Business
Pause for thought
Friday/May/2008 03:50 PM
"The best way to predict your future is to create it."
I work with many people who are influential in the lives of disabled people. Many of them will influence health and social care - either as policy or decision makers, assessors or advisors.
Every UK citizen will also make decisions which affect the lives of disabled and older people. Through our democratic voting - we are choosing who we want to influence our future and the way they will do it.
It is perhaps wise for us all to think that one day, older age or impairment may well creep in. Have we chosen our future wisely or will we regret what we have done or failed to do?
Employers get DDA advice
Friday/April/2008 04:40 PM
Disability
and Employment
“For the first time, this year’s Employer CD-ROM includes information on disability and employment.
Employing disabled people can help you to:
SOURCE: HMRC Employer’s Bulliten 29 issued April 2008
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/employers-bulletin/bulletin29/disability-employment.htm
“For the first time, this year’s Employer CD-ROM includes information on disability and employment.
Employing disabled people can help you to:
- attract and keep skilled staff
- make your workforce more representative of the community it serves
- avoid undervaluing, under-using or losing skilled staff
- avoid the costs and uncertainties of recruiting someone new
- improve staff morale and productivity
- develop good practice
- help avoid claims of unlawful disability discrimination.”
SOURCE: HMRC Employer’s Bulliten 29 issued April 2008
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/employers-bulletin/bulletin29/disability-employment.htm
American Express apologize for no alternative format
Sunday/April/2008 02:03 PM
BBC Radio 4's Money Box was broadcast on Saturday, 5
April 2008 at 1204 BST.
In the programme the lack of alternative formats was addressed. This was in relation to American Express offering bank statements in PDF formats that were not coded for visually impaired people to read via their screen readers. The issue has still not been fixed and is causing difficulties for the many people who use screen readers (Blind and visually impaired people, those with reading impairments who listen to the spoke word and people with learning difficulties who may also find it easier hearing items rather than reading them.
This is unlawful under the DDA and American Express apologized to the BBC stating that they are working to fix the problem that began last December.
In the programme the lack of alternative formats was addressed. This was in relation to American Express offering bank statements in PDF formats that were not coded for visually impaired people to read via their screen readers. The issue has still not been fixed and is causing difficulties for the many people who use screen readers (Blind and visually impaired people, those with reading impairments who listen to the spoke word and people with learning difficulties who may also find it easier hearing items rather than reading them.
This is unlawful under the DDA and American Express apologized to the BBC stating that they are working to fix the problem that began last December.
Alternative formats - again
Sunday/March/2008 02:11 PM
I am currently about a month into a post graduate course as a disability practitioner/consultant and trainer. Disabled students can apply for a grant/allowance that covers disability related costs which can pose a financial barrier to education.
To get the grant you have to have an assessment and confirmation that you have an impairment e.g. GP letter etc. My consultant once again confirmed that no miracle had occurred since the last two times I had this grant to study and all that remained was the assessment.
I spent quite a few hours with an understanding person trying to make sure I was applying for all the right personal assistance and equipment I would need to complete the course on an equal footing with a none disabled person. Much emphasis was placed on how I use electronic formats e.g. e-mail and web forums for communication, notes from a laptop I also hope to get, I read journals on-line and can't write much more than a few words.
Now, due to difficulties in holding books and papers (and looking down to read the things which effects my neck) I have documents I can read on a computer screen - nothing special, just word or pdf documents sent via e-mail.
My assessor wrote all this down and what happened next.....
he sent a several page report on my access needs - in print copy only.
This is typical - and the fee for this person to write that report is deducted from my grant!!
Imagine this
Wednesday/December/2007 06:41 PM
What are my chances of getting a contract?
Did you know that 1 in 5 people are disabled - but only half of disabled people (of working age) are in employment?
Many have the right qualifications but are never asked to an interview.
80% of non disabled people (of working age) are in employment earning more than their disabled peers.
It is highly likely, that in the course of my business, people, given the choice, will choose a non-disabled service provider because of prejudices and discrimination in the UK.
This is my reality.
No Alternative format
Tuesday/November/2007 12:27 PM
Today I enquired about my insurance. I was sent a pdf
format which was not alterable. On asking for an
alternative version I could type into, I was told
they didn't have one.
