Disability Rights UK in partnership with Visa, Olympic and Paralympic Games sponsor have launched of ‘Doing Sport Differently’ in Scotland.

Disability Rights UK has been formed through a unification of Disability Alliance, Radar and National Centre for Independent Living on 1 January 2012. The aim is to be the largest national pan-disability organisation led by disabled people.

Disability Rights UK have paired up with RADAR’s Leadership graduate, Julie McElroy to promote this latest publication in the series of ‘Doing Life Differently’ – ‘Doing Sport Differently’ in Scotland.

Julie is a young Scottish woman living with hearing, speech and mobility impairment as a result of cerebral palsy but refuses to let her disability led an active life and last year supported the ‘Doing Sports Differently’ by contributing her story.

Julie has a long standing association with Disability Rights UK formerly RADAR, David Stocks, Head of Leadership and Empowerment at Radar, said ‘Julie is one of Radar’s first leadership graduates and one of the most outstanding.  She is a role model to other disabled people, constantly challenging herself to achieve even greater success and through her challenges break boundaries and misconceptions surrounding disabled people.

We really are aiming the publication at disabled people who do not engage with exercise or sport in any way and hope to use the guide as a way of encouraging them back into fitness and exercise related activity.

Disability Rights UK in partnership with Visa, Olympic and Paralympic Games sponsor have launched of ‘Doing Sport Differently’ – a guide to exercise and fitness for people living with disability or health conditions and the first-ever guide to sport written by disabled people, for disabled people. http://www.radar.org.uk/people-living-with-health-conditions-disability/doing-life-differently/doing-sport-differently/

Here is a link to the Doing Life Differently guide online.  http://www.radar.org.uk/people-living-with-health-conditions-disability/doing-life-differently/doing-sport-differently/

ENDS

Notes

1. Disability Rights UK has been formed through a unification of Disability Alliance, Radar and National Centre for Independent Living http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/
2. Royal Association for Disability Rights – We are a pan-disability organisation led by people with lived experience of disability or health conditions. We work in broad partnerships to have the widest impact. http://www.radar.org.uk/

NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND TO DELIVER THE SECOND WILDERNESS WEEKEND

Scottish adventuress Julie McElroy is back with another Wilderness Project. This follows on from the resounding success of the inaugural event in an innovative new  programme, which aims to encourage more people with disabilities to access woodlands and green space and develop a meaningful connection to the beautiful natural landscapes Scotland has to offer.  Having whisked six participants off to the beautiful Isle of Arran first time round, to experience the lush surroundings of the National Trust for Scotland’s Brodick property,  Julie has once again teamed up with the NTS to serve up another helping of outdoors adventure, this time in the magnificent, breathtaking landscape of its Kintail property in the northwest Highlands.  The estate truly is a gem in the Scottish natural environment, taking in the Falls of Glomach (Britain’s highest waterfall) and the Five Sisters of Kintail

The  project, due to take place in June, from the 19^th to the 22^nd 2012 will see disabled participants take part in a range of outdoor activities including a little taste of the kind of conservation work that is such an important aspect of the Trust’s work.

Julie is on the lookout for people to get involved in this exciting opportunity.  Participants must be aged 18 and upwards and be able to commit to all four days of the project.

Robert May from National Trust for Scotland said:
“The National Trust for Scotland is proud to be working with Julie on this project and supporting the campaign to improve access to the outdoors for those living with disabilities.  The last project we ran together was a great success and we can only get better, especially by going somewhere as stunning as Kintail.

We really see the Trust and its properties as being open to absolutely everyone and we relish the opportunity to continue to open our doors to an ever wider representation of Scotland’s community.”

A keen adventurer, Julie was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was a child and is eager to help more people with disabilities experience the advantages of the outdoors.

She added:
“I have always had a love of the outdoors and I was really delighted about getting this project off the ground for the second time. Kintail will be more stimulating and interesting for the disabled participants.

