Good disability awareness training does much more than explain that discrimination is illegal – it helps learners to understand what ‘disability’ actually means.

A large part of our work at Ashford revolves around words. (And yes, a certain member of the team is a grammar and punctuation pedant… naming no names!) We pride ourselves on writing learning materials that are in plain English and easy to understand – even if the learner’s first language is not English, or if they’re not great at reading. And we always aim to find the right words and the right tone of voice to talk to the people who will be using our materials.

It’s not always easy to find the right words. The English language is constantly changing and sometimes words themselves take on a different meaning. Words and phrases come into fashion, and go out again. And some words that many people considered acceptable and correct 50, 20 or even 10 years ago are now considered to be insulting, discriminatory or prejudiced.

Take the word stereotype, for instance. It was originally a term used in letterpress printing, referring to a solid metal copy of a body of type secured in a frame. While the copy was used for the actual printing, the letters in the original frame could be taken out and used elsewhere. Now, it means ‘a widely held but fixed and oversimplified idea or image of a particular type of person or thing’.

Both definitions refer to a ‘fixed image’. However, not every person identifies with the fixed image that other people use to describe them, and today the word ‘stereotyping’ usually has negative connotations.

The annual British Social Attitudes Survey, carried out by the National Centre for Social Research, shows that the general public still have stereotypical views of disabled people. In fact, 1 in 3 people see disabled people as being less productive than non-disabled people.

No wonder, then, that 32% of disabled people feel there’s a lot of prejudice around disability. Yet only 22% of non-disabled people think so – that’s quite a gap in understanding.

Under the Equality Act 2010, it’s against the law to discriminate against someone on the grounds of their disability. Yet it still happens, every day.

At the beginning of June, Twitter user Katie Pennick reported that a bus driver in London had refused to let her board his bus.It was not the first time this had happened to her, and the replies to her tweet show that she is not the only person to be discriminated against in this way. A month earlier, after a similar incident, Katie told ITV News that it was a ‘training issue’.

Good disability awareness training does much more than explain that discrimination is illegal – it helps learners to understand what ‘disability’ actually means, and how to behave in the company of someone who has different abilities to themselves.

In some cases, a whole change of attitudes is desirable, for instance for individuals who see a wheelchair first and the person second, or who think someone who doesn’t look ‘disabled’ shouldn’t be using the accessible parking or toilet facilities.

Our Disability Awareness elearning modules cover all these points, as well as aiming to find the ‘right’ words to use when talking about disability. For example, is it ok to say ‘See you later!’ to a blind person? What’s the right phrase to describe someone who has reduced intellectual ability? What should I do if a customer has a speech impairment and I can’t understand what they’re saying?

Find out more

Contact us to find out more about our Disability Awareness elearning modules. There are two versions: one ‘general’ module that’s appropriate for all workplaces, and one specifically written and designed for people who work in the theatre or other entertainment venues. They’re available and ready to use – but we can add your branding or adapt the content and design specifically for your organisation if you prefer.