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Exeter-based communications disability specialists Talkcoach have teamed up with Plymouth-based lawyers Gill Akaster to help Personnel Directors stay on the right side of the law regarding disability discrimination.

Good communication is key in the workplace.  However, thousands of adults in the South West have communication difficulties resulting from a stammer, stutter, Asperger syndrome, a voice problem or conditions resulting from illness or head injury which can mean their talent is under utilised.    Negative stereotyping and stigma means they may avoid communicating and many businesses are ill equipped to help.

Talkcoach and Gill Akaster’s workshop on Disability Discrimination is being held as part of the annual Employment Law conference for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development being held on March 13th at the Eden Project, St Austell.The workshop will focus on being aware of the requirements of Employment Law in relation to disabilities and discrimination, including communication issues, and how companies can develop employees in order for them to interact confidently and effectively with customers and colleagues.

Anne Ayre, Director of Talkcoach, said: “ So many companies in the South West could be under utilising the potential of their employees and are ill equipped to deal with customers or colleagues with communication disability issues.  In this current economic climate, organisations are doing all they can to remain successful and competitive.   However, with one in 20 people suffering from some kind of communication disability, this is a significant audience that may be being underestimated and under-utilised by employees."

Eoin Fowell, employment law expert at Gill Akaster added:  “ This workshop aims to help increase awareness of the law and its requirements so that organisations can take proactive steps to adapt their working procedure to create a better environment for those with communication disabilities.”