The Supported Needs and Disability Office (SNDO), on behalf of the Ministry of Equality, have been busy over the last few months delivering training on various disability related matters. 

In March, the SNDO launched the new online training platform that has been specifically developed for HM Government of Gibraltar’s Supported Needs and Disability Coordinators. UK based company, Disabled by Society, collaborated with the SNDO to develop six modules on various disability related matters. Although the coordinators received a full week’s worth of training in November 2024, this online training platform ensures that they have continuous professional development on demand to be able to better support colleagues and service users with supported needs and / or disabilities. 

In April, the SNDO supported the Department of Education’s Continued Professional Development INSET days with a workshop on how to further facilitate PE lessons for pupils who are visually impaired, use wheelchairs or have mobility issues. This training session is aligned with the SNDO’s “Change Starts with Sports Campaign”, where awareness of lived experience of disability is enabled through sports. 

The SNDO also delivered training on Reasonable Adjustments to HMGoG staff from various departments through the Department of Personnel and Development. This training session had three aims; to inform participants of different types of needs, to teach participants strategies they can implement, and on processes and procedures that must be taken when implementing reasonable adjustments. 

Last week, the SNDO delivered training to the Gibraltar Defence Police Recruits. This was a two- day course where police recruits learned about disability related legislation and about various disabilities and supported needs. Importantly, they were taught how to support persons with disabilities who may liaise with the Justice system as either victims, witnesses or may have committed a crime themselves. 

Following on from this, the SNDO delivered training to the newly recruited Detention Officers for the Royal Gibraltar Police, whose job is to process people who have been arrested and detained in a police custody suite. 

Minister for Equality, Christian Santos, said: “For there to be a culture change in our community where we see persons with disabilities as equals, we must begin with awareness. 

These training sessions led by the SNDO are crucial to change mindsets, take on responsibility and embed the rights of persons with disabilities.”