entrepreneurs and SMEs in their growth journey. Initially focusing on offering tailored information, tools, and templates, the platform has evolved to include diverse content such as guides, case studies, and podcasts featuring interviews with prominent figures in the Irish … Continue reading ThinkBusiness.ie: Serving as a comprehensive resource hub supporting Irish entrepreneurs and SMEs in their growth journey

A graduate of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland’s Ideas Academy, Mamobo Ogoro started Gorm out of frustration with how diverse voices and stories were represented in Ireland. There lacked a platform where communities could not only speak for themselves, but engage along lines of difference. With a simple but challenging mission to spark a movement of unity … Continue reading Gorm – A social enterprise that’s sparking a movement of unity and shared understanding

Having travelled abroad and become an English teacher and then a lecturer when she returned Niamh Kelly created Tigim because of her experience adapting the way she communicated with students to ensure it’s at their level of understanding. Since then she launch the platform that provides interaction intelligence for companies to help them create content … Continue reading Tigim – helping companies to create content that their customers can understand.