Freeney Williams Ltd. http://www.freeneywilliams.com The Disability and Equality Agenda e-bulletin – November 2010 For information about how Freeney Williams Ltd can help your organisation achieve the disability and equality agenda please contact enquiries@freeneywilliams.com Please forward this bulletin to a colleague so they can subscribe. In this month: 1. “How fair is Britain” report by Equality and Human Rights Commission 2. Law Society briefing on the Equality Act 2010 3. £6,000 compensation for wheelchair user 4. Digital Inclusion: improving access for disabled people 5. New on-line service for disabled jobseekers 6. Cuts in Access to Work approved products 7. 2012 homes legacy given lukewarm welcome 8. Treasury ‘kept ODI in the dark’ over DLA cut 9. The Undiscovered Workforce - Employing people on the autism spectrum 10. Save money on training – new service by Freeney Williams 1. “How fair is Britain” – a report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission A report published last month by the Equality and Human Rights Commission reinforces how the statutory Codes of Practice for the Equality Act are needed to support employers in employing disabled people and serving disabled customers. The EHRC's How Fair is Britain report is the first major study of its kind into the state of Britain's equality landscape. It brings together all available evidence about equality issues into one review. The report shows that: * Disabled men are substantially less likely to be in employment than in the past. * Disabled people are twice as likely to report harassment in the workplace as non-disabled people. * Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) are substantially less likely to achieve 5 GCSE A-Cs as children without SEN. For more information click http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/key-projects/triennial-review/full-report-and-evidence-downloads 2. Law Society briefing on the Equality Act 2010 The Law Society has published a practice note on the main provisions of the Equality Act 2010. To view click: http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/productsandservices/practicenotes/equalityact/4556.article#ea3_1 3. £6,000 compensation for wheelchair user A worker in a wheelchair who was nicknamed 'Ironside' after the disabled 1970s TV detective has won a £6,000 payout for his 'violated dignity'. Read more at: http://tinyurl.com/2g426l6 4. Digital Inclusion: improving access for disabled people The government, private sector and voluntary sector have joined forces to improve disabled people's access to online goods and services. The e-Accessibility Forum Action Plan was launched by Maria Miller, the Minister for Disabled People, and Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries. The plan aims to improve public websites, upgrade equipment and provide better online content for disabled people. The plan will be led by the e-Accessibility Forum which is made up of a group of experts from ODI, other government departments, industry and the voluntary sector. The forum will be used to help develop government policy and to provide business and other organisations with the right tools to enable everyone to participate in the UK digital economy. Read more at: http://www.officefordisability.gov.uk/odi-projects/digital-inclusion.php 5. New on-line service for disabled jobseekers Disabled jobseekers have been given a boost with the launch of a new online service. The Disability Clearkit is an initiative aimed at getting thousands more disabled people into the workplace across the UK. In partnership with the Employers’ Forum on Disability, more than 200 employers including BT, E.On, South Eastern, UK Border Agency and HMRC have worked together to share best practice, offer guidance to employers and stimulate employment opportunities for disabled talent. For more information click: http://tinyurl.com/2dxrsal 6. Cuts in Access to Work approved products Owing to Government cuts in general, Access to Work has had to introduce a reduction in the range of products it will pay for in the future. The list currently consists of: Analogue hearing aids Chairs (except for specialist items) Desks/extenders/bridges/feet/desk raisers, armrests, gel rests, drawer pedestals Perching stools, footstools Backrests/wedges/back friend/cushions/swivel pads Desk top computers, printers, scanners, Screens, screen raisers, keyboards (including overlays), mice, monitor arms Laptops, lapstands iPads, iMacs Voice activated software, voice recorders Internet connections and rentals for home working Fax machines, copiers All telephony, headphones, mobile phones GPS devices/sat navs Document holders /writing slopes General office equipment such as staplers, hole punches etc. For more information on the cut backs click: http://www.abilitymagazine.org.uk/News.aspx 7. 2012 homes legacy given lukewarm welcome Nearly 250 new wheelchair-accessible flats and houses should be available for disabled people to rent or buy on the Olympic Park after the London 2012 games, the public body responsible for building the athletes’ village has revealed. More than a quarter of the 240 homes will be rented social housing, with most of the rest available to buy. However, there are many who think this is not enough. Read more at: http://www.philandfriends.co.uk:80/news.html Thanks to John Pring at www.disabilitynewsservice.com 8. Treasury ‘kept ODI in the dark’ over DLA cut The government failed to tell its own expert disability department about its plans to cut a key mobility-based disability benefit until just hours before the measure was announced, a disabled peer has revealed. Read more at: http://www.philandfriends.co.uk:80/news.html Thanks to John Pring at www.disabilitynewsservice.com 9. The Undiscovered Workforce - Employing people on the autism spectrum A unique one-day conference run by National Autistic Society on 30 November 2010 gives employers practical guidance as well as an opportunity to discuss best practice and learn key skills and techniques for recruiting and managing people with autism (including Asperger syndrome). People with autism often make effective and highly valued employees. They are often highly focused and maintain a high level of accuracy. Making reasonable adjustments for someone with autism can be simple to do and is seldom costly. This conference will provide employers with the essential strategies and techniques for recruiting and managing people with autism, from interviews to induction and day-to-day management. One of the slots will be led by yours truly – the Ed! There are still some places available so if you are interested please go to the NAS website at: http://www.autism.org.uk/en-gb/news-and-events/nas-conferences/our-forthcoming-conferences/the-undiscovered-workforce.aspx 10. Save money on training – new service by Freeney Williams Some of you have been telling us money is tight and training is one of those items being cut. We listened and have come up with a way of delivering training which can save you money whilst providing a new way of engaging your staff in the issues! We now offer training for groups of staff by telephone! How does it work? * Staff sit at their desk and simply phone-in to a central number * The session is live with consultants in the studio * The training is run by experienced, expert consultants * Each session lasts up to 60 minutes * There is no limit on the number of staff who can take part * Participants can ask questions at any time and listen to each other * Sessions can be tailored to meet specific organisational needs and take into account your own practices, policies and so on * Costs can be as low as £15 per person - depending on the numbers involved Any subject can be covered such as: * Making reasonable adjustments * Managing hidden disabilities * Absence management * Mental ill health * The Equality Act and disability * Being a barrier free service provider * Communication, etiquette and language * Employing people with aspergers syndrome * Managing dyslexia And many others… . it’s up to you! The approach can be used to provide information, generate awareness, develop competence, hold a debate around the issue or just raise people’s confidence in dealing with the issues. This approach has a proven track record, is very flexible, minimises costs, gets rid of the need for people to travel and only takes an hour! What more can you want or need? For more information and to discuss how our telephone tutorials can help you develop your Disability Confidence just contact us enquiries@freeneywilliams.com T 01273 327715 To subscribe or unsubscribe click http://www.freeneywilliams.com/dea-e-bulletin.asp © Freeney Williams Ltd 2009 37 Buckingham Road Brighton East Sussex BN1 3RP T 01273 327715 F 01273 327715 mailto:enquiries@freeneywilliams.com