How about a campaign where the users get MNHQ staff to take diversity training?

[Ghostofasmile]

MNHQ themselves have displayed ignorance (at best) over the last few months and prejudice / discrimination at worst when dealing with certain situations.
For example Justine, the sites owner herself over the last few days has made some very ignorant and damaging comments about diabetes.
We have seen the same with many times with Racism too as well as low level disablism.

Unless you are white, middle class and able bodied HQ isn't a nice place to be.

Post here if you would like this to take place. HQ need training and they need it fast.

Diversity training? I'm sure MNHQ have done lots of training but they won't be telling you about the nuts and bolts of it so you can pick it apart.

Diversity training? I'm sure MNHQ have done lots of training

Why are you so sure?

When MNHQ tried to assure posters they had an understanding of disability issues on one occasion, they did try to provide evidence of this. Did they mention a training course? No. Apparently someone on the staff had a deaf relative.

Do people mean diversity training? Do they mean training to develop knowledge of disabilities? Do they mean training to be able to spot disablist language?

Is that a line of argument that you're applying to the whole diverse group of us who think the disablism issue isn't quite fixed yet petit?

Or more of a personal aside?

Here we go again.
Diminishing the staff experience and training with 'has a deaf relative', which as you know is not the case, was not how it was put in the original discussion and is yet another example of the breathtaking rudeness exhibited by some posters on here.

Actually saucery, the original response showed just that poverty of understanding of disability and a disappointing willingness to trot out the standard unacceptable 'adjustments' (we know someone who knows someone who is disabled so We Understand).

Adjusting for disability is not something you can do here and there, in an amateur way. You have either got to really care and have a real interest in it, or you've got to get the finger out and pay for professional consultation and training regarding best practice.

Do people mean diversity training? Do they mean training to develop knowledge of disabilities? Do they mean training to be able to spot disablist language?

I think people mean that when they find something offensive to them, or that they think others will find offensive, it should be deleted. Sometimes without it even being reported

Actually, slender, didn't they say they had a member of staff who is deaf?
To reduce that to oh well, they say they know someone with a disability is what I call breathtakingly rude.

And in no way did they say it as the be all and end all of getting everything right wrt disability every time. It was in response to accusations flung at them about diversity and understanding.

No saucery, accusations weren't being flung at them and our recollections differ. They didn't say it was the entirety of their understanding of the issue but if courses had been attended it would have been relevant, reassuring and in their best interests to mention it so I think it's reasonable to conclude there probably was not a course to mention.

Yes it's a member of MNHQ staff who is deaf, not someone's relative.

Although if they do have people with disabilities on staff there is actually more obligation to seek this kind of training, not less.

Why the rudeness Slender?

Worra is just saying what she remembers, I remember it that way also but there have been so many threads on the subject (some deleted) I wouldn't know where to start looking for the post.

It's a member of staff who is hearing impaired, one of the Moderators infact, and someone over stepped the mark massively once in complaining about the "DEAF MEMBER OF STAFF" which was completely uncalled for as she was posting on the thread.

One of the moderators also has a child with downs syndrome. I think you are getting the two things confused.

Not the two disabilities, but the relative with bit.

Am I the oracle?

I suppose I could provide the post if

A.) I could remember which member of MNHQ made it.

B.) I could remember what thread it was on.

C.) I was sure the thread hadn't been deleted

D.) You weren't so bloody rude

Find it yourself if you're interested. I can't be fucked searching.

Zzzzz I agree.

The fact that they were gracious enough to provide that information and it was threw back in their faces is a disgrace.

there you go, slender. You are, actually wrong in your assertion that the sum total of MNHQ's experience of disability is 'having a relative who is deaf'.

You can chunner on twisting your post to not mean what you initially meant it to mean but . You'll still be wrong.
I don't identify people by their disability so am unable to help you with names.

Worra, you are the Oracle of Mumsnet. You know everything . I always think you take such a balanced view of everything - you are always calm and collected