March 2006 and October 2006: Disability Recruitment Events

The Department for Employment and Learning provided funding for two seminars in the North West to encourage employers (members and non members) to recruit people with disabilities and to give employers the practical “know how” to do so.   The first was hosted by Derry City Council and included a workshop by the Northern Ireland Union of Supported Employment and the Equality Commission for NI, as well as a presentation from the local Disablement Employment Adviser and Disability Action.   The next event will be held in the Causeway area, hosted by Coleraine Borough Council, on 16 October 2006.

June 2006: Disability Awareness Seminars

The Forum hosted two seminars in the NICVA Buliding, Belfast, in June 2006.  The seminars gave information on the Disability Discrimination Act (1995), an outline of a number of DDA cases and disability awareness training across five major areas of disability: Learning, Hearing, Visual, Physical and Mental Health.  The seminars' formats were very informal, with a number of exercises, videos and demonstrations.  Feedback was extremely positive regarding the seminars which were extremely well attended.

September 2006: AGM and Deaf Awareness Session

The RNID provided a free one hour deaf awareness session for AGM delegates, hosted by Queen's University of Belfast.  The RNID's Conor Mervyn addressed 40 delegates and highlighted the range of issues affecting employees and customers with disabilities.  The session was delivered in a humorous, entertaining and informative format.