Community member Bill Hardman, 52, (pictured sitting at table) has been taking part in projects at the University of Bolton to help shape the future of services for disabled people.
For the past 12 months, Bill, an electronic engineer at the Remploy factor in Bolton, has been seconded to the university 1 day per week, where has been helping out with three projects aimed at helping disabled people into employment or higher education.
For one of the projects, MIDAS, (Making Inclusive Design Accessible and Successful) Bill has been designing products that everyone, including disabled people can use. He has helped design cereal packets, bottle openers and a vehicle to provide dental care services for people with mobility problems.
The other two projects, Designing Futures and Rise and Shine, are aimed at identifying and overcoming the barriers that disabled people face when looking for work or higher education courses.
Says Bill: 'One of the best outcomes of my time at the University is seeing how the goals of disabled people can be achieved and their confidence increased through their participation in higher education.'
Bill is a union rep and health and safety officer and is also a representative on the Remploy National Consortium of Trade Unions. He has an in-depth knowledge of disabled issues and understands the need to raise the aspirations amongst disabled people.
Adds Bill: 'I have enjoyed making new friends, gained wider experience of business and developed a better understanding of university life. I also believe that this experience has also strengthened the relationship between Remploy and the University of Bolton, as a means of helping disabled people into employment by offering pathways that are appropriate to their needs.'