Hi Jane and all
Speaking as a disabled access advisor myself. Here are a few thoughts.
Jane raises a good point around organisations that are disabled led or co
led (as her company sounds to be), where there is good practice and
specialist knowledge and of course this should be taken into consideration.
I believe that it's incredibly important for us all to work and learn
together, however, there are some situations/training and consultations
where it is appropriate for disabled people to take the lead, it can
reinforce a stronger message. However, this should be balanced with good
partnership working where relevant too.
There have been too many situations where disabled people are asked and
expected to contribute their lived knowledge skills and experience in a
voluntary capacity (quite frequently with little or no payment other than
reasonable expenses and sometimes without anything at all) yet , often
providing valuable professional suggestions and recommendations for
improvements to access in design governance and activity. This kind of
practice needs questioning. Disabled people want to work too.
Good practice access consultancy pays appropriately. Good practice
encourages and fosters positive
and meaningful relationships with real commitment and energy. Good practice
realises great results.
There needs to be a sea change in attitude to uplift and increase the
professional profile of disabled access practitioners within this sector as
well as other paid roles within the cultural industry - there have been many
great initiatives engagement etc but we've still got a long way to go.
before the sector has more equality in this field.. especially with all the
hideous changes that are being put into place with benefit reforms and ATW.
With this in mind I think I can understand why Scope have decided the
approach they are advocating, but perhaps it could be open to consultants
who are from disabled led/co led orgs..?
Regards
Liz Porter. .
--------------------------------------------------
From: "jane Simpson Access" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2014 3:31 PM
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Scope is setting up a list of trusted DET and access
consultants
> We could go tit for tat on this, but I don’t want to.
>
> I am just a little tired of being told that because I am not disabled I am
> in some way inferior. I am all for everyone having opportunities; as a
> female architect I have faced discrimination throughout my career. I am
> all for positive action, not sure about positive discrimination though.
>
> It also is more galling as my husband who is instrumental in all work
> leaving the office is disabled and a 50% shareholder in the company but
> that doesn't count either. Work should be won on competency, whether
> disabled, non-disabled, white, black, male or female. I am not sure that
> this does the promotion of inclusion any favours either. Is it
> discriminatory?
>
> At a meeting recently it is clear that the Government wants to deregulate
> and is pushing for professionals to ensure inclusion. I am just concerned
> that we may be seen as fragmented, we have some amazing specialists
> (non-disabled) who are fighting the corner hard. We all need to work
> together.
>
> Regards Jane
>
> Jane Simpson
> RIBA & NRAC Consultant
> T: 01484 423501
> M: 07777 607239
> www.janesimpsonaccess.com
>
>
>
> Registered address: New House Bungalow, New House Road, Sheepridge,
> Huddersfield, HD2 1EG Company No 6559802, VAT No 930 0839 42
> This e-mail is for the addressee only. The information contained in it
> and any attachments are confidential and may be privileged. If you have
> received this e-mail in error, please notify us immediately. You are not
> authorized to, and must not disclose, copy, distribute or retain this
> e-mail or any part of it.
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Accessibuilt list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Steven Mifsud
> Sent: 16 September 2014 14:35
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Scope is setting up a list of trusted DET and access
> consultants
>
> Jane,
>
> I don't wish to step on your toes, however I do believe that access
> consultancy undertaken by a person with a disability may carry more weight
> in the eyes of some clients.
>
> Secondly whilst it is all great having a national register, this is not
> the be all of what makes a good access consultant. In fact at the moment
> the NRAC is completely unequipped to take on new members due to management
> changes (a member of my team applied 4 months ago) this means unfair
> competition. There is no point in having a national register if no one can
> actually get on it should they have the relevant experience.
>
> I have also met access consultants who have an architectural background
> and a disability which have provided far superior advice to some NRAC
> members.
>
> Just my two cents,
>
> Kindest regards
>
> Steven Mifsud
> Director
>
> Direct Access Consultancy Ltd
> www.accessaudits.com
>
> Sent from iPhone
>
>> On 16 Sep 2014, at 13:17, jane Simpson Access
>> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>> Graham, I am not a disabled person, I have personal experience of
>> disability and over 20 years as an access specialist. But it would seem I
>> would not be eligible to apply.
>>
>> I do not do DET as I work solely as an access consultant. Not being
>> disabled does not make me any less of an access consultant.
>>
>> I would also recommend that any consultancy work is undertaken by an NRAC
>> consultant, this is the only register in the UK.
>>
>> Regards Jane
>>
>>
>>
>> Jane Simpson
>> RIBA & NRAC Consultant
>> T: 01484 423501
>> M: 07777 607239
>> www.janesimpsonaccess.com
>>
>>
>>
>> Registered address: New House Bungalow, New House Road, Sheepridge,
>> Huddersfield, HD2 1EG Company No 6559802, VAT No 930 0839 42 This
>> e-mail is for the addressee only. The information contained in it and
>> any attachments are confidential and may be privileged. If you have
>> received this e-mail in error, please notify us immediately. You are
>> not authorized to, and must not disclose, copy, distribute or retain this
>> e-mail or any part of it.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Accessibuilt list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
>> Of Graham Robert Findlay
>> Sent: 16 September 2014 12:32
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Scope is setting up a list of trusted DET and access
>> consultants
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I've been an Accessibuilt member for many years and now work for the
>> disability charity Scope as Relationship Management Executive for
>> Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPOs).
>>
>> At Scope, we’re sometimes asked by companies we work with whether we can
>> provide DET and/or access consultancy services for them. Since 2010, we
>> have not provided this kind of service as we recognise the excellent work
>> DPOs and disabled consultants already do in this area. So in future, we
>> would like to use these occasions as opportunities to introduce companies
>> and appropriate DPOs/access auditors/consultants with direct experience
>> of disability.
>>
>> With a view to this, we are now inviting DPOs and consultants who are
>> interested in joining our list of trusted providers to work with our
>> corporate partners when opportunities arise.
>>
>> Although we anticipate that any work would be negotiated between the DPO
>> and the client, we do want to offer companies some assurance on the
>> quality and type of delivery, including the following.
>>
>> • We would expect any DET training to be delivered by a suitably
>> qualified disabled person who has a sound knowledge and understanding of
>> the social model of disability.
>> • We would not expect a DET training programme to include any
>> simulation training.
>> • Any technically-oriented service, like access auditing, would
>> require evidence of technical competence.
>>
>> What’s in it for me?
>>
>> • Opportunities to work with big companies and build new client
>> networks when they arise.
>> • Direct remuneration for your services.
>>
>> What happens next?
>>
>> • If you are interested, please get in touch as soon as possible.
>> • We will send you further information about how the scheme works and
>> a list of criteria we expect you or your organisation to meet in order to
>> provide assurance to our corporate partners.
>> • If you meet the criteria, we will then add you to our list of
>> trusted providers.
>>
>>
>> Interested? Please email Graham Findlay, Relationship Management
>> Executive (Disabled People’s Organisations) for further details:
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>> Many thanks, and look forward to hearing from you.
>>
>> ----------End of Message----------
>> Run by SURFACE for more information on research, teaching and
>> consultancy:
>> http://www.surface.salford.ac.uk
>> Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at
>> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html
>>
>> ----------End of Message----------
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>
> ----------End of Message----------
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> Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at
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