“This course is designed to enhance the confidence of the participants and also increase their personal development, by allowing them the chance to take part in a series of tasks and adventures that they haven’t before.”

Notes to news editors

The National Trust for Scotland is one of Scotland’s leading conservation charities, which relies on the financial support of its members to fund its important work of caring for the natural and cultural heritage of Scotland for everyone to enjoy. The Trust cares for a range of sites on Arran, including Brodick Castle and Country Park and Goatfell.

New Disability Sports – RaceRunning

It my pleasure to share with you all of a brand new disability sports that seems to be taken Scotland by storm!

The new disability sports called RaceRunning and I have been appointed as their patron to head up RaceRunning Scotland. (I hope it won’t be too long until we can roll-out the involvement of adults with disabilities can take part.)

What is RaceRunning?

A Running Bike is a three wheeled bike with no pedals which supports you as you walk or run. Running Bikes are used by people of all ages for recreation and sport at a variety of levels. A Running Bike is a very effective way of improving overall fitness, strength and well-being. Despite considerable physical challenges, most users are able to use the Running Bike to propel themselves considerably faster than they can unassisted.

The bike can be used by children from 3-4 years through to adulthood. It is predominantly suitable for those with Cerebral Palsy, although it is also suitable for those with Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinsons Disease and other disabilities that affect mobility and balance. The low centre of gravity and frame design offers good stability and poise whilst running or walking. The saddle unit counter-acts lateral sway and also can be used as a seat when resting.

The Running Bike rolls so freely that even children and adults who have been restricted to power wheelchairs have now found a way propelling themselves by their own efforts.

RaceRunning International
RaceRunning is an international disability sport in which children and adults compete with running bikes on an athletics track. Events range from 40m to 3000m. Competitors are classified based on their disability and race against other competitors in their class.

I look forward to taking on a patronage role for RaceRunning Scotland. This is a unique sports one which I believed can greatly enhance the mobility of person’s disability.  I believe passionately that fellow disabled peers must have the same quality and opportunities to lead a fulfilled life as everyone else and RaceRunning will hopefully deliver mutual recreational and competitive benefits for disabled participants.

Here are a few interesting links:

RaceRunning Scotland – live soon
http://rrscotland.org/

ACE RaceRunning
http://acerr.org/

Scottish Disability Sports
http://scottishdisabilitysport.com/sds/

SWOTY: Meet our fabulous five!

CONTENDERS Introducing the women who made their mark on the lives of others last year Today we can reveal the five contenders for the Evening Times’ 49th Scotswoman Of The Year title. Our e-mail inbox and postbag were inundated with stories of inspirational Scottish women dedicated to changing the lives of others. And these have been whittled down to this shortlist of five remarkable women, all of whom will be guests of honour at the glittering event next Thursday evening. More than 250 women from all walks of life will be at Glasgow City Chambers to honour the many achievements of these remarkable five finalists. Evening Times’ editor Tony Carlin said: “All our finalists are exceptional individuals who have in their unique way made the world a better place. “Sometimes they did it by showing leadership, sometimes by inspiration, sometimes by friendship, sometimes by determination and sometimes by all of those things, plus a few more. “Each is a remarkable person and, while even producing a shortlist of five has been incredibly difficult this year, it has also been a privilege to learn more about these magnificent women.” Susan Nicol, general manager of St Enoch Centre, which is again sponsoring the award, said: “As always, the calibre of entries was extremely high and choosing a shortlist of nominees was a real challenge for the judging panel. “Each and every woman entered should be proud of their efforts – they are all a true inspiration for people throughout Scotland.”

DAME ELISH ANGIOLINI QC IN her 28-year rise to the very top of her profession, Dame Elish Angiolini has shattered the glass ceiling of female lawyers operating in Scotland’s justice system. The mother-of-two stepped down last year as Lord Advocate, having become the first woman to hold the post in 500 years and the first person in job to serve under two different governments. In her five years as the most senior law officer, and five years previously as the Solicitor General for Scotland, she was dedicated to putting victims at the heart of the justice system. She became a Dame last May for services to the administration of justice. A legal adviser to the Scottish Government, she is also chairwoman of a commission to examine how female offenders are dealt with in the criminal justice system.

