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Seeking disabled auditors course in northampton
Rank: Forum user 
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Hi all
I am looking to undertake a disabled auditors course in and around Northampton I am NEBOSH qualified, but 3 years ago I became disabled and have to use a wheel chair, I would dearly love to go back to work but in the current climate I can't even get voluntary work, so I thought I would try and get involved with disability audits, can any body possibly point me in the correct direction, and if there is anyone looking for a keen volunteer for a day or two a week.
Please drop me a reply
James
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Rank: Super forum user
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Jameson
I hesitate to offer any comment and do so simply because, based on limited information, I sense that The Equality Act 2010 appears to be having the effect of changing understanding and behaviour at work regarding management of disabled people as employees and to some degree as customers.
Based on attending many talks to branches of the CIPD since this Act was introduced a couple of years ago, a more integrative approach to discrimination management seems to be gradually emerging. It's an ongoing task but this approach seems to be apparent in attention to international ergonomic standards, e.g. ISO Guide 71, amongst those prepared to 'get real' about the challenge. So, even if/when you qualify to conduct valid disability audits, the challenge of promoting them will remain.
Self-evidently, I can't fully imagine how to deal with your situation yet would suggest that you consider a broader and more flexible strategy. Examples of practical options instead of, or in addition to a disability auditor's course nearby, may I suggest two courses of action for seeking practical help:
1. contact those who run the ergonomics courses in the University of Derby (the nearest centre to you for such a course) to see whether they offer any course that might suit your needs (perhaps with some support from 'Access to Work')
2. contact a college near you which offers courses in HR, to explore what you might learn with them, again perhaps with support from 'Access to Work'.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I should have added that you may find the ergonomic guides on assisting people with disabilities published through this website worth reading to get a sense of the enormous variety of physical and psychological adjustments possible, once a valid assessment of the disabled person's needs has been carried out: www.enricosmog.co.uk
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Rank: Super forum user
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I agree with Kieran - but to a degree. The big picture is looking at diversity education as a whole and accessibility audits are a small part of that picture. I suggest thaat it is probably the areas of training and consultancy would be a better bet. You need to get a handle on the other protected groups under the EA 2010
Bob
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Rank: Super forum user
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Bob expresses the same point as I do, more succinctly.
While the framework of career support for people with disabilities is fragmented, it includes LinkedIn and The Open University.
LinkedIn offers scope as a a financially-cost-free way of gathering some intelligence about the market for diversity education and development as you can join groups that explore issues from HR and Facilities Management standpoints as well as Safety and Health.
If you have most of your career ahead of you - which is the case actuarily if you are not yet 43 - consider studying a relevant social science, in particular psychology, through the Open University (allowing you to study at a distance with a university that has a history of literally going out of its way to support people with disabilities). For three reasons:
a. you'll develop a style of enquiry that looks for unstated root causes ('independent variables') and be able to evaluate the validity of apparently plausible but actually invalid claims, which crowd professional as well as everyday papers and magazines;
b. you'll have the basic entry standard to a wide and gradually growing range of professions;
c. with even a little relevant experience, you could well become a very credible mentor and coach: some 20 years ago, I completed a Diploma in Distance Learning on which my main tutor (a world leader in computer-managed education at the time) lived in Sweden and the only time I actually spoke to him, I discovered he was lame (in response to an intended 'ice-breaking' question asking whether he was enjoying skiing in the snow outside!).
Even if you are older than 43, points a and c appy and b is possible on a self-employed basis.
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