Disability Equality Training
Length of Programme: minimum 1 day
Many of our customers contact us about disability awareness training. We believe that traditional disability awareness training is not as effective as our approach, which we call Disability Equality Training.Once our customers have experienced our training, they agree.
Awareness training:
- is aimed at increasing the confidence of non-disabled staff when providing services to disabled people
- is often delivered by non-disabled people
- often concentrates on one impairment, such as visual impairment or hearing impairment
- often involves simulation exercises, such as using blindfolds or ear defenders
Awareness training does not challenge assumptions and attitudes, which is necessary to support a fully inclusive culture within organisations. Concentrating on impairments rather than barriers may lead participants to believe that disabled people are prevented from doing things by impairment rather than lack of inclusive planning in society. Simulation exercises may encourage stereotypical assumptions and the effect has been shown not to be long lasting.
Disability Equality training:
- is delivered by disabled people who are trained in the Social Model of Disability
- includes issues such as etiquette, customer care and use of appropriate language (explanations and discussion to aid deeper understanding and engagement)
- encourages discussion of how disabled people are disabled by attitudes and barriers present in society
- enables participants to identify 4 specific barriers and positively demonstrate what an organisation needs to do remove them
- identifies sources of support and further information
- is underpinned by the Social Model of disability
The Disability Rights Commission recommends that training on disability should be from the perspective of the Social Model of disability. Using simulation techniques means that the emphasis is still on the Medical Model.