CHRISTINE EMMETT THERE is a positivity that runs through the classrooms and corridors of St Elizabeth’s Primary School, Hamilton. It’s known as “the Mrs Emmett effect” thanks to the tireless enthusiasm, innovation and inspiration of one highly decorated teacher. In November, Christine beat 22,000 teachers to be named the UK’s Best Teacher at an awards ceremony in London, receiving her award from fashion maverick Dame Vivienne Westwood. The judges of the Pearson Teaching Awards praised her influence, which they said ran “like a golden thread” and said she captured children’s interest “like a pied piper”. The national award followed on from winning Scottish Teacher Of The Year a few months before. Modestly, Christine has described the accolades as “more fulfilling than Lottery win”.

JULIE McELROY WHETHER trekking across the Andes or the Himalayas, working with disabled children in Delhi slums or even walking to the summit of Ben Lomond for a third time, adventurous Julie’s persistence and ambition shows no bounds. The 26-year-old, from Jordanhill, Glasgow, is an intrepid ambassador for the outdoors – and refuses to let disability get in her way. She weighed less than 2lb when she was born and after being diagnosed with cerebral palsy her parents worried she might never walk. Yet Julie, who is also deaf, set out to prove through a series of ground-breaking challenges that there is nothing she can’t conquer. In November, she achieved her John Muir Conserver Award, the highest level of the environmental award scheme. And it is her goal to lead by example by improving access and awareness of the great outdoors for those with disabilities. So far, she has trekked across the Andes, abseiled off Murrayfield Stadium, led the first wheelchair challenge on the ascent on Ben Nevis and completed a five-day 20-mile paddle up Loch Shiel in a canoe. She has also hiked up 3118ft Helvellyn in the Lake District, England’s third-highest mountain, in below-freezing conditions, and accompanied the Lomond Mountain Rescue Team.

DR MARY HEPBURN THE consultant obstetrician at the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital, Glasgow, has worked tirelessly for more than a generation to improve the lives of disadvantaged mothers in the city and beyond. She is also senior lecturer in women’s reproductive health at Glasgow University and is known for ground-breaking work to help deprived and socially-excluded women. In 1990 she set up the Glasgow Women’s Reproductive Health Service for women with social problems and remains in charge of the unit, now known as the Glasgow Special Needs In Pregnancy Service. Dr Hepburn, who was previously a Scotswoman Of The Year finalist in 2003, is a member of several boards, including Scottish Drugs Forum and Art In Hospital.

KARYN McCLUSKEY THE crime fighter earned the nickname ‘Sparky’ from her colleagues due to her relentless pursuit of new ideas. And it was this same innovative get-up-and-go that led Prime Minister David Cameron to highlight in the Commons her methods of combating gang violence following the riots in England last summer. The former nurse and forensic psychologist is co-director of Strathclyde Police’s Violence Reduction Unit, the first unit of its kind in the UK, which she helped establish in 2005. Karyn also helped establish Medics Against Violence, an Evening Times Glasgow Community Champion Award-winning project in which emergency doctors and facial surgeons volunteer to speak at schools across Scotland.

Taken from the Evening Times’s edition on Thursday 2 February 2012.

SWOTY: Who will get your vote in 2012?

ROLE MODELS Three inspiring women who have  proved they can overcome any physical obstacle

MAY Stone campaigns tirelessly to raise public  awareness  of a life-threatening lung disease.

The 52-year-old grandmother, from Penilee in Glasgow,  has suffered from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (PF) for the past five years,  but has had symptoms of the disease since 1998.

Pulmonary fibrosis causes the lung tissue to thicken  and become stiff, while the scarring stops oxygen from entering the bloodstream,  so May carries an oxygen tank to help her breathe.  She has set up an internet group for people with PF  to share information. It receives 800 messages a month and has 250 members.

