1. www.disabilitychampions.com Disability Champions @ Work A trade union approach to enhancing the quality of working life for disabled people in the UK DAVE PARR

2. www.disabilitychampions.com Disability Champions @ Work Trade unions in the UK 70 + individual trade unions The Trades Union Congress (TUC) are the ‘umbrella’ organisation More than half the 7million members in one of 5 Amicus – Skilled, professional and Engineering 1.2million members New brand of trade unionism in the 21 st Century

3. www.disabilitychampions.com Disability Champions @ Work Government Support For Disabled Workers Duty not to discriminate Duty to make reasonable adjustments “Access to Work” – funding for adjustments “Disability Symbol” – voluntary standard Guaranteed interviews, annual review of staff needs, retention policy, staff awareness training and review of procedures.

4. www.disabilitychampions.com Disability Champions @ Work Union Learning Representatives Recognised skills gap in the UK A culture of resistance and fear of training and learning Unions developed a new role Recognising and overcoming barriers to learning Role recognised by the Government ULRs now have statutory rights ULRs have helped 67,000 people onto courses 22,000 ULRs by 2010 - 250,000 learners

5. www.disabilitychampions.com Disability Champions @ Work Disability Champions – the vision Pick up disability related disciplines and grievances Give advice of adjustments and funding Be aware of best practice Influence recruitment procedures Recruit disabled workers into the union Liaise with external bodies Carry out audits Advise other union officers / members

6. www.disabilitychampions.com Ready Willing and Disabled 10 GCSE’s 2 A-Levels 1 Degree 114 Job Applications 24 Job Interviews 1 Disability 0 Job

7. www.disabilitychampions.com Disability Champions @ Work The Story So Far Around 200 Disability Champions from 17 unions More than 3000 people have attended seminars 5000 different visitors to the website Information published by champions relating to Specific disabilities Adjustments that have been negotiated Engaged many different employers in the process Secured funding for next 15 months

8. www.disabilitychampions.com Disability Champions @ Work The Training Course Published by the TUC Available in colleges around the UK and Ireland The scope and requirements of the DDA The Social Model Negotiating Adjustments Access to Work funding Interactive audit against ‘two ticks’ Information finding and networking

9. www.disabilitychampions.com Access to Work example Employee with less than 6 weeks service –100% funding –employer pays £0 Employee with more than 6 weeks service –Partial funding –Employer pays £1542.20, –ATW pays £4968.80 Braille Computer output Device, retail price £6511

10. www.disabilitychampions.com Disability Champions @ Work The Disability Symbol Guaranteed interviews for disabled applicants Annual review of disabled workers requirements Retention policy Disability awareness training for all staff Annual review of how these are being met

11. www.disabilitychampions.com Disability Champions @ Work www.disabilitychampions.com dave@disabilitychampions.com Dave Parr+44 1482 382512