Belfast City Council:

• arranges short term unpaid work experience placements for young people and adults with a range of disabilities
• is represented on NI Business and Education Partnership's Belfast Special Schools Group and has participated in their Careers Days
• is represented on the Cedar Foundation 's Employer Forum
• has provided interview skills training for young people with learning disabilities and adults with mental health problems
• provides disability awareness training for all employees; this training is being extended to include general sensitivity and etiquette
• supports employees who wish to train as sign language interpreters
• on request, will provide its Equality Scheme and related documents in other formats eg Braille, disk
• notifies the Disability Advisory Service of all job vacancies
• gives information to potential job applicants on how to find out about reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process
• states in job advertisements that information is available in other formats
• job application forms can be requested by email and job details can be downloaded from the Council's website
• when shortlisting, applies the essential criteria and waives the desirable criteria for persons with disabilities
• set up a DDA Group to ensure a corporate approach to the 2004 requirements
• has adopted BS 8300 as the standard to which new buildings and renovations will be constructed
• access audits of all Council properties are underway and works programmed to make physical adjustments; these audits have been extended to include all S75 categories; those involved have been trained in the ethos of Universal Accessibility
• has held a Focus Group meeting on its approach to its 2004 responsibilities; another such meeting is planned
• has a central textphone; the Waterfront Hall Booking Office also has one
• will review signage to and within its properties; pictorial signs will be considered
• won a William Keown Access Award for the City Hall in 2002