The creation of this material by Babcock International Group has been financed by the
Skills Funding Agency Equality and Diversity Innovation Fund 2013/14
Disability
Awareness
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Disability Awareness
Disability may be physical, mental, sensory, emotional,
developmental, or, for some, a combination of these.
A disability may be genetic, congenital (born with), or can occur at any point during a person’s lifetime,
which can be of a permanent or a temporary nature. Anyone can be affected; regardless of race, age,
gender or social and economic status. For some it may occur as the result of an accident, illness or
trauma.
Although some disabilities are not easily recognisable visually, such as dyslexia or speech impediments,
severe mobility and sensory disorders such as cerebral palsy or blindness can result in the individual
needing assistance to complete regular tasks.
The important thing to remember is that regardless of how severe a disability is, with the correct
adjustments, everyone should have the same opportunities to lead a fulfilling and valued life.
Common types of disabilities can include:
• Hearing impairments; partial or full hearing loss (deafness).
•
Visual impairments; partial or full sight loss (blindness).
•
Physical and mobility impairments.
•
Mental and emotional health.
•
Autism spectrum disorders; Asperger’s syndrome, ADHD and child
autism.
•
Learning and development challenges.
•
Medical conditions; cancer, HIV, AIDS and multiple sclerosis.
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Disability Awareness
Famous People with Disabilities
Professor Stephen Hawking – Motor neurone disease
This degenerative disease affects the central nervous system, and forced the gifted
physics professor into a wheelchair in his early adulthood.
Ellie Simmonds – Achondroplasia (dwarfism)
Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Simmonds OBE was born with achondroplasia dwarfism, but did not let it
deter her from becoming a four-time Paralympic Champion swimmer with multiple medals
and a world record in the 2012 Summer Olympics, despite only being in her teens.
Ludwig Van Beethoven – Hearing impairment
Beethoven was born with normal hearing which he slowly lost as he aged. He conquered
his disability to produce the most revered classical music ever written.
Muhammad Ali – Parkinson’s disease
One of the most famous boxers of all time developed Parkinson’s disease, which is a
degenerative condition causing an individual to shake uncontrollably.
Rowan Atkinson - Speech impairment
Rowan had a stutter as a child and had problems with the letter B. He managed to overcome
his stutter through speech therapy and later drew on his impairment which he used in his
comedic performances.
Daryl Hannah – Autism
The model and actress revealed that she had struggled with autism and as a child, and
it was recommended that she be institutionalised. Instead, she went on to star in many
films.
Richard Branson – Dyslexia
The multi-millionaire entrepreneur suffers from dyslexia, making it difficult for him to read
and write, but he defied the odds to create one of the worlds most recognised brands.
Shocking statistics from the Office for Disability Issues:
• Over a quarter of disabled people say that they do not frequently have choice
or control over their daily lives.
• A substantially higher proportion of individuals who live in families with disabled
members live in poverty, compared to individuals who live in families where no one
is disabled.
• According to the Labour Force Survey, disabled people remain significantly less
likely to be in employment than non-disabled people.
• Disabled people are significantly more likely to experience unfair treatment at
work than non-disabled people.
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Disability Awareness
Ensuring Equality in the Workplace - The Equality act 2010
By law, businesses need to be disability-smart and consider the requirements of all employees and
customers.
• Provides disabled people with protection from discrimination and harassment in the work place.
• Requires employers to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate a worker with a
disability and to have policies in place to prevent discrimination.
• Under the Equality Act 2010, a person is classified as disabled if they have a physical or mental
impairment which has a substantial and long-term negative effect on their ability to carry out
normal day-to-day activities. Day-to-day activities include things such as using a telephone,
reading a book or using public transport.
See our ‘further reading’ section for full details of The Equality Act.
What are ‘Reasonable’ Adjustments?
Braille
If an employee has a disability that is making it difficult for them to work, employers should consider
what reasonable adjustments they can make in the workplace to support them. This can include,
for example, adjustments to recruitment and selection procedures, to terms and conditions of
employment, to working arrangements, physical changes to the premises, equipment including
fitting access ramps and lifts or supplying an ergonomic chair or power-assisted piece of equipment.
Reasonable adjustments can also include re-deployment to a different type of work, if necessary.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
International Day of Persons with Disabilities is held annually on the 3rd December and is
promoted by the United Nations. The day aims to raise disability awareness and generate support
for the dignity, rights and well-being of people with disabilities. It aims to publicise how political,
social, economic and cultural life can benefit from the integration of disabled people and their
families into society.
Countries worldwide hold events including forums, public discussions and information campaigns.
Performances are also held to showcase and celebrate the contributions made by people with
disabilities in making changes and developments to the communities in which they live.
Learn to Sign Week is an annual event which is organised by the British Deaf Association, usually
in the first week of October. The idea behind the week is to raise awareness of sign language and
promote it as a good thing to learn to the people of the UK – whether they are deaf, know someone
who is deaf or just want to learn a new skill.
