In 2000, unemployment among people with disabilities was 90 percent in Ireland against a national average of 4 percent. Businesses were resisting the equality, disability and employment legislation that had been designed by government and rights groups to overcome such economic exclusion because businesses saw the legislation as threatening and costly. Recognising the reasons behind this resistance, Caroline Casey began working closely with Irish business leaders in 2001, helping them to realise the economic contribution and ability of people with disabilities, both as employees and as consumers.