My latest venture - why not book a place?

I've been working freelance now for just over a month. It has been an interesting experience so far. I only ever intended to work part time so finding work hasn't been too hard. So far I've delivered training at Kingston University to nurse tutors and mentors about making reasonable adjustments for disabled students on work placement. It was a really enjoyable day and I learnt a lot too from the nurses. I then did a bit of work for the NMC (my old employers which was nice.)

My latest contract is to work with Caroline Gooding - who used to be my boss at the Disability Rights Commission. We are now working together to organise and deliver a seminar for Inclusion London in September. The seminar is about what the new Equality Act means for disability legislation and how disabled people can use it. We also want to encourage equality and policy officers to come along and learn about what their organisations need to do to meet the duties in the new Act. Anyway here are some details about the seminar and a link to the webpage where you can down load a booking form.

Announcing a new seminar: Disability in the Equality Act 2010

23 September 2010

10:00 - 13:30 (registration and refreshments from 9:30)

The South Bank Suite
Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre
108 Stamford Street
London
SE1 9NH

This is a half day seminar, presented by Caroline Gooding and Natalie Salmon (both formerly with the Disability Rights Commission). Simone Aspis (Allfie) will give a guest presentation on education. There is more information about the presenters at the end of this invitation.

The new Equality Act will replace the Disability Discrimination Act, including the disability equality duties, beginning from October 2010. There has been a great deal of concern about what this might mean for Deaf and disabled people. This seminar provides an exciting opportunity for London’s disability organisations and disability and equality officers to explore with experts the practical effect of these changes.

The seminar will examine:

• How disability rights will be strengthened by the Equality Act, including the new restrictions on pre-employment health screening and new duties on schools;
• How disability will be addressed by the new equality duties;
• How disabled people in London can get the most out of the legislation;
• What public authorities need to do.

Who should attend?
We are inviting to the seminar, organisations of disabled people, other voluntary sector organisations who work with disabled people, local authority disability officers, other public sector officers who specialise in disability equality issues and any individuals interested.

Booking and cost of the event
We have decided to charge for this seminar. The price covers the half day seminar, hand out materials, a copy of a report of the seminar and refreshments including a light lunch. In the current economic situation we know that we need to be realistic about what we charge and we have set three levels of pricing which is as follows for:

Public sector organisations like local authorities, government departments
The price is £75

Voluntary sector organisations and charities
The price is £40

We also have a limited number of free places for individuals or organisations of disabled people on limited budgets.

Our booking form allows you to indicate which price range applies to you as well as indicating if you have any access requirements.

Presenters
Some more information about our presenters:

Caroline Gooding
At present Caroline Gooding is drafting Statutory Codes for the EHRC, explaining aspects of the Equality Act, as well as producing guidance for the Government Equality Office aimed at the voluntary sector explaining the new disability provisions concerning service delivery.

Natalie Salmon
Natalie is former Head of Equality and Diversity at a UK regulator and has extensive experience of developing single equality schemes and improving meaningful involvement of disabled people in developing schemes.

Simone Aspis
Simone is policy officer for the Allfie and will make a guest contribution on education and the Equality Act.

How to book your place
Please download and complete the booking and access form and return it to Libby Oakley, all her contact details appear at the end of the booking form.

We really look forward to seeing you on the 23rd of September.

Here is the link again to down load a form: booking form