The only cure is a lung transplant and May has joined  the Evening Times campaign to persuade the Scottish Government to switch to a  system for opting out, instead of the current opting in, for organ donation.

Medical experts do not know how people contract PF,  but it can be linked to prolonged exposure to occupational or environmental  contaminants or dust.Many workers who helped with the rescue and clean-up  operation after the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York were diagnosed  with PF after being exposed to potentially lethal substances.

But the grandmother of Thomas, two, and  five-month-old Maria knows it is essential to provide the correct information  about the disease, as internet searches often reveal only frightening statistics  about early death, something she is fighting to overcome.

Now May wants to set up a trust to raise funds as  well as awareness. Her hard work and dedication despite her debilitating illness  makes her a worthy nomineer.

Dame Evelyn Glennie describes herself as a  motivational speaker, composer, educationalist and jewellery designer, but it’ is as a percussionist that she has become world-famous. Despite being deaf since she was 12, Evelyn was the  first person to achieve a full-time career as a solo percussionist. She says: “I simply hear in a different way to most  people.”

Since graduating with an Honours degree from the  Royal Academy of Music, in London – where she was told not to pursue her dream  by careers advisers – Evelyn has performed with top orchestras and for world  leaders around the globe. She has blurred the boundaries between classical, pop  and dance, working with, among others, Bjork, Bobby McFerrin and Sting,

A double Grammy award-winner and Bafta nominee,  Aberdeen-born Evelyn, 46, remains in demand as a composer and records for film,  TV and music libraries. She has also presented Sound Bites for the BBC, plays  up to 60 instruments including the gamelan, xylophone, marimba, timpani and  bagpipes, and has 1800 instruments crammed into her Cambridgeshire home. She also keeps percussion kits in six countries to  facilitate her hectic touring schedule.

She is vice-president of Hearing Concern and Deafness  Research UK. Evelyn has also collaborated with Scottish jewellery  firm Ortak, on her ancestral home of the Orkney Isles. She has also been part of a successful lobby for more  money for music education with Sir James Galway and Julian Lloyd Webber.

ADVENTURER Julie McElroy has climbed mountains – both  literally and metaphorically – to pave the way for disabled people to access the  outdoors.

The 26-year-old from Jordanhill, in Glasgow, has  cerebral palsy and mobility problems and is profoundly deaf in both ears. But she has canoed across lochs, trekked in the  Himalayas, been out with a mountain rescue crew and done much more to show other  young disabled people that they can enjoy adventure pursuits.

She is an ambassador for Bobath Scotland, a charity  which helps children with cerebral palsy, and in March cycled from Edinburgh to  Glasgow to raise funds. Julie is currently researching for a PhD in assistive  technology (part-time) such as voice recognition, which can help disabled people, at the  University of the West of Scotland.

She believes it is time for disabled people to  overcome the preconceptions of others and to stand up and lead others to greater  independence, access and freedom and her motto is “drive, motivation,  passion”. She is driven by the desire to have the same  opportunities as everybody else, despite her disability.

In November, Julie achieved her John Muir Conserver  Award, the highest level of the environmental award scheme. She has completed four adventure challenges including  a 20-mile paddle up Loch Shiel in a canoe, hiked up Helvellyn, the third largest  mountain in the Lake District in below-freezing conditions, and gone out with  the Lomond Mountain Rescue team to prove disabled people can access the  outdoors. She set up the Wilderness Initiative for People with  Disabilities and took six disabled youngsters on an outdoor adventure weekend in  Arran in October.

Julie has been to Number 10 Downing Street to meet  the wife of the prime minister, Samantha Cameron, whose son Ivan died in 2009  after suffering from cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

Julie works tirelessly despite her disability, and is  a worthy nominee for this year’s Scotswoman of the Year award.

THEY are the women who make life that bit easier for  the people around them.

And they are potential Scotswomen of the Year. This  year the 49th ‘Swoty’ will be crowned in the City Chambers, and this is your  opportunity to nominate someone who you think deserves the accolade.

