The disability awareness trainer conducts trainings with departments, groups, managers, staff and faculty to facilitate communications with and relating to people with disabilities. Trainings include:

• Scenarios and discussions around interacting with meeting people who happen to have disabilities
• Discussion of people-first culture and language
• Tips on communicating with persons who have different types of disabilities
• Awareness of issues that people with disabilities encounter

The trainings are structured to be participatory and non-threatening. We are developing other trainings that will offer a more in-depth look at specific topics and situations related to disability etiquette.  The trainings are scalable from 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the needs of the trainees.

Ian Jaquiss has served as the disability awareness trainer since August of 2014. Ian is skilled at fostering a welcoming, pressure-free training environment in which this sensitive topic can be explored freely and comfortably. Ian has developed additional trainings to offer a more in-depth look at particular situations related to disability etiquette. Contact Ian  for more information on curriculum and presentations.

Ian has a lifetime of experience as a person with a disability, and enjoys sharing his experiences and perspective during training sessions. Ian earned his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law. Ian has also won two Paralympic gold medals. He's now dedicated to fostering a welcoming environment for people with disabilities who visit, work, study and receive care at OHSU.