Diverse Matters delivers webinars for both employers and employees on how to have confidence with disability. Webinars can be tailored and include a live session with Yasmin Sheikh.
Diverse Matters delivers online webinars during Diversity Week at organisations, which can include explaining what disability is, how you encourage employees to share their disability at work, highlight the benefits of openness and examples of reasonable adjustments at work.
Diverse Matters also delivers taster sessions on “The Confident with Disability Workshop”, “The Diversity L.A.B.E.L. workshop” and “The Powerful First Impressions Process”.
After a webinar you will come away with a better understanding of:
what constitutes a visible and non-visible disability.
examples of reasonable adjustments if you have a disability.
the benefits of telling your employer about your disability.
support services available.
how we can all become more confident talking about disability related issues.
and how we can all learn about being more inclusive for people with disabilities.
Diverse Matters provides both one to one coaching and also group coaching for people with disabilities to increase their confidence, whatever stage in their career.
Yasmin Sheikh is also an experienced mentor helping individuals increase their self confidence and achieve life goals.
I have worked with Yasmin on and off for a couple of years now. Her passion and energy is immeasurable. She has turned her disability into an absolute positive. Her spirit seems to never wane. She is positive, firm and energetic in her goals. I always look forward to our next meeting because I always learn something new from her.
Nikki Huxter
Yasmin is a fantastic public speaker who inspires me every time I hear her story. I've met Yasmin on a number of occasions and she has given me advice that has helped me to share information on my application regarding my issues. I really appreciate the work that Yasmin does to promote diversity, and I look forward to the next time I see Yasmin. Thank you again for all your great advice!
Joshua Luke Henry Bryant
The disability in law workshop which was run by Yasmin and hosted by Reed Smith was a huge confidence booster, as you met interesting people, with truly life changing stories that had succeeded in extremely competitive professions. The practical support I received on how to approach recruiters, and construct a detailed application has put me in the best position to apply for future training contracts.
Sachin Shah
I have worked with Yasmin on and off for a couple of years now. Her passion and energy is immeasurable. She has turned her disability into an absolute positive. Her spirit seems to never wane. She is positive, firm and energetic in her goals. I always look forward to our next meeting because I always learn something new from her.
Nikki Huxter
Yasmin is a fantastic public speaker who inspires me every time I hear her story. I've met Yasmin on a number of occasions and she has given me advice that has helped me to share information on my application regarding my issues. I really appreciate the work that Yasmin does to promote diversity, and I look forward to the next time I see Yasmin. Thank you again for all your great advice!
Aspire is a national charity that provides practical help to people who have been paralysed by Spinal Cord Injury; it can happen to anyone at any time and no one is prepared for how it will change their life. Aspire exists because there is currently no cure.
Diverse Matters works closely with Aspire organising the delivery of training programmes and events including the Wheelchair Challenge.
Through its projects and programmes, Aspire offers practical support to the 40,000 people living with a spinal cord injury in the UK so that they can lead fulfilled and independent lives in their homes, with their families, in work places and in leisure time.
Yasmin plays a vital role at Back Up across both our service delivery and fundraising. She is a much sort after speaker, inspiring people young and old about what is possible after a spinal cord injury, talking about the difference Back Up has made on her and motivating new supporters to get involved. Yasmin is diligent, professional and fun to work with. I can't recommend her enough.
Louise Wright, Chairperson Vitality
Yasmin has delivered impactful talks at corporate fundraising events, MC'd at our annual ball with over 400 guests and spoken in assemblies in front of hundreds of school children. She is able to tell her story including emotive details which bring it to life and clearly illustrate the key messages appropriate to her audience. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her services as a disability consultant.
Sean McCallion, Corporate Partnerships Manager Back Up
Yasmin plays a vital role at Back Up across both our service delivery and fundraising. She is a much sort after speaker, inspiring people young and old about what is possible after a spinal cord injury, talking about the difference Back Up has made on her and motivating new supporters to get involved. Yasmin is diligent, professional and fun to work with. I can't recommend her enough.
