NADO Annual Conference, July 2005 Involving disabled people in the development of your institution’s disability equality scheme Dr Caroline Davies

Disability Equality Schemes Four statements from the DRC Code of Practice “Involvement of disabled people is a key principle which underpins the general duty to promote disability equality.” A public authority must “involve disabled people… in the development of its DES.”

“All aspects of the Scheme need to have the involvement of disabled people.” The Scheme “must include a statement of the way in which disabled people have been involved in its development.”

Involve include as a necessary part cause to experience or participate in an activity or situation Consult seek information or advice from seek permission or approval from Oxford Dictionary

Involvement in “all aspects” Identifying the barriers faced by disabled people and unsatisfactory outcomes Setting priorities for action plans Assisting planning activity Assessing the impact of existing and proposed policies and monitoring the success of initiatives taken Reviewing and revising the Scheme

On being “influential” “People outside the organisation should be able to see how the involvement of disabled people has affected the institution’s Scheme and its plans.” [3.22] If public bodies are unable to see changes in their activities as a result of involvement it is unlikely that it is being carried out effectively. [2.19]

“… effective and imaginative ways” consider the full diversity of disabled people (relevant to purpose) conduct a ‘stakeholder analysis’ review available methodologies – are they effective? – are they accessible? – do you need to develop other approaches? seek advice on who/ how to involve

Identifying the stakeholders What are the institution’s activities? education – recruitment, L&T, services, employment – all employment practices local and regional activities – partnerships (educational and business) international activities services to the public – eg conferences, galleries, concerts … any other activities?

Securing involvement what types of activities? members of DES working group focus groups, what else? do existing feedback mechanisms get responses from disabled people? – if not, why not? Consider accessibility issues – user-friendliness payment and other resources overcoming ‘involvement fatigue’ making involvement worthwhile

Reaching out Not just the usual suspects - how to involve the ‘hard to reach’: involving people who are reluctant to be identified and/or find group participation difficult involving transient stakeholders, eg applicants involvement at a distance

Sources of information Disability Rights Commission (DRC) Draft Code of Practice “The Duty to Promote Disability Equality” Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) Promoting equality. The public sector duty on disability: suggested first steps for HEIs National Disability Scheme (NDT) briefing on the Disability Discrimination Bill Future the DRC guidance on involving disabled people Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) guidance on DES, incorporating lessons learned from pilots in 5 HEIs