Today Sarah Swain and Matty Sutton highlight three  women who have made a difference to other people’s lives.

 

Taken from the Evening Times Newspaper dated Wednesday 11 January 2012

 

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Julie achieves highest level of the John Muir Award

Julie McElroy, a determined young adventurer from Glasgow who has overcome severe disabilities to achieve the highest level of the John Muir Award received recognition for her achievements from presenter and broadcaster Dougie Vipond on 18 November.

Julie was born with cerebral palsy which has resulted in mobility problems, walking difficulties and speech impairment along with manual dexterity problems. She is also profoundly deaf and wears two hearing aids, but she has refused to let these disabilities stop her completing her John Muir Conserver Award.

In the course of meeting the four challenges of her Award Julie has trekked in the Himalayas, joined the Lomond Mountain Rescue Team on manoeuvre, climbed Helvellyn, England’s third highest mountain, paddled the length of Loch Shiel and led other disabled people on a three-day expedition on Arran.

Julie said: “I wanted to experience a totally new existence and challenges that are different from the ones I experience in everyday life. Being in the wild allows me to establish myself more as a person.

“I love the outdoors because it allows you to rebalance yourself as a person. I love coming up with new ideas and I wanted to lead by example.

“The buzz of the outdoors began for me when I was a child and I now want to unleash opportunities where other disabled people can climb a mountain, get involved in taking responsibility for the natural environment and most importantly enjoy the fun, adventure and exploration of the wild.”

Broadcaster and presenter Dougie Vipond presented Julie with her certificate at the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park Headquarters in Balloch.

Dougie said: “Adventure is important, it challenges and stimulates us, and it can lead us to wonderful wild places we perhaps wouldn’t normally visit. Julie’s achievements are a reminder to us all that experiencing adventure and challenge in Scotland, and further afield, should be open to all regardless of age, ability or background.

“Congratulations to Julie for demonstrating her drive and determination in completing her John Muir Conserver Award. Wild places and the spirit of adventure can only benefit from being championed by her.”

The John Muir Conserver Award is the highest level of the John Muir Award, which is an environmental award scheme focused on wild places. The Award encourages awareness and responsibility for the natural environment, in a spirit of fun, adventure and exploration. It is the educational initiative of the John Muir Award.

John Hutchison, chairman of the John Muir Trust said: “By getting involved in the John Muir Award, Julie McElroy has set an example to us all. Not only has she refused to see her disability as a barrier to experiencing and caring for wild places, but she has actively encouraged others to do the same.

“Congratulations to Julie on her huge achievement, and I’m pleased that Julie’s John Muir Conserver Award helps recognise and celebrate her own spirit of adventure and challenge.”

ENDS

SUSE (Scottish Union of Supported Employment) – Business Diversity Awards

SUSE (Scottish Union of Supported Employment) – Business Diversity Awards

I must commend the SUSE (Scottish Union of Supported Employment) for hosting the Business Diversity Awards at BBC Scotland on Thursday 17 November 2011.

Scottish Union of Supported Employment promotes awareness of diversity and equality in the workplace. It also engages and works alongside Scottish businesses to unleash the talents of the disabled people in the public population.

Empowering employers and service providers requires understanding, team work and communication from all sectors across Scotland to work together to address the prejudices faced by disabled people and their preconceived capabilities of securing their career in the job markets. It a rising challenge for everyone however it will deliver a strong collective sense in the long term.

As a guest speaker, I spoke about the motivation to succeed and I hoped after the event the winners will leave feeling inspired and motivated more than ever to encourage everyone of non disabled and disabled people to combine their qualities to make your organisation succeed.

The Scottish Business Diversity Awards recognizes Businesses, Organisations and Individuals who excel in promoting the employment of people with disabilities and health issues and people from diverse backgrounds.

