Employers’ Forum on Disability working with police for disability confidence
2nd June 2006
Employers' Forum on Disability (EFD) is taking the lead on the Duty to Promote Disability Equality legislation, which comes into place in December, with a number of enabling products for the police.
A new publication, ‘Serving people with disabilities', produced in partnership with the Home Office, will provide police forces with practical advice on how to offer a quality service to disabled people, help with building confident communication and advice on serving people with disabilities.
It is written in an easy-to-read style and well illustrated, with a non-judgemental approach to disability awareness. The publication is also fully customisable for individual police forces and available to license on the intranet.
In addition to ‘Serving people with disabilities', Employers' Forum on Disability is holding a tailored disability awareness event for police in London on 22nd June.
‘Promoting disability equality' will bring together forces from around the country to network and share good practice.
The event will provide help and advice on developing a disability confident police force, from experts on disability policy, disabled people, ACPO and the Home Office.
Part of the programme will include vital information on EFD's Disability Standard, the world's first disability benchmark which will enable forces to accurately measure disability in every way in which it affects the organisation.
Robin Field Smith, MBE, of Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary (personnel, training and diversity) says: "Police forces, as part of their duty under the DDA, need to self assess their compliance against a relevant national standard.
"Employers' Forum on Disability has produced the Disability Standard which the HMIC commends to forces to use as part of the first year's action plan."
Ends
Notes to editors
Media enquiries, please contact:
Liz Nightingale, Communications Manager
Employers' Forum on Disability
Email: liz.nightingale@efd.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7403 3020
About Employers' Forum on Disability
Employers' Forum on Disability is the employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects employers and service providers. With over 400 members, EFD represents organisations that employ around 20 per cent of the UK workforce.Since its establishment in 1991, EFD has worked closely with government and other stakeholders, sharing best practice to make it easier to employ disabled people and serve disabled customers.