Some thoughts
1. I do not think that Disability officers, EO officers etc. are representatives of anybody unless they have been elected by that particular
constituency. They are in the main I would have thought appointees of the University, answerable to the University. Part of their job
description might be to communicate and consult with a particular group but that is different.
2. If a panel wishes to include in its membership a representative of a particular group then it has to ask that group who it wishes to act
as its representative. If they chose a Disability Officer who is not disabled then that person becomes, in part at least, a representative,
irrespective of whether or not s/he is disabled.
3 If a panel dealing with disability issues does not wish to include a representative of the disabled then it has to make sure that it has
effective ways of consulting with its disabled constituency.
4 A panel might chose to invite a particular disabled person. That person is not a representative but s/he can give an insight into a
particular disability and, more importantly, is likely to urge action and expenditure when some other staff are erring on the side of
caution and prudence.
*********************************************************
Geoff Smith
Principal Officer - Committee and Policy Support
Planning Support Office
Sheffield Hallam University
City Campus
Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB
Tel: 0114 225 3854
Fax: 0114 225 3498
Email: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Susanna Hancock [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2001 2:19 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: representation
It's not the same, brian. I'm not talking about criminals, and I'm not
saying that you needto be the same as someone else, but I am
talking about equality, and who holds power in our society and who
decides about services for disabled people. I don't want to make
disability officers and others who represent disabled people feel
uncomfortable, and I know we, disabled people, have plenty of good
allies. But I'm just raising the issue of "representatives" who want
to hold on to the role of representing us when there are disabled
people around who would like to take part in policy and other
issues relating to disabled people.
Susanna.
Susanna Hancock
Equal Opportunities Officer
HRS
Telephone: 020 8411 6873
Email: [log in to unmask]
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