The Programme

Friday 22 February 2008 – 11 am – 12.30pm

Pre-Conference Briefing on the Disability Equality Duty

     Sue Maynard Campbell MBE, Chair of GSD and Equal Ability CIC

12.30 – 1.45 – Pre-Conference Lunch
1.45 – 16.30 – Conference Day 1

Conference chaired by Gary O’Donoghue, BBC Political Correspondent

Opening address

     Andrew Holroyd OBE, President of the Law Society of England and Wales

Why addressing the Disability Equality Duty head on should be good for the bank balance

     Dr Alice Maynard DBA Managing Director of future inclusion ltd

The Disability Equality Duty requires public bodies to review their approach to disabled people across all their functions.  This can be quite an onerous task – a disability impact assessment, if well done, takes skilled staff time.  The Duty also requires involving disabled people in the development of the Disability Equality Scheme and again, done well, this requires time and resources.  But the effects of the Scheme should be economically beneficial for the whole organisation.  This presentation explores further the potential economic impact of the Duty for the organisation and beyond, and what it might take to capitalise on the opportunities it offers.

Keynote speech

     Baroness Campbell of Surbiton DBE, Commissioner and Chair of the Disability Committee of the Equality and Human Rights Commission

Open Discussion

Friday 22 February 2008 – 6.30pm - 10pm

Conference Dinner

•      Guest Speaker - Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE
•      Special Guest – Tara Flood, CEO Alliance for Inclusive Education
•      Entertainment fresh from the Edinburgh Fringe

          Abnormally Funny People – Laurence Clark and Gareth Berliner

Saturday 23 February – 10.30am – 4pm

Workshops looking at issues around disability equality, including Crown Prosecution Service looking at their activities and plans in relation to Disability Hate Crime.  Choice of other workshops on subjects such as Access to Work and the future of JobcentrePlus support for working disabled people; GSD activities such as mentoring; and what are reasonable “reasonable adjustments”.

During the day there will be an Exchange Forum with representatives from legal practices, and other organisations related to work within the legal profession and outside who want to discuss issues with disabled people.

Networking lunch

Saturday 23 February – 4.30pm – 6pm

Meeting for GSD members