November 2006
B&D - moving forward
Welcome to the 6th issue of
B&D - Moving Forward
Business & Disability’s quarterly newsletter
Europe has come to a point where the business community can no longer continue ignoring people with disabilities. In fact, at Business & Disability, we believe that including people with disabilities into business is a source of sustained profitability for everybody. Our role as Business & Disability is to act as a proactive catalyst to promote this belief.
Business & Disability (B&D) is the first European network to promote the business opportunities for the inclusion of people with disabilities and it is the only European network combining business and disability that works to stimulate and facilitate dialog among the various stakeholders and offers unique added value and expertise to our member companies.
- A network of expertise related to different aspects of business and disability
- Case studies, white papers, …
- Networking opportunities with peers, disability groups and policy makers.
- Visibility as practice faculties
Business & Disability addresses its members’ priorities and is uniquely qualified to deliver them across Europe.
B&D events: what's been happening?
Business & Disability's awareness rising program co-sponsored by the European Commission is now nearing its end, with all 12 events of the two-year Europe-wide programme completed.Events have taken place in Brussels, Paris, Madrid, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Prague, Milan, Budapest, Berlin, Warsaw, Helsinki and London to promote the business case for the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of our society, with a clear focus is on accessibility to the built environment, e-accessibility and employment.
With the format customised to suit each host country’s cultural diversity, each roadshow event has provided a magnificent opportunity to introduce the European perspective of Business & Disability, share good practices and collect valuable insights into the particular situation in each country.
A summary of previous roadshow events can be found on the B&D website in previous issues of B&D – Moving Forward.
Three more Business & Disability roadshows took place recently in Berlin, Warsaw and Helsinki. Although the local business and legal environment is different in these three countries, it is worth noting that the structure of the events encouraged discussion among participants and many anecdotes and success stories were shared over the course of the three days.
In the three countries there was a general consensus that an examination of workplace integration, accessibility and the role of technology to support the inclusion of people with disabilities must be further developed through active partnerships between stakeholders from both the private and public sectors.
The overall and positive message of the roadshows was that while disabled people still do not have unrestricted access to employment in these countries, many people in both the public and private sectors are ready to work together to achieve this goal.
For more information about the roadshows, please click here.
Poland
Business & Disability’s Polish roadshow was held on the 19th October 2006 in Warsaw under the theme of working opportunities for people with disabilities in Poland. The venue was the Sheraton Hotel and participants included representatives from local companies, disability organisations and government departments. B&D's steering Committee was represented by Helen Kerrison (Manpower), Alfredo Morate (Schindler), Bruce Roch & Laura Jefferis (Adecco).
Mirosław Mielniczuk representing the Minister for Employment presented the government’s initiatives on promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace. Ludwik Mizera from the Polish Fund for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities showed statistics on the level of employment of people with disabilities in Poland.
One of the most interesting topics debated was the NGO's opinion that the business community was not active enough in hiring disabled people. The IBM representative countered by highlighting the tremendous difficulties that businesses face in identifying skilled people with disabilities.
Several people with disabilities (mobility, visually and hearing impaired) presented their own experiences in searching for a job in the open workplace.
The Sodexho Company showed a short film on how the company had successfully included two employees with intellectual disabilities into the workplace.
The general conclusion drawn from the roadshow was that the business community in Poland is beginning to recognize the value of people with disabilities as part of an effective workforce and as keen to add value to the society in which they live. In addition, government was encouraged to work on a renewed legislative framework that would improve the government support provided to people with disabilities in their search for jobs in an open labour market, supported by Polish NGOs.
For more information about the Warsaw roadshow, please click here.
London
On November 14th in London, the final event of Business & Disability’s two-year awareness-raising project supported by the European Commission took place. Business & Disability, together with the UK Employers’ Forum on Disability and a team from the specialist organisation “Dining with a Difference”, hosted a very special event to explore how we can promote trans-national dialogue and raise the standard of business performance in a way which works to the mutual benefit of business and disabled people across Europe?
The event took the form of a dinner – but, it was a dinner with a difference, hence “Dining with a Difference”. Senior representatives of European companies together with colleagues from their UK operations were brought together for an entertaining and thought provoking evening, led by disabled opinion formers from the Dining with a Difference team who encouraged a shared understanding of the global business case for becoming disability confident.
