The South County Bar in Douglas village has partnered with AssistiV Ireland to create an employment opportunity for Dylan Kennedy who has Down syndrome
AssistiV's platform helps make bar work easier by converting complex tasks into simple visual and audio cues removing barriers related to numeracy and literacy.
AssistiV is working with HEINEKEN Ireland to bring its technology to other hospitality businesses across the country
Ireland currently has one of the lowest rates in the EU of employment for disabled people (32.6%), according to Inclusion Ireland, and only 17% of people with intellectual disabilities are active within the workforce.
Dylan Kennedy, who uses AssistiV in his job in the South County Bar, said: “I do lots of jobs here at the South County, from stocking shelves to waiting on tables, taking orders, and pouring pints. Sarah and all the staff treat me as part of the team, and we all work hard together.”
Sarah Burke, South County Bar Manager, added: “The South County Bar in Douglas has been in the O’Connor family for generations, and is deeply connected to our local community. We've always employed people from the locality, including those with disabilities, because we believe everyone deserves a chance at employment.
“When we took on Dylan, a young man with Down syndrome, we saw his potential and wanted to support his interest in bar work. Thanks to AssistiV, we’ve been able to introduce a system that makes it easier for Dylan to take and process orders independently. It not only supports Dylan, but has also enhanced our service offering, making it a big hit with our customers.”
“We've seen firsthand how these changes benefit both our employees and customers and would strongly encourage other pubs to look at how they might do the same.”
AsisstiV Ireland is partnering with HEINEKEN Ireland to bring its technology to more pubs and bars across the country with the aim of creating employment opportunities for more people like Dylan.
