Mick DillonBArch DipArch PGDipArch RegArch

Chief Executive .

Disability Awareness17th February 2015

Introduction and Welcomes

What is Disability all about?

Disability and the Workplace

Can anyone define disability?

Thesaurus definition of Disability

Legal definition vs Society definition

What is Disability all about then?

“A physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on a persons ability to

carry out normal day to day activities”

””

“you don’t looked disabled”

””

“you can’t do this”

Inability, incapability, incompetent

How many disabled people are there in Great Britain? (All ages)

What % of disabled people (of working age) in Great Britain are unemployed?

56% of working-age disabled people are not in employment compared to 24% of working-age non-disabled people 16% of the working age

population have declared they have a disability

There are over 11 million people with a limiting long term illness, impairment or disability. 2012 Labour Force Survey

Does disability affect educational opportunities?

6.5% of working age non-disabled do not hold any formal qualification compared to 19.2% of working age disabled people 28.1% of working age non-disabled people hold degree-level qualifications compared to 14.9% of

working age disabled people 2012 Labour Force Survey

What are the most commonly-reported impairments? mobility, lifting or carrying

Is disability an age related issue?Disability rises with age Around 6% of children are disabled, compared to

16% (2m) of working age adults and 45% of adults over State Pension age

Capability or Disability?

Disability and the workplace

Take disability out of the equation, what does the issue look like now? Understanding staff

environments away from the workplace

Do the right thing or the right thing to do?

Performance or absence issues?What’s the culture, attitude, need, risk and ambition of

the Company?

I’m an employer I want to recruit and retain the best quality staff

Disability and the Work Place.

When recruiting new staff, what does any employer need and hope for?

Good knowledge, reliable, able, loyal, good time keeping, good customer focus, smart? Effective & efficient? Shall we say Employability?

What do we think are the key issues about employing disabled people?

Productivity and efficiency, absence, cost, image, medical appointments, time keeping, ability to travel,

accessibility, impact on other staff?

What are your concerns about retaining a member of staff who becomes disabled?

Mick DillonThe Disability Resource CentrePoynters House, Poynters RoadDunstable, Beds. LU5 4TP

Call: 01582 470900 Twitter: @DisabilityMickWebsite: www.drcbeds.org.ukEmail: mickdillon@drcbeds.org.ukRegistered Charity No 1041712 Our Patron: The Duke of Bedford