Deploy News February 2010
09/03/10 07:58
Latest issue of our Newsletter "Central Point" is now
available for download here.
Deploy News November 2009
16/11/09 15:55
Deploy News August 2009
07/09/09 14:48
Latest issue of our Newsletter "Central Point" is now
available for download here.
Deploy News May 2009
15/04/09 13:39
Latest issue of our Newsletter "Central Point" is now
available for download here.
Deploy News Jan 09
19/01/09 15:58
The
latest version of our newsletter "Central Point" is now
available for download. Click here for
your copy (broadband required)
Successful DDA prosecutions on the rise
19/01/09 15:56
A young man with
Muscular Dystrophy has recently sued the Royal Bank of
Scotland and has been awarded £6500 in compensation as
he could not get into his local bank. Although they had
supplied him with internet banking and tried to help
get into the branch they were found to be breaching the
law, and were also ordered to fit a wheelchair lift to
the branch.
The bank claimed that it had complied with the Disability Right's Commissions' Code of Practice and that it had arranged access to three other branches.
It is the first ruling of its kind and has set a legal precedent which could have implications for other service providers, legal experts said.
Barrister Declan O'Dempsey, discrimination specialist from Cloisters, said: "Businesses are required under the Goods and Services provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act to make "reasonable adjustments" to ensure that their customers can use their services."
"These adjustments can include making alterations to buildings. Where companies have already made some changes to their outlets, it has not been clear how much more they have to do."
"In addition, up until now no company has been forced by injunction to make a physical adjustment to ensure that disabled people have equal access to their services.
"This ruling changes that. Bigger companies now know that it is up to them to anticipate the needs of all their customers; and it will be up to them to prove why they have not ensured equal access to their services for all their clients."
"They cannot assume that because they have made changes to some premises, their obligations end there."
It is likely that following this, more and more people will be making similar claims. Deploy can help you with advice about proper adaptations; it is often about simple, low cost things, so why not contact us for further information.
The bank claimed that it had complied with the Disability Right's Commissions' Code of Practice and that it had arranged access to three other branches.
It is the first ruling of its kind and has set a legal precedent which could have implications for other service providers, legal experts said.
Barrister Declan O'Dempsey, discrimination specialist from Cloisters, said: "Businesses are required under the Goods and Services provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act to make "reasonable adjustments" to ensure that their customers can use their services."
"These adjustments can include making alterations to buildings. Where companies have already made some changes to their outlets, it has not been clear how much more they have to do."
"In addition, up until now no company has been forced by injunction to make a physical adjustment to ensure that disabled people have equal access to their services.
"This ruling changes that. Bigger companies now know that it is up to them to anticipate the needs of all their customers; and it will be up to them to prove why they have not ensured equal access to their services for all their clients."
"They cannot assume that because they have made changes to some premises, their obligations end there."
It is likely that following this, more and more people will be making similar claims. Deploy can help you with advice about proper adaptations; it is often about simple, low cost things, so why not contact us for further information.
News from Deploy's AGM
07/11/08 07:52
The
Deploy Annual General Meeting was held on 27th October
at the Quaker Meeting House in Sheffield.
The Deploy Directors’ Annual Report and Company Accounts for the period ending 31 March 2008 had been circulated previously. It can be downloaded here
The accounts were presented by Stephen Allen (of the Accountants, Hopkins Allen Proctor). It was noted that the company was in a healthier financial position than it had been 12 months previously, but that new funding streams were a key priority.
It was noted that this would be the final day of Nick Pearson’s consultancy arrangement with Deploy. Thanks were expressed to Nick for his work with the Deploy staff of forward planning and visioning In accordance with the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, all Directors were required to retire at each AGM. All existing Directors, with the exception of Doug Low, had expressed a willingness to be reappointed.
Heather Burns had previously notified the Board that, for a variety of reasons, she would be standing down as Chair of the Deploy Board at this meeting. No other Director had indicated that he/she would be retiring from their position and consequently were willing to be reappointed. There was a need, however, to appoint a new Chair of the Board for the forthcoming year.
It was duly proposed (by Brian Hodges) and seconded (by Graham Bell) that Chris Suddes be appointed Chair of the Deploy Board until the AGM 2009. There were no other nominations and Chris Suddes was duly appointed unopposed.
The following officers of the Company were reappointed unopposed, namely, Brian Hodges (Vice Chair), Steve Pintus (Hon. Secretary) and Jacquie Stubbs (Hon. Treasurer).
Thanks were expressed to Heather Burns for the work that she had undertaken in assisting the management with the steering of the company through a challenging and transitional phase in its development.
Formalities over, a Deploy Disability Awareness /Equality Training taster session was delivered by Lynne Hoy and Fiona O’Farrell to demonstrate to Board members the training that they offered and delivered to employers.
In addition, Lynne Hoy advised the Board of a discussion which she had held recently with Toyah Wordsworth, a disabled person based in Doncaster, who had expressed a wish to work with Deploy’s training arm by utilising a Board Game which she had devised called “Removing Barriers”.
