Making Council more inclusive – Disability training enhances knowledge

Published on 03 July 2025

Thirty-five City of Ryde staff have participated in two key initiatives aimed at strengthening our commitment to disability inclusion and accessibility.

The workshops - Easy Read training and Disability Awareness training – will help staff make our workplaces more inclusive and our communications more accessible.

The one-day Easy Read workshop was delivered by the Council for Intellectual Disability to staff from Communications, People & Culture, Community Engagement, Libraries, Resilience and Waste.

Ten participants learned simple and effective ways to make written communications accessible for all members of the community.

Easy Read uses text, pictures and document layout to make information easier to understand.

“Key information being clear, concise and easy to understand protects the rights of members of the community that are most vulnerable while also giving them the autonomy and respect that everyone deserves,” said a training attendee.

“The training really opened my eyes to how much responsibility we have to communicate effectively, going forward we're excited to use the training while designing more effective content and assets for the Ryde Shine Ability Competition.”

The training is based on a multi-stage translation process, informed by people with intellectual disability.

Disability Awareness training provided practical insights into the lived experiences of people with physical disabilities.

Facilitators guided 25 staff to better understand genuine disability inclusion and diversity through learning about its benefits, the nature of disability, breaking down stigma and bias, and developing sustainable employment processes.

“A big part of the training was to avoid making assumptions, ask if you are unsure of a person’s needs or requirements,” said a training attendee.

Physical Disability Council of NSW ran the interactive workshop, offering strategies to create a more inclusive and respectful workplace.

“Invisible disability is very prevalent, and we therefore should never assume”, said a training attending.

“Don’t be afraid to ask the question in a respectful and thoughtful manner, we are all constantly learning with inclusion at the forefront”.

We are looking forward to staff putting their training into practice to connect better with all members of our community.

These training opportunities are part of our broader commitment to equity and inclusion, helping to ensure that we’re building an environment that welcomes and supports our staff and community members.

For more information about Council’s work in disability, read our Disability Inclusion Action Plan Disability Inclusion Action Plan