Latest news with #disabilityemployment
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Taoiseach launches expansion of Wage Subsidy Scheme
The Government has announced a reformed scheme to support more disabled people into employment. The Wage Subsidy Scheme gives employers financial support to encourage them to hire people with disabilities. Advertisement Employers can get a subsidy of between €6.30-€9.45 per hour, depending on the number of workers employed under the scheme. The support can help cover the cost of adapting a role for the employee. Under measures announced by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary, the scheme is to be extended to the community and voluntary sector as well as the commercial state-sponsored sector. In addition, there will be a reduction in the minimum required hours to avail of the subsidy – down from 21 to 15 hours. Advertisement The scheme has also been expanded beyond recruitment to include retention of people returning to work on Partial Capacity Benefit. The subsidy rate is to be reviewed at least every three years. Disability Minister Norma Foley and junior minister Hildegarde Naughton also addressed a launch event at Chartered Accountants House in Dublin on Wednesday. Mr Martin said: 'Supports like this play not only a critical role in closing the employment gap for people with disabilities, reducing poverty and supporting families and communities, but also for employers in bringing new ideas, skills and knowledge to their businesses. Advertisement 'I am committed to advancing the rights and improving the lives of people with disabilities including through removing barriers to employment. 'Supports such as this revised Wage Subsidy Scheme recognise that the perspective, talents, and contributions of people with disabilities across society add immeasurably to the quality, the richness and the diversity of all our lives.'
ABC News
4 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
How a $10,000 block of land has given me freedom
I always thought that by my mid-20s, I'd have a life like Monica Geller from Friends, living in a cosy apartment in Sydney's bustling CBD. But life had other plans. I suppose that's the beauty of being young and naive; when you're in your early 20s, you believe life will turn out just as you imagine, even when reality suggests otherwise. For me, reality was loud and clear: "You can't afford to rent, and you're not eligible for a large mortgage loan." Nothing highlighted my inability to access the housing market more than my employment status. Despite being among the minority of people with disabilities who were gainfully employed, my earnings were rarely sufficient. I drifted between two worlds: living at home with stability but limited independence, and subletting a room and sacrificing personal space. Attempts to improve my financial situation were often met with silence from potential employers, who seemed to see my disability before they saw my qualifications. Being locked out of the housing market forces you to rethink your options and face an uncomfortable truth: the dream of home ownership might always remain just that, a dream. For me, this was a problem that needed to be solved. Growing up as a first-generation Australian with a disability, thousands of kilometres away from my extended family, I often worried about the lack of support for me beyond my mother and sister. With no inheritance or 'bank of mum and dad' to rely on, securing my future wasn't just a goal, it was a necessity. A TV show called Building Off Grid — about people who have chosen a less travelled path to home ownership — opened my eyes to the freedom I have to choose my own path. I had a light-bulb moment; why not buy 1,000 to 2,000 square metres of land and build a place of my own? I set a maximum budget of $20,000, a figure that made my friends and family think I was bluffing. However, it was an amount that my savings could easily cover and I would be mortgage free. My criteria was simple: the land had to be within five hours of a capital city, surrounded by nature and mountains, classified as residential or agricultural land, and have access to water, electricity, and plumbing. It also needed to be accessible by a public road. Finding a block of land that met all my requirements was easier said than done. Perth was out of the question. The Northern Territory and Queensland felt too remote, and land in New South Wales was either overpriced or had building restrictions that meant it was suitable only for camping. Then in April 2023, I found the perfect block in a small country town called Carrieton, located on Nukunu land in South Australia. Four hours from Adelaide and one hour from Port Augusta, the land cost only $10,000 — well within my budget. As soon as I saw the online listing for the 1000sqm land, I was sold. I decided I didn't need to see it in person and jumped. Once I took the plunge, the actual process of purchasing the block became a daunting experience that I was completely unprepared for. The entire transaction took place online, which made me anxious. I was dealing with people in a different state, meaning different regulations, and for the first time in my life, I was making an adult purchase that would change the trajectory of my life. This was nothing like spending $50 at a restaurant or on a dress to treat myself. I constantly questioned my judgement: Have I lost my mind? What am I doing? Am I being serious, or just hopelessly naive? Is this a scam? That self-doubt lingered, but I pushed forward, driven by the promise of freedom. When my friends and family found out I had purchased the land, they were stunned and I was suddenly flooded with questions like "What are you going to build?" and "How will you make it work?" Their curiosity was both validating and intimidating, underscoring the enormity of what I had committed to. Had I bitten off more than I could chew? Absolutely! Buying land in the middle of nowhere comes with significant challenges, especially when the goal is to live there full-time or turn it into a short-term rental. These are challenges I have yet to work out. Logistics such as building permits, designs, arranging shipments and funds, and accessing basic amenities are all ahead of me. But the benefits of owning something are undeniable; I've created a foundation for myself, a safety net that offers both stability and independence. I've been able to shift my focus from worrying about my future to imagining the possibilities ahead. Owning this land is my declaration of freedom. Am I worried about being isolated? Not at all. Living with a disability and being excluded from society teaches you a tough lesson: if you let isolation define you, you'll always be treading water, barely keeping your head above the surface. It comes down to a choice: keep begging for a seat at the table, or make your own rules. Vanessa Mbeve is a New South Wales-based writer with Cerebral Palsy, passionate about exploring social dynamics and sharing her unique perspectives through her writing, both fictional and non-fictional.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dialogue Coffee House sees major expansions across Shawnee County
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Recently celebrating their two year anniversary with the Capper Foundation, Dialogue Coffee House now has five locations open across Shawnee County. The coffee house recently expanded into Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas and the Stormont Vail Administration Center. Within the past month an improved kitchen space became apart of the southwest 29th Street location, vastly cutting down on baking time to supply all five locations with cookies, scones and more. With the new locations and additional kitchen training space, the CEO told 27 News this leads to more job creation and furthers opportunities for those with disabilities. Topeka Cat Café approaching adoptee 400 under a year of opurrration 'We know that 28% of all Kansans with disabilities want to work, and we know the way that we can create more jobs, more opportunities, more empowerment and more dependence is to create more places like Dialogue,' Capper Foundation President and CEO, Zach Ahrens said. 'People may choose to gain a skill here and go out and work in another coffee shop, and that's okay, or maybe they'll want to create their own business or work in different settings.' The CEO said creating that opportunity of choice for those with disabilities is what Dialogue is all about. The Capper Foundation is furthering that mission in the near future, opening a new training and education center attached to the southwest 29th Street location in early June 2025. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