Louise Wright, Chairperson Vitality
Yasmin has delivered impactful talks at corporate fundraising events, MC'd at our annual ball with over 400 guests and spoken in assemblies in front of hundreds of school children. She is able to tell her story including emotive details which bring it to life and clearly illustrate the key messages appropriate to her audience. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend her services as a disability consultant.
Sean McCallion, Corporate Partnerships Manager Back Up
Yasmin plays a vital role at Back Up across both our service delivery and fundraising. She is a much sort after speaker, inspiring people young and old about what is possible after a spinal cord injury, talking about the difference Back Up has made on her and motivating new supporters to get involved. Yasmin is diligent, professional and fun to work with. I can't recommend her enough.
Do you struggle to keep disability on the diversity agenda?
Do you have a disability network or perhaps it has died a bit of a death?
Maybe you have a low disclosure rate for people with disabilities (both visible and non-visible) as they are worried about sharing this information which means that they are less productive and unaware of the adjustments which can help them thrive at work.
If you have answered yes to any of the questions above then The City Wheelchair Challenge gives visibility to disability.
See some of our Testimonials, read our Frequently Asked Questions and watch a video from one of our Wheelchair Challenge events below to see the impact we can have on your organisation.
The Diverse Matters Wheelchair Challenge
FAQs
What is it?
The Diverse Matters Wheelchair Challenge is an exciting movement, which is now in its third year, involving volunteers in City organisations in the legal, banking, financial and insurance world, who wish to give visibility to disability in the workplace.
Volunteers will spend 8 hours using a manual wheelchair during the working day and will only use the chairs in their offices.
When is it?
The Diverse Matters Wheelchair Challenge takes place throughout the year so that organisations keep disability firmly on the diversity agenda.
The most popular time to take part in the challenge is on or around 3 December (International Day for People with Disabilities) and on or around 1 March (International Wheelchair Day).
Who can take part?
Up to ten volunteers per organisation can take part. The Diverse Matters Wheelchair Challenge is open to any organisation in the City of London.
The more senior the volunteers, the bigger the impact the organisation will have regarding their message about disability both internally and externally.
Who supplies the wheelchairs?
Yasmin Sheikh of Diverse Matters will supply the wheelchairs from London Wheelchair Service.
How do you get the volunteers?
Diverse Matters can assist your Communications Team regarding how to publicise the Diverse Matters Wheelchair Challenge to ensure that the wording and tone is appropriate so that your staff understand the purpose of the challenge and what it involves.
What are the benefits of doing the challenge?
EY (Ernst & Young) recently took part in the challenge and have shared this six minute video.
The benefits of the challenge to name just a few…
Raises awareness by giving visibility to disability.
Allows empathy.
Deals with other people’s reactions.
Encourages openness about disabilities (both visible and invisible).
Gives insight about the challenges.
Shows that disability can be a strength.
What about Health and Safety?
Volunteers will receive wheelchair skills training (30-45 minutes) in advance of taking part in the challenge so that they feel comfortable and safe using the chair.
Diverse Matters will also provide briefing notes to ensure both compliance with the rules and the safety of the participants.
The volunteers will not take the chairs outside of their offices.
Isn’t it a bit patronising and negative?
I found the reaction of others to the idea of the day really positive. We told clients about what we were doing and they thought it was great that we were doing it and really liked the fact that we are raising money and profile for a charity that supports a section of society that we routinely see in the serious bodily injury claims we deal with. (Danielle Singer, partner in Casualty and Healthcare Department at Clyde & Co LLP)
It was one of the best things I have done. It was so eye-opening about things you wouldn’t think about on a day-to-day basis. (Anna Doherty, Managing Director, JP Morgan, Technology).
This event raises awareness on a very practical basis. Lots of people asked us questions. (Suraya Mailvagnam, Managing Director, Legal, JP Morgan).
This is truly how I feel about the challenge and how it made me feel on the actual wheelchair challenge day:
The staff who were in the wheelchairs for the day spoke to me about the challenges they faced throughout the day and somehow this was comforting; because it confirmed that my observations about my office environment were real.