The Scottish Union of Supported Employment Business Diversity Awards aim to:

• Raise the profile of and promote positively the employment of people with disabilities and long term health conditions, and people from diverse backgrounds.
• Highlight employers who implement inclusive recruitment practice.
• Promote and highlight the benefits of inclusive recruitment practice.
• Showcase positive case studies that address the negative attitudes and prejudices that hinder inclusive recruitment practice.
• Inspire people with disabilities and health issues and people from diverse backgrounds to move into employment.

There were five awards – Employer of the year, Employee of the year, Work Initiative of the Year, Employment Service Provider of the year and a Diversity Award. BBC Scotland was the Work Initiative of the Year’s sponsor this year. Nick, BBC HR Manager and myself presented this category.

The shorlisted winners are:
Lochore Meadows
Specialisterne Scotland
Work4U

Fife Council’s Outdoor Education Centre at Lochore Meadows, work in partnership with Fife Employability Team (FET) and West Fife Community Support Service (WFCSS) to offer volunteering opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

Volunteers help to design and build new mountain bike trails and maintain existing trails within the country park. This gives people a wide variety of work experiences. Volunteers gain credits for hours worked and these can be exchanged for hiring bicycles. Staff from WFCSS have now accomplished the basic cycle leader qualification.  This enables them to lead small cycling groups within the country park which benefits other service users. Staff, volunteers and those supported by WFCSS now enjoy free bike hire that lets them enjoy the wildlife and fantastic scenery at the park, with the added benefits of promoting the employability agenda and a health lifestyle.

Specialisterne Scotland  is a social enterprise franchised from Denmark, offering employment opportunities for people on the autistic spectrum. Work is specialised in web development and software testing.  The unique business plan was developed with particular recognition of the known skills and abilities of people on the spectrum. By focussing on the particular skills of people on the spectrum, Specialisterne are championing inclusive recruitment practices and very effective job matching arrangements.

So far 24 people have undergone training, 12 have completed training and 8 of those trainees are now paid employees.  These employees are offered support and development through training, one to one and performance meetings. The trainees and employees have highly sought after skills that enables the business to succeed in the IT sector.

Work4U, Fife
Fife Employability Team, Fife Council Social Work Service, delivers the Work4U project in 18 secondary schools throughout Fife.  The project targets young people with additional learning support needs, and those most likely to have no employment, training  or further education opportunities when they leave school.

Work4U helps these 4^th year students to consider the skills and qualities that they have, the type of work this might be suited to, and provides work placements with local employers. Over the last year W4U has engaged with 244 young people; 172 completed a one week work placement, 84 have stayed on at school, 54 have gone into further education, 12 have taken up further training and apprenticeship opportunities and 6 are now in paid employment.

This early intervention initiative has shown the real benefits of cross service partnerships between Education and Social Work, and the positive outcomes that can be achieved for the benefit of young people in the world of work.

And in reverse order:

Bronze award goes to Lochore Meadows
Silver award goes to Specialisterne Scotland
Gold award winner is Work4U

For more information on SUSE (Scottish Union of Supported Employment), http://www.susescotland.co.uk/

Julie Goes The Distance

Julie Goes The Distance for Cerebral Palsy

Julie McElroy – who has cerebral palsy – is embarking on a cycling challenge to raise money and awareness for a Scottish charity that provides vital therapy for children with the same condition.

Although Julie‟s cerebral palsy means she has serious walking difficulties, co-ordination, and speech and profound hearing impairment, along with manual dexterity problems, she is determined to complete the gruelling 89km cycle ride from Edinburgh to Glasgow in aid of the Bobath Scotland Children‟s Cerebral Palsy Therapy Centre.

Julie’s Challenge is to raise funds and awareness for Bobath Scotland Children’s Therapy Centre in Glasgow, which supports children with cerebral palsy; further applauds the centre’s 16 years of continued service to children diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Julie is now planning an 89km cycle ride form Edinburgh to Glasgow. This ride is specifically to raise awareness and money for Bobath Scotland Children’s Cerebral Palsy Therapy Centre in Glasgow.