The suggestion was to reference a typed document (that I was to type) to part of the form, print, sign and send both. This made it quite difficult so I had to resort to cutting and pasting each paragraph from the pdf into a word type document.
All the formatting was lost and I spent a long time making it look readable and then printing out two lots of a rather long document and wasting yet more paper and ink.
Why people need electronic formats (just a few examples):
1) You can change the font size and type e.g. in Word if you need larger or smaller print.
2) You can change the colour and background to make reading easier.
3) You can have a text to speech program read out your document or use speech to text to write on a form.
4) It is ideal for someone who can't write and needs to type out information for a form.
5) It is ideal for someone who can't use their arms / fingers or look downwards to read a document on their screen.
I personally find looking down at paper, holding it and writing with a pen difficult to impossible.
Electronic formats should be common practise and especially in large businesses like a major insurance company.
The suggestion was to reference a typed document (that I was to type) to part of the form, print, sign and send both. This made it quite difficult so I had to resort to cutting and pasting each paragraph from the pdf into a word type document.
All the formatting was lost and I spent a long time making it look readable and then printing out two lots of a rather long document and wasting yet more paper and ink.
Why people need electronic formats (just a few examples):
1) You can change the font size and type e.g. in Word if you need larger or smaller print.
2) You can change the colour and background to make reading easier.
3) You can have a text to speech program read out your document or use speech to text to write on a form.
4) It is ideal for someone who can't write and needs to type out information for a form.
5) It is ideal for someone who can't use their arms / fingers or look downwards to read a document on their screen.
I personally find looking down at paper, holding it and writing with a pen difficult to impossible.
Electronic formats should be common practise and especially in large businesses like a major insurance company.
Business advice...
Saturday/November/2007 05:37 PM
I had the potential for a rather large contract in
Inner London. I was after some business advice and
eventually got through to Maidstone Chamber of
Commerce. I spoke to a very helpful person (who
seemed to think I did building access audits when I
said 'Disability Equality' ). He quickly made an
appointment for me to see firstly himself (to talk
about the Chamber) and secondly to speak to a
business advisor. I asked about wheelchair access and
I was told I could get in fine.
It was a miserable, rainy day and I managed to get parking in a public car park across the road.
It would have been a bit more pleasant if the helpful chap had told me there was parking right outside the door. Still, my PA opened the door and we took a seat.
The chap I was seeing was on the phone and the second chap looked thoughtful as he gazed up at us from across the room.
Eventually he came over. By that, I mean he got up, walked straight past me and over to my PA.
"You must be Louise", he said.
"No, Louise is over there", came the reply from my PA.
"Oh", said the man looking confused as he spun round to look at me.
Great, I thought, I was very offended. Given the option of two people - one of whom was going to be the customer looking for business advice - the man chose to rule me out.
Eventually I had my first appointment - amidst a conversation opener that went along the lines of:
"How often do you have to charge it? Does it go far?"
"Oh my wheelchair, no it depends how far I have been."
"You could charge it up with the socket over there if you need to."
I wanted to go down the lines of 'that's not really appropriate' as a way to greet a wheelchair user. The reality was he probably did not know any better and just served to prove how much Equality Training is needed.
Would you go up to a customer and open the conversation with ' how far can you walk in a day without getting tired... have you walked far today.... you can take a rest over there...'?
So many people start off a conversation like that, where there is simply no need.
Wheels are an equivalent of legs. They get you from A to B. My wheelchair is a part of me - part of my body. If you wouldn't comment on someone's legs - then please don't comment on my wheels.
It was a miserable, rainy day and I managed to get parking in a public car park across the road.
It would have been a bit more pleasant if the helpful chap had told me there was parking right outside the door. Still, my PA opened the door and we took a seat.
The chap I was seeing was on the phone and the second chap looked thoughtful as he gazed up at us from across the room.
Eventually he came over. By that, I mean he got up, walked straight past me and over to my PA.
"You must be Louise", he said.
"No, Louise is over there", came the reply from my PA.
"Oh", said the man looking confused as he spun round to look at me.
Great, I thought, I was very offended. Given the option of two people - one of whom was going to be the customer looking for business advice - the man chose to rule me out.
