Many employers are afraid to hire people with disabilities, it was claimed today.
The Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (Ahead) said companies worry about legislation, productivity levels and health and safety obligations.
A survey carried out among 300 employers on behalf of Ahead found that 70 per cent of firms surveyed had no graduates with disabilities in their offices.
Over the last two years the Willing, Able and Mentoring (Wam) project placed 47 graduates with disabilities in employment. Two-thirds of whom were in the public sector with the remainder in the private sector.
Employers and graduates are gathering today in Dublin Castle for a recruitment fair and workshops.
Ann Heelan, executive director of Ahead said: "Employers fear some sort of reprisal if they 'get it wrong' when recruiting or employing a graduate with disabilities."
She added: "They are worried about legislation, their own knowledge of disabilities and how to manage them, productivity levels, asking inappropriate questions during the interview stage and they are worried about their health and safety obligations."
Meanwhile the number of people with disabilities in third level education doubled in the past seven years.
Former Minister of Education, Niamh Breathnach, who sits on the board of Ahead said: "Employers will need to be sure they can accommodate people with disabilities if they want to acquire the best talent available."
Last year nearly 6,000 disable students sat their Leaving Cert exams - 12 per cent of the total.
PA