What is DuoDay

DuoDay brings together disabled people, supported employment agencies and local employers for one day to promote equal employment opportunities across Europe. It highlights the positive contribution disabled people make in our workplaces.

All kinds of employers, businesses and organisations can take part, big or small, in the private, public or non-profit sector. DuoDay affords a disabled person the opportunity to gain an insight into the world of work by shadowing an employee as they go about their normal working routine.

Duoday, also known as Shadow Day, started in Ireland in 2008 and is now taking place in 9 countries across Europe. Scotland has joined this European movement in support of equal working rights for disabled people.

On 26 April 2018, SUSE hosted its first DuoDay, with the theme of Leadership. Disabled people have leadership aspirations and ambitions and we want to showcase that these opportunities exist for them in Scotland.

On 16 May 2019, SUSE hosted its second DuoDay, with the theme focusing on The Disability Employment Gap. In line with the aspirations set out in the Scottish Government’s ‘A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People: Employment Action Plan’, SUSE wanted to highlight the contributions of supported employment services and the support they provide to jobseekers and employers.

The theme of DuoDay in 2021 was Play Your Part, highlighting the contributions disabled people make to Scotland’s businesses and economy and encouraging everyone to work together to close the Disability Employment Gap in Scotland. Our participation was made possible by sponsorships from the Edward Gostling Foundation and the Sutor Charitable Trust.