Eventually I had my first appointment - amidst a conversation opener that went along the lines of:
"How often do you have to charge it? Does it go far?"
"Oh my wheelchair, no it depends how far I have been."
"You could charge it up with the socket over there if you need to."
I wanted to go down the lines of 'that's not really appropriate' as a way to greet a wheelchair user. The reality was he probably did not know any better and just served to prove how much Equality Training is needed.
Would you go up to a customer and open the conversation with ' how far can you walk in a day without getting tired... have you walked far today.... you can take a rest over there...'?
So many people start off a conversation like that, where there is simply no need.
Wheels are an equivalent of legs. They get you from A to B. My wheelchair is a part of me - part of my body. If you wouldn't comment on someone's legs - then please don't comment on my wheels.
Dragon's Den
Wednesday/October/2007 06:03 PM
To understand this post you may need the key or
glossary on the right.
Dragon's Den
How many business woman have to go through a 'business viability' check and 1:1 interview before they can do anything. I can not work without physical assistance. I have very little movement in my head and limbs. I had to endure a 1:1 interview and put my case forward as to why A2W should fund my personal assistance.
I had to disclose financial details such as how much I planned on spending on christmas presents, how much I spent on social gatherings, mortgage, utilities, magazine subscriptions, food..... and I was told 'to be honest'. The interviewer scanned her eyes around my home, where the interview took place, looking for signs that I had more or less money than I had disclosed. I had to prove that myself and my husband were living within our means and didn't have a 4 foot plasma screen TV hidden in the corner!
We went over everything from number of Degrees I held through to my marketing and financial strategies.
It took a good few hours. She would then go away and I would get the results in the post - if they said yes I could continue setting up in business. If they said no, then I would have to privately fund my assistance of over £700 a week or give up self employment.
In the meantime they would pay me £11 an hour for personal assistance up until the last day of October.
October came....
No letter, I have also filed out about 20 pages of two application forms to the ILF. I have both the ILF and Social Services on standby to provide financial assistance should A2W decide not to fund.
I have spent over a week filling out forms to organise my personal assistance.
I went on holiday for 1 week.
Postal strikes and IT failure plagued my efforts.
I had spent the last three months doing business set-up, mailshots, advertising, networking etc. I almost had three contracts - then they fell through. Time was pushing on ... still no reply. I wondered if all my hard work had been for nothing... what if they didn't fund. My business would be over before it had started.
The pressure was immense.
I am told I can not use ILF or DPs for work purposes. If this fails I will not be able to work.
I feel demotivated - will my hard work be for nothing. It is an ugly black cloud over my head.
It was a few days to go until the end of October, I contacted A2W to ask what they had decided.
They said the letter was 'lost in the post'. I was e-mailed a copy. It stated I had a viable business plan. I was asked how many contracts I had. I had none - and I hadn't been expecting an income until my marketing strategy kicked in. I had been given three months to secure substantial contracts - just three months. I am not told how 'substantial' these should be.
I didn't get the funding. Officially I am not working but doing 'meaningful activities'. The alternative is I go to a day centre with large numbers of other disabled people who could work given half the chance.
Once there I could make baskets and play scrabble or have a sing-a-long.
I would cost the tax payer a lot of money and go mad. It is no place for a person with two degrees and a desire to work.
I would find it almost impossible to work for anyone but myself because of the flexibility and home working base that I would need - not many people offer work that is flexible enough.
I will not be giving up on my business just yet though.
Dragon's Den
How many business woman have to go through a 'business viability' check and 1:1 interview before they can do anything. I can not work without physical assistance. I have very little movement in my head and limbs. I had to endure a 1:1 interview and put my case forward as to why A2W should fund my personal assistance.
I had to disclose financial details such as how much I planned on spending on christmas presents, how much I spent on social gatherings, mortgage, utilities, magazine subscriptions, food..... and I was told 'to be honest'. The interviewer scanned her eyes around my home, where the interview took place, looking for signs that I had more or less money than I had disclosed. I had to prove that myself and my husband were living within our means and didn't have a 4 foot plasma screen TV hidden in the corner!
We went over everything from number of Degrees I held through to my marketing and financial strategies.
It took a good few hours. She would then go away and I would get the results in the post - if they said yes I could continue setting up in business. If they said no, then I would have to privately fund my assistance of over £700 a week or give up self employment.
