Imperial became the first institution in the higher education sector to run a unique development course designed for people with disabilities.

Established to build the leadership skills of staff with disabilities, the Calibre Leadership Programme is an industry first. The custom built programme explored leadership strategies that would enhance the career prospects of disabled staff. Building confidence, both inside and outside the workplace, and overcoming barriers were also important components of the programme.

As the only course for disabled people working within higher education, Calibre was also open to other universities and staff from Imperial were joined by participants from LSE, and the Universities of Nottingham and Manchester.

Twelve participants attended a series of interactive workshops between January and April. Six sessions focused on changing perspectives to see disability as an empowering concept. As well as the face-to-face sessions, other programme requirements included written assignments and group work.

Dr Ossie Stuart, a specialist consultant on disability issues, designed and led the Calibre Programme. Speaking after the event, Dr Stuart said: “This is a unique course and we were unsure how it would unfold because it was the first time. However, Calibre has been everything that we’d hoped it would be and more so. It has put disabled employees at the heart of leadership and given them a sense of control of their own destinies.”

A distinctive feature of Calibre is that it encourages participants to involve their organisation. Participants invited their managers to the final session on 29 April where they heard personal testimonies from each participant about the positive impact that Calibre has had.

Lucca Da Silva Junior, Campus Receptionist (Main Entrance), was among those to successfully complete the programme: “When I enrolled I didn’t know what the course would be like. It was beyond my expectations.  I really got on well with everyone who took part and not only did I learn a lot from the course, I learnt a lot from other people taking part. Calibre has helped me enormously, both professionally and personally and I would recommend it to anyone at the College who may benefit.”

Bernadette Gahan, Library Assistant (Medicine), also took part in Calibre. Speaking at the final event she remarked that the course provided: “a respectful and confidential environment in which I felt safe to grow.”

Everyone in the group was issued with a certificate from John Neilson, College Secretary and Registrar. As Chair and Executive Sponsor of the Disability Action Committee, he attended the final event to hear more about the course and congratulate each of the participants.

John Neilson said: “I was delighted to attend the presentations at the end of the College’s first Calibre development programme. All of us were impressed by the inspiring descriptions we heard of how participants had developed themselves and tackled a range of leadership challenges, and heartened to hear how participation in the programme had encouraged them all.  I hope that news of the first cohort will encourage further participants to come forward so that we can arrange more cohorts. It is excellent that Imperial is leading the way with this programme, and inviting participants across the HE sector to learn with us.”

Calibre is part of a series of initiatives by Imperial’s Equality and Diversity Unit. As well as regular disability equality training sessions, earlier this year staff across the College were invited to complete an online Disability Survey. The results, which are due to be published later this year,  will provide information on how Imperial can best cater for the needs of staff with disabilities and  help to advise managers more effectively of the support they can provide to staff with a disability.

Imperial’s Calibre Leadership Programme will be offered to disabled staff in 2014. For more information, visit the Equality and Diversity pages or contact Leyla Okhai, Staff Disabilities Adviser on 020 7594 2887 or email l.okhai.ac.uk.