Desktop Disability Trainer -

We are pleased to announce the introduction of our new DDA / DET interactive multimedia training system. Find out how you could save thousands on training costs whilst delivering effective, comprehensive training with total flexibility. Different versions available such as Adult Learning, Post 16 Education, Hotel and Guest Houses to name a few. Suitable for single seat licences or intranet use. Fully accessible. Certificate awarded on completion.

Disability Discrimination Act and Disability Equality and Awareness Training

Gateshead Access Panel have a reputation for delivering high quality training courses to Organisations and groups. All courses can be tailored to suit the needs of the organisations or individuals concerned.

Our training gives participants an understanding of the main barriers that concern disabled people. The training leads to improved service provision, in line with the Disability Discrimination Act recommendations, through greater awareness by those who provide and develop services. We address these issues by looking at how language and terminology can stereotype and therefore, lead to discrimination. We also look at what disability is and how others view disabled people.
We discuss the Medical, Social, Individual, Religious and Charity Models of disability and how they can either empower or disempower disabled people. Physical and sensory barriers to services are discussed whilst addressing "How to make your Venue Accessible". We discuss awareness about various impairments, specific access issues and show how bad design affects everyday life and forces disabled people to be dependent. Legislation is covered including the Disability Discrimination Act (1995).

Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA)

Since 1996 all service providers have had a duty to ensure that they do not refuse service, nor provide a less comparable service to disabled people, without justification. As a service provider you should have already reviewed all of your practices, policies, and procedures - including informal or non written customs and practices - and where necessary, altered them.

Since October 1999 your organisation should have been working at providing auxiliary aids and services, or providing services by alternative means so that disabled people can use them. From October 2004 there will be a duty on all service providers including Community Centres and those service providers operating from Public Buildings to remove or alter any physical features which stop disabled people from using their buildings. The Special Education Needs and Disability Act (SEND Act) 2001 has filled the gap between the Special Educational Needs framework and the DDA 1995; and Part four of of the DDA was altered to include schools and Post-sixteen education.

Ignorance regarding disability issues cannot be used as an excuse if your organisation discriminates against a disabled person and they complain about the discrimination. This is because the Codes of Practice relating to the DDA recommend that service providers arrange Disability Awareness Training and Audits of their buildings and consult with disabled people and disability organisations to ensure they do not discriminate. The Act affects everyone providing goods, facilities and services to the general public.

Access Audit Training

We also deliver a 2 - 3 day training course on the basics of access auditing. Overall Aim of the Sessions To equip participants with the basic knowledge to allow them to carry out access audits of buildings based on legislation, best practice and equal opportunities. Please see our page on Auditing and Consultancy.
Objectives
1. To show how disabled people's lives are adversely affected by a badly-designed environment anddraw on and explain current legislation including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and Part M of the Building Regulations.
2. To understand that it is society and the environment that disable people and not necessarily the persons impairment.
3. To consider how attitudes can maintain an inaccessible environment and create dependency of disabled people on others.
4. Examine and understand what "auditing" is and how to carry out an access audit of a building.