7 Responses

1. DDA
   Craig

   We had a brilliant trainer who ran you the jury exercises based on real court and tribunal cases. I realise you are doing this internally so why not buy a good book like Townshend Smith on Discrimination Law which has text,cases and materials, The book is ISBN 1-85941 795 7

   And have you tried the DSC website. Our trainer turned things from this into a media watch and observatory. Really good.

   The book will cost you about £35

   Jennifer

   jennifertopping@amserve.com

2. People aren’t disabled, Society disable them
   I once had a training session (on the DDA) from a trainer who I would call disabled, (he uses a whellchair etc). However, part of his training was to show that he wasn’t disabled, it was actually Society that disables him by not having the kind of access he needs so that hecan fully use ordinary everyday services, (that able bodied people take for granted). He feels that he has an impairement and that the term ‘disabled’ is often mis-used.

   One good aspect of the session was that he asked us to complete everyday tasks, (like making a drink etc), while sitting in a wheelchair, (it’s difficult) or completing the task while only using one arm. This gave us a better understanding of simple things that people with impairements have to face every day.

   good luck

3. DDA Training
   You might like to look at the Video and or e-learning package made with the Employer’s Forum on Disability, called Disability Confident. for further information you can look at the following websites: http://www.employers-forum.co.uk or http://www.skillboosters.com

4. DRC Video
   An excellent video that the Disability Rights Commission produced was called “Talk”. Not sure if it’s still available but might be worth a try – it’s a man who wakes up being the only able bodied man in the community and how he is looked upon by everyone one else(who aren’t able-bodied), including work scenarios. Only 10 minutes or so in length. Opens up some good discussion afterwards!

   http://www.drc-gb.org.uk

5. DDA Training
   Try looking for the case studies produced by the LSC. I have used them for candidate training and they work really well especially as you can get people to work in pairs and then discuss the answers together. Also LSDA produced a DVD which could be shown to show how some have overcome various issues to achieve.

6. A powerful input to any related training
   In our area we have at least two organisations delivering training on DDA and other related areas. The benefit is that these organisation are run by people with disibilities. You will be hard pushed to find a more powerful way to enable people to understand the issues than having such an organisation delivering the training or at least delivering a session as part of the training.

   To find similar groups in your area, it would be best to contact either of the following:
   National Association for Council of Voluntary Service (NACVS),www.nacvs.org.uk or National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO, http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk.

   The organisations I have been invloved with include the Worcester Association of Service User Groups and All About Ability (a group that comes under the unbrella of an organisation called ECHO). These are based in Worcestershire and Herefordshire respectively and would not be able to deliver training outside of the West Midlands. I am not sure where you are based.

   I hope this is of interest.
   Regards,
   Mark
   markh@commfirst.org.uk

7. This is how it is
   I once attended a course where the delegates were asked to experience “disability” whilst walking round the training centre, both inside and out. We were given wheelchairs, blindfolds, tubes to put over our arms so they could not bend and goggles smeared with grease to give impaired/tunnel vision.

   I used the wheelchair and quickly lost it trying to negotiate my way round the building to be told by the instructor “ Yes, YOU can get out of the chair!”