Disability Equality Training

Training opportunities for

Service Providers and General public

If you are a service provider and your business is open to members of the public - such as a

bar, bank, shop, café, hairdresser or solicitor, or you are a Public Body providing services to

disabled people. Would your you be confidant that any disabled person would be able to

access your service and be treated appropriately?

Nationally, there are over 10 million Disabled People with a potential disposable income of

around £80 billion per year (this figure could be doubled if family and friends are included.

Ignoring this market simply does not make sound business sense.

However, offering good customer service, increasing the quality and reputation of your

business or service and avoiding exposure to costly litigation and bad publicity does make

sense!

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) is now 10 years old and a massive amount of good

work has already been done regarding removing physical barriers. From 1 October 2004

Service Providers have had to make physical adjustments to premises, such as car parks,

entrances, steps, equipment, paths, lighting, signage etc.

2005 sees the introduction of the latest part of the DDA which is aimed at Public bodies such

as Local, District and County Councils, Education, Libraries, Police, housing and any club

sport, social, art etc. with 25 members or more, must make reasonable adjustments to be

accessible to disabled people. This means you may have to provide additional services or

change the way you provide services so that disabled people have equal Access.

Another issue to take into account is staff training. Even if a service providers ensures that

their business or service is physically accessible to disabled people it could be wasted if staff

have little or no awareness of dealing with disabled or deaf customers.

Staff training is essential if your business is to offer a fully accessible service and ensure

disabled customers are treated with respect and not made to feel unwelcome.

Making sure that staff feels competent and confident in dealing with disabled and deaf

customers can also go a long way to avoiding any potential court action and/or bad press. One

of the biggest barriers Disabled and Deaf people often come across is staff not being disability

aware or not being appropriately training in communicating with Deaf people.

Think of it this way, dissatisfied customers will go elsewhere and will pass on news of their

dissatisfaction to friends and family, where as a satisfied customer will return to your business

and recommend you to friends and family!

Perceptions Disability Equality Consultants based in Norfolk, offers a friendly and professional

service for businesses, service providers and general public.

With a wealth of personal and professional experience, Neil Howard and Matthew Talbot,

Company Directors and Consultants offer a range of tailor made training and consultancy

services.

Perceptions are now offering the following courses

Half day courses on Disability Equality Training and Deaf Awareness Training in Norwich in

November.

British Sign Language (BSL) level 1 starting November 2nd at Norfolk Ski Club Trowse and