Chatting for Change

A fresh approach to disability training

Chatting for Change is the transformational new training programme from the award-winning arts and disability charity, Open Arts.

Presented by our Lived Experience Team - trained facilitators who have a range of disability lived experience - Chatting for Change offers unique insight, disability expertise, and lively interaction between trainers and participants in a package which is tailored to your business needs.

Feedback from previous Chatting for Change sessions has shown that our approach significantly increases participant engagement, deepens understanding and shifts attitudes towards equity and inclusion when compared to traditional, compliance-led training.

In order to succeed and be truly transformational for your organisation, equity and inclusion training needs to have experienced disabled voices in the room. This is what Open Arts can offer to you and your team.

Chatting for Change

Chatting for Change is the transformational new training programme which Open Arts is now offering to businesses, organisations and local authorities across Northern Ireland.

What we do:

Presented by our Lived Experience Team - trained facilitators who have a range of disability lived experience – Chatting for Change offers unique insight, disability expertise, and lively interaction between trainers and participants in a package which is tailored to your business needs.

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What does Chatting for Change involve?

Northern Ireland is legally required to be accessible, however practical experiences vary widely. Disabled individuals in Northern Ireland – including our Lived Experience Team – frequently encounter obstacles when trying to access information, jobs, products or services.

This means that not only are some disabled people losing out on experiences which are open to other people in society, but some businesses and organisations are – whether consciously or unconsciously – excluding potential staff, customers and clients and losing out on knowledge, expertise and revenue.

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How Chatting for Change can benefit your organisation

Real stories make a real impact - it is easier to understand and empathise with the experience of disabled people when you hear directly from someone who lives it every day.
Tailored for your team - Open Arts can create a specific session to fit your organisation’s needs, size and sector, ensuring that the training is effective for you.
Safe and guided - sessions are led by facilitators with lived experience of disability, to ensure everyone feels safe and respected.
Making accessibility accessible - we can show you simple, cost-effective ways to overcome accessibility barriers to your business or organisation.

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Book your Chatting for Change

For businesses and organisations: Chatting for Change brings inclusivity to life for business participants through role play, case studies, practical tips and tricks and by looking at language.

For training organisations: The Lived Experience Team can also add value to sessions from existing training providers by co-hosting workshops on disability, neurodiversity and inclusive practice.

To talk to us about Chatting for Change and how your business, organisation or local authority can benefit, contact sarah@openartsni.org or call Open Arts on tel. 028 90240765.

[1]Link to businesses and organisations landing page.
[2]Link to Training Providers landing page.

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