Disability Champions@Work
Disability Champions@Work is a program supported by the Department of Trade and Industry, the TUC and individual Trade Unions.
This programme is designed to develop individuals within the union movement with the skills required to support the disabled in the workplace.
Disability Champions are Trade Union representations with an interest in disability issues. They act as key contacts either within the workplace or within the Trade Union.
A Disability Champion:
- recognises the abilities and potentials of all workers.
- ensures that employers enable their workers
- helps their employer find enabling solutions
- shares information, ideas and innovations with others
- understands that society and culture disable people, not 'medical conditions'
- strives to eradicate negative perceptions of disabled people
- considers accessibility and inclusionin all aspects of their work
- uses the union's structures to influence policy on disability issues
Community has five trained Disability Champions who are able to support you within the workplace and within the union. These are:
Mark Jones
Mark is located in the service centre and is able to provide support and advice over the phone.
Ester Marriott
Ester is Branch Development Officer in Region 4.
'I have substantive experience of working with people with disabilities and believe that I can use the knowledge gained as a disability champion in ensuring that our members are not treated any less favourably on the grounds of their disability. In fact I now feel that I am in a position to confidently act as an advocate in ensuring that employers make the reasonable adjustments necessary improve our members working lives.'
Martin Keane
Martin is a Branch Development Officer in Region 5. Martin says that being a Disability Champion has done 2 things for him. He has realised being a trade unionist is not enough, and that the course has given him the confidence to talk to people with disabilities openly and honestly and not be ashamed of my non-disability.
Tristan Thompson
Tristan is a Personnel Officer located in Head Office.
Dean Apps
Dean is an Organiser in the National Organising department.
More information is available at the Disability Champion website. http://www.disabilitychampions.com/