In turn this empowered me to make small changes in my office environment which were really simple i.e. moving a tray to assist me carry hot drinks from a high shelf to somewhere I could reach.
The challenge day was easily the most comfortable I have ever felt being disabled in my office; I spoke to people in corridors and in the kitchen area who were speaking to me without bending down.
My experience of the challenge and the comments I have received from staff in my office have been sopositive. People with hidden disabilities approached me and discussed their disability.
The positive visibility this event gave had a great impact on me and staff in my office. I would definitely recommend others offices to take part in this event. (full-time wheelchair chair user of organisation which took part in the challenge)
What happens afterwards?
Diverse Matters can assist you with other services on how you engage and give confidence to your staff when it comes to disability in the workplace.
Some organisations chose to take part in the Diverse Matters Wheelchair Challenge followed by a panel discussion (facilitated by Yasmin Sheikh of Diverse Matters) afterwards.
Employees discuss the learnings of the Diverse Matters Wheelchair Challenge and the way forward in respect of how to tackle disability issues in their organisations.
How much will it cost?
There is a charge for the cost of hire and delivery of the chairs.
There will be also be a consultancy fee for the services involved in arranging the smooth running of the Diverse Matters Wheelchair Challenge.
What about doing it for charity?
Organisations are able to raise money for the spinal cord injury charity, Aspire.
Aspire provides practical help to people who have been paralysed by spinal cord injury, supporting them from injury to independence.
A couple of weeks ago I took part in a wheelchair challenge at Thomson Reuters, supported by Yasmin. It's a really useful format with which to engage employees on disability issues. After some training and coaching with Yasmin on what to expect, The other senior leaders who took part in this and I then ended the day with a panel discussion facilitated by Yasmin, which was well attended by employees.
Jim Leason, VP Market Development & Strategy, Legal Solutions UK & Ireland Thomson Reuters
I have had the pleasure of working with Yasmin for the last few months and in that time her input has been extremely beneficial in helping me shape my thinking around disability and the working world. She discusses this agenda in a light hearted and at times comical stance however leaving you in no doubt what we can do to move this agenda forward. I am looking forward to continuing this partnership.
Geoffrey O. Williams, Regional Head of Diversity & Inclusion EMEA Thomson Reuters
Yasmin is a great inspiration for anyone with a disability, and as she has taught me, that is a very broad spectrum of people! Yasmin was fundamentally involved in setting up the Disability Diversity Group at Clyde & Co, as a former employee she was only too aware of the issues facing disabled colleagues. Since setting up her consultancy she is continuing to help the firm with its policies, processes and ways of engaging better with employees with disabilities. I can whole-heartedly recommend Yasmin to anyone looking for advice and guidance on the impact of disability in business.
Charlie Keeling, Interim HR Director
HFW LLP
A couple of weeks ago I took part in a wheelchair challenge at Thomson Reuters, supported by Yasmin. It's a really useful format with which to engage employees on disability issues. After some training and coaching with Yasmin on what to expect, The other senior leaders who took part in this and I then ended the day with a panel discussion facilitated by Yasmin, which was well attended by employees.
Jim Leason, VP Market Development & Strategy, Legal Solutions UK & Ireland Thomson Reuters
I have had the pleasure of working with Yasmin for the last few months and in that time her input has been extremely beneficial in helping me shape my thinking around disability and the working world. She discusses this agenda in a light hearted and at times comical stance however leaving you in no doubt what we can do to move this agenda forward. I am looking forward to continuing this partnership.
Geoffrey O. Williams, Regional Head of Diversity & Inclusion EMEA Thomson Reuters
Diverse Matters is able to tailor talks and seminars appropriately depending on the need of the organisation. We have launched a number of disability networks for organisations, as well as delivered talks and seminars during Diversity Week for organisations. Our Question Time and Speed Networking events provide an innovative way for people and organisations to share questions and experiences equipping both managers and individuals with practical tools to use in the workplace.
