DARD Disability Forum
The DARD Disability Forum was launched in September 2002, the first of its kind in the NI Civil Service, creating a network within the Department that has aimed to remove barriers and provide the necessary support to enable disabled staff or those staff with a long term health condition to achieve their potential and aspirations.
The Disability Forum meets a number of times a year to discuss issues and achieve targets set out on pages 24 and 25 in the DARD Disability Action Plan.
Since its inception the Disability Forum has made a significant contribution towards raising disability awareness within the Department by;
- Writing articles for inclusion in the staff magazine 'Groundwork' to highlight particular disabilities or issues,
- Showcasing good practice in the various Business areas within the Department,
- Organising events to raise disability awareness, and
- Providing input on accessibility / policy issues.
The Disability Forum also operates a Website within the Department which includes articles, provided by staff members highlighting particular disabilities or issues, various health events / issues. the website also provides links to external organistions in the disability / health awareness fields. These Websites raise awareness about particular conditions, highlight the various services these organisations provide and can be accessed by staff for information.
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