The project will build on previously funded research(funders – EPSRC, RSC, Wellcome Trust, UKRI and the British Academy) to develop, pilot and disseminate a toolkit to improve the employment experiences and outcome of disabled engineers’, scientists’ and their employers/human resource teams’ ability to support them. The key message of the project will be the importance of the social model of disability (SMD) which underpins disability organisations across the UK. Understanding of the social model of disability will enable employers to identify and remove barriers to the recruitment, selection and full participation of disabled and neurodivergent engineers and scientists. The SMD offers the potential for employers to put in place practical changes to their policies, practices and working environments to support disabled people’s employment, as well as improving their managers’ ability to confidently manage disability at work. We also anticipate that improved understanding of the social model of disability will help scientists and engineers to develop inclusive solutions in their day-to-day practice. We will develop a toolkit to include interactive training on disability inclusion, allowing users to develop their confidence in working with disabled and neurodivergent people (colleagues and clients) and better support those living with debilitating menstrual health conditions and symptoms of (peri)menopause. This innovative training draws on a robust evidence base of 10 years of empirical studies led by Heriot Watt University and will be tailored to meet the needs of the engineering and scientific workforce. While there are other organisations delivering training on neurodiversity or menopause these programmes are often not evidence based nor tailored to the science and engineering workforce. The toolkit will begin with training on the social model of disability, relevant legal frameworks e.g. The Equality Act 2010 and a presentation of the evidence bases for the training. Participants will then be able to choose to complete at least one (or all) of the following modules:
- Supporting disabled scientists and engineers
- Supporting neurodivergent scientists and engineers
- Supporting engineers and scientists living with (peri)menopausal symptoms or problematic periods
(perimenopause and menstrual disorders have been recognised in employment tribunals as disability).
Trainees who successfully complete the training will be awarded a certificate of completion which they can use towards their CPD requirements and will be provided with an information pack with downloadable materials on how to use the social model of disability in their daily working lives e.g. postcards, posters or stationery with the social model of disability.
The research team are Professor Kate Sang, Prof James Richards, Dr Graeme Barker, Beth Wedgwood and Fenella Watson. Please get in touch at k.sang@hw.ac.uk if you would like to learn more about the project