Disability Awareness, Rights & Equality

Are You Bridging the Divide?

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Disability Awareness Training

An interactive and open forum for examining the stereotypes and misconceptions about people with disabilities, Disability Awareness Training (sometimes referred to as "Equality training") has been developed by people with disabilities all over the world to inform and educate society in understanding the issues surrounding disability.

Often we are so anxious not to offend people with disabilities that we become embarrassed or clumsy in our approach and as a result avoid disability issues altogether.

Legislation in Ireland goes a long way to encourage and provide for positive action - it bolsters the modern case that 'disability' is now about rights and not about charity or an 'optional nice thing to do'. But the reality is that a lot more needs to be done as many barriers still exist for people with disabilities and these are typically caused by:

Government's failure to recognise the rights of people with disabilities.
Lack of knowledge and confidence about disability.
An over-concern for being politically correct.
Lack of awareness of disability.
Negative attitudes.
Absence of opportunity.
A failure to appreciate how to make offices, shops and services into 'disability friendly' places.

Disability Awareness Training is open to everyone and offers an opportunity to explore disability related issues, share experiences and ask questions, for example “why am I no longer allowed to use the word ‘handicapped’?”, “how do I give directions to a blind person?”, “how can I run a group meeting and fully include a Deaf person?”

Focusing on the individual, not the disability.

Following a training session, participants will have increased their confidence working with colleagues, clients or customers with disabilities and will understand how they can remove barriers through their own practices and attitudes. By learning the appropriate and effective methods of communication, participants will develop the skills nessessary to understand how the needs of people with disabilities can be met.

Frances Finucane Butler, a qualified trainer with a diploma in Disability Equality has been providing Training Services to Businesses, Organisations and Voluntary Support Groups in Cork since she graduated from University College Cork in 1998. Most notably, she has been involved with the Cork City Development Board who consulted with her on many disability issues during the drafting of the Cork City Development Plan which was published in February 2003. With over fifteen years of insight as a person with physical disability, Frances has been involved in the local and national disability movement for many years. She has also spent time with several European organisations and groups which support the rights of people with disabilities.

If you would like more information on any of the training services referred to on this website, you may click here for a contact form.