Frequently Asked Questions



Who can apply?

The ABLE Business Excellence Awards is open to companies and organisations of all sizes.

Who should apply?

Every company who agrees that equality for all is a basic human right should apply to hold the ABLE Award.

Why should I take part?

  • Displaying an ABLE Award assures your clients that you value them as customers.
  • The award is in recognition of those businesses that demonstrate their commitment and achievements as providers of services and products to customers with disabilities, and as an employer of people with disabilities, in Ireland.
  • Receiving an ABLE award will make you ?disability confident? and enable you to promote your facilities to thousands of people with disabilities.
  • The Able Awards provide a business opportunity by enabling you to recognise equal status legislation and communicate your commitment to ?access for all?.
  • Lets your potential customers know the accessibility of the services you provide and allows them to make an informed choice.

Why should I be concerned about the equal status legislation?

The Equality Act 2004 places duties on service providers to provide equality of access to people with disabilities. This means that you must take reasonable steps to make your facilities and services accessible.

How will people know that my premises has an ABLE award?

Once the Approvals Board has ratified your assessment, you can display the ABLE award symbol on promotional literature, advertisements, entrance doorways, etc.

Who will conduct the assessments?

An assessment will take place with a member of the Q Mark for accessibility team.

What will be assessed?

Your services and facilities will be assessed under three modules:

  • The ABLE Customer
  • The Built Environment
  • The ABLE Employee

Applicants will be assessed for compliance with the Customer and the Built Environment, with optional assessment under the Employee module.

What is included in the ABLE Customer module?

  • ?The organisation must show a commitment to learning what the customer needs and wants are, and have developed action plans that implement customer friendly policies and processes?
  • Your policy in relation to accessible customer service must be defined
  • Emphasis is placed on how you identify the specific needs of your customer from the first point of contact, and ensure that these needs are being met
  • Your customer feedback channels must be accessible to all users

What is included in the Built Environment module?

  • ?The organisation should ensure universal access, egress and circulation throughout its built environment, so that all users can move around in safety and with ease?
  • The focus is on meeting your customer's access needs
  • Access is reviewed taking into account approach and surroundings and you will only be assessed on those criteria which are applicable to your facilities

What is included in the ABLE Employee module?

  • ?The organisation must be able to show a commitment to providing equality to employees with disabilities and that there are action plans and resources in place to implement this?
  • This module will obviously not apply to your organisation if you don?t have employees
  • You will be assessed on how you enable employees with disabilities to work in your organisation

If successful, how long do I have the award?

If you fulfill the assessment criteria, you will have the award for two years. You will then have to re-apply for the award.