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15/11/06
Roadshow update
B&D have now completed the planned cycle of 12 European roadshows (in Brussels, Paris, Madrid, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Prague, Milan, Budapest, Berlin, Warsaw, Helsinki and London). These events have led to many fruitful exchanges at local level between companies, NGOs and government representatives. Furthermore, in some countries, local organisations have been motivated to organise follow-up events, to further examine the inclusion of people with disabilities in the business world in their national context.
In 2007, B&D will continue the dissemination of existing and new best practise. Furthermore, we plan to host a large event at European level, to demonstrate our commitment to the European Year of Equal Opportunities. Please keep checking the website for updates.
Further information on past events can be found in the Business & Disability newsletters or by visiting our Events page ).
20/11/06 - Press release
European Case Studies collection
The « Dining with a Difference » event held on 14th November in London marked the launch of Business & Disability’s Case Studies Compendium.
The compendium contains a selection of 36 Case Studies, submitted through the relevant section on www.businessanddisability.org, and covering the areas of accessibility, e-accessibility and employment. It also includes white papers on these three topics, and contributions from Mr Vladimir Spidla, Commissioner of the European Commission Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Employment, and Yannis Vardakastanis, Head of the European Disability Forum, as well as a useful comparison of disability legislation in all 25 EU member states.
Printed copies of the compendium are now available in English, and other languages will be ready for distribution in early December. If you require a copy, please send an e-mail to info@businessanddisability.org, stating how many are required and in which languages. Please note that participants in all 12 roadshows will automatically receive a copy in the appropriate language.
Furthermore, an accessible pdf version of the publication will be made available online in 11 languages (English, French, Spanish, German, Dutch, Italian, Finnish, Swedish, Polish, Hungarian and Czech).
29/11/06
What next for Business & Disability ?
Business & Disability was founded by a spark for enthusiasm ignited during the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003 and it has become a flame we have proudly carried across Europe during the past two years.
Recapitulating on the accomplishments of these first years is definitely a gratifying and amazing thing to do. One comes to realize two things: Firstly, how significant the commitment by the corporate partners has been both at headquarter level and in the countries. And secondly, that the seed has already started to grow although it is much too early to think about harvesting.
If there is one thing we have learned touring 11 EU countries to bridge the gap between the European aim and the different national realities, then it is how much there is still left to do and how big the opportunity to make a difference by continue promoting the business case for inclusion of people with disabilities in the business world.
Having met with many people from the business, disability and policy makers, having been in many engaged and thought provoking discussions and having seen a number of admirable practices already underway, we owe it to the more than 50 million of potential customers, users and employees with disabilities in Europe. And we owe it to many businesses, too. To those that are already proving that business and disability can only benefit from each other. And to those who are just on the threshold to discovering this fact. And above all, we owe it to our conviction that promoting a fully inclusive society of equal opportunities is in everyone’s best interest. According to an old native Indian saying, "there is no such thing as a hole on your side of the canoe". When it comes to an inclusive society we are definitely all in the same boat.
Despite all the recognition and encouragement received, we know we have only run the first mile in a marathon race towards equal accessibility for everybody to the built environment, the information technology and the employment market, as a pre-requisite to enabling everybody to participate in all aspects of our rich and diverse society.
Changing a mind set takes time, sometimes even generations. Business & Disability is determined to continue acting as a catalyst of dialogue between all stakeholders in the inclusion arena and as we come to the end of our two year program in cooperation with the European Commission, we are already deep into exploring different ways forward.
You will soon hear from us
