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Channel 4 highlights how the conversation around disabilities have changed https://lnkd.in/eeJev4Vf

In this episode, We discuss our in depth conversations around disability accessibility, PROWAG, Motion picture & entertainment fields and the 2028 Olympics & Paralympics in LA. It was long days but great conversations. Ready to head back east to continue the work. #RAMPisinclusion #RAMPredbag #ADA33 #betheIDEA #TinaTables #unapologeticallyme #accessibilitymatters #inclusionmatters #wheellife #SpinalCordInjury

The increasing recognition of disability sports serves as an important means of empowerment. With 22 sports featured in the summer Paralympic program, this event plays a crucial role in motivating the 1.3 billion individuals around the globe living with significant disabilities. Unfortunately, a significant number of the 80 million wheelchair users worldwide may never have the opportunity to participate in these sports, primarily due to the high cost of wheelchairs. How can Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 play a leading role in increasing the engagement of its disabled community in sports. What tools and innovations can be deployed?

FUN FACT: The Paralympic Games began back in the 1948 London Olympic Games, when there was a competition organised for wheelchair athletes named the Stoke Mandeville Games. There were 16 injured servicemen and women who took part in archery competitions. Eventually, this competition evolved into the Paralympic Games, which first took place in Rome, Italy, in 1960. This was a milestone event, and over 400 athletes from 23 countries took part. Katie Kelly, who has been an invaluable member of the Achieve Australia Board since April 2023, will be competing in the upcoming Paralympics. Read her full story at: https://lnkd.in/gxDWKHiY #IHA #inclusivehousingaustralia #specialistdisabilityhousing #Paralympics #SpecialistDisabilityAccommodation #disability #inclusion #accessibility #SDA #disabilityinclusion #disabilities #disabilityhousing #disabilitysupport #disabilitylife #housing #disabled #socialimpact #disabilityhome #disabilityservices #home #accommodation #disabilitycommunity #disabilityawareness #disabilitycare #advocacy #disabilityadvocacy #awareness #support #health #specialneeds

Global Disability Inclusion, LLC is currently highlighting some of the companies that are supporting the Paralympic Games. These companies have also created marketing communications campaigns that feature people with disabilities. It’s not surprising that Toyota Motor Corporation is on the list. Toyota has created some exceptional commercials in the past few years, including a memorable 2021 ad that featured U.S. Paralympic swimmer Jessica Long. (I will include some examples of Toyota’s ads in the comments section.) As I learned in the Diversity and Inclusion in IMC course at West Virginia University, marketing communications campaigns that feature people with disabilities are not that common. In fact, in 2021, Nielsen reported that while about a quarter of Americans had a disability, people with disabilities were featured in only about one percent of primetime TV ads at the time. (I will also include a link to this research in the comments section.)  This is something that needs to change. The Nielsen article explains that including people with disabilities in marketing communications campaigns can positively impact the business. However, the article also emphasizes the importance of portraying individuals with disabilities authentically. If you get a chance, you might want to check out some of the other examples that Global Disability Inclusion is sharing this week. Note: I used AI to help write this post. I wrote the first draft and then improved it using ChatGPT and Grammarly.

Today is the first day of National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a time dedicated to recognizing and understanding the unique workplace challenges and opportunities faced by individuals with disabilities. Did you know? -It has been estimated that up to 27% of Americans live with a disability that impacts their daily life? This means 1 in 4 adults have some type of disability. -As of 2022, the employment-population ratio for persons with a disability was 21.3%, compared to 65.4% for those without a disability. This NDEAM, let’s rekindle our dedication to fostering more inclusion and a greater understanding of disabilities within our workplace. Take a listen to an interview I did about inclusion and accessibility in the workplace: https://lnkd.in/gS74J-_v

