Open Doors Award 2017
The Department of Work and Pensions last night received The Open Doors Awards 2017 in recognition of the way in which its access and inclusion policies have enabled a disabled employee with deafness to achieve her career goals in a supportive environment, while inspiring other people along the way.
The national award was presented to the DWP for the ways in which it has supported disabled people like Lisa Baldock who works full-time at the organisation’s offices in central London with her hearing dog, Inca.
Lisa said: “I never would have thought I’d be where I am in my career. Being able to have Inca here in work with me has really given me the independence I needed to succeed and has really made me feel part of the team.
“The DWP has really given me the tools and the confidence that I needed to do the job. They have literally opened doors for me”
Jonathan Russell, HR Director for DWP, explained that a number of supportive features had been introduced to support staff like Lisa with hearing loss, including the provision of a ‘Roger Pen’, which is a wireless microphone to improve Lisa’s understanding of conversation during meetings.
He said: “I think the work the department, Hearing Dogs and Lisa have achieved together has been both inspirational and transformational. Some of Lisa’s work, for exemple the disability passport, has now been rolled-out across the entire organisation.”
