Leadership Academy Programme
DR UK's Leadership Academy Programme (LAP) runs a range of career development programmes for employees with lived experience of disability and/or long-term health conditions.
Our original Leadership Academy Programme (LAP) was developed because a group of Disabled senior leaders found that, whilst Disabled employees were managing to gain employment, their ability to excel up the corporate ladder appeared limited.
Our leadership programmes aim to:
- Address the need for greater equality in the workplace;
- Improve the employment position of Disabled people, enabling them to fulfil their potential;
- Provide employers with access to the widest possible pool of talent at management and senior level;
- Increase the visibility of capable, confident disabled leaders, to contribute to a more balanced view of Disabled people across UK society;
- Build recognition of the qualities Disabled people contribute in terms of resilience, problem-solving, empathy and creativity;
- Impact workplace culture and help to bring about genuine inclusivity for Disabled employees.
Programme Delivery
The number of sessions varies but tends to be around 4 - 6 plus sometimes a completion ceremony.
Most programmes are delivered online but in-person options are available.
We can design a bespoke programme, tailor-made to meet the needs and aims of the organisation. Employers can place 10 or more staff, into a private cohort and we’ll help to manage all the administration, mentoring relationships, and programme schedules, affording the delegates the best possible opportunity to succeed and for the greatest impact on the business/organisation.
The Programme includes:
- Career aspirations, setting objectives and goals
- Communication, leadership and management skills
- Self-development and confidence-building
- Accessibility, reasonable adjustments and your rights as a Disabled employee
- Applying new techniques to live projects and presentations related to a current workplace challenge (providing a great resource for their place of work)
- One-to-one mentoring from an experienced senior leader
- Sharing experiences with other aspiring managers and learning from their success strategies
- Conflict resolution and managing relationships • Creation of an ‘Inclusive Leadership Charter’
- Membership of our Disability Alumni Network, offering exceptional networking events with inspirational keynote speakers
Share the information with your line manager, L&D Team, or Disability Network, to explore ways to get sponsored onto the programme by your employer.
Even if you are not able to undertake this programme yourself, please share this information with your workplace and within your networks, so that other Disabled employees may have the opportunity.
Other activities such as leadership Masterclasses and workplace mediation are currently being developed.
For further information email our leadership programme manager Katrina Morris on: katrina.morris@disabilityrightsuk.org
