Disability Awareness

Aims and Objectives Aims To raise awareness of: issues faced by disabled people/employees/customers and general public Responsibilities and issues for employers appropriate legislation Objectives To begin to look at barriers that disabled people face in their day to day lives To start to look at the effect of Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) To begin to have a better understanding of employers responsibilities and the rights of the disabled employee To start to gain a better understanding of "Access to Goods and Services Part 3" of the DDA. To increase our knowledge of Access To Work and the adaptive technology and support available

3 Group Work What does disability mean to you? Language Sheet Explain the Following handout

A physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day to day activities

5 The Act in 5 Parts Part 1 Definition of Disability Part 2 Employment Part 3 Access to Goods and Services Part 4 Education Part 5 Transport Overview of the DDA 1995

Aim - End the discrimination that many disabled people face.

7 It is unlawful to discriminate by:  providing a service on worse terms  providing a lower standard of service  refusing to serve someone  refusing to make a reasonable adjustment

8  Failure to make a reasonable adjustment in circumstances which make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for the client to use the service  Refusal of service has to relate to a person’s disability and service providers cannot refuse to provide a service unless they can justify their actions

9  Is this discrimination?

 “The best of intentions, the worst of actions”  Liz’s story

 Ensure that you always ask the person if they need any assistance, and what would be the best manner in which to provide this. All disabled people are individual and will therefore have different needs at different times.  Don’t make assumptions about their impairment and avoid stereo typing.;  Disabled people are individuals and should be treated as such with dignity and respect;.

 Some tips for working with disabled people  People in wheelchairs would generally prefer you to sit down when speaking to them?  Do not lean on a persons wheelchair?  Visually impaired people  Identify yourself when first speaking to a visually impaired person?  Guiding someone – allow the person to hold your arm?  See handout you and your customers.

Access to work The access to work program helps to remove the practical barriers that disabled people can face at work. This can be done by a variety of means Handouts Access to work

14 The purpose of the Disability Information Bureau is to provide an information service for disabled people and any other person interested in disability related issues.

15  Information on any disability related subject  Benefits support  Awareness Training  Access appraisals  IT learning Centre with adaptive technology  Dyslexia support  Specialism in visual awareness Our Services

 This evening we have covered;  Legislation  Terminology  Disability courtesy  Access to work  And the Disability Information Bureau  If you require any further information our address details are as follows.

Disability Information Bureau Pearce Street Macclesfield Cheshire SK11 8ER Tel