Last year (2016) Headway, Brain Injury Services & Support and Epilepsy Ireland worked together to bring the discussion of Hidden Disabilities to the fore. We launched the I See Beyond Campaign as a vehicle to promote that conversation. Our overall aim was to make people aware of differences and diversity and to be more accepting of others individuality; to become responsible citizens by using their new found knowledge of hidden disability to assess situations before possibly forming inaccurate conclusions.
We produced a series of videos to challenge audiences to think about what the person might be going through, to ‘see beyond’ the disability and be practical in response, remembering that while many of the individuals we engage with on a daily basis may seem ‘well’, they may actually have a hidden disability that they shouldn’t necessarily have to hide. We asked the public to watch our stories, and show their support online.
The response was incredible, individuals, businesses and charity organisations got involved and signed our pledge to #iseebeyond. BUT now we want to go deeper. Our research shows 9 in 10 employees feel that the workplace lacks awareness of hidden disabilities and that only 3 in 10 people would feel comfortable informing their employer that they have a hidden disability for fear they will be labelled, treated differently or damage their future career prospects.
And so – with that, we are announcing our second phase of I See Beyond focusing on hidden disability in the workplace.
About The Campaign
Headway and Epilepsy Ireland want to create a society in which people living with a hidden disability feel more understood, included and supported in the workplace.
We want to dispel the myth that persons with hidden disabilities like an acquired brain injury or epilepsy are unable or no longer able to contribute in the workplace.
We have made 6 short videos to address how with reasonable accommodation, employees with hidden disabilities can contribute as equals.
We are calling on people to watch these positive stories, share them and help us find more of Ireland’s great employers who support the hundreds of thousands of people living with a hidden disability.
We will acknowledge supportive employers on our website and honour them with a certificate of recognition with the I See Beyond seal, showcasing to all that their employer truly can see the ability of is employees.
