Gateways guidance: 5.6 training staff
Medical schools should review and update their equality training programmes for staff and, when necessary, develop new ones to keep staff informed of their legal duties including those around disability. Often this is best done in collaboration with disabled students and staff and, if possible, by engaging disabled people's organisations to deliver the training.
Universities benefit from the knowledge and networks of disability officers; and medical schools should also consider having a designated person or committee to address the school's legal duties.
This advisory guidance should help the following staff in their work in medical education:
All admissions staff must be aware of the need to make reasonable adjustments. They should also be trained in communicating with a wide range of disabled people and encouraging them to disclose in confidence.
Teaching and ancillary staff also need to know what is expected on:
- making teaching and learning more accessible to disabled students
- how to put reasonable adjustments in place
- what advice and support services are available for disabled students.
Occupational health staff should also be considered for disability awareness training and be able to advise on making reasonable adjustments.
WEB LINKS:
Staff training
The Open University provides a training site that explains how best to make teaching inclusive.
The Equality Challenge Unit has published Choosing and Using Equality and Diversity Trainers and Consultants (pdf).
Disability etiquette
There are many publications that offer guidance on appropriate behaviour and communication with disabled people.
The BBC offers some useful tips and advice on how best to welcome learners with a range of different impairments.
SCIPS (Strategies for Creating Inclusive Programmes of Study) is the result of an HEFCE funded project conducted at the University of Worcester. The disability etiquette guidance includes useful suggestions on language and common courtesies.
The Employers’ Forum on Disability also publishes a Disability Communications Guide on language and etiquette, specific impairments and preferred modes of assistance, and how to recognise and avoid attitudes and behaviour that can create misunderstandings and barriers.
See also A-Z Equality and Diversity from the Equality Challenge Unit, the Association of University Administrators Equality Advisory Group and the Higher Education Equal Opportunities Network.