The Housing Corporation expects each housing association throughout England to develop an outcome-based disability equality action plan during 2007, for publication by December 2007. The Disability Rights Commission and other disability groups are keen these action plans should be realistic and workable and involve disabled people from the outset. Jack Moore was part of the working group commissioned by the Housing Corporation to develop their scheme and action plan. He is recognised as a specialist on disability issues within housing and has spoken at conferences and contributed to national articles on the Disability Equality Duty and it’s impact on housing. He has developed this workshop from first-hand experience, taking account of national good practice, lessons that have been learnt by public bodies in developing their schemes and action plans, and most importantly from the perspective of a disabled person who also happens to be a housing professional.

Delegates attending the workshops will gain a full understanding of the layout and content of a disability equality action plan and will have the confidence to produce and progress a long-term workable plan. The workshop in itself forms part of the ‘involving disabled people’ requirement.

Who should attend the workshop?

RSL staff involved in setting up their Disability Action Plan, including policy officers, housing managers, community involvement officers and board members
LA housing staff seeking to build upon their existing schemes and action plans

Aims of the workshop

This course will provide delegates with sufficient guidance and information to develop a Disability Equality Action Plan, as required by the Housing Corporation for December 2007. The expert input from a trainer with experience of developing effective disability equality schemes and action plans, will remove the ‘fear of the unknown’ and provide a template for a successful action plan that is meaningful and workable.

Key themes

Involving disabled people
Identifying barriers faced by disabled people
Setting priorities
Impact assessing
Planning and reviewing activity
Tenant Compacts
Disability Rights Commission recommendations for action
Key actions to promote Disability Equality
Accessible Housing Registers

Outcomes

Confidence in approaching, attracting and involving disabled stakeholders; staff, tenants and external organisations
True involvement of disabled people in the planning and reviewing of activity
Examine proven methods of disability impact assessing – effectively incorporating this with other strands of diversity
Explore ‘good practice’ examples of schemes and action plans over the past 12 months
Identify the needs of disabled people
Leave the course with a ‘template’ for developing a concise, realistic and workable disability action plan