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Developing staff with a disability

23 Mar 2015

The University’s first development programme for members of staff with disabilities has now been running for a year with considerable success

Your voice, Our Manchester

The first course of its type run by the University for its disabled staff, Realising Your Potential formed part of our response to the 2013 Staff Survey, which showed more negative results for disabled staff.

Created and run by Result CIC, a local specialist social enterprise led by three disabled directors, the course consisted of three one-day workshops and two one-to-one coaching days which took place between April and June 2014

The course is designed to enable participants to:

  • take more control over their personal and professional lives;
  • develop resilience to thrive at work;
  • set and achieve personal goals;
  • develop as positive role models for others.

The first cohort of participants all regarded the programme as excellent and reported marked improvements in their confidence levels and communication skills and their ability to network with other disabled staff.

In addition, they recommended that, in future, the STDU should:

  • support continued contact between programme participants (as a result, CIC will continue to engage with the group and monitor participants’ progress);
  • offer the same programme for other disabled staff on a regular basis;
  • include line managers and key non-disabled staff on future courses to maximise the impact of the programme.

Paul Dixon, Head of the Staff Training and Development Unit said “It was very gratifying and moving to hear the experience of self-recognition and value that participants spoke of, and to hear their commitment to the programme.”