Disability news - latest stories

Disabled employee finds work thanks to Shaw Trust

3rd September 2010

A disabled woman whose upper limb disorder left her with weakened hands and an inability to write more than a couple of words has found employment thanks to the Shaw Trust.

Mandy Chinn, 37, noted that prior to being "hit" with the condition, she had been something of an adventurer, backpacking alone through Alaska, sailing the Atlantic and generally leading an active life, the Courier reports. read more »

» Read more stories in Employment

'Economic inclusion boosted' for people with Asperger's

3rd September 2010

A new college has opened in Wales designed to boost the economic inclusion of people with Asperger's syndrome, with places partly funded by the NHS, assembly government and social services.

Priory Coleg Wales - based in Pontypool, Torfaen - caters for young people aged between 16 and 25, with ten students due to start day courses in 2010 and plans for 50 to 60 more in the near future, the BBC reports.

Principal Simon Coles noted that many attending the school will have struggled with mainstream education and may have been out of the classroom for some time. read more »

» Read more stories in Employment

47% 'ashamed' to tell employers about mental health conditions

2nd September 2010

Research has revealed that nearly half of workers with mental health conditions in Wales admit to being too ashamed to tell their employers.

Conducted by Nacro, the study found that 47 per cent of those asked were of this opinion, while 44 per cent would be too embarrassed to disclose matters concerning bankruptcy. read more »

» Read more stories in Employment

Majority 'have never worked with disabled employees'

2nd September 2010

Research has revealed that the majority of people in the UK have never had the chance to work alongside a disabled employee.

Conducted by national charity Scope, which campaigns to raise awareness, influence government policy and change attitudes, the study found that, of those polled, just 21 per cent had worked with a disabled colleague.

Chief executive Richard Hawkes responded to the fact that 40 per cent of Britons who are not disabled and do not have disabled relatives do not know any disabled people by calling the results shocking. read more »

» Read more stories in Employment

DA: Public bodies must carry out impact assessments for disabled people

1st September 2010

National charity Disability Alliance (DA) has said that equality legislation demands that all public organisations carry out impact assessments on their policies to consider the disproportionate effect they may have on people with disabilities.

However, the body - producer of the annual publication Disability Rights Handbook and provider of information regarding tax credits, social care and social security benefits for disabled people - believes that the treasury failed to do this for the Emergency Budget. read more »

» Read more stories in Legal

Swindon Mindful Employer Network receives extra funding

1st September 2010

NHS Swindon has provided extra funding for the Swindon Mindful Employer Network, an organisation that helps companies handle mental health conditions in the workplace.

The body provides assistance with stress and depression, among other problems and boosts the financial inclusion of workers by helping them stay in their jobs while they manage their conditions.

And now the group has been provided with grants for the next three years, which prompted project leader David Latham to note that mental health is critical to the success of any enterprise. read more »

» Read more stories in Employment

Derbyshire Constabulary praised for work with deaf people

1st September 2010

The Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) has presented Derbyshire Constabulary - and Chief Constable Mick Creedon - with its Louder than Words charter mark for improvements in the way it communicates with deaf people.

It was necessary for the force to prove they could offer a "high-quality deaf-aware service to customers and employees" and, as such, 18 members of staff have been trained to use sign language, local paper the Star reports. read more »

» Read more stories in Employment

Nominations still open for scheme that improves employment for disabled people in Worcestershire

1st September 2010

Nominations for a Worcestershire scheme, which recognises individuals and businesses that make significant contributions to improving employment, services and access for disabled people in Wyre Forest close on September 24th.

Previous winners of the Mike Oborski No Barriers awards - launched by county councillor Mike Oborski, based on a similar idea in Poland - include Fred Holland of Diabetes UK, Just for Pets and Sainsbury's, both in Kidderminster, the Kidderminster Shuttle reports. read more »

» Read more stories in Employment

The Classical Siesta 'could improve mental and emotional wellbeing'

31st August 2010

Businesses may profit from introducing the Classical Siesta into the working day, a scheme offered by Travelodge that aims to help tackle the average weekly sleep debt of 12 hours.

Such a move would, according to the hotel chain's spokeswoman Shakila Ahmed, allow "exhausted workers" to be revitalised, which in turn could lead to improved emotional, mental and physical wellbeing, HR Magazine reports. read more »

» Read more stories in Employment

Disabled employees and others 'should eat breakfast'

31st August 2010

The benefits of eating breakfast every day have been extolled by one industry expert who believes certain foods can be consumed that help people avoid stress, provide energy and improve creativity and brain power. read more »

» Read more stories in Employment