Edinburgh to Glasgow is to be the first leg of ‘Julie’s Challenge in aids of Bobath Scotland.’ Her route will be through Broxburn, Linlithgow, Falkirk and Kirkintilloch ending in Port Dundas, Glasgow where Bobath Centre is located. The route can be difficult for even an experienced and able-bodied cyclist, but Julie is determined to push the boundaries of her own abilities. Her ride will take place on the 31 March and the goal is to finish the same day.

For safety reasons, she will be accompanied by The Bike Chain’s Mark and Colin Cadden, along a route that can prove challenging, even for reasonably fit, able-bodied cyclists. Due to Julie’s profound hearing impairment, the bike has been fitted with mirrors to help her to judge traffic.

To donate to Julie’s Challenge appeal: http://www.justgiving.com/JulieMcElroy

More information about Julie’s Challenge will be announced in due course.

Understanding Other Expectations

Everyone has their own expectations of what they want to achieve in life and should be given the encouragement to do so.

In this article, I am talking about expectations of disabled people when it comes to finding a suitable job in the competitive job market. I have the same expectations as able bodies to attain a career in my relevant field of information technology/technologies.

I have worked with countless recruitment agencies to seek the perfect job! Some have understood my expectations my desire to work for these well known companies and other recruitment agencies, simply don’t understand the expectation of an disabled individual! (I realized that must be a challenge because everyone is unique in their own way when it comes to talent!)

Three of my contacts who work in recruitments have been supportive as they assist you enabling you to start or progress with your career goals.  This particular recruiter, strike me that he was very engaging and understands my expectations in terms of where I want to be. When you going through recruitment, you have to be focus and clear about what you want and then the recruiter can help achieve your objectives and prepare you for the recruitment stages. It becomes a vision of partnership.

More recently, I was put through my paces of rigorous recruitment process completing against other many of whom who were non disabled. It was rewarding experience to be given the opportunity to complete in this competitive job market. They were so supportive in leading me through each stage of the process. I felt reassured and kept informed of the development.  It no wonder that I gained a positive experience from them.

The company has welcomed my feedback to address this recruitment strand in relation to disability recruitment. Perhaps the company want to seek new ways of working to recruit and create a diversified workforce within their company. Perhaps they feel the need to be empowered to look at implementing change were a diverse candidate can feel confident in applying to these multi-national companies.

These companies need to look at their long term objective in relation to diversity and what they need to achieved these different results, it will be the case of trying different approaches.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

 

Disability is the last taboo!

 

I was invited to London to present alongside with speakers: Alexandra O’Dwyer, Director of Communications and Marketing, Scope and Kirsty Monk, Accessibility Manager, Southern Railways and Cheryl Campsie, Forster PR.

 

This innovative business debate was evolved around on businesses interested in changing practice and thus build a society in which disabled people have the same opportunities as those without – critical in an era of financial cutback.

 

How can companies, charities and policy makers address the imbalance between the number of disabled people in our society – and representation in work, in the media, and everyday life? We discussed the attitude change – which in an era of austerity costs nothing.

 

To see through change it will require understanding, team work and communication from all businesses, charities and policy makers to work together to address the prejudice face by disabled people and their preconceived capabilities of securing their career in the job markets.

Together, we must adopt the ‘right’ attitudes and behaviours and embracing talents of a diverse workforce with disabled people making a contribution by working alongside business professionals. Business leaders need to take a collaborative and creative approach on recruiting people with disability and ethic population in the workplace.

The future must be on building an inclusive business development for everyone. The ethos of the business community to address of mis-preconception of disabled people to work alongside business professionals, it would help improve business performance related to talent management, productivity, customer access, technology and embrace new developments.

 

Everyone and disabled people too must be readily committed to make a clear commitment to ensure that businesses recruit the very best disabled leaders for the future but we are too often we hear that the talent doesn’t exist externally.

Time for empowerment, motivation, active engagement, communication and interaction among businesses, charities and policy makers.

Real accessibility, real visibility!