The thirty “diners” included representatives of Merrill Lynch, PWC, Randstad, Barclays, Lehman Bros, Merck, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Direct Enquiries, Cisco and of course the Business & Disability member companies and the Employers’ Forum. Aided by the Dining with a Difference team, they explored what European business can learn from the UK business experience and vice versa, and considered the potential of the Employers’ Forum Disability Standard, pioneered by many of those attending, to expedite cross-border learning while enhancing business performance. Also discussed were some of the disability-related business opportunities, the changing demographics and legal frameworks and the shifts in consumer expectations, facing European business in the next 5 years.
At the end of the evening, Business & Disability presented the English version of its European Case Studies publication, ahead of the upcoming distribution of the publication in 11 language versions throughout Europe.
For more information about the London event please click here.
Business & Disability's European Case Studies publication
The “Dining with a Difference” event held on the 14th November in London marked the launch of Business & Disability’s collection of European Case Studies. Printed copies of the compendium are now available in English, and copies in other languages will be ready for distribution in early December. Furthermore, an accessible pdf version of the publication will shortly be made available online at www.businessanddisability.org in 11 languages (English, French, Spanish, German, Dutch, Italian, Finnish, Swedish, Polish, Hungarian and Czech).
The publication contains a selection of 36 Case Studies, submitted via the dedicated section of the Business & Disability website www.businessanddisability.org, and covers the areas of accessibility, e-accessibility and employment. It also includes contributions from Mr Vladimir Spidla, Commissioner of the European Commission Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, and Yannis Vardakastanis, Head of the European Disability Forum, as well as a useful comparison of disability legislation in all 25 EU member states.
Copies of the publication can be obtained by sending an e-mail to info@businessanddisability.org, stating how many copies are required and in which languages. Please note that participants in all 12 roadshows will automatically receive a copy in the appropriate language.
A Word from Mr Vladimir Spidla, Commissioner of the European Commission Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (taken from the introduction to B&D’s Case Studies collection).
“Promoting diversity in the workplace creates a win-win situation for both the labour market and for society as a whole. As well as ensuring a more inclusive and cohesive society, diversity in the workforce means that labour markets can better meet the demands of increased global competition. The economic benefits are not only for business and employers - there are clear advantages for all of us. Active labour market policies that encourage and facilitate employment reduce the need for income-replacement cash benefits. Benefits will always be important for those who cannot work because of a disability, but the choice to work must be available – and achievable – for people with a disability who have the capacity, the desire and the skills to do so”.
B&D events: what's coming next?
Looking back and ahead
Business & Disability will continue to promote the business case for inclusion
Business & Disability was founded by a spark of enthusiasm ignited during the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003 and it has become a flame we have proudly carried across Europe for the past two years.
Reflecting on the accomplishments of these first years is definitely a gratifying experience. Two things become clear: Firstly, how significant the commitment of the corporate partners has been both at headquarter level and in the individual countries. And secondly, that the seed has already started to grow, although it is much too early to think about harvesting.
If we have learned one thing by touring 11 European countries, bridging the gap between the European aim and the different national realities, then it is how much there is still left to do; not only this but also how big an opportunity exists to make a difference through continuing to promote the business case for inclusion of people with disabilities in the business world.
Having met with many people from business, disability organisations and policy makers, plus people with disabilities themselves, having been in many engaging and thought-provoking discussions and having seen a number of admirable practices already underway, we owe it to the more than 50 million potential customers, users and employees with disabilities in Europe to continue this work. 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 of discovering this fact. And above all, we owe it to our own conviction that promoting a fully inclusive society of equal opportunities is in all our best interests. 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 the recognition and encouragement received, we know we have only covered the first mile in a marathon towards equal accessibility for everybody in the built environment, in the world of information technology and in the employment market; all being 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 to act as a catalyst for promoting dialogue between all stakeholders in the inclusion arena and, as we come to the end of our two-year program supported by the European Commission, we are already deep into exploring different ways of moving forward.
You will hear from us soon.
And, as we move forward your thoughts, suggestions and active participation are more than welcome.
