The Equality Commission has developed the "Every Customer Counts" initiative to support Northern Ireland's public and private sectors to promote accessible services. Our goal is to encourage businesses, organisations and public authorities to use our free self assessment tool, consider how open their services currently are to disabled people, and implement changes where appropriate.
Conference: Helping Public Authorities provide accessible services
**Event now fully booked**
As part of the 'Every Customer Counts' initiative, the Equality Commission is holding a conference to encourage Public Authorities to adopt measures which promote better access to their services for disabled people.
Date: Wednesday 24 May, 9:30am-1:00pm (finishing with lunch)
Venue: Malone House, Belfast
The conference will focus on:
- the three steps to success: Policy, Audit, Action
- provide advice and useful tips for promoting accessible services to those with a range of disabilities
- explain the links between the Every Customer Counts initiative and public authority considerations such as the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), disability duties (disability action plans), and UNCRPD
- highlight good practice and the experiences of public authorities and disability sector organisations
Who should attend?
Public sector employers, customer service managers, front of house staff, equality officers.
Programme
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Time |
Speaker / Topic |
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9:30am
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Registration, tea and coffee
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10:00am |
Welcome and Introduction - 3 steps to providing accessible services
'Every Customer Counts' - promoting accessible services
Speaker to be confirmed
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10:15am |
Overcoming barriers for disabled people in public services
Using the 'accessible business action plan' and the results from access audit work
Orla McCann, Disability Action NI
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10:40am |
Making Newcastle Autism friendly
Case study on tourism
Sarah Jane Reynolds, Autism Initiatives
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11:15am |
Tea/Coffee break
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11:30am |
Welcoming customers with disabilities
Video on attitudes and etiquette
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11:45am |
Case Study: Belfast City Council
Good practice: removing barriers, making services inclusive
Stella Gilmartin, Belfast City Council
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12noon |
Making adjustments to communication for people who experience mental health problems
Iris Elliott, Mental Health Foundation (view video)
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12:30pm |
Every Customer Counts: promoting accessible services
How this initiative ties in with the DDA, Disability Action Plans, Section 75 and UNCRPD
Paul Oakes, Equality Commission
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12:45pm |
Questions and Answers
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12:55pm |
Evaluation
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1:00pm |
Lunch and networking
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