Into Teaching
Promoting access
for disabled people
Tony Stevens
How do you make change happen?
LINK Conference, Antwerp July 2011
Skill’s interest in teaching
Skill always received more enquiries
about working in schools than any other
careers related subject.
It first produced the Into Teaching
guide for disabled people in 1998 and
the third edition was published in 2008.
Why is change needed?
1. Basic fairness
It is important that disabled people have the
opportunity to fulfil their potential in all areas of
learning and work.
Teaching is an especially stimulating and rewarding
profession, offering excellent career and development
prospects.
Why is change needed?
2. Under-representation
The percentage of disabled students on initial teacher
training courses (6%) is lower than in higher education
as a whole (8%).
The percentage of disabled teachers is even lower –
the exact number is unclear as less than 1% of
teachers actually disclose having a disability.
Why is change needed?
3. Inspiring others
Disabled teachers can
help young people
raise their aspirations
and educate them about
respecting diversity and
individuality.
Why is change needed?
4. Quality
Government emphasis on recruiting high quality
trainees.
Maintaining the highest possible standards in schools
depends on creating the widest possible pool of talent
and attracting suitably skilled and qualified people
from all backgrounds.
Partnership with the TDA
The Training and Development Agency for
Schools (TDA) approached Skill to create a
project to encourage and support people with
disabilities into teaching.
The Social Model
The person is seen
as a valued member of a
diverse society. It recognises
that a person’s impairment does
not make them less of a human being.
n this model it is the barriers in society
that are the problem. It suggests that a
person is not so much disabled by their
impairment as disabled by society.
The solution according to this model
is to bring about attitudinal,
environmental and organisational
changes within society.
Barriers to teaching
We identified the potential barriers disabled
people might face when:
•
making the decision to become a teacher
•
getting on a course and completing initial
teacher training
Barriers:
Making the decision to become a teacher
•
Lack of positive images or role models
•
Fears about coping in the classroom
•
Other people’s fears and prejudices
•
Lack of knowledge about funding and
support
•
Getting access to school visits, taster
courses and work experience
Barriers:
Getting on a course and completing
initial teacher training
• Fitness to Teach regulations
• Finding placement schools
• Lack of information about adjustments in the
classroom
• Getting information and advice if something
goes wrong
Into Teaching
Project started January 2010
Three main elements:
• Web resources and information
• Teaching helpline
• Ambassador scheme
Common questions
I have a disability. Can I become a teacher?
Should I tell people about my disability?
Will the Fitness to Teach regulations stop me
getting on a course?
How do I get support on the course?
How do I get support at work?
I have difficulty with English/Maths/Skills tests.
Is there a way round this?
Callers by disability
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Ambassador Scheme
• Small group of disabled teachers
• Positive role models
• Described first-hand what it is like to train and
work in a school
• Ambassadors attended events or shared their
stories by email
• Encouraged disabled people to take forward their
interest - make an informed choice about a
career in teaching
Teaching Ambassadors
Kirsten
Mandy
Stuart
Henry
Patrick
Samantha
Quotes from Enquirers
• “Thank you for being so understanding about
my panic and stress. It has been very hard for
me to find somebody who can answer my
questions about disability.”
• “After reading Kirsten's responses to your
questions, it has only impassioned me even
further.”
• “It really is fantastic to know that there is
advice specifically to help people with
disabilities get into teaching.”
Web resources
New teaching section in Skill website
• Central source of information for disabled people
interested in teaching, disabled trainees, ITT
providers and schools
• Case studies of disabled people enjoying a
successful career in teaching
• Answers to FAQs about becoming a teacher
• Series of short films featuring disabled teachers
Web resources
New teaching section in Skill website
• Central source of information for disabled people
interested in teaching, disabled trainees, ITT
providers and schools
• Case studies of disabled people enjoying a
successful career in teaching
• Answers to FAQs about becoming a teacher
• Series of short films featuring disabled teachers
Legacy
• Teaching section in Skill website
www.skill.org.uk/teaching
• Series of short films featuring disabled teachers
• Teaching advocates now work for the TDA
• Teaching Information Line disability specialists
Best practice for teacher training providers
• Create an open and welcoming culture
• Include disability information in course information packs and
websites
• Encourage trainees to declare their disability
• Develop clear policies regarding confidentiality and passing on
information
• Provide training for ITT staff on equality and disability
• Meet regularly with partner schools to anticipate how the needs of
trainees with a range of disabilities might be met
• Properly plan placements and ensure that, with permission, sufficient
information is shared about adjustments
• Monitor and review progress of disabled trainees, and use this data to
inform impact assessments and action
• Ensure occupational health (OH) services operate in accordance with
the institution’s legal duties under the DDA
• Overall focus on adjustments rather than medical diagnosis
Forces for good:
Support for disabled trainees and teachers
• Widening participation agenda
• Flexible routes into teaching
• Disability support services in higher education
• Funding for extra disability support costs
- Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs)
- Access to Work
• Legal protection against discrimination
Video Case Study
Stuart Newton