The Staff Disability Forum exists to provide a support network for staff and to facilitate positive changes in the organisation. Staff engagement and feedback is vital for the organisation to work together. The Staff Disability Forum was established in 2015.
If you would like to join our Staff Disability Forum please contact: ggc.staffdisabilityforum@nhs.scot and if you wish to join the Forum’s mailing list, please be assured that your personal details will not be disclosed and you can be part of the Forum anonymously. Emails sent will always be blind copied.
The Forum has a social media presence on Facebook.
To be added to our mailing list, please email ggc.staffdisabilityforum@nhs.scot.
Please see the drop-down below for information about the Neurodivergent Sub-Group.
Staff Disability Forum Co-Chairs and Board Champion
Atika Sharma is Co-Chair of the Staff Disability Forum and is a Learning Disability Physiotherapist within Glasgow City HSCP. Atika looks forward to continuing to grow and develop our Disability Staff Forum.
Keiran Reilly, a Clinical Technologist in Diagnostics joined as Forum Co-Chair in April 2025 and looks forward to working with Atika and Forum members.
Martin Savage is Vice-Chair of the Staff Disability Forum and is a Carers’ Information Worker within Glasgow City HSCP.
Dianne Foy has been a non-exec member of the NHS Board since June 2022 and at the end of 2024, welcomed the opportunity to take on the role of Disability champion. Dianne has had a strong interest in Equalities throughout her career, taking on roles as a Unison Trade Union rep and Equalities champion during her time working in the public sector. In more recent years she has retrained as a counsellor, working primarily with neurodivergent clients, many of whom also have co-occurring disabilities or chronic health conditions. Dianne is a late diagnosed autistic person whose career change was forced by Long Covid, so equal treatment for disabled people also has personal significance. Dianne is a member of the East Renfrewshire Integrated Joint Board, the Clinical and Care Governance Committee and the Population Health and Wellbeing committee, frequently raising issues related to disability in these meetings.
Our Staff Disability Forum aims to:
- Promote equality
- Protect staff against discrimination
- Encourage colleagues to share their lived experiences
- Empower staff to feel able to confidently disclose their disability
Disability History Month
The Staff Disability Forum celebrated Disability History Month which ran from 14 November to 20 December 2024, with a number of events and stalls. The Forum looks forward to celebrating again in 2025. Further information will be available later in the year.
You can find out more about Disability History Month online.
Terms of Reference
Neurodivergent Sub-Group
A Neurodivergent Sub-Group has been established, with the purpose of the group being to:
- Provide Neurodivergent staff members with support and a safe place to be our Neurodivergent selves.
- Provide input into NHSGGC policy and procedures where appropriate.
- Provide, where appropriate and where group members have the time, advice to the wider NHSGGC staff group regarding matters related to Neurodivergence.
The Sub-Group have, in partnership, developed a webpage aimed at helping staff support and work with neurodivergent colleagues.
Meeting dates for the Sub-Group are:
- Wednesday 28 May at 2.30pm to 4.30pm
- Thursday 28 August at 1.00pm to 3.00pm
- Tuesday 25 November at 10.00am to 12.00pm
To contact the Sub-Group, please email ggc.staffndgroup@nhs.scot
Meeting Dates for 2025
Please contact ggc.staffdisabilityforum@nhs.scot for details on how to join.
- Wednesday 12 March at 12.00pm to 2.30pm (Teaching and learning Centre, Room L0-006) – Registration Link
- Monday 12 May at 1.00pm to 2.30pm (online via MS Teams)
- Wednesday 27 August at 10.00am to 12.00pm (online via MS Teams)
- Monday 24 November at 1.00pm to 2.30pm (online via MS Teams)
Remote Drop In Sessions 2025
Drop ins are a regular feature to allow for networking, general support and raising any matters people are finding interesting or challenging. They take place on the second Tuesday of every month from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.
Please contact ggc.staffdisabilityforum@nhs.scot for details on how to join.
Reasonable Adjustment Guidance
We have launched the updated Reasonable Adjustment Guidance to support employees with a disability, health condition or diversity in the workplace to have, a great experience at work. This guidance can be used in conjunction with the Workplace Adjustment Passport.
Useful Links
Our members have found the following links useful resources. If you would like to suggest any more for inclusion, please email ggc.staffdisabilityforum@nhs.scot
Accessible Toilet Facilities
https://www.bladderandbowel.org/help-information/just-cant-wait-card
Adult Autism and Neurodivergence Support
Autism Understanding Scotland – reframing the narrative around autism
Arthritis
Versus Arthritis | All of us pushing to defy arthritis
Axial Spondyloarthritis, including Ankylosing Spondylitis
Your SpAce | National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society (nass.co.uk)
Bowel Conditions
https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/
Cardiac arrhythmias
Home – Arrhythmia Alliance – UK (heartrhythmalliance.org)
Cerebral Palsy
Home – UP – The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement (upmovement.org.uk)
Ehlers-Danlos (connective tissue syndromes)
The Ehlers-Danlos Support UK – Support for people touched by the Ehlers-Danlos syndromes
The HMSA | The Hypermobility Syndromes Association
Headaches and Migraine
OUCH(up) – Cluster Headache Charity | Support for Sufferers & their Families (ouchuk.org)
Multiple Sclerosis
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (For Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome, Myalgic Encephalopathy/Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Long COVID)
Renal Disease
Stroke Survivors