Did you know that over 20% of the UK population is considered to have some kind of disability? A high proportion of those identified live with hidden disabilities, such as visual or hearing impairment, neurodiversity or chronic health conditions. Disability of any kind shouldn’t stop people from playing an active role in society. You will find many people with disabilities making vital contributions to community life through work or volunteering in community groups, churches and organisations. But we recognise there are barriers.
People living with disabilities face considerable day-to-day challenges, and we don’t want accessing vital training to be one of them. We’re aware that travelling to training sessions, accessing appropriate online technology or being able to keep up with high volumes of information in a short space of time can make training impossible for some people.
This is why, despite already offering accessible training as much as possible, we now host relaxed training sessions throughout the year. These sessions have been designed who prefers or requires a slower, more laid-back approach to learning.
What is ‘relaxed training’?
Relaxed training sessions offer a safe and welcoming space for people who find it difficult to follow the typical conventions of a training session. The aim is to create a safe and welcoming environment that removes barriers to learning. They will have a more laid-back approach to noise, movement and timings, giving everyone permission to relax and respond as needed.
We welcome all kinds of individual adjustments, and you will have the freedom to choose things such as whether you turn your camera on or not, when to move around, and whether you want to join breakout rooms.
“I really appreciated at the beginning the trainer Jeanette saying that if you need to move around you can - I have ADHD and although I don't always need to move around sometimes I do, especially when emotional. I have never had permission given to do this - thank you!”
Who are these sessions for?
These sessions are designed for anyone who would like to take a slower, less formal approach to learning. But we hope they will specifically benefit those who identify as follows:
• I have a learning disability
• I have a learning difficulty
• I have an intellectual disability
• I am autistic
• I have autism
• I have ADHD
• I have dementia
• I have a hearing impairment
• I am d/Deaf
• I have a visual impairment
• I have a condition
