Disability Standard awards 2009: Disability Champion

The Disability Champion Award 2009 has been given to an individual who has gone the extra mile to raise the profile of disability confidence in their organisation.

Winner: Carleigh Chadwick, Intercontinental Hotels Group plc

Carleigh Chadwick took on the role of Accessibility Manager UK and Ireland at IHG in March 2007, alongside her role as PA to the Vice President of Operations, UK & Ireland. She is responsible for proposing and agreeing IHG's Accessibility Strategy with the Vice President Operations UK and Ireland. Recognising accessibility as a important business priority was key to ensuring IHG’s appointment as the Official Hotel Services Provider to London 2012.

Carleigh is accountable for establishing and supporting revenue streams in the disability market segment and has co-ordinated IHG's stand at the Mobility Roadshow for three consecutive years.  This has been an opportunity for IHG to proactively market its accessible hotel facilities to people with mobility impairments, and in turn enabled the organisation to set up a database for future targeted messages. 

Carleigh also pioneered the rollout of ceiling track hoist facilities in five IHG hotels, the only hotel chain to do this, and these have realised almost £0.5 million income over the past three years.  She continues to work closely with the Ceiling Hoist Users Club to increase people's knowledge of where these specialised facilities are provided.

Over the past two and a half years, as an ambassador for IHG, Carleigh has forged key relationships both within IHG and externally in the disability sector, and delivered presentations to promote IHG's Accessibility Strategy and raise awareness of the accessible facilities in their hotels.  IHG is now established as the market leader in the branded UK hotel sector in terms of providing  accessible accommodation.

She is part of the Accessible Stakeholders Forum, established by the DCMS and Tourism for All, to improve accessibility in the lead up to London 2012.

The shortlisted individuals were:

Terry Briggs, Audit Commission

When Terry Briggs first joined the Audit Commission (AC), he was the only registered disabled person. Now, 7% of the workforce has disclosed a disability.
He now chairs the Staff Disability Network (DART), which he helped set up in 2003. As one DART member says: “Terry goes the extra mile and works tirelessly on disability and carers rights, always with a positive attitude and a great sense of humour.  He is a constant inspiration, challenging and constructive in his approach and continually keeps the momentum going”. 

Terry represents DART at the Diversity Strategy Board meetings, which include two Managing Directors - DART Sponsor and Managing Director for HR.  At the meeting he influences the strategic development of the Commission’s Diversity Scheme on disability matters and represents the views of disabled staff at the Commission.   

DART’s achievements include helping the AC achieve the Employers Forum on Disability Silver award. He helped produced a reasonable adjustments disability guide, played a key role in setting up a Mental Health support network and persuading a Managing Director to spend a day in a wheelchair and share his experiences.

Terry is well known and respected by Senior Managers and staff for his knowledge and experience and for helping to ensure that the Commission is a great place to work for disabled employees.

Sarah Hewitt, BT

Sarah Hewitt, a technical consultant at BT, has Aspergers Syndrome (AS, a form of autism). She works tirelessly to raise awareness of AS in BT and beyond.  Noel Hastings, Senior Employment Consultant, says: “I have never worked with a more committed, energetic and effective advocate for people with disabilities than Sarah Hewitt”.Sarah is a well-respected campaigner on ASD issues and strives to demystify and destigmatise the condition.

Sarah works tirelessly to raise awareness of ASD both in BT and beyond including influencing other corporates, MPs and medical professionals.  Although it’s difficult for anyone with AS to address large groups, Sarah regularly challenges herself to speak publicly, a challenge which should not be underestimated.

Sarah’s achievements include:
• Giving evidence to The All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism which was included in the 2009 published report on ‘Transition into Adulthood’.  Sarah spoke about the difficulty caused by the lack of autism-specific training and support for job seekers.
• Frank and open interviews for CNN - televised all over the world to raise awareness of AS on United Nations Autism Awareness Day.
• Spearheading BT’s Undiscovered Workforce campaign which resulted in the placement of 5 Prospects candidates with ASD into roles in BT.
• Creating and running BT’s Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) web forum which enables over 250 BT members who have ASD themselves or have family members with ASD to share information.

Sue Saunders, Home Office

Sue Saunders is Co-ordinator of the Home Office Disability Support Network (HODS). She has been in the Home Office since 1975, playing a key role in transforming the department’s work on disability. Sue’s tireless efforts have been instrumental in raising awareness of mental ill health across the department. For example, a buddy network for staff with mental health problems was so successful it expanded to form two North and South networks.

Throughout Sue’s time in the Civil Service, she has shown her commitment to helping disabled people and customer service.  
She strives for fair treatment for disabled staff and is not afraid to challenge managers when there is an injustice.  During her time with HODS she has helped transform the department's work on disability through her tireless efforts in raising the confidence of disabled staff to request reasonable adjustments and identify work place solutions to individual needs. 

She was instrumental in the setting up of two mental health buddy networks, contributed to the Kate Nash Associate’s publication Disabled Employee Networks a practical guide, and worked with managers to develop a model to engage disabled staff in reviewing the Disability Equality Scheme and staff survey results.

Richard Thwaite, UBS

Richard Thwaite is Chief Technology Officer Global Asset Management, Chair of the disAbility Awareness Network and UBS Diversity Advisor on Disability. He was the Chair of the UBS Disability Working Group, raising awareness at a grassroots level. Through this Richard became the driving force in establishing an official UBS disability employee network. He is a member of the UK Regional Diversity Board, which serves as a key forum for getting senior managers’ buy-in.

As a result of his personal dedication major premises improvements have been completed. He recognised the crucial importance of having trained security, reception and catering staff to better serve clients and employees. He was the driving force in implementing a front-of-house training programme, which now runs on a monthly basis.

Richard is making a difference at UBS by supporting initiatives such as:
• Implementing a process for requesting reasonable adjustments,
• Implementing disability training for recruiters, HR managers and Occupational Health,
• Selling the business case for disability confidence to senior management,
• Hosting 'Dining with a difference' event,
• Hosting annual disability awareness events.

Richard is establishing guidelines to ensure a timely response to reasonable adjustment requests. Additionally, he is focusing this year’s disability awareness day on how UBS can help employees cope with mental health, stress and depression.