Interesting discussion you've inadvertantly started here Graham.
Over the years I've experienced great training delivered by disabled and non disabled trainers. I've had my fair share of the reverse too. The way I've always understood it is that Disability Equality Training needs (in part at least) to be delivered by disabled people where as disability awareness training at least needs to be delivered by someone who knows what they're talking about.
Whenever colleages and I have delivered inclusive design training, it is very much a partnership. "Partners" may belong to a local access group/organisation or sometimes they may not. Some are technically competent, some are strong advocates of people with their particular condition and have very little knowledge of other people's access needs or design standards, others have a powerful story to tell which challenges professionals to recognise the consequences of poor design/practice/attitudes. Some have received direct renumeration, many more have volunteered their time and their organisation may have been given renumeration. Others, see their involvement as meeting a commissioning requirement for their funding, others simply want to volunteer their experience. All are valued!
The key driver is meeting the training need and hopefully making sure this is delivered to a good standard in an interactive/inclusive way.
Re Access consultancy and auditing: My concerns mirror some of the other comments: Where is the quality check? who is doing the checking? Do they have a pan -disability/inclusive design experience? Who carries the professional indemnity?? -- I have seen examples where individual disabled people have been "set -up" as experts in access but have little or no knowledge of inclusive design standards and principles. Consequently poor decisions ensue and guess who gets the blame?
There are some excellent access professionals who would consider themselves disabled. There are also excellent access professionals who would consider that they are not. Their message is still valid. Perhaps the way is to support/encourage more disabled people (through your contacts) to go through the NRAC registering process? At least this way you will have risk-managed the situation, created a group of technical experts who are also disabled people and who could command a fee commensurate with their technical know-how.
A little diversion... A number of years ago I was invited to participate in a panel discussion on "inclusive design". I remember a question from one of the audience to each of the panel members.." Are you speaking from the point of view of being a disabled person?" At the time each panel member gave their answer (I think everyone said "no" and everyone felt slightly uncomfortable afterwards. The question had had what I perceive to be the desired effect and allowed the protagonist to be dismissive of anything the panel members said however insightful their comments may have been. I have occassionally wondered how each panel member might have responded if they had the opportunity again..? " ..Yes... does that validate what I am saying now?".. or perhaps a curt "none of your business" from someone who doesn't want to out themselves as a person with a mental health condition. Sadly, I've fantasised about what I might say now.. "I have over twenty years experience as an access professional, 10 more in other related professions. I am a parent, I was a carer when I was a teenager, there is history of mental health issues in my family (I am a member of the one in four as well as the one in three), I have had a reasonable amount of injuries and have had occassion to use crutches, wear slings, be on traction etc, I struggle to hear what's been said in a noisy pub, I work with disabled people on a daily basis most recently facilitating the voice of people with learning disabilities so they have real voices and choices. I have years of experience in pan equality issues, I have vast experience of community engagement, the ol' bones are a lot more creeky now and I suspect that quite soon I might meet the legal definition of a disabled person..... To answer the question more succinctly.. today I didn't feel disabled ..until now!"
Just a few ramblings...
Darryl
-----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.
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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
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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
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