Information about the board game was offered to the Deploy Directors and it was agreed that there appeared to be a possible linkage which could be forged with Toyah and that Lynne should explore further the possibilities of potential working with Toyah in this matter.
Finally Chris Suddes delivered a short presentation, introducing the new Deploy website together with some information about the internet as it relates to the disabled community, and offering some glimpses of the future of the internet. This was well received and it was agreed that there should be scope for further discussion about the website and its content at a subsequent Board meeting. A copy of the slides can be downloaded here
The Deploy Directors’ Annual Report and Company Accounts for the period ending 31 March 2008 had been circulated previously. It can be downloaded here
The accounts were presented by Stephen Allen (of the Accountants, Hopkins Allen Proctor). It was noted that the company was in a healthier financial position than it had been 12 months previously, but that new funding streams were a key priority.
It was noted that this would be the final day of Nick Pearson’s consultancy arrangement with Deploy. Thanks were expressed to Nick for his work with the Deploy staff of forward planning and visioning In accordance with the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, all Directors were required to retire at each AGM. All existing Directors, with the exception of Doug Low, had expressed a willingness to be reappointed.
Heather Burns had previously notified the Board that, for a variety of reasons, she would be standing down as Chair of the Deploy Board at this meeting. No other Director had indicated that he/she would be retiring from their position and consequently were willing to be reappointed. There was a need, however, to appoint a new Chair of the Board for the forthcoming year.
It was duly proposed (by Brian Hodges) and seconded (by Graham Bell) that Chris Suddes be appointed Chair of the Deploy Board until the AGM 2009. There were no other nominations and Chris Suddes was duly appointed unopposed.
The following officers of the Company were reappointed unopposed, namely, Brian Hodges (Vice Chair), Steve Pintus (Hon. Secretary) and Jacquie Stubbs (Hon. Treasurer).
Thanks were expressed to Heather Burns for the work that she had undertaken in assisting the management with the steering of the company through a challenging and transitional phase in its development.
Formalities over, a Deploy Disability Awareness /Equality Training taster session was delivered by Lynne Hoy and Fiona O’Farrell to demonstrate to Board members the training that they offered and delivered to employers.
In addition, Lynne Hoy advised the Board of a discussion which she had held recently with Toyah Wordsworth, a disabled person based in Doncaster, who had expressed a wish to work with Deploy’s training arm by utilising a Board Game which she had devised called “Removing Barriers”.
Information about the board game was offered to the Deploy Directors and it was agreed that there appeared to be a possible linkage which could be forged with Toyah and that Lynne should explore further the possibilities of potential working with Toyah in this matter.
Finally Chris Suddes delivered a short presentation, introducing the new Deploy website together with some information about the internet as it relates to the disabled community, and offering some glimpses of the future of the internet. This was well received and it was agreed that there should be scope for further discussion about the website and its content at a subsequent Board meeting. A copy of the slides can be downloaded here
New issue of Deploy eZine available now
22/09/08 17:30
Take Five!
Put the kettle on, pour the water on your favourite brew, dunk your favourite biscuit into it (careful there is an optimum time for this) and take 5 minutes to drink the comforting drink while perusing the shiny new e-zine from DEPLOY. With the aim of keeping employers informed on employment and disability, included in this issue is:
· A shining example – the spotlight on Viewpoint; an employer tapping into the potential of the disabled labour market
· Quiztime – check your company’s attitude towards disabled employees, and gain assistance if required
· Awareness Training – a nice half day away from the desk, while being enlightened about staff, potential staff, and customers
· Spotlight on Psychosis – no media hype, just the truth
In the unlikely event that you don’t gain anything from the issue, at least you have enjoyed your favourite drink!
We hope you enjoy Central Point!
Richard Large
Employment & Outreach Worker
Deploy
Unit 11, 53 Mowbray Street, Sheffield, S3 8EN
0114 2814176
To subscribe or unsubscribe please fill out our registration form or click here to view the latest issue.
Put the kettle on, pour the water on your favourite brew, dunk your favourite biscuit into it (careful there is an optimum time for this) and take 5 minutes to drink the comforting drink while perusing the shiny new e-zine from DEPLOY. With the aim of keeping employers informed on employment and disability, included in this issue is:
· A shining example – the spotlight on Viewpoint; an employer tapping into the potential of the disabled labour market
· Quiztime – check your company’s attitude towards disabled employees, and gain assistance if required
· Awareness Training – a nice half day away from the desk, while being enlightened about staff, potential staff, and customers
· Spotlight on Psychosis – no media hype, just the truth
In the unlikely event that you don’t gain anything from the issue, at least you have enjoyed your favourite drink!
We hope you enjoy Central Point!
Richard Large
Employment & Outreach Worker
Deploy
Unit 11, 53 Mowbray Street, Sheffield, S3 8EN
0114 2814176
To subscribe or unsubscribe please fill out our registration form or click here to view the latest issue.
