The Inclusion Challenge

[Background] [Aims] [Audience] [The Overall Programme] [Programme] [Event Information] [Application Conditions] [Application Form]

Background

Disabled people are indisputably disadvantaged in the sphere of employment and employment opportunities. Figures from the Annual Population Survey (2007) show that in the working population as a whole they are less likely to be in paid work than non-disabled people, the percentages being 43% compared to 74%. Disabled people with mental health conditions are even less likely to be in work - 16% compared to 43% of all disabled people of working age. Working disabled people are less likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations and more likely to be employed in ‘elementary occupations.

In the lifelong learning sector, the situation for disabled staff reflects the general situation for disabled people. In 2008, on behalf of the Commission for Disabled Staff in Lifelong Learning, NIACE published From compliance to culture change: disabled staff working in lifelong learning. The Commission found what amounted to ‘a systemic failure to address the issue seriously’ (Summary Report, Preface page 1). Having identified twelve key issues, it presented a number of key messages, required outcomes and recommendations. Its work has been continued, through training events and publications, by the Lifelong Learning UK-sponsored Disability Equality Implementation Group (DEIG).

Now the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) is funding this current Disability Equality Continuing Professional Development programme, and a ‘sister’ project developing on-line resources for promoting and achieving disability equality.

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Aims

• To provide a continuing professional development opportunity for teaching and non-teaching disabled staff in all parts of the learning and skills sector and across the English regions
• To provide opportunities for participants to receive effective mentoring to achieve their development aims
• To provide work-shadowing opportunities
• To enable participants to shape the disability equality agenda through contributing to research and an end-of-programme conference.

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Audience

The events are open to and designed for disabled staff in all colleges and learning providers in the learning and skills sector – general FE colleges, 6th form colleges, Local Authority adult and community learning providers (ACL), work-based learning providers WBL), special designated institutions (SDIs) and voluntary and community learning providers.

We welcome participation from disabled staff who aspire to professional and career development, whether they are teaching or non-teaching staff.

In legal terms, a person is a disabled person is she or he has a physical and/or mental impairment which has ‘a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities’. Conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, HIV infection, cancer and multiple sclerosis constitute impairments. Hearing and visual impairment are covered and mental impairment, including mental health conditions. Learning differences such as dyslexia and autism are relevant.

For this programme, we welcome applications from staff who believe themselves to be disabled or meet a criterion above even if they don’t recognise their impairment as a large factor. We welcome applications from staff with fluctuating conditions.

The programme is based on the social model of disability and we will concentrate on adjustments to enable applicants to participate and develop rather than their impairments, long term and fluctuating health conditions or learning differences.

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The overall programme

• A one day regional introductory workshop in early December 2010 at a regional venue
• Four one day regional workshops from January to March 2011
• A national conference in late March/early April 
• A mentoring and work-shadowing programme for participants
• An opportunity to record and develop your learning.

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Programme

Provisional and indicative programme for introductory workshop (subject to revision) (NB: subsequent workshops in January and February, and the programme for the final conference, will be negotiated and agreed with programme participants)

10:00    Registration

10:30    Welcome

10:45    Introduction, background and context of the programme, including Q and A, ground rules, quiz etc

11:45    Proposed content of workshop and conference programme: what do delegates need for career development - group work

             Suggested topics: developing professional knowledge and expertise; developing your career;
             self-knowledge and decision-making; managing impairment and stress; disability equality (legal
             aspects, culture aspects); being mentored and workshadowing; experiences of impairment;
             research aspects; what employers need to know; leadership and management overview

12:45    Lunch

13:30    Arrangements for being mentored and opportunities for work-shadowing

14:15    Focus groups for disability equality research and case study development

15:00    Arrangements for workshop schedule; questions still to be resolved; action plans and action planning

15:15    Summary and evaluation

15:30    Close 

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Event Information

• Arrival and registration is at 10:00am for a 10:30am start. The event will end at 3:30pm
• Attendance is free to disabled teaching and non-teaching staff in the learning and skills sector (includes sandwich lunch, tea/coffee)
• Places will be allocated in order of receipt of completed application forms
• Participants should be prepared to take their own notes as there will not be handouts for all sessions
• If you have not received an e-mail confirming your attendance and joining instructions 4 working days before the event please contact:

  NIACE Events Team
  Tel: 0116 204 2833
  Fax: 0116 285 9670
  Minicom: 0116 255 6049
  E-mail: events@niace.org.uk

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Application Conditions

• Substitutions are to be advised 5 working days prior to the event
• A 10 working days notice period is required for provision of electronic note-takers, sign language interpreters and transcription to Braille
• Places can be reserved online via: www niace.org.uk/events Alternatively completed and signed application forms can be faxed or posted to NIACE by the closing date. Reservations by telephone cannot be accepted
• Application forms are individually acknowledged by e-mail. Joining instructions, including map and directions, will be e-mailed out one week before the event
• NIACE reserves the right to reject applicants who are not from the target audience list.

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Application Form

(For people not using the online reservation system above)