Tuesday 3 December 2013 marks the annual International Day of Disabled People (IDDP), an awareness day which aims to promote the abilities of disabled people and strives for better inclusion of people with disabilities into communities across the world.
Sponsored by the United Nations since 1992, this year’s campaign is focused on building ‘disability confidence’. Beth Carruthers, director of employment services for Remploy – the UK’s leading provider of specialist employment services and employment for disabled people – has explained the message behind this year’s campaign.
“The International Day of Disabled People is celebrated all over the world,” said Carruthers, “and is dedicated to promoting the abilities of disabled people. There couldn’t be a more appropriate time to spread the message about becoming ‘disability confident’.”
Carruthers added: “Equality in the workplace is good for disabled people and good for business. It’s also good for the country as a whole. If disabled peoples’ employment rate matched that of the rest of the population, an extra two million people would be in work.”
Disability Confidence Quiz
As part of this year’s awareness campaign, Remploy is actively encouraging employers to take part in their own ‘Disability Confidence Quiz’.
The online questionnaire is aimed at any employer wishing to build disability confidence amongt their staff group, whether it be a private sector, public sector or not-for-profit organisation.
Last year, a survey of British Security Industry Association (BSIA) members demonstrated that the security industry already places confidence in disability, with 62.3% of respondents revealing that their company currently employs someone who is disabled
The aim of the quiz is to identify gaps in knowledge and highlight the employment services Remploy can offer to suit specific needs. Those who take the quiz will also be entered into a prize draw entitling entrants to a 20% discount from Remploy’s leading disability guide.
To take the quiz, interested parties should visit this link: http://www.remploy.co.uk/news-and-media/international-day-of-disabled-people/iddp-quiz.ashx
Security sector: placing confidence in disability
Last year, a survey of British Security Industry Association (BSIA) members demonstrated that the security sector already places confidence in disability, with 62.3% of respondents revealing that their company currently employs someone who is disabled.
96.2% of those surveyed also believed that the management team of their organisation takes equality, diversity and inclusion very seriously in the way they behave and talk.
Despite this positive attitude towards disabilities, there are still some barriers to overcome. While members of the BSIA do believe there’s a wide range of opportunities within the industry for those with a disability, 70% of respondents felt that there isn’t enough awareness about such opportunities.
When asked what they believed the main challenge to be for disabled jobseekers, 41.5% thought that the access to suitable vacancies could be the leading obstacle, with 34% highlighting that there may be a lack of understanding of the roles available within the security industry.
Career opportunities in the security sector
The private security industry boasts a wide variety of career opportunities across an array of different sectors that can suit the needs of those with a disability.
To showcase the wide range of career paths available in the sector, the BSIA produced its very own careers guide, which was written in association with Remploy, JobCentrePlus, Bridging the Gap and Skills for Security.
To download the guide visit: http://www.bsia.co.uk/web_images/publications/148_careers_guide.pdf
To find out more about the BSIA visit: http://www.bsia.co.uk
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