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Equality and Diversity - Our Approach

First articulated by disabled people themselves in the late '70s, the Social Model of Disability, otherwise referred to as the Equality Approach, shows that what really disables people are barriers society creates.  These arise when we fail to take into account the wants, needs and aspirations of a significant portion of the population, those with particular impairments or medical conditions.  To 'cure' disability, it is the barriers in society - its physical environment, organisation and attitudes - that need to be dismantled. It is through these barriers that disabled people experience direct and indirect discrimination.

Changes are generally seen to be beneficial to all - customer service training focusing on difference, acceptance of flexible working policies, review of the content and format of information provided, automatic doors.  Much needed around equality for disabled people paralleled in the equality needs of other groups that experience discrimination.  Personal experience of disability may, by taking this approach, be viewed as a positive asset contributing to a truly diverse customer base or workforce.