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James

The whole world is full of diversity and there’s no such thing as a standard person says James Gartside.

“Everybody has different needs and ambitions, in their careers and in their personal lives, and that should always be respected,” he says.

James strongly believes that Hertfordshire County Council is heading in the right direction by actively encouraging people from different backgrounds into its workforce.

“I feel that people with disabilities are under-represented, “ he said. “The make-up of the county council’s staff should reflect the people who live in and around Hertfordshire.”

On a personal level, James, who is a clerical assistant with the council’s Adult Care Services, feels that he has been well supported by his managers since he joined the council in 1996.

Previously he had done administrative work in both public and private sector organisations where he felt his disability held him back.

James has cerebral palsy, is blind in one eye and has brain damage which causes him to suffer epilepsy which is well controlled by medication (he has not had a seizure since 1984).

“Here they don’t look at my disability. They see me as a person and look at what I can do.,” he said. “My progression has been based on my competence to do my job.”

James is an active member of DECOG (Disabled Employees Co-ordinating Group). This support network for disabled Hertfordshire County Council employees was set up both to support people who have disabilities and challenge bad practice. “We don’t have as many members as we’d like,” said James. “We think that some people might be holding back from joining because they feel it might be held against them, but it won’t. It’s good to have a meeting point, where you can learn from and support other people in similar situations, and also help the organisation have a better understanding of the needs of disabled people.”