Package 1
Diverse Matters provides keynote speeches to launch disability networks for all sizes of organisations, fully tailored to your needs.
Package 2
Diverse Matters delivers talks during Diversity Week at organisations, which can include explaining what disability is, how you encourage employees to share their disability at work, highlight the benefits of openness and examples of reasonable adjustments at work.
Package 3
Diverse Matters delivers taster sessions on “The Confident with Disability Workshop”, “The Diversity L.A.B.E.L. workshop” and “The Powerful First Impressions Process”.
Package 4
“The Question Time Disability Panel Debate”
Diverse Matters notices that when you have visible role models and there is an openness about disability then employees (both with and without disabilities) are more confident discussing disability in the workplace.
The Question Time Disability Panel Debate is chaired by the founder of Diverse Matters, Yasmin Sheikh. Speakers on the panel all have experiences of living with different types of disability, both visible and non-visible, including mental health, autism, hearing and visual impairments, for example, in the workplace.
After the event you will come away with a better understanding of:
what constitutes a visible and non-visible disability.
examples of reasonable adjustments if you have a disability.
the benefits of telling your employer about your disability.
support services available.
how we can all become more confident talking about disability related issues.
and how we can all learn about being more inclusive for people with disabilities.
Package 5
“Speed Networking Events”
These events are facilitated by Diverse Matters to enable roundtable discussions to be held between external disabled professionals from different industries with either employers and/or employees in your organisation to give them confidence around disability issues in the workplace.
After the event you will come away with a better understanding of:
how to ask for a reasonable adjustment at work.
how to share your disability at work.
how to be confident at work with a disability.
Yasmin helped us launch our disability and resilience network and provided an inspiring and engaging session which received very positive feedback. For us as a professional services firm, having someone who understood that culture and set-up was important and ensured that the key messages we wanted to be conveyed were communicated effectively. Yasmin is very easy and direct to work with and made it all very easy for us.
Deborah Dalgleish, Head of Diversity & Inclusion Ashurst LLP
I have had the pleasure of working with Yasmin for the last few months and in that time her input has been extremely beneficial in helping me shape my thinking around disability and the working world. She discusses this agenda in a light hearted and at times comical stance however leaving you in no doubt what we can do to move this agenda forward. I am looking forward to continuing this partnership.
Geoffrey O. Williams, Regional Head of Diversity & Inclusion EMEA Thomson Reuters
Yasmin was fundamentally involved in setting up the Disability Diversity Group at Clyde & Co, as a former employee she was only too aware of the issues facing disabled colleagues. Since setting up her consultancy she is continuing to help the firm with its policies, processes and ways of engaging better with employees with disabilities. I can whole-heartedly recommend Yasmin to anyone looking for advice and guidance on the impact of disability in business.
Charlie Keeling, Interim HR Director
HFW LLP
Yasmin helped us launch our disability and resilience network and provided an inspiring and engaging session which received very positive feedback. For us as a professional services firm, having someone who understood that culture and set-up was important and ensured that the key messages we wanted to be conveyed were communicated effectively. Yasmin is very easy and direct to work with and made it all very easy for us.
Deborah Dalgleish, Head of Diversity & Inclusion Ashurst LLP
I have had the pleasure of working with Yasmin for the last few months and in that time her input has been extremely beneficial in helping me shape my thinking around disability and the working world. She discusses this agenda in a light hearted and at times comical stance however leaving you in no doubt what we can do to move this agenda forward. I am looking forward to continuing this partnership.
Geoffrey O. Williams, Regional Head of Diversity & Inclusion EMEA Thomson Reuters
Diverse Matters provides interactive training and team building sessions for both employers and employees in relation to having confidence on disability issues so that employees can bring their whole selves to work and be the best they can be with the support in place.
At “The Confident with Disability Workshop”, Yasmin Sheikh empowers disabled employees to master four areas to enable them to be confident with their disability and also to employ strategies to thrive at work.
