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WIDE Development – How and Who?

How was it developed?

Funded by the Department of Social Protection between 2023-25, the development of the WIDE framework was coordinated by AHEAD in collaboration with Employers for Change.

The development process was guided by a 21-member national advisory group which included representatives from Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), business representative groups, unions, HR networks and government agencies (see ‘Who’s Involved?’).

You can find out more about how it was developed and the main findings here.

The WIDE framework team,  commissioned an in-depth literature review by esteemed researcher Dr Joanne Banks, and built on this by undertaking a consultation and development process involving:

  • 6 advisory group meetings

  • 7 design consultations
    with 72 co-creators (disabled people, employers, disability organisations etc.)

  • 31 post consultation surveys

  • 6 drafts of the WIDE Framework
    reviewed prior to the final version

  • 4 months of thematic analysis

  • 3 rounds of functionality and accessibility testing
    with employers and disabled people (conducted by Hex Digital our accessible design contractors)

Who developed it?

Funded by the Department of Social Protection between 2023-25, the development of the WIDE framework was coordinated by AHEAD in collaboration with Employers for Change.

 

AHEAD are an independent non-profit organisation working with and for disabled people to shape inclusive and empowering environments in tertiary education and employment.

Employers for Change are an Irish organisation which aims to provide an employer disability information service.

 

In addition, we were supported by 72 consultation contributors (our co-creators) who played a crucial role in shaping the framework through their expertise, lived experience, and organisational insight. These co-creators were chosen as representative samples via a selection criterion to participate in 7 design consultations and included:

  • 25 individuals with lived experience of a range of disabilities, reflective of the intersectionality of Irish society (including those with various educational and employment backgrounds, genders, race, sexual orientation, language, Irish travellers, various religions and geographical location)
  • 14 employers of varying sizes from a range of industries and geographical locations
  • 33 national organisations featuring Disabled Persons Representative Organisations (DPROs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other national organisations with a remit in HR/employment.

Organisations represented on the advisory group:

Acknowledgements and Thanks

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the many individual participants, employers, disability/other organisations, and policy and decision makers who generously contributed their time, experiences, and perspectives. Their involvement was instrumental in ensuring the WIDE Framework reflects the realities and aspirations of those most affected by disability-inclusive employment practices.

Many staff from both AHEAD and Employers for Change made important contributions to designing and delivering the research process, facilitating stakeholder engagement, analysing findings and supporting the administrative and communications goals of the development. There are too many from our organisations to acknowledge directly here but special thanks go to:

  • Catherine Murray, Researcher and Administrative Support on the project with AHEAD.
  • Dara Ryder, CEO of AHEAD, who co-chaired the Advisory Group and took over the coordination of the development in 2024.
  • Anna Boda, Programme Manager with Employers for Change who co-chaired the Advisory Group.
  • Jeanne McDonagh, CEO of the Open Doors Initiative who provided strategic guidance on the development throughout the process.
  • Caroline McGrotty, who initially coordinated the development of the WIDE framework before her departure from AHEAD in 2024.
  • Dr Joanne Banks (Trinity College Dublin) who conducted the deep literature review which supported the development of the first draft of the framework and some key questions to explore during the consultation process.
  • Darren Keegan, who provided research and administrative assistance with AHEAD in the early phase of the provide development.

This work was made possible through funding and support from the Department of Social Protection.

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