Would you benefit from some support to get into or stay in work?
Are you considering starting up a business yourself?
Then, we may have the perfect solution for you!
One of EDS UK’s members, who is also a disabled entrepreneur, Kath Sutherland,
is the Advice Service Consultant for Action on Disability and Work UK. Kath is a
highly experienced business and employment advisor, with over 20 years
experience of providing appropriate and relevant support to disabled people who
wish to remain in paid work. Additionally, as Kath has very high support needs, she
is very aware of the barriers that people face when they want to continue working
despite impairments.
Action on Disability and Work UK (ADWUK) is a service designed to provide advice
on work-related issues to disabled people, employers and professionals in the field
of disability and work. Action on Disability and Work UK has been created from the
merger of the Association of Disabled Professionals (ADP) and the work services
programme already provided by the former Vassall Centre Trust (VCT).
The ADP was established in 1971 in order to provide support to disabled people in
professional and managerial positions and to provide a forum for disabled people to
share both their problems and their successes as well as to help create conditions
for other disabled people to realise their full potential. They have also provided
support to disabled people setting up, or in business, since 2001, through the
Disabled Entrepreneurs’ Network. (More information about the Disabled
Entrepreneurs Network appears later).
The VCT was formed in 1998 to develop and demonstrate a barrier-free workplace.
The new organisation – Action on Disability and Work UK – will continue to promote
and champion the working lives of disabled people.
Action on Disability and Work UK is able to use the experience of the ADP and the
valuable resource that exists amongst former ADP members. This includes disabled
members who have succeeded in a wide variety of professions including medicine,
engineering, law, the church, the Civil Service, politics, commerce, education, the
arts and health and social services. Disabled members can offer specialist advice
and support based on their professional knowledge and lived experience.
Action on Disability and Work UK Advice Service:
What We Do
 Provide a professional advice service for disabled people, employers and
organisations to give information and support on all work-related issues that
disabled people face;
 Work to support all disabled people, whether they are seeking work, are in
work or are self-employed;
 Provide appropriate advice across the full diversity of work-roles including
unskilled; skilled, administrative, managerial, professional and technical;
 Support disabled people to find, retain and progress in work opportunities
commensurate with their abilities and qualifications;
 Provide specialist advice on applying for and managing Access to Work
funded support;
 Provide face-to-face advice as part of our accessible Work Club in Bristol;
 Encourage peer support amongst disabled people and promote the sharing of
experiences and problem solving;
 Improve the knowledge of employers, professional bodies and the public on
the capabilities and needs of disabled people in relation to work and vocational
education and training.
Our services include the provision of advice, information and peer support on
employment and self-employment. We have a 24-hour answerphone service and
an e-mail advice service. Our advisors are disabled people. This is very important
as disabled people can particularly benefit from the lived work experiences of other
disabled people when discussing issues relating to employment, self-employment,
training and related matters.
We aim to be an accessible advice service that will provide information in the
formats that a disabled person requests.
Enquiries from disabled people tend to focus on the provision of personal support;
guidance on effective job hunting; advice on the barriers or difficulties encountered
whilst at work or in training, and information about approaching statutory bodies
(e.g. Access to Work) and employers when difficulties arise. If we are unable to
give you an immediate answer, one of our advisors will research the topic and
contact you or we will signpost you to an organisation that can provide the advice
and information you need.
Both the ADP and VCT have worked for many years to influence the Government to
ensure that legislation takes full account of the needs of disabled people and
ensures equality of opportunity. Action on Disability and Work UK will continue this
work. More information about ADWUK is at www.adwuk.org/advice-service
Disabled Entrepreneurs’ Network
In 2001, ADP established the Disabled Entrepreneurs’ Network (DEN) to provide
networking opportunities, work-related mentoring and information services for selfemployed disabled people and those setting up and running their own small
businesses.
DEN acts as a signpost service for accessible and appropriate training and
development to disabled entrepreneurs and assists in looking at strategic issues
around disability, small business management and self-employment. DEN has
established links with the Prince’s Youth Business Trust, the Small Business
Service, and many others.
DEN is now also part of Action on Disability and Work UK. As with the Advice
Service, the information and support is provided by disabled people for disabled
people.
More information about DEN can be found at www.disabled-entrepreneurs.net
Contact Us
If you would like more information about becoming a member or you would like more
details about any of the information on this page, please contact Action on Disability
and Work UK.
You can contact us by email at advice@adwuk.org or alternatively, by telephone on
0844 445 7123 (Answerphone/ringback service)
Any views or opinions presented on this webpage are solely those of the author, Action
on Disability and Work UK, and do not necessarily represent those of EDS UK.