Winner of the Greater London Training Award
Course Profile: Sensory Disability (1 – 2 days)
Historically, responses to disability have meant that individuals who live with a disability have been stigmatised and have experienced discrimination and harassment. Often they have received poor treatment from society generally. This has been compounded by poor and ill-informed support from services whose role it is to enable. Stereotypes and assumptions have been the norm and awareness at all levels has been slow to change. For those who have a sensory disability, which can have a significant impact on their lives, the difficulties they face are, to a great extent, ‘invisible’. Through the campaigning of organisations such as RNIB, RNID, the Disability Rights Commission (DRC), now part of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR), considerable work has taken place over a number of years to alter societal attitudes and, as importantly, fundamental changes at a practical level. In 1995, the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) added legal weight to the campaign to increase awareness and social inclusion. In 2005, the DDA was significantly revised in favour of effecting change at an organisational level. Nonetheless, organisations are made up of individuals and change needs to take place at all levels within all organisations and services.
The aims of this course are:
To promote greater understanding of
sensory disability.
To promote changes in terms of attitude and action towards those with a sensory
disability.
To consider ways of achieving greater social inclusion and involvement for those
who live with sensory loss.
By the end of this course, participants should:
Have a working definition of ‘sensory
disability’.
Understand what is meant by ‘blindness’.
Understand what is meant by ‘deafness’.
Have raised awareness of ‘sensory loss’.
Understand what is available in terms of communication skills and
aids (NB. This course is not designed to provide these skills or aids).
Understand what will need to be considered in terms of aids, tools and supports
in order to involve individuals with sensory loss in different situations (e.g.,
Braille, signing, note-taking, interpretation, website design, front row
seating).
Be conversant with the basic human and legal rights of individuals
with a sensory disability (a practical guide rather than an in-depth knowledge
of legislation).
Understand equality in relation to sensory disability.
Have explored ways and means of encouraging and enabling
individuals with a sensory disability to be involved at the inception and
in the ongoing development of all services.
Have an increased awareness of the difficulties and emotions that such
individuals face on a daily basis.
Consider what solutions are available in terms of improving the lives and social
interactions of individuals at all levels and in all areas (e.g., physical
changes, media, internet).
Know what is meant by harassment and discrimination.
Have the knowledge and understanding needed to enable and support people with
sensory disabilities to challenge discrimination and harassment.
Working methods:
2nd floor,
42 Station Rd., Portslade, East Sussex, BN41 1AG
Tel: 01273 414000 Fax: 01273 422777 e mail: admin@normanmark.net
www.normanmark.net