The Disability Agenda: upcoming events
4-5/12/2006 |
European Day of Disabled People Conference “Youth = Future : Equal future for all” |
Brussels |
For more information: visit the website |
2006 |
9th International Biennial of Disabled People’s Fine Arts |
Cracow (Poland) |
|
20-21 /11/2006 |
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Impact and Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities on Developing Countries |
Brussels |
For more information: |
21-22 /11/2006 |
European Construction Technology Platform Conference |
Versailles (France) |
|
22/11/2006 |
Building an Inclusive society |
Dublin |
For more information: |
4-5 /12/ 2006 |
European Day of Disabled People Conference “Youth = Future : Equal future for all” |
Brussels (B) |
|
5-6 /12 / 2006 |
Social Values and Democracy: Renewing the guiding principles of the European Union |
Brussels (Belgium) |
To register: pdf file For more information: pdf file |
NEW |
International Conference on Disability and Human Rights |
Amsterdam (Netherlands) |
Attached conference leaflet or online on the conference website: www.dcdd.nl?3083 |
7/12/2006 |
Worldwide implications of a new human rights convention for disabled persons |
The Hague |
More information: |
11/12/2006 |
ESIP European Conference “Social Security, employment and mobility in the European Union – state of affairs and perspectives |
Brussels |
For further information, please contact Christine Dawson at: christine.dawson@esip.org |
13/12/2006 |
ANAHM Conference “Juridical protection measures for people with mental disabilities” |
Brussels |
For more information, please contact Sophie Vankriekinge: |
| 2007 | |||
NEW |
1st Equality Summit and Opening Conference of the 2007 European Year of Equal Opportunities for All |
Berlin (Germany) |
For further information, E-mail: berlin@steinrueckeundich.de |
7-11/03/ 2007 |
Seminar on Strategies to develop Youth Volunteering policies |
Skopje |
http://www.socialplatform.org/ To participate: |
25-27 /03/ 2006 |
6th International Conference ‘Public Benefit for the Disabled’ |
Cracow |
More information www.pson.ip.krakow.pl |
20-24/04/ |
International Smiling Child Festival |
Istanbul |
More information: |
NEW |
Europe in Actions Conference “Citizens Rights for All – Full citizen’s right and legal protection for people with intellectual disabilities” |
Warsaw (Poland) |
For more information: www.europeinaction.org
|
11-12 / 05 / 2007 |
7th Congress of the European Women Lawyers Association – “Equal Opportunities of all, from women lawyers’ perspective” |
Zurick |
For further information :
|
26-27 /05/2007 |
18th IF International Conference (International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus) |
Kampala (Uganda) |
Information contact: lieven.bauwens@ifglobal.org |
31/05 – 2/06 |
No Health without Mental Health : From Slogan to Reality |
Vienna |
http://www.mhe-sme.org |
13-15/ 06 / 2007 |
8th Conference of the European Union of Supported Employment |
Belfast, (Northern Ireland) |
info@euseconference2007.org |
12-15 / 07 / 2007 |
Mind Freedom Conference Retreat on Choice in Mental Health Care |
New York City |
|
13-15 /07/ 2007 |
Diversity and community in the worldwide sign language interpreting profession |
Segovia (Spain) |
INFORMATION: - Conference – Web: www.wasli.org (WASLI2007) - Email: wasliconference@filse.org or secretary@wasli.org |
25-29/08/ |
13th International Congress of ESCAP “Bridging the Gaps – Integrating perspectives in child and adolescent mental health” |
Florence |
More details: http://www.socialplatform.org/ |
11-14 / 09 / 2007 |
7th European Congress for Mental Health and Deafness “Joining Forces” |
Haarlem (Netherlands) |
For more information: j.j.l.muller@lumc.nl |
NEW |
4th EUFAMI Congress “Touching the stars, Mental Illness and Families Remission and Recovery Towards a better quality of life” |
Torun (Poland) |
More information: http://www.eufami.org/ |
Keep on visiting the B&D website (www.businessanddisability.org) to learn more...
Tell us what you think?
We appreciate your thoughts!
If you have any comments or thoughts about B&D - moving forward or have any information you would like to share with us, we would like to hear from you. Please email B&D at info@businessanddisability.org
And remember, we need you to get involved. Business & Disability is open to all companies who are committed to the inclusion of people with disabilities, be they actively involved in disability issues, not yet active but wanting to get involved or just wanting to learn more. Either way, we are waiting to hear from you…
For more information and updates on all B&D events, visit the Business & Disability website: www.businessanddisability.org
B&D members:
B&D contact details:
Address:
Business & Disability: a European Network
402 Avenue de Tervuren
B-1150 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32 2 777.05.17
Fax: + 32 2 777.05.30
Email: info@businessanddisability.org
Website: www.businessanddisability.org