3 December is International Day of People with Disabilities. The theme for 2021 is “Fighting for rights in the post-COVID era” and it is about acknowledging the challenges, barriers and opportunities for people who live with disabilities in the context of a global pandemic. While everyone on earth has been impacted by COVID, people living with disabilities have been among the most affected populations. In this podcast, Helen Dallimore talks with Sharon Foxwell, a friend and working parent carer who writes a blog on her life as a parent with a daughter with a severe learning disability and drug resistant epilepsy. During the conversation, Sharon shares the impact of the pandemic on her life at home and work and what work means to her. They also consider how leaders can engage with employees living with disabilities, such as parent carers, to support them with the challenges, recognise the potential opportunities and help create kinder, fairer and more productive workplaces.
The discussion references a recent report on flexible working by @FlexAppeal working with Sir Robert McAlpine which is available in full here (Forever Flex report) and government guidance on inclusive language to consider using when talking about disability which is available here.
