Disability Equity & Inclusion Training
NeuroAdvantage provides access to Disability Equity & Inclusion training led by Kathryn Palmer-Skillings.
Achieving equitable inclusion for Disabled People in any workplace starts with understanding the ‘building blocks’ of what makes an accessible and welcoming environment and the common barriers that are present, often without you even realising it.
We deliver a modular learning approach, tailoring our core learning to your specific workplace. Each session provides you with an understanding of the foundational elements of Disabled People’s inclusion in the workplace and the actionable steps to take to create a more equitable, anti-ableist environment.
Sessions are not focused on ‘what to do if someone has X diagnosis’ – a surefire route to unhelpful assumptions. Instead, we focus on what barriers exist in systems, policies and ways of working, and how by changing these, you’ll create a workplace where everyone can thrive.
NB: These sessions support you in increasing your inclusion for anyone who could identify as disabled, in line with the Equalities Act. For example:
- Anyone with any kind of physical impairment.
- Anyone managing a mental health condition.
- Anyone with a sensory impairment, including D/deaf People.
- Anyone who is Neurodivergent.
- Anyone living with a chronic or long-term health condition, (including Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer, HIV, and many others).
- Anyone with a Learning Disability.
- Anyone with a combination of any of the above!
Introduction to Disability Equity, (and why I no longer say ‘equality’):
Covering ways of thinking and communicating about disability from an organisational perspective, and creating inclusive workplaces where disabled people can thrive.
Embedding Access & Inclusion in your Workplace, (and how it saves time and creates impact):
Looking at designing, planning, and developing your workplace from a starting point of inclusion.
Understanding Ableism, (and being an Ally in the workplace):
Ableism exists everywhere in society, so of course it’s present in workplaces. Understand what ableism is, its impact on how we work, live, and ‘value’ people, and how we can all be better allies.
Understanding Workplace Adjustments, (and being reasonable about them):
Workplace adjustments give colleagues the best opportunity to thrive. Understand the breadth of workplace adjustments and inclusive mechanisms for finding out what colleagues require to do their best work.
The Value of Data in Disabled People’s Inclusion, (and how to encourage us to share it):
Data is key to creating an inclusive workplace. We’ll cover collecting disability data, using that data, and why disabled people already in your organisation may have chosen not to share!
Each session is delivered live over 90 minutes, including a break. They are facilitated in an inclusive style, responding to learning and access requirements shared with us prior to sessions.
See below for information on combining these into longer or multiple sessions.
Introduction to Disability Equity.
(and why we no longer say ‘equality’).
Overview
What is meant by ‘Disability Equity’, ‘Disabled People’s Inclusion’, and even the term Disabled People? We’ll cover inclusive, appropriate ways of thinking and communicating about disability from an organisational perspective. Relating
this to creating an inclusive workplace culture where disabled colleagues, clients, and customers are truly welcomed – as standard – and can thrive.
Who is this for?
Impact & Learning Outcomes
Recognise the barriers that exist for Disabled People:
Not just stairs and loos, you’ll understand environmental, communication, and attitudinal barriers that exist alongside the physical, in your workplace and beyond.
Feel confident in how to communicate:
We’ll touch on appropriate language from an organisational perspective, and look at how disabled people are represented and welcomed through your communication channels and messaging.
Identify the impact of your ‘ways of working’ on the equity of your workplace culture:
How to create an environment where everyone has what they require to feel welcomed and thrive in their work.
Embedding Access & Inclusion in your Workplace.
(and how it saves time and creates impact).
Overview
Who is this for?
Impact & Learning Outcomes
Recognise business practices that directly impact your baseline access and inclusion:
Including your processes, procedures, policies and day-to-day ‘ways of working’.
Identify priority areas and tools that can increase inclusion:
Actionable ways to create impact, including Equality Impact Assessments, Recruitment, L&D, policies and processes. This will mean change!
Understand the role everyone has in increasing inclusion:
How to support colleagues to understand their role in creating an inclusive & accessible environment, leverage the impact of line managers, and how to embed access and inclusion with volunteers (if appropriate).
