Greetings!
My main feature article this month is about helping you with Disability Etiquette - are you aware that how you treat disabled people has a major impact on your business? Read more below...
With such good feedback on the inspirational people section I am delighted to introduce Michael McGrath to you. Michael is the only disabled person to reach both North and South Poles! I just know you'll want to read more...! |
| Disability Etiquette - Introduction |
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It isn't enough to train staff for twenty minutes or half an hour during their induction when they join the company, encapsulated as "equality" which will include disability.
If you are to be successful in ensuring that your staff treat disabled people in the right way there needs to be a specific allocated time slot for disability issues because it is such a huge subject. Regular training is essential to make sure people do not forget and to cover turnover in staffing levels.
Most people think it is sufficient to brush over the issues relating to disability but from personal experience that is not the way to go about it. Disabled people need to know that you as a business care about the service you provide. Your staff need to be trained in how to treat people, disabled or non disabled in the right way. Most disabilities are "hidden". These will include such things as epilepsy, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, depression, and deafness to name but a few. Some disabilities that are considered as "open" are such things as wheelchair users, people who are deaf-blind (a white cane user with a red band around the cane), and people with facial disfiguration such as a birth mark or scarring similar to that incurred by Simon Weston during the Falklands War in 1982 (to be featured in the Inspirational People column next month). |
| Disability Etiquette - Wheelchair Users |
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Over the next few months I am going to feature some top tips for disability etiquette. This month covers some aspects of dealing with wheelchair users, with more to come in future newsletters...
- If you can, try to make eye contact at the individual's level rather than bend over the wheelchair. If necessary sit on a chair to speak to them and definitely not to their companion if they have one
- Don't touch the chair or the disabled person without their permission - remember, you may be invading their personal space;
- Treat them with respect in the same way you would like to be treated yourself.
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| Inspirational People - Michael McGrath |
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 In April 2002 Michael reached the North Pole, and in January 2004 he reached the South Pole. All the more remarkable therefore in that Michael suffers from Muscular Dystrophy and as such became the first and only disabled person to reach both poles. Which I'm sure you'll agree is an extraordinary example of determination, courage and singular achievement. Michael devotes much of his time to inspirational speaking. If you get the chance to hear him speak... take it! Read more ... Don't forget if you know of an individual or a company that provides an inspiration to others, please email me to let me know and I will gladly feature them here... |
| In the news... |
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Campaigners for the 85,000 Britons with multiple sclerosis yesterday welcomed the emergence of a drug promising to greatly alleviate symptoms of the debilitating disease. Article featured in the Guardian newspaper. Read more. |
| Future Topics |
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If there is a particular topic or subject that you would like to see in this newsletter, please email me and let me know and I'll do my best to include it in future. |
| And Finally - Go grab a coffee... |
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An interesting tale from a recent hospitalisation and the fruits of friendship... Read the article |
