Disability Standard 2009 Innovation Award

The Disability Standard Innovation Award 2009 was awarded to an organisation which introduced a new way of overcoming challenges to become more disability confident.

The judges were not judging on the size of budget or resources used, but the impact of the innovation. They looked for opportunities to celebrate and share as much good practice as possible.

Winner: the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain, Motability Operations

The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain, a joint project between Motability Operations and Rough Guides, includes over 175 ideas for days out, from festivals and markets to bars, sports arenas and more, right across the UK. 

The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain, a joint project between Motability Operations and Rough Guides, was launched in April 2009. Following a smaller-scale prototype in 2008, this publication set out to inspire disabled visitors and their families to get out and about to enjoy the best days out Britain can offer. The expanded Guide drew on extensive feedback to feature more reviews and more detailed information on accessibility, plus a wide variety of sites and activities to choose from.  This has helped to develop the book from a handy pocket-sized guide into an essential tool for anyone planning a great day out with accessibility needs in mind.

The Rough Guide includes over 175 ideas for days out, from festivals and markets to bars, sports arenas and more, right across the UK.  All attractions have been reviewed by disabled visitors, so readers can trust the information and plan their days out with confidence, knowing that there will be no unexpected barriers. The featured locations do not simply have to be accessible; they have to be great days out too, inspiring the reviewers to enthuse about the experience. The guide is available in alternative formats and is now free of charge to Blue Badge Holders.

The publication supports Motability’s aim of ensuring that all eligible disabled people are aware of the benefits of the Motability Scheme. The 2009 edition gained a top award for Strategic Communication at the International Visual Communication Association (IVCA) Clarion Awards, which recognise excellence in communicating diversity, CSR, sustainable development, social inclusion and ethical debate.  The 2008 guide gained a commendation award for communication excellence at the same awards ceremony last year. 

The other shortlisted organisations were:

• Addleshaw Goddard LLP,
• BBC,
• Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) and
• Ministry of Defence Police

Goalball initiative with London Sports Forum for Disabled People (LSF), Addleshaw Goddard LLP

Law firm Addleshaw Goddard used their professional expertise and City contacts to help promote LSF’s work. They used Goalball, a three-a-side team game developed for visually impaired players, as a ‘hook’ to help publicise LSF’s work among City workers.

Law firm Addleshaw Goddard chose the London Sports Forum for Disabled People (LSF) as their Charity of the Year in 2007.  As well as providing funding, Addleshaw Goddard used their professional expertise and City contacts to help promote LSF’s work while raising awareness.

Three Goalball events and tournaments were held between June 2007 and February 2009, involving almost 300 employees from bluechip companies, who wore specially designed blackout goggles, playing alongside visually impaired athletes from the GB Goalball teams. 

Addleshaw Goddard now works closely with UK Sport, Paralympics GB, British Blind Sport and the GB Goalball team and technical committee. It has realised its ambitions to engage a wider audience, raise awareness of the sport, increase participation in officiating and raise funds.

Extend Scheme, BBC

Extend is the BBC’s ambitious disability work placement programme offering selected disabled people the opportunity to gain six months paid work placement in both programme-making and programme support. 

Extend is an annual work placement scheme offering selected disabled people the opportunity to gain six months paid work placement in both programme-making and programme support areas. A wide variety of roles across the UK are advertised on the BBC jobs site, in the national/regional press and on several disability websites. Individuals submit an application for specific placements and can apply for a maximum of two.

Last year Extendees, as the BBC call them, worked on a variety of multiplatform areas, ranging from News to Online and on TV programmes from Blue Peter to Strictly Come Dancing. The Extend programme is original in that it provides 360 degree support for both participants and their host managers. It is also creative in that it supports overall career development and progression. Career Development Workshops are provided which help Extendees maximise their chances of securing further work when they finish their placements. These workshops also provide constructive feedback and tips on interview techniques, creating CVs and completing application forms for internal jobs.

There is a BBC Disabled Staff Forum through which Extendees can access buddying and mentoring opportunities and the chance to network with people right across the BBC. In 2008-09, 27 out of the 40 Extendees went on to gain further employment in the BBC. This translates to 67.5% and is an increase from 50% from the previous year.

Trading Perspectives mentoring scheme, Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF)

Trading Perspectives is a nine-month mentoring programme which enables staff from under-represented groups at junior levels and senior civil servants to exchange experiences and perspectives. It reverses the usual ‘top-down’ mentoring structure so that junior employees mentor senior civil service (SCS) colleagues.

It was piloted in the Cabinet Office before it was run by the DCSF from January to September 2009.  Employees who feel they have an equal standing with senior colleagues in the programme are more likely to be open about the barriers they face, and in turn, mentees begin to appreciate their perspective and, together, both start to find solutions.

Best practice in dealing with disabled protesters, Ministry of Defence Police

The Ministry of Defence Police has defined best practice in dealing with the arrest of a disabled protester. The MDP Divisional Support Group (Scotland) has built on several years’ experience in dealing with protestors, particularly a year-long protest outside the Faslane nuclear submarine base in Scotland, during which they dealt with 30 disabled protesters.

Officers are trained to be considerate and respectful of all non-violent protesters, including those who lock their wheelchair to a wall, railing or similar object to cause an (unlawful) obstruction. Although this action is criminal, and  arrests needed to be made, the police received several letters from disabled protestors and carers thanking them for the way in which the arrests were dealt with.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has produced a Manual of Guidance based on the MDP DSG Scotland’s experience.  As a result disabled protestors who are dealt with by police forces and other law enforcement agencies throughout the UK and abroad are more likely to be treated in a manner that respects them as individuals with the democratic right to protest and with due regard to their safety and wellbeing, even when they need to be arrested.