This issue is, unfortunately, not unique to the Haiti earthquake, disabled people are among the most vulnerable when disaster strikes. Environmental barriers - such as destroyed roads and pavements - are a greater obstacle to those with mobility issues. People who require regular medication or treatment are likely to lose out in the panic of makeshift medical centres and overrun hospitals. For those disabled people living in emergency shelters, sanitary arrangements may be inaccessible. Where food aid is distributed in refugee camps, disabled people are often at the back of the queue and many go hungry.  Evidence shows, for example, that a disproportionate number of those who died in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina were elderly or disabled people. The same goes for the tsunami in South East Asia, and other natural disasters.

The World Health Organisation is attempting to mainstream disability. In other words, rather than leaving the issue to a small specialist team, the hope is that all the technical departments address disability issues in their work. One of the clusters at WHO is Health Action in Crisis, which is working with an NGO to prepare a checklist for relief coordinators, alerting them to the particular vulnerabilities of disabled people.

The 35-year-old British fashion consultant, author, and television presenter has transformed the lives, and wardrobes, of hundreds of women over the past four years, but the new series will see him focusing on women with disabilities for the first time.

Gok explained: “Doing the show is always amazing and every woman has different concerns about their figure. But with these ladies it was even more moving for me because all their worries linked back to their disabilities.”

Three women, whose self esteem is at rock bottom, have been chosen. In the first programme, Gok meets 40-year-old wheelchair-user Tracy Warren from Leicestershire, who hates her stomach and legs, and believes she can never look attractive. Plus, Hollyoaks actress Holly Marie Stewart reveals she refuses to let her disability deter her ambition to be a fashionista.

See how they fare in the three-part special starting Tuesday 19th of January at 8pm on Channel 4.

Here at Kanchi, we are celebrating by recounting the success thus far of the O2 Ability Awards 2010.  This year, 105 eligible organisations registered to participate in the O2 Ability Awards 2010.  Of these registered organisations, 85 submitted final detailed application forms.  A record breaking 70% of these were new organisations: organisations which had not been deemed an “Ability Company” by Kanchi’s O2 Ability Awards before. Organisations from across 25 different industry sectors and 21 Counties applied.

It should be noted the standard of applications was incredibly high this year.  Therefore, 42 organisations will receive on-site assessments. This is a testiment to the commitment Irish companies are making to the business case for disability.

Gaby Murphy, Kanchi’s Managing Director said: “It is fitting that we can today announce details of the growing level of interest in the O2 Ability Awards which reflects Ireland’s commitment to the United Nations International Day of Disabilities. The quality and calibre of entries this year is significant in terms of organisations not only embracing disability policies put putting them into action - there is clear evidence of a positive shift in practice when it comes to accommodating both employees and customers with disabilities”.

A full list of companies shortlisted will be released during February 2010.  A televised series documenting a selection of organisations that participate in the O2 Ability Awards will be broadcast on RTÉ in May.

This book aims to provided practical guidelines for managers and supervisors on tackling everyday issues that arise in the recruitment and management of people with disabilities. Taken from the real life experiences of both parties, “Demystifying Disability in the Workplace” includes info sheets on both mental health and physical disabilities. Chapters are dedicated to frequently asked questions including: “What can I ask to make a good recruitment decision?” and “Productivity, health and the fluctuating symptoms of disability”.

Would you like a copy?  Contact Niamh Hayes, Blogger for GetAHEAD and fellow Kanchi Sounding Board Member at getahead@ahead.ie.

Thank you to our Supporters, to all who contacted the Kanchi Team to nominate companies and to all who have applied for the O2 Ability Awards 2010.

Kieran McGowan (Chairman of CRH), Gar Holohan (CEO of Aura Holohan Leisure Group), Danuta Gray (CEO of O2) and Caroline Casey (CEO of Kanchi) were also interviewed on Conor Brophy’s show over the past few weeks. Podcasts are available for download on Newstalk’s website.

Read transcrpts of the interview here.

Speaking at the announcement, Ronan Murphy, Senior Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers said: “We are delighted to become the assessment partner for the O2 Ability Awards.  PwC is committed to having a positive impact on the people and communities around us and supporting the O2 Ability Awards is a key way of achieving this.”

Created by the founder of disability organisation, Kanchi and visually impaired social entrepreneur, Caroline Casey, the O2 Ability Awards promote organisations that think and act differently in relation to people with disabilities; who recognise ability and talent over disability; who see the economic and personal potential of employees and customers with disabilities, making products and services available to all.

Since 2005, over 100 businesses and organisations including Superquinn, McDonald’s Restaurants of Ireland, Bank of Ireland, Kerry County Council and Aura Sport & Leisure, have been selected as O2 Ability Award organisations. Awards will be presented across six categories and there will be three overall winners: one each from the private and non-private sectors as well as an award for the Best Small Company. A televised series documenting a selection of organisations that participate in the O2 Ability Awards will be broadcast in May 2010.

A Birthday for Ben, part of Series Two in Special Stories, is told through the eyes of Ben, a young boy who is deaf. He is about to celebrate his birthday, but not exactly thrilled about it.  Fearful he will be left out when the music starts playing, his Mum helps him realise all kids are able to have fun on their birthday.

Authored by Kate Gaynor (Photo Left) and beautifully illustrated Karen Quirke (Photo Right), A Birthday for Ben draws from the experience of Irish Deaf Kids Founder and Kanchi Sounding Board Member, Caroline Carswell (Photo Center).

“The idea for the Birthday for Ben book came from my summer camp experiences as a kid. My primary school was deaf-aware, with 4 pupils in different classes at about the same time. However, at summer camp, I had to explain what my hearing-aids were, and why I wore them. This was fine in itself, but a few of the other kids seemed to find the concept of deafness really hard to “get”.” explains Carswell.

”’A Birthday for Ben’ is a very welcome resource for both parents and teachers as it introduces the whole notion of hearing and deafness to young children,” continues Carswell, “By making the book available to primary schools throughout Ireland, IDK and Special Stories hope to highlight the everyday issues that deaf children may encounter on a daily basis in mainstream school”.

Series Two also introduces Autism, Dyslexia, Down Syndrome.

Karen Quirke, the Illustrator behind “A Birthday for Ben”, is also the artist behind Irish Deaf Kid’s 2010 Calendar, now available at most major book stores throughout Ireland.