What is Sign Language?
Sign Language or ‘signing’ was developed as a way for people with hearing impairments to speak
with their hands. If an individual has been deaf since birth, they have never been able to hear how
words sound, which makes replicating them very difficult. Sign language overcomes this, and is
a visible way they can express themselves and communicate with others. Signing is gradually
becoming more accessible and many television programmes are now provided with either signers in
the corner or subtitles.
If you are interested in learning one of the many forms of sign language, courses are available
throughout the UK and online and can be found using an internet browser.
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Braille
Disability Awareness
The Sign Language Alphabet
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
For fun activities and games to test
your knowledge, visit:
www.bristish-sign.co.uk
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Disability Awareness
Braille – National Braille Week
National Braille Week takes place from 7th-13th October and is run by
the charity Royal Blind. It celebrates the invention of the Braille system
for reading and writing which was invented over 200 years ago by
Louis Braille. Braille provides literacy independence to visually impaired
and blind people all over the world, enabling them to read books, exam
papers and other important documents that need to be understood both
at work and home.
How does Braille Work?
Braille is a language of both letters and numbers, which is designed
to be read by touch rather than sight. It is a code based on six dots,
arranged in two columns of three dots. There are different types of
braille codes using variations of the six dots to represent all of the
letters of the alphabet, numbers, punctuation marks and commonlyoccurring groups of letters.
World Autism Awareness Day
This event takes place worldwide and happens on the 2nd April each
year and forms part of World Autism Awareness Month. The aim is to
increase people’s awareness about people, especially children, with
autism.
Films about Disability:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Rust and Bone
My Left Foot
Forest Gump
A Beautiful Mind
The Kings Speech
Rainman
What is Autism?
Autism is a lifelong behavioural disability and impairs how people
communicate verbally and nonverbally, how they interact socially and is characterised by repetitive behaviour.
Whilst people with autism experience the same difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways
and in varying degrees. Many people with autism have a variety of skills that are frequently quite exceptional,
allowing them to work well in a wide range of job roles. However like other people with a disability, they are often
disadvantaged when it comes to getting and keeping a job due to employer’s or colleagues’ general lack of
understanding about the condition.
id
Facts and Figures on Autism
w
• Autism affects over
700,000 people in the UK
(more than 1 in 100)
?
D
you kno
Braille is increasingly available on many of the gadgets
we use today, including computer keyboards, automatic
bank machines, buttons in lifts and mobile phones
Have you noticed that labels on many medicines also
have braille coding as standard?
• Only 15% of adults with
autism in the UK are in
full-time paid employment
• 61% of those with autism
are out of work but say
they want to work.
(Source: Autism.org - http://www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/myths-facts-and-statistics/some-facts-and-statistics.aspx)
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Disability Awareness
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Glossary
Going for Gold!
With the correct support and adjustments, disabilities
are no longer a barrier to sporting success, and many
people are now able to compete at an elite and highly
competitive level in sport. The most well-known example
of this is the Paralympics and Winter Paralympics, and
the Special People’s Olympics.
Achondroplasia
An inherited genetic disorder causing
dwarfism, and preventing an individual to
grow to full adult size.
Cerebral Palsy
A medical condition affecting the ability to
speak and use muscles, usually caused
before or during birth.
Congenital
Inherited.
Degenerative
To gradually get worse.
Elite
The best.
Ergonomic
Popular
Paralympic
Events Include:
Furniture or equipment designed to be
comfortable to use.
Archery, athletics, cycling,
equestrian, football, judo,
triathlon, watersports, shooting,
swimming, basketball,
skiing & snowboarding,
curling and ice
hockey.
Genetic
Something that it carried in your DNA.
Institutionalise
To put someone in prison or in hospital on a
long-term basis.
Physics
Branch of science examining how light, and
energy affects objects.
Stutter
A speech problem - being able to only
pronounce the beginning of a word
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Disability Awareness
Discussion Points
Links
Have a think about the subjects covered:
How have you
supported someone
with a disability either at
home or work?
Further Reading
Disability Law
www.gov.uk/access-to-work
www.gov.uk/equality-act-2010-guidance
What
reasonable
adjustments could you
make in your area of work,
to ensure equal access
for all?
www.hse.gov.uk/disability/law.htm
Disability Support
www.ncld.org/
www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1461
British Deaf Association
Describe
a person who is an
inspirational role model to
you and explain the part they
have played in overcoming
disability barriers.
www.bda.org.uk
Practical Exercise
Say your name in sign Language by signing to
your VLA - Practise using the alphabet chart on
page 5.
Please be prepared to share your thoughts
with your Learning Advisor on your next visit.
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Congratulations!
You have completed the learning for this module.
Please be ready to complete the discussion point section
with your Learning Advisor on your next visit.
R7275 v3 27.08.2014