business
Employers get DDA advice
Friday/April/2008 04:40 PM Filed in: Business
| Equality News
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
Magazine apology to visually impaired readers
Friday/February/2008 02:27 PM Filed in: Leisure
| Equality News
As a dedicated family historian researching my
ancestry, I purchase a popular magazine called 'Your
Family Tree'.
In the last issue, they accidentally printed some of their articles in a pale font on a pale background and made it difficult for vision impaired people to read or 'those with poor eyesight' as they described.
Nice to see that not only have they apologized publicly but they have made an accessible downloadable version in a pdf for people who can access the Internet.
Congratulations to the Editor for apologizing and avoiding a potential DDA claim from it's readers. Perhaps others publications could take note... I''m off to have a read.
Read what the company said by clicking here.
I posted a comment on their website and added this note in reference to their SPAM detection:
(Apart from to publish this I had to answer a maths question which many disabled people would find difficult should they have a cognitive impairment)
In the last issue, they accidentally printed some of their articles in a pale font on a pale background and made it difficult for vision impaired people to read or 'those with poor eyesight' as they described.
Nice to see that not only have they apologized publicly but they have made an accessible downloadable version in a pdf for people who can access the Internet.
Congratulations to the Editor for apologizing and avoiding a potential DDA claim from it's readers. Perhaps others publications could take note... I''m off to have a read.
Read what the company said by clicking here.
I posted a comment on their website and added this note in reference to their SPAM detection:
(Apart from to publish this I had to answer a maths question which many disabled people would find difficult should they have a cognitive impairment)
Imagine this
Wednesday/December/2007 06:41 PM Filed in:
Business
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 Filed in: Business
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 Filed in:
Business
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.
About my work.. on your marks...get set...
Friday/August/2007 06:03 PM Filed in: Business
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 Filed in: Business
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.