So far in 2024...   1. Leading law firm fails to provide reasonable accommodations for a colleague who has depression and long covid. 2. Large retailer discriminates against a blind Paralympian by asking her to leave the store with her guide dog. 3. Construction sales company fails to provide accommodations to a staff member who had a brain tumour and hearing loss. 4. National bus company ‘publicly humiliates a passenger’ by refusing to let him board with his guide dog.   According to Eoin O'Neill director of legal services for the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland “Last year we as a commission found that 48% of all enquiries coming to our discrimination advice line related to #disability discrimination and a very large percentage of those related to the lack of reasonable adjustments in the workforce,"   In both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland we are seeing a significant increase in claims of disability discrimination. In the Republic, these claims come under both the Equal Status Acts as well as the Employment Equality Acts. Whether it’s service provision or employment equality the vast majority of claims of disability discrimination in Ireland relate to a lack of provision of reasonable accommodations.   Why is this? We believe it's because managers and business owners simply are not aware of their obligations to provide reasonable accommodations.   The reality is that disabled colleagues, jobseekers and service users aren’t more litigious that those without disabilities. What they are is a diverse group of people who are increasingly highlighting their right to equality. During our disability awareness training programmes we call this ‘the rising tide of rights recognition’.     Discrimination in Ireland rarely is intentional or premeditated.   But that’s not to say it doesn’t happen every day.   So, if you are a Team Lead, a Manager, HR Professional or business owner, what can you do to be more inclusive?   1. Learn about the importance of Reasonable Accommodation 2. Have a clear Reasonable Accommodation Process 3. Have a Reasonable Accommodation Policy which is available to all colleagues (not just HR & management)   4. Train managers and HR teams in disability awareness and reasonable accommodation.   Your staff will benefit. Your managers will benefit. Your customers will benefit.   And you’ll be much less likely to be a headline in the Irish Independent...   Ability Focus is the only organisation in Ireland who deliver Reasonable Accommodation Training and provide reasonable accommodation consultancy services. Our programmes are increasingly being completed by government departments, state bodies, professional services firms, retailers and multinationals. To find out more about our programmes get in touch on (01) 699 1150 or email info@bilityfocus.ie Alternatively contact Stephen Kelly here on LinkedIn

Well Channel 4 has done it again - resetting the bar in #authenticrepresentation and digging into the harmful tropes that keep parasport (and disability in general) from achieving parity with the Olympics. I cannot speak highly enough of the team at Channel 4 and their efforts to mainstream disability in all of their programming. This is an example to follow for any company that is truly invested in disability inclusion - there is no summit of this mountain, no end of the road. No 100% scores and no perfection. Disability inclusion in business is, like any other go-to-market strategy, an exercise in humility and constant progress. Brands such as Channel 4 who are able to recognise the improvements they can make and act upon them - and own that imperfection - should be celebrated. Accountability and transparency cultivate trust and recognition within the #disabilitycommunity. #disabilityinclusion the Valuable 500

Are you watching the Paralympic Games? Are you inspired? We should all be inspired by the extraordinary athleticism of our Para-athletes. However we need to also be mindful that we aren't using images or footage of disabled people to make ourselves feel better about our own lives. When we look at images of disabled people and objectify them, it is known as "Inspiration Porn", a term coined by remarkable disability advocate, Stella Young. It happens when non disabled people look at disabled people and think or say 'well at least my life isn't that bad' or 'if they can do it with no legs then I can definitely do it'. These ideas and statements signify the comparison between disabled and non disabled people and reiterate this idea that disability is a bad thing, and disabled people lead mediocre lives. I'm here to tell you that my disability is not bad. It is a beatiful part of my existence. When you look at me, by all means be inspired by my achievements, but don't be inspired by the fact I can achieve day to day tasks like mopping my floors. That is not inspiring. Simply living with disability is not inspiring or remarkable. Living with disability is part of the human existence. So let's get back to marveling at the elite athletes currently competing at the Paralympic Games! International Paralympic Committee #inspirationporn #disabilityawareness #disabledisnotbad #imnotyourinspiration In this video I was interviewed by Lauren Orrell for Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia, this is an edited version of the full episode also featuring Madeleine Stewart, comedian and producer & fellow Australian Paralympian Carlie Beattie

If you are an able bodied person you may have not taken time to consider or appreciate the incredible strength and skill of wheelchair users. Self-propelling a wheelchair, especially at speed or when stopping suddenly, requires immense physical effort and control! When renovating a venue, it is crucial to consider the accessibility needs of wheelchair users. Even small changes in surface height can present significant obstacles for individuals using wheelchairs. In fact, a 2cm change in surface height is generally considered a potential barrier for some wheelchair users. These changes in height, known as thresholds or transitions, can make it difficult or even impossible for wheelchair users to navigate freely and independently. It can cause difficulties in entering and exiting spaces, manoeuvring through doorways, and accessing various areas within a venue.   Hannah Dodd @Quaddy_Doddy Incomplete quadriplegic Paralympian 2012 + 2021. Commonwealth Games 🥈 #Paralympian #WheelchairUser #WheelchairBasketball #DisabilityAdvocacy #Disability #AccessibleTourism #UniversalDesign #YOAT #SDGs #DisabilityAwareness #InclusionMatters #InvisibleDisabilities #AdvanceQLD #Tourism #Accessibility #Inclusivity #QLD #Accessibility