Celia Chartres-Aris, a 27-year-old who has a rare genetic condition called Loeys-Dietz syndrome and recently named as one of the most influential disabled people in the UK, opened the Summit by arguing that accessibility is a fundamental human right.
Celia reminded us of the social model of disability, which the PDA supports, that states that disability is not a problem ‘to be cured’ rather that it is the barriers that society builds around disabled people which is the real problem. The model also states that the burden of responsibility should not fall on disabled people to change the environment, but rather for there to be a proactive approach.
Alison McGovern MP, Minister for Employment, sent a recorded message outlining the government’s commitment to making work as inclusive as possible, and the importance of work to all people. She outlined details of the new service, which will focus on skills, careers, and the proposed new duty to report disability pay gaps in the Employment Rights Bill currently going through Parliament. However, some comments from the government the following week led to the PDA responding through a blog in The Pharmacist, which can be found here.
Three NHS employees who had each been diagnosed with being neurodiverse in later life, including a paediatric consultant, led a session on exploring neurodiversity. They talked about the strengths of neurodiversity, the ability to see the big picture and think laterally, and the need for the NHS workforce to represent the population they serve. They also talked about the need to feel psychologically safe at work so that individuals can feel comfortable to ask for the reasonable adjustments they require. This fits with the PDA’s ‘Standing Up for Sitting Down’ campaign which asks that employers work with employees to create a compassionate culture of dignity in the workplace and where there is zero tolerance for discrimination.
There was a reminder in the session titled ‘Understanding hidden disabilities’ that at least 20% of disabilities are invisible. Nicky Parry, a reasonable adjustment advisor for the East of England Ambulance Service, talked about her role, holding a central budget, and being the main point of contact for staff who require reasonable adjustments. The approach Nicky described was an example of how an employer can actively manage reasonable adjustments required by its workforce.
The Summit ended with an inspiring talk by the disability activist and actress, Samantha Renke. Being able to meet and engage with disabled employees from across the NHS and share their experience was really fulfilling. It was a reminder that there are many disabled employees in the workforce making a positive contribution to the lives of patients through their working lives.
By Liz Larkin, Co-ordinator for the PDA Ability Network and lead Organiser for NHS members
The PDA has more than 7,000 members working in the NHS, including a significant number of members in the PDA Ability Network who have a disability or long-term health condition.
Get involved
If you are a pharmacist with disabilities or a long-term health condition, you can join the PDA Ability Network here. Allies are also welcome.
Learn more
- Are pharmacists with a disability able to work?
- It’s Time to Address Discrimination: Standing up for Sitting Down
- The PDA Ability Network
- NHS
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If you have not yet joined the PDA, we encourage you to join today and ask your colleagues to do the same.
Membership is FREE to pharmacy students, trainee pharmacists and for the first three months of being newly qualified.
Read about our key member benefits here.