EFD backs innovative research into what helps disabled employees get senior jobs

26th June 2009

Employers’ Forum on Disability is today (26 June) supporting a new project from the disability charity RADAR that is researching how talented disabled people rise to the top of their organisations.

‘Doing Seniority Differently’ is a research project looking at what helps or hinders people with ill-health, injury or disability at work. This could include personal strategies as well as ways in which organisations support talented people to get to the top. This could include:

•    Development schemes,
•    Mentoring,
•    Peer support,
•    Training,
•    Flexible working or
•    Other, less tangible, aspects of organisational culture.  

The research has been launched by Baroness Campbell of Surbiton DBE and Roger Berry MP, co-chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Disability Group. The questionnaire for the research is available online at http://tinyurl.com/qhw3uc and the deadline for submissions is 15 July.

Vidar Hjarding, Diversity Manager for the ITV News Group, says: “In over 20 years of working in the media, I have never been made to feel that being blind has been an issue with my employers or indeed my colleagues. The fact that I was asked to run a variety of regional political and social action programmes while still in my 20s, hopefully shows that people felt that I was up to it - despite television obviously being a visual medium.

“I'd like to think that my pragmatism and tenacity, combined with the enlightened attitude of ITV and the immensely helpful practical support of the Access to Work scheme, has enabled me to rise to my current role of Diversity Manager for the ITV News Group.”

Liz Sayce, Chief Executive of RADAR, said: “This is currently an unresearched issue. Disabled people have talent, ambition and potential, which all too often goes to waste. They lack senior disabled role models who have succeeded in their chosen professions. This project will bring together the experiences of disabled leaders and managers to ensure that others can follow them up the career ladder.”

"In this project we really hope to reach all sorts of people who don't necessarily identify as disabled (even though, technically speaking, they might qualify as such under the Disability Discrimination Act). These people will also have valuable contributions to the research."

Susan Scott-Parker, Chief executive of Employers’ Forum on Disability, said: “We are delighted to support this important research, which we hope will help organisations further along their journey to disability confidence by identifying how best to support the career progression of their disabled staff.”

Ends

Notes to editors

You can access the questionnaire at http://tinyurl.com/qhw3uc, and find out more about the project at www.radar.org.uk/research.

For RADAR media enquiries, please contact:

Aidan Hargitt, Press Officer

RADAR        

Email: aidan.hargitt@radar.org.uk

Tel: 020 7566 0111

Mobile: 07984 158 525.

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.

www.efd.org.uk