Did you know that 10% of the UK population is dyslexic and that 8.6 million people in the UK are disabled?

Did you know that Albert Einstein, John Lennon, Agatha Christie and Richard Branson were all dyslexic?

Are you confident that creative disabled artists and public can use your services?

Are you or your team unsure about how to deal with disabled clients and visitors?

Are you ready for the new legal duties for service providers that come into place on 1 October 2004?

CIDA can help! CIDA (Cultural Industries Development Agency) has organised two workshops around dyslexia and disability with Shape and Dyslexia Works for businesses and organisations in the creative sector, such as music and performing arts venues, galleries and museums, festivals, youth arts organisations, graphic and web designers, trainers and business advisers. They will be particularly useful to front of house staff and people who have direct contact with disabled clients, visitors and audiences, and those working in arts marketing and promotion.

Don’t Assume – Thursday 30 September 2004 10am – 4pm This enjoyable workshop will focus on inclusive customer care, and will make you and your team more confident and relaxed in dealing with disabled clients and visitors through practical exercises and open discussions. The workshop will identify the physical and social barriers for disabled people, explore the impact of the new Disability Discrimination Act legislation and provide empowering solutions for communicating with and assisting disabled people. Ailsa Fairley is a very experienced disabled trainer and counselor, who will share her experience of disability. She worked from 1987 – 1990 in the Half Moon Theatre in east London.

Dyslexia Discussed – Friday 5 November 2004 10am – 4pm Did you realise that dyslexia is more common in creative people, left-handed people, men and offenders? This is a practical workshop to increase your awareness of dyslexia, how to make your organisation and written information more dyslexia friendly for clients, visitors and employees. You will learn how dyslexic people read and think, their different working styles, technical solutions and how to make your brochure and website more user friendly. Please bring your promotional material to discuss during the day.

Only 18 people will be able to attend each of these workshops, which will take place at CIDA, Business Development Centre, 7-15 Greatorex Street, London E1 5NF. Thanks to our funding we are able to offer this workshop at a discounted rate to people who live or work in Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hackney or King’s Cross.

To book your place, please email tanyacoles@cida.co.uk to request a registration form.

The workshop fee must be paid in full prior to attendance at the workshop. There will be no charge for substituting another participant in place of the original booking, provided it has been paid in full. Please inform CIDA as soon as possible if you wish to make a change to the original booking. All cancellations to bookings must be made at least 7 days prior to the date of the seminar. If a booking is cancelled less than 7 days prior to the date of the workshop or if the participant fails to attend on the day the full workshop fee is payable. CIDA reserves the right to cancel or amend any workshop as necessary. If a workshop is cancelled by CIDA, participants will be notified and their payment refunded in full.

CIDA (Cultural Industries Development Agency) is funded by: London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London Borough of Newham, London Borough of Hackney, London Borough of Camden, European Social Fund, European Regional Development Fund, Peabody Trust – Local Network Fund, Arts Council England and London Development Agency.