International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) 2023

The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on 3rd December was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. The observance of the day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. Fujitsu are committed to being a disability confident leader, and we recognise IDPD in many ways across the globe. Working with our Ability Matters network, part of our UK Inclusive Community, we ensure that our culture and environment enables everyone to be completely themselves. In this blog, you will have the opportunity to reflect on the events hosted by the Ability Matters network during the week’s celebrations for IDPD 2023. #BeCompletelyYou

Dove House Academy Visit

We were delighted to host a number of Dove House students for an engaging and informative morning at our Basingstoke office, on Monday 27th November. Our collaboration with Dove House was a wonderful opportunity to highlight the importance of this initiative. During this session, students learnt about the role models they have at Fujitsu, what being Positively Purple means to us, and took part in a fantastic employability and CV workshop!

Darryl Hyde and Geraint Williams inspired students with their personal career journeys, having lived experience of living with disability, explaining how to #BeCompletelyYou in the workplace. Craig Hall led one of his brilliant workshops - getting the students actively participating in discussions around all things CVs and employability.

The Fujitsu staff that supported the session - Jason Daniels, Ann-Marie Gosling, Imogen Kempster, Mark Cone, Charlotte Zanger and Jensen Deutrom - did a fantastic job at keeping everyone engaged, and giving students much needed support and guidance on things that the school may not be able to offer. Glowing feedback from the staff and students of Dove House Academy is a testament to how truly amazing the session was. The bar has been set extremely high for our first ever in person event with the academy.

Making Teams Easier for Everyone

Microsoft Teams is key to many businesses, including Fujitsu - we use it day in, day out, but do we really make use of all that the platform has to offer? Hosted by Microsoft and Diversity & Ability, this webinar enabled attendees to learn about the many accessibility features that Teams has to offer, and how to use them to make the most of your Teams experience. Whether you are a person with a disability, an ally, or simply wanted to learn more about accessibility, this webinar was for everyone.

Roxanne Steele - Diversity and Ability - is a specialist, activist, facilitator, trainer and speaker with a passion for inclusion, social change, inclusive communication and design. During the webinar, Roxanne spoke on the role of technology in the lives of disabled people, from the perspective of lived experience of someone with Cerebral Palsy.

Hector Minto - Microsoft - is the Tech Evangelist for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Specialising in accessibility, assistive technology and disability issues, Hector provided game-changing insight into the Microsoft Teams accessibility journey and provided live demonstrations to show attendees how to make the most of all features.

Jason Daniels - Chief Digital Officer, Fujitsu UK - is the Executive Sponsor of the Ability Matters network. On a mission to support Fujitsu in being a better place for people with disabilities, impairments, and caregiving responsibilities - he proudly facilitated the session.

Making the most of our partnerships

Business Disability Forum (BDF) is a leading membership organisation for businesses committed to disability inclusion. They offer a range of exclusive resources and support to partners like Fujitsu. This webinar - hosted by Courtney Swaby, BDF - explored how you can make the most of the resources available to you, as a Fujitsu employee, through Business Disability Forum, to improve disability inclusion in the workplace! Courtney joined BDF in 2014. Courtney’s proven strength is in his ability to build and manage different types of relationships at all levels of a business. He has extensive experience in listening and understanding the needs of organisations and being able to impart his knowledge of disability as it affects business. The organisations he works with often comment on how visible Courtney’s passion is for the inclusion of disabled people and that “you sometimes have to treat people differently to treat them fairly”. Courtney specialises in supporting organisations within the finance, emergency services and law enforcement, IT, and insurance sectors. He is also a member of the accessibility and passenger stakeholder group for London City airport.

Wellbeing and Disability

Living with a disability can present unique obstacles to individuals. Although not everyone will agree that their disability and mental health are interconnected - many people’s physical limitations and societal barriers can lead to feelings of isolation and frustration. These emotions can manifest in various ways, including anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Living with a disability will often mean that an individual possesses immense strength, adaptability, and life experiences that foster personal growth and resilience. For IDPD 2023, the Ability Matters network and the Wellbeing network teamed up with Bronach McCartney to shine the light on the connection between disability and mental wellbeing. Bronach shared her personal experience of amputation a child, and an ADHD diagnosis as a young adult. Her insights provided a great perspective on how to thrive as a person with a disability, and she discussed the importance of inclusive and accessible communities. Hosted by Liz Morrison - Shared Services PA & EA Team Manager and Wellbeing Champion - this session was held in a relaxed environment, where others felt comfortable asking questions and getting involved in the conversation!

Positively Purple Quiz

In an effort to bring some excitement and competition to the Positively Purple festivities, Ability Matters UK organised a stimulating quiz. The event aimed to test the knowledge of participants on all aspects of disability and provided them with a chance to win some fantastic prizes.

Participants were tasked with answering a series of questions, each challenging their understanding of disability history, legislation, and the ongoing struggles and achievements of the disabled community. The questions were designed to be thought-provoking and engaging, encouraging participants to delve into the complexities of disability and its impact on society. The competition drew a remarkable turnout, with enthusiastic members of the UK Inclusive Community eagerly participating to test their knowledge and compete for the winning prizes. Congratulations to our winning participants – Jensen Deutrom, Chris Barker, and Chelsea Jackson.

Planting the Ability Matters Seed

At our Fujitsu hub locations, all reception desks offered complimentary lavender seeds - encouraging colleagues to “plant the positively purple seed”. Alongside the symbolic value of planting one of these seeds for IDPD 2023, there are other benefits to this plant. Since ancient times, lavender has been used to reduce symptoms and provide support for multiple conditions. Modern science has confirmed many of its health benefits. Lavender may help with some of the following:

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A message from Ability Matters, Fujitsu UK&I

There have been a brilliant range of events delivered, from a face-to-face CV and employability workshop to virtual sessions encouraging accessibility and inclusion. The network is grateful to our partners - Dove House Academy, Diversity and Ability, Business Disability Forum, and Microsoft - for their contributions. We believe that it is important for us to continue to raise awareness of disability and to promote inclusion in the workplace. Our IDPD celebrations have been a great opportunity to do this, but we must continue to show our support beyond this event.

Jason Daniels , Imogen Kempster , Ann-Marie Gosling

#BeCompletelyYou #IDPD2023