LSE staff disability survey

Page contents > Introduction | The first survey

Introduction

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA)

The DDA came into force on 2 December 1996 to protect people with disabilities from discrimination in employment including recruitment, training, promotion and dismissal.

The Act protects anyone, whose mental or physical impairment has a substantial adverse effect on normal day-to-day activities that lasts, or is expected to last, at least twelve months. Employers have a duty to look at "reasonable adjustments", which would facilitate participation in the workplace of a person with a disability or disabilities.

The policy on disability

The School's Council agreed a policy on disability on 25 June 2002. A Disability Discrimination Action Plan to put the policy into practice for staff was completed in March 2003.

Some of the areas of the Plan are new to the School, for example, the 'Disability: A practical guide for managers' booklet (which is available from the Personnel Division). Other projects are ongoing, for example, improving the rooms used for interviews and staff development.

The purpose of the surveys

To ensure that the School's Policy is not static, there will be regular surveys on an anonymous basis to identify areas for action to help the School to attract, retain and enable staff with disabilities. This questionnaire is being sent to all members of staff. A separate policy and action plan is being pursued for students.

The survey is anonymous to encourage as many people as possible to complete it. However, if you want to give your name so that we can contact you to discuss any specific concerns you raise, please do so at the end of the survey.

The first survey

The survey addresses four main areas: communication, physical environment, recruitment and retention, and staff development.

The questions can be answered with a tick and there is room to add your own comments. Don't worry if you find that you tick a number of the "No" or "Don't know" boxes; this is the first time for a survey of this kind and your response will help the School to take steps to make improvements or increase awareness. The survey is not a test of your competence; it is a test of the effectiveness of the School's policy and implementation.

Completion deadline date: 3 November 2003

Who are you?

Are you responding as a convener or manager, or as a non-managerial member of staff?

Non-managerial member of staff Convener or manager

Are you disabled?

Yes, please describe your disability below (optional) No

Do you have, or have you ever had, any colleagues with disabilities in your department?

Yes, now Yes, previously No Don't know

Communication

Some people with disabilities, for example those with sight or hearing impairments or a speech impediment, may have particular communication needs.

I feel confident about communicating with colleagues with disabilities and prospective staff with disabilities.

Agree Tend to agree Tend to disagree Don't know
The rooms used for interviews, meetings or training, have the necessary facilities for communicating with colleagues with disabilities and prospective staff with disabilities.

Agree Tend to agree Tend to disagree Don't know
It is easy to arrange adjustments to be made to the rooms used for interviews, meetings or training.

Agree Tend to agree Tend to disagree Don't know
The Disability Communication Guide that is available from the Disability Office is helpful.

Agree Tend to agree Tend to disagree Don't know

Comments?

Physical environment

Reasonable adjustments for my disability were made to my office environment (if you are not disabled, please skip to question 6).

Yes No Unnecessary Don't know
I know where to find out about the programme of alterations to improve the accessibility of the School's buildings.

Yes No
The procedure to evacuate the buildings in emergency situations is adequate for staff with disabilities.

Agree Tend to agree Tend to disagree Don't know

Recruitment and retention

Are you ever involved in staff recruitment?

Yes No, please skip to question 12
The recruitment information sent out to job applicants is welcoming to prospective applicants with disabilities.

Agree Tend to agree Tend to disagree Don't know
If a person declares a disability, interview questions about their disability should be confined to what reasonable adjustments could help the person to do the job.

Agree Tend to agree Tend to disagree Don't know
I am aware that there is a Recruitment Toolkit, available from Personnel Division.

Yes No
I know where and who to go to for more information or help with recruitment or retention of people with disabilities.

Yes No
I know about the "Access to Work Scheme" grants, which help the recruitment and retention of people with disabilities.

Yes No
More flexible work options, eg a later start time or working from home, could help to recruit people with disabilities or retain people who develop disabilities.

Agree Tend to agree Tend to disagree Don't know
It is feasible to offer flexible work options in my work area.

Agree Tend to agree Tend to disagree Don't know
I know that the 'Harassment, including bullying,' policy and procedure (available from the Personnel Division and in the Public Folders) includes disability.

Yes No
I am aware that the Staff Counsellor can offer support with disability eg the onset of a disability.
Any comments?

Yes No

Comments?

Staff development

I have attended induction training in the last 12 months.

Yes No, please skip to question 20
The induction training that I recently received sufficiently incorporated disability issues.

Agree Tend to agree Tend to disagree Don't know
I have attended a Recruitment and Selection training course in the last 12 months

Yes No, please skip to question 22
The "Recruitment and Selection" course increased my disability awareness.

Agree Tend to agree Tend to disagree Don't know
I have attended any LSE-based training course in the last 12 months.

Yes No, please skip the next question
Required adjustments to the venue or materials are identified before any training begins.

Yes No Not applicable

Do you have any other comments?

Thank you for completing the survey

If you would like to be contacted to discuss any concerns you have raised, please email Gail Keeley at g.keeley@lse.ac.uk.