What We Mean by Equality

See also two key articles on diversity:

Disability Equality

The Disability Equality Duty requires the public sector to actively promote disability equality, and is similar to the duty to promote race equality under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act.

This is a positive duty that builds disability equality into the beginning of the process. The intention is that the public sector becomes a proactive agent of change.

An understanding of the content of the Gallant Disability Equality programmes is a requirement for organizations engaging fully with the legislation and Public Sector Duty. An organisation must know what questions to ask: for example, "what is the difference be-tween equality and awareness?" or, "how can we have a positive attitude to disability?"

Changing mindsets is a vital part of realising disability equality. The Gallant Disability Equality programmes assist in changing mindsets by creating personal engagement and contributing to the individual's personal development and understanding.

Disability Equality Matters

Disability Equality Matters, or DEM, is a one-day course that helps the public sector fulfill its obligations under the DDA 2005. The DEM is composed of elements from the Disability Equality Certificate and begins to build a sound understanding of disability issues.

Disability Equality Certificate

The Disability Equality Certificate, or DEC, is a four-module course delivered over six days. The DEC reflects much of the spirit and content of the Disability Equality Duty and is of value to anyone with a professional responsibility for implementing any aspect of the duty. It is a level 2 course, accredited by the NCFE.

Both courses include

Access Analysis

About Access Analysis (AA)

The AA process is a two fold course of action designed and developed to ensure accessibility issues are taken seriously. The first element of the process is a training programme covering the fundamentals of premises accessibility through to the complexities of communications media (including web sites) and service accessibility. The second element is to ensure the quality of standards are maintained and the profession improves and advances using a method of continuous professional development.

AA Training Programme

This training programme is designed to create new possibilities and opportunities for individuals and organisations interested in disability issues and disability access analysis. It is a combination of Professionalism, Social Enterprise and Personal Experience in the issues relating to disability. It goes much further than most access auditing programmes to produce a powerful unique process using tools and techniques designed and developed by our experts, aimed at raising the standards of accessibility practices.

The AA programme consists of six units of competence. These units are split into nine days of tutored input coupled with coaching.

The assessment process consists of the individual successfully completing the following

The training programme has been designed to raise the standards in access auditing, ensuring the work carried out by the trained and accredited auditors is professional and maintained to a high standard. In turn by raising and maintaining the standards it will encourage and promote the benefits of accessibility to businesses and organisations. The programme goes beyond other standards of accessibility by focusing in the three areas of inclusivity buildings, Communications media (including web sites) and service provision using the AA standards of accessibility.

Built Environment

This element of the programme focuses on the standards required for ensuring accessibility in the premises and buildings. This includes the whole spectrum of disability issues. The measurements are based on BS8300, Part M of the approved documents amendments 2004 (these will be updated as appropriate).

Service

This element includes auditing staff attitude, training needs analysis, information management, use and appropriateness of enabling technology; user needs analysis, policies and procedures (including PEEPs plans). The standards for this are based on the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Communications Media including Web auditing

Not everyone who uses the web is a young athlete with perfect health, immaculate coordination, and 20-20 vision. On the contrary, estimates suggest that 13 percent or more of the population have a disability that can affect their use of the web.

Such disabilities include

Web accessibility aims to enable people with such disabilities to have full and equal access to the content and services of a web site, whether that is simply being able to read (or listen to, or feel) a page - or, in a more complex example, being able to conduct online banking or shopping.

Not everyone uses a standard computer and browser to access the web. Web accessibility, as well as enabling its core target audience, also enriches the experience of uses accessing the web via a PDA, phone, B&W monitor, old and low powered computers, and non-standard browsers.

Under the DDA, web accessibility is a legal requirement in the UK for all organisations offering a service via the web. The definition of a 'service' is wide-ranging: it could, for example, include a web page giving contact information.

The UK legislation does not specifically define Web Accessibility. It is assumed that legal requirements are met if you

The Gallant approach is more rigorous than, but based on the WCAG / 508 frameworks. It has a greater emphasis on best practice and a genuine commitment to providing a rich and equal experience of the web for all.

The Delivery

The programme will be delivered by expert tutors and coaches, over a minimum of six months (nine days of tutored delivery). The programme will also incorporate individual sessions with a tutor/coach who will mentor the individual if appropriate or required.

This course is for you if you are

The Gallant website lists agencies offering Gallant equality training.

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