'Forward-thinking' leaders use managing meetings training to boost inclusion

Managing meetings training can facilitate effective compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act, extended in 2005, it has been suggested.

Such training, which complements training in up-to-date discrimination and diversity requirements, enables senior managers to maximise the skills of disabled employees and avoid "missing out" on talent, according to the Independent.

However Bella Gore, head of legal policy at the Employers' Forum on Disability, acknowledges to the publication that larger corporations face a particular challenge since they cannot respond as quickly as smaller enterprises to employees' individual needs.

"Large businesses face the challenge of having systems in place that can lead to institutionalised discrimination," she remarks, emphasising there may be no "intention" as such.

Affirming the effectiveness of managing meetings training to the news provider, ME and fibromyalgia patient Paul Burrows points outs that his managers made adjustments for his hearing and concentration problems when he informed them of his condition.

Meetings were adapted so social worker Mr Burrows could be "more included" and he was able to work flexibly.

He now credits his "forward-thinking manager" with his continuing full-time employment when health professionals had advised him to give up work completely.

First introduced in 2005, the Disability Discrimination Act places a duty on employers to make "reasonable adjustments" to accommodate disabled staff.