Training and team building sessions can also include how to interview a candidate with a disability, how to apply for a job or promotion when you have a disability and how to recruit and retain disabled talent.
Diverse Matters is able to tailor the training and team building workshops appropriately depending on the need of the organisation.
Package 1
“The Confident with Disability Workshop”
At Diverse Matters we notice the need that individuals have to build inner confidence and resilience especially those people who are newly diagnosed with a health condition or disability or mental ill health.
The Confident with Disability workshop is a one day personal development workshop for disabled employees about how to develop their inner confidence, whatever stage of their career. They will learn how to master four areas of The Empowering Life Change CycleTM to enable them to be confident with their disability and also to employ strategies to thrive at work.
After the workshop the delegates will come away with a better understanding of:
What individual confidence means to them.
How to communicate effectively with others about their disability.
How to take ownership and ask for reasonable adjustments.
How to feel a sense of belonging at work.
Package 2
“The Diversity L.A.B.E.L. workshop”
This is a half day workshop for employers (specifically for those in HR and D&I departments) to be able to recruit, retain and develop diverse talent.
After the workshop the delegates will come away with a better understanding of:
How to attract and retain diverse talent in your organisation.
How to avoid tribunal claims.
How to increase attendance of your internal diversity events
How to improve engagement with diverse employees.
How to improve the confidence of diverse employees.
Package 3
“The Powerful First Impressions Process”
This is a half day workshop for client facing staff (Receptionists, Facilities, Catering and Security).
At Diverse Matters we notice that first impressions count. The first point of contact for your clients, employees with disabilities and visitors to your organisation needs to be a positive experience.
After the workshop the delegates will come away with a better understanding of:
The background of The Equality Act 2010.
The definition of disability.
Examples of non-visible and visible disabilities.
The Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to disability (language, behaviour and etiquette).
Costs and enquiries
As a starting point, please email yasmin@diversematters.org to outline your needs. We will then contact you to discuss and create a be-spoke costing outline. Even if you are not sure about what you want, just reach out and we’ll take it from there.
Yasmin helped us launch our disability and resilience network and provided an inspiring and engaging session which received very positive feedback. For us as a professional services firm, having someone who understood that culture and set-up was important and ensured that the key messages we wanted to be conveyed were communicated effectively. Yasmin is very easy and direct to work with and made it all very easy for us.
Deborah Dalgleish, Head of Diversity & Inclusion Ashurst LLP
I have had the pleasure of working with Yasmin for the last few months and in that time her input has been extremely beneficial in helping me shape my thinking around disability and the working world. She discusses this agenda in a light hearted and at times comical stance however leaving you in no doubt what we can do to move this agenda forward. I am looking forward to continuing this partnership.
Geoffrey O. Williams, Regional Head of Diversity & Inclusion EMEA Thomson Reuters
Yasmin was fundamentally involved in setting up the Disability Diversity Group at Clyde & Co, as a former employee she was only too aware of the issues facing disabled colleagues. Since setting up her consultancy she is continuing to help the firm with its policies, processes and ways of engaging better with employees with disabilities. I can whole-heartedly recommend Yasmin to anyone looking for advice and guidance on the impact of disability in business.
Charlie Keeling, Interim HR Director
HFW LLP
Yasmin helped us launch our disability and resilience network and provided an inspiring and engaging session which received very positive feedback. For us as a professional services firm, having someone who understood that culture and set-up was important and ensured that the key messages we wanted to be conveyed were communicated effectively. Yasmin is very easy and direct to work with and made it all very easy for us.
Deborah Dalgleish, Head of Diversity & Inclusion Ashurst LLP
I have had the pleasure of working with Yasmin for the last few months and in that time her input has been extremely beneficial in helping me shape my thinking around disability and the working world. She discusses this agenda in a light hearted and at times comical stance however leaving you in no doubt what we can do to move this agenda forward. I am looking forward to continuing this partnership.
Geoffrey O. Williams, Regional Head of Diversity & Inclusion EMEA Thomson Reuters
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