Understanding Ableism.
(and being an Ally in the workplace).
Overview
Who is this for?
Impact & Learning Outcomes
Understand what the term Ableism means and begin to identify it:
Including examples from workplaces, other areas of life and wider society.
Recognise the impact of ableism and how you can challenge it:
How ableism is ‘baked-in’ to systems creating a feedback loop. Finding alternatives, as a workplace and as individuals. We’ll touch on internalised ableism which can impact how disabled people view themselves.
Identify how to be Anti-Ableist and an Ally to Disabled People:
It’s no longer enough to passively ‘accept difference’ in your workplace. Identify how you can be proactive in providing an equitable experience for disabled people and amplify the voices of disabled people.
Understanding Workplace Adjustments.
(and being reasonable about them).
Overview
Who is this for?
Impact & Learning Outcomes
Understand the breadth of workplace adjustments:
How they are not just about keeping people safe, and how they can enable colleagues to have the opportunity to do their best work.
Know how to create inclusive, non-ableist mechanisms for workplace adjustments:
Processes to align colleagues, line managers, HR & delivery teams, and the importance of centring lived expertise.
Feel confident identifying ways to increase the baseline accessibility of your workplace:
Creating an inclusive environment, that can flex to meet most needs that specific adjustments build upon.
The Value of Data in Disabled People’s Inclusion.
(and how to encourage us to share it).
Overview
Who is this for?
Impact & Learning Outcomes
Understand how and what to ask about disability diversity data:
Including appropriate, non-ableist language and GDPR basics.
Learn how to identify patterns and who is over-excluded in your workplace:
Including how data can identify where barriers exist, and how your workplace aligns with national averages.
Understand why colleagues choose not to share disability data:
How this relates to organisational culture, steps to take to address this, and why it’s more appropriate to talk about ‘sharing’ diversity data, rather than ‘disclosing’.
Session Pairing & Combinations.
Overview
- Introduction to Disability Equity/Understanding Ableism.
- Introduction to Disability Equity/Embedding Access & Inclusion.
- Introduction to Disability Equity/The Value of Data in Inclusion. (coming soon)
- Embedding Access & Inclusion/Understanding Workplace Adjustments.
- Embedding Access & Inclusion/ The Value of Data in Inclusion. (coming soon)
- Embedding Access & Inclusion/Understanding Ableism and its Impacts.
*To meet the access requirements of the team, 3 hour virtual workshops are split into a morning and afternoon session with a 2-hour break in between, or can be delivered on different days to suit you. 3-hour in-person sessions have a start time no earlier than 10.30am.
Our Fees
Our fees begin at*:
£1950
One 90-minute moduleDelivered virtually£3800
'Session Pair'Combining two tailored modules into 3 hours of learning time. (can be delivered online or in-person)£5500
Tailored 'day-long' sessionApprox. 5 learning hours. (Delivered virtually over two working days, or in person in one working day)£POA
Bespoke programmebased on a combination of modules. (can be delivered online or in-person)
Client Testimonials
“Anna is an effective and clear-sighted enabler whose knowledge and enthusiasm are infectious. She consistently delivers beyond expectations.”
Eileen Elchaar
Student Services Manager
“Anna is a strategic manager with an intelligent focus and a keen eye for detail. She has recently been mentoring several small voluntary organisations in Oxfordshire, supporting them with business plans and funding strategies as part of their workforce development. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with praise for her commitment and passion for the voluntary youth sector.”
Catherine M Lacey
CEO of OCVYS
“I’ve worked with Anna on several projects, and she consistently achieves incredible results with modest resources. Anna effortlessly navigates between frontline work and strategic thinking, making her a valued partner both locally and sub-regionally. Her vision and collaborative spirit make her a pleasure to work with.”
Gethyn Williams
National Director for Children’s Workforce Development, National Council for Voluntary Youth Services
“Anna is a very driven and focused individual with a keen eye on the bigger picture. She is energetic, committed, and a strong supporter of young people—a definite asset to the sector.”
Tracy Kean
Volunteering England
