There are over 11 million people with disabilities in the UK that bring £249 billion in spending power to marketplace. Despite this, people with disabilities are more than twice as likely to be unemployed.

Disability Awareness Training can help improve these statistics by giving employers the tools they need to create a more inclusive workforce. It brings context to the most common disabilities, provides information on Equality Act 2010 requirements, talks through common scenarios concerning disability in the workplace and different adjustments that can be made.

Still wondering what it’s all about? Here are five benefits management and staff gain when undergoing Disability Awareness Training:

1. Improve your customer service

Through Disability Awareness Training, you will gain a better understanding about the barriers that people with conditions such as dyslexia or visual impairments face. This allows customer service teams to have a more confident approach to helping customers with a variety of needs and accessibility requirements.

2. Learn what is legally required from your workplace

HR and senior management employees can especially benefit from Disability Awareness Training in order to stay compliant with the Equality Act 2010. The act legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace, and can be tricky to navigate as it combines several pieces of legislation. 

The workshop will provide you with information regarding requirements you must follow in terms of hiring and supporting people with disabilities within your business.

3. Encourage workplace disclosure

During the training, participants are able to speak frankly about disability, talk about different conditions and learn about support available. Because of this, workplaces will create a more open environment where staff will feel more comfortable and confident to disclose any condition they may have to a manager.

These sessions will also offer guidance on how businesses can be transparent about the support available within their respective workplace.

4. Change your perception of disability

Although 15% of people worldwide have a disability, this group of people is more likely to be discriminated against due to stigma, miseducation and fear. During this training we will address many commonly asked questions and dispel stereotypes that exist in order to help create a more positive narrative regarding disability.

We will offer workplace solutions for people with different conditions so certain limitations seem less daunting and more manageable.

5. Learn about common conditions like dyslexia 

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning disabilities. In the UK, it’s estimated 1 in 10 people have dyslexia, so it’s likely that everyone knows a colleague or classmate who has the condition.  One of the exercises we deploy during the training will stimulate what it’s like to have dyslexia, so you can experience what it feels like and the various obstacles it presents.