Don't Disable Me: Learn how to create an inclusive workplace

Increase your confidence in providing an accessible and diverse workforce by joining our Don’t Disable Me lived experience training series. You will learn how to describe the types of physical impairments people experience, and also to understand through real life stories the unintentional barriers we can create.

These courses cover the types of assistive technologies that can remove barriers, plus you will gain valuable advice on how to remove other kinds of barriers in your setting, whether it be language, or considering what will be useful to disabled people. The idea is to not only remove these barriers but to avoid creating them in the first place.

You can now access on-demand training for these sessions:

• Removing visual barriers 
• Removing hearing barriers 
• Removing physical barriers
• Removing neurodiversity barriers 
• Removing mental health barriers 

Removing visual barriers

Join Adi Latif (pictured left), senior accessibility and usability consultant at AbilityNet, to learn about the tools and technology he uses. You will gain a deeper understanding of the barriers from his experience of losing his sight in his early teens, going to university and into work and how this can apply to your setting.

Rated excellent, by past attendees, they agreed that they were more knowledgeable and confident. You will pick up valuable tips, for example in online presentations and meetings that use slides, not using phrases like “as you can see here” or “I won’t bother reading out the slide”. In addition, the talk will cover how to break down visual barriers online.

Recent attendees of the course have said:

Thanks Adi and Adam, always great to hear you talking.

Removing hearing barriers

Another ‘excellent’ rated training course, which all participants were very likely to recommend, is the ‘Removing hearing barriers – Lived experience digital disability awareness’ training.

Here you will find out how technology can support those who are D/deaf or hard of hearing. Presented by Adam Tweed and Ghizzi a Learning Technologist at the University of the West of England who works with AbilityNet, will talk about her lived experience of hearing barriers.

Following the positive news that the British Sign Language (BSL) Bill, will finally recognise BSL as a language in Britain. You will learn how written English can be a second language for some people, as well as how to remove communication barriers, such as poor lighting, or barriers when taking turns to speak or sign.

Adam talks about important considerations, saying “many people who are deaf do not consider this to be an impairment” and “as a result there is a really strong and really positive identity around deaf culture”. It is important to remember that people have their own preferences regarding how they like to be identified.

The course will cover types of hearing loss and their associated digital, environmental, and cultural barriers. What assistive technologies can be used and how to make sure your working or learning environment does not unintentionally exclude people.

Recent attendees of the course have said:

"Thank you! Very useful session"

"Really good format too"

Removing physical barriers

Join Alex, Disability Consultant at AbilityNet, who has Moebius Syndrome, which is a very rare condition that causes paralysis in facial muscles, club foot, missing limbs and sometimes cognitive issues too.

In this course, you will find out about the types of physical impairments and the associated digital, environmental, and cultural barriers. There are many assistive technologies and tech tools that can help. This course will give you the knowledge on how to not unintentionally exclude people living with physical impairments or differences from participating fully.

Recent attendees of the course have said:

"Thank you for a great session"

Removing neurodiversity barriers

Rina is an accessibility and usability consultant at AbilityNet, and also is autistic and dyslexic. Rina and Adam (also from AbilityNet) talk about the types of cognitive difference and neurodivergent conditions, as well as Rina's lived experience. You will also learn about the assistive technologies and tools that can help. 

Recent attendees of the course have said:

"Thank you so much for this session, it's been so helpful"

"Thanks both, really insightful and useful :)"

Removing mental health barriers

Removing mental health barriers – Lived experience digital disability awareness training – will help you learn via someone’s personal experience as well as the technology that can support those with mental health conditions.

1 in 4 people in England experience a mental health problem of some kind each year, which is why it is important to learn and talk about it. Our talk, led by Adam Tweed, Innovation Consultant at AbilityNet, talks about his lived experience, through insightful videos and discussions. You will learn about the barriers and difficulties associated with common mental health conditions, as well as pre and post diagnosis. 

97% of attendees rated our webinars and training as ‘Excellent' or ’Good’ in 2019! Join Adam for this fresh look at mental health in the workplace, and learn about some of the fantastic tools out there to support workers.

Recent attendees of the course have said:

"Thank you Adam, very helpful and insightful."

"Such a great session thank you"

Beyond Green attended the session and shared its 'top 3 take aways' from the course:

1. Mental Health difficulties impact 1 out of 4 people each year; they're incredibly common, and likely to affect our co-workers and our clients alike
2. Often, people just want to feel heard, and being a sounding board for someone can make the biggest difference
3. The goal is to create space for people to disclose their experiences if they would like to and to explore ways the company can support them; part of doing is to keep accessibility in mind when designing processes, documents, and meetings.
    

Further resources 

• Keep up to date with accessibility issues with the AbilityNet newsletter 
• Find out more about AbilityNet's free live webinars
• Unsure where to start with digital accessibility? Speak to our experts for help.

AbilityNet provides a range of free services to help disabled people and older people. If you can afford it, please donate to help us support older and disabled people through technology