Disability news - latest stories
EU to U-turn on accessible goods legislation?
19th March 2010
Proposals to introduce new legislation that would have improved disabled peoples' access to manufactured consumer goods could be ditched by the European Union (EU).
According to E-Access Bulletin Live, the draft Equal Treatment Directive would have prevented devices from solely using features that exclude individuals with disabilities.
This includes touchscreens, which are difficult to navigate for blind or partially-sighted people. read more »
» Read more stories in Legal
Sainsbury's to host Danda conference
19th March 2010
Employers' Forum on Disability gold member Sainsbury's has donated the use of one of its auditoriums for an upcoming conference about dealing with disability in the workplace.
The Developmental Adult Neuro-Diversity Association (Danda) event will take place on April 21st at 33 Holborn in London and will address specific processing and learning differences (SPLD) personnel may come across during their employment.
According to Danda, colleagues or customers who may find organising things difficult or struggle to explain themselves clearly may have a "hidden" SPLD. read more »
» Read more stories in Customer
Advice centres 'help people get back into work'
19th March 2010
People who have experienced mental health problems can be helped back into employment provided they have access to the right support.
This is the suggestion of Paul Farmer, chief executive officer (CEO) of charity Mind, who described the success of one his organisation's advice clinics in Telford.
Earlier this week, he was at hand to reopen the facility, named the Wellbeing Centre, which he noted helped 5,500 customers last year. read more »
» Read more stories in Employment
Disabled employees 'need more social care'
18th March 2010
Disabled employees have not received the level of social care they deserve, it has been suggested.
Head of policy and campaigns at the Multiple Sclerosis Society (MSS) Laura Weir said working-age adults with disabilities have been failing to get adequate services for a number of years.
"These include people who experience ill health, injury or disability, as well as older people, but adults of working age have been woefully neglected in the social care debate," she remarked. read more »
» Read more stories in Employment
Employers 'will benefit from fit notes'
17th March 2010
Firms should benefit from the upcoming introduction of fit notes, one expert has claimed, as it will reduce absenteeism.
The scheme, which is due to be launched on April 6th, could see more disabled employees get back into jobs by providing medical professionals with an option to suggest reasonable adjustments to their patients' workplaces.
Senior public policy advisor at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Ben Willmott said that while it is still "early days" for the initiative, many companies could see improvements to productivity. read more »
» Read more stories in Employment
New scheme 'will provide independence for disabled employees'
16th March 2010
Disabled employees will enjoy more independence as part of a new scheme to develop working opportunities for people with learning problems, the care services minister has claimed.
Phil Hope said that Jobs First, launched by the Department of Health (DH), will provide individuals with this kind of disability the support they need to secure and retain a position.
He remarked: "I've met many people with learning disabilities who would love the chance to get a job but too often they find it incredibly hard to overcome the barriers they face." read more »
» Read more stories in Employment
Employers have "huge role" in tackling mental health problems
16th March 2010
Supervisors play an important part in tackling the stigma many people experience when they admit to having a mental health problem.
This is according to Rethink policy manager Antonia Borneo, who said some bosses can often feel "ill-equipped" to handle situations like this.
"Line managers have a huge role to play in tackling workplace stigma and helping people with mental illness to remain in work," she commented. read more »
» Read more stories in Employment
Time to Change calls for media volunteers
15th March 2010
People who have experienced prejudice due to the stigma surrounding mental health problems are being invited to share their experiences by one anti-discrimination campaign.
Time to Change has asked individuals with psychological illnesses to offer positive and negative accounts, with an emphasis on how work colleagues, friends and family helped to support them.
These volunteers will then have their stories displayed in a range of media, such as newspapers, magazines, radio and television, as part of the organisation's April drive against intolerance. read more »
» Read more stories in Employment
18% fear being branded "mad" by bosses and colleagues
15th March 2010
Nearly one-fifth of people in the UK are afraid to talk to their employers about mental health problems because they worry about the repercussions, new research has revealed.
A study by charity Rethink found that 18 per cent of staff members think their supervisors would label them as "mad" if they admitted to having a psychological illness, with only nine per cent saying they are at ease with discussing such matters. read more »
» Read more stories in Employment
Canada ratifies UN disability treaty
12th March 2010
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been approved in Canada.
Under the agreement, people with disabilities will be afforded the same privileges and civil liberties as other citizens, the country's foreign affairs minister, Lawrence Cannon, said.
"Ratification of this convention underscores the government of Canada's strong commitment to this goal," he remarked.
National chair of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities Marie Claire agreed, stating that it is a historic occasion for individuals in this demographic. read more »
» Read more stories in Global