In the meantime they would pay me £11 an hour for personal assistance up until the last day of October.
October came....
No letter, I have also filed out about 20 pages of two application forms to the ILF. I have both the ILF and Social Services on standby to provide financial assistance should A2W decide not to fund.
I have spent over a week filling out forms to organise my personal assistance.
I went on holiday for 1 week.
Postal strikes and IT failure plagued my efforts.
I had spent the last three months doing business set-up, mailshots, advertising, networking etc. I almost had three contracts - then they fell through. Time was pushing on ... still no reply. I wondered if all my hard work had been for nothing... what if they didn't fund. My business would be over before it had started.
The pressure was immense.
I am told I can not use ILF or DPs for work purposes. If this fails I will not be able to work.
I feel demotivated - will my hard work be for nothing. It is an ugly black cloud over my head.
It was a few days to go until the end of October, I contacted A2W to ask what they had decided.
They said the letter was 'lost in the post'. I was e-mailed a copy. It stated I had a viable business plan. I was asked how many contracts I had. I had none - and I hadn't been expecting an income until my marketing strategy kicked in. I had been given three months to secure substantial contracts - just three months. I am not told how 'substantial' these should be.
I didn't get the funding. Officially I am not working but doing 'meaningful activities'. The alternative is I go to a day centre with large numbers of other disabled people who could work given half the chance.
Once there I could make baskets and play scrabble or have a sing-a-long.
I would cost the tax payer a lot of money and go mad. It is no place for a person with two degrees and a desire to work.
I would find it almost impossible to work for anyone but myself because of the flexibility and home working base that I would need - not many people offer work that is flexible enough.
I will not be giving up on my business just yet though.
About my work.. on your marks...get set...
Friday/August/2007 06:03 PM
It was August 2007. I wasn't comfortable working for
Social Services amidst some radical changes in the
structure of staff and services. My post was coming
to an end so I decided to hand in my notice and
return to doing Training and Consultancy.
As I set up my business, I was once again plunged into a bubbling cauldron of inequality and discrimination as a business woman and disabled person.
My aim was simple. I was going to offer services that would support the Disability Equality agenda and Independent Living.
This would involve courses around Independent Living and Disability Equality , consultancy and web-services.
It was something I had done before so decided on a re-launch. And so my new enterprise 'Information for Independence' was born.
This blog is about the ups and downs of the 'disability' issues effecting my life and my business.
Equality matters - it matters to me and it effects everyone.... even you.
As I set up my business, I was once again plunged into a bubbling cauldron of inequality and discrimination as a business woman and disabled person.
My aim was simple. I was going to offer services that would support the Disability Equality agenda and Independent Living.
This would involve courses around Independent Living and Disability Equality , consultancy and web-services.
It was something I had done before so decided on a re-launch. And so my new enterprise 'Information for Independence' was born.
This blog is about the ups and downs of the 'disability' issues effecting my life and my business.
Equality matters - it matters to me and it effects everyone.... even you.
My worth - less than minimum wage apparently.
Thursday/August/2007 12:13 PM
Last month I received a phone call from another
consultant who had entered into a training contract
with a local authority and felt they needed help
delivering a course on Independent Living and Direct
Payments.
I had worked at events with this person before and they wanted my knowledge and presentation skills to deliver parts of the course.
As a co-trainer I was offered less than minimum wage. I declined this insulting and tokenistic offer.
It is common for a 'wheel 'em in, wheel 'em approach by so called Disability Consultants because it looks good having a disabled person present. This is wrong but unfortunately not uncommon. If disabled people are being consulted then their knowledge and contribution should be valued and payment provided on an equal par to a none-disabled consultant who is an expert in a particular field.
I had worked at events with this person before and they wanted my knowledge and presentation skills to deliver parts of the course.
As a co-trainer I was offered less than minimum wage. I declined this insulting and tokenistic offer.
It is common for a 'wheel 'em in, wheel 'em approach by so called Disability Consultants because it looks good having a disabled person present. This is wrong but unfortunately not uncommon. If disabled people are being consulted then their knowledge and contribution should be valued and payment provided on an equal par to a none-disabled consultant who is an expert in a particular field.
