Ireland has one of the lowest rates of employment for disabled people and people with intellectual disabilities
Geary’s, based in Charleville has successfully used an innovative screen-based technology system to support employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities and is encouraging other pubs and hospitality outlets to do the same.
Geary’s teamed up with AssistiV Ireland to support David Mullins, who has an intellectual disability, into a role working in the bar. David works with his colleagues to take orders, wait tables and serve customers.
AssistiV’s technology helps simplify David’s work by converting complex tasks into simple visual and audio cues, thereby removing barriers related to literacy, numeracy and confidence.
David, who has been supported by St. Joseph’s Foundation since 2023, is a keen footballer and recently represented Munster at the Special Olympics Ireland Summer Games. At Geary’s, he is part of a close-knit, sports-loving team that also includes Republic of Ireland women’s under-19 football captain Katie Lawlee.
Ireland has one of the lowest rates of employment for disabled people (32.6%) in Europe, according to Inclusion Ireland, and the statistic gets even lower for people with intellectual disabilities (17%).
In partnership with HEINEKEN Ireland
AssistiV, in partnership with HEINEKEN Ireland, is helping to address the challenge by bringing its technology to more pubs and bars across the country with the aim of solving the high-level of vacancies in the sector whilst creating employment opportunities for more people with intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, and autism.
AssistiV is now supporting 23 roles for people with learning and intellectual disabilities in hospitality and 25 more in other sectors, supporting the employment of 48 people.
David Mullins said: “
My job, has given me so much confidence and independence. I love sport, so working in Geary’s is brilliant because it’s such a big part of the bar. I really enjoy welcoming customers, talking about the matches and being part of the team here.”
David is also a graduate of HEINEKEN Ireland’s Ahhh-cademy, a trade quality programme that supports skills development in the hospitality sector.
Corina Gough, General Manager of Geary’s, said:
“We’ve been delighted to support many young people through St. Joseph’s Foundation to find work over the years. When we took on David, we saw his potential and wanted to support his interest in bar work. We’ve seen him grow in confidence over the months and build great relationships with our customers. He comes into work with a pep in his step.
“AssistiV’s technology has been instrumental in supporting David to work with greater independence. It has also transformed how we run our business. The learnings we’ve taken from setting up the system have enabled us to streamline training for all new staff and help them get up to speed much faster. We’ve seen first-hand how these changes benefit both employees and customers, and we would strongly encourage other hospitality businesses to look at how they might do the same.”
Brian O’Leary, Account Manager at AssistiV Ireland, said:
“AssistiV’s goal is to create a fairer and more inclusive employment landscape for everyone. We are immensely proud to support David in his role at Geary’s.
“Whether it is waiting tables, changing kegs or working behind the bar, our technology is designed to support people across a wide range of hospitality roles. We want to show employers that inclusive employment is achievable, practical, and hugely rewarding.”
James Hanigan, Sales Manager at HEINEKEN Ireland, said:
“HEINEKEN Ireland is very proud to work with AssistiV Ireland to help bring this life-changing technology to the hospitality industry.
“The successful introduction of the platform at Geary’s in Charleville shows the real impact this technology can have to fill vacant roles in the trade, and we see this first-hand for David as well as his colleagues, customers and the wider business.”
By using AssistiV’s smartphone based technology, an employer in the hospitality sector can be confident that the tasks that are assigned will be completed to the correct standard.
There are also a range of support schemes available to employers, including training supports, workplace adaptation grants, and wage subsidy programmes, making it even easier to hire and train employees with an intellectual disability and build a more inclusive, committed workforce.
Join the Movement
AssistiV is calling on pubs and bars across Ireland to join this initiative and create meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities. By participating, businesses can play a pivotal role in fostering inclusivity and supporting a more diverse workforce.
For more information on how to get involved, please visit https://assistivireland.com/.
