about us - d4 - raising disability awareness

About Us

Our team is highly specialised. We work well together designing the best solutions for our clients and organisations alike. We have deep practical experience coupled with a sensitive approach to making things happen. The team is diverse with their own specialisms:

Diana Crump, CEO, is a Leadership and management development specialist, having presented and facilitated seminars internationally. Specialist knowledge includes transformational change, effective partnership working and user-led approaches to service delivery. Previously, she worked for over 20 years in a wide range of senior leadership roles across the NHS.

Yvonne Pope, Lead Access Consultant, is recognised by many local public sector bodies as ‘the expert’ in all matters relating to Disability Access in the widest sense. As a wheelchair user herself, Yvonne lives the life and so she is ideally placed to train, facilitate and audit premises and services.

Helen Smith, Lead Training Consultant, has led the Disability Awareness Training team since it was set up four years ago. She is registered blind and has significant insight into the issues for people with a sensory loss. She has been involved with various pieces of user-led research including Visual Impairment and Advocacy Services.

Kristy Cooper, is our Deaf Project Co-ordinator. She is an experienced Deaf Awareness and British Sign Language trainer. Having been involved with the Deaf community for many years, it has given her the opportunity to support and guide Deaf people. Kristy’s first language is British sign language and being Deaf herself gives her a vast knowledge of Deaf Culture.

Emma Treby, Diversity Research Consultant. Her academic credentials include a PhD and she has extensive experience of leading research into disability, diversity and user-led issues.

We asked the trainers at Living Options Devon to run workshops for our "All Staff Training Day" to raise awareness of inclusion issues but also, importantly, to enable people to see how they could take personal action. The day took place in an outdoor environment - a tall order which was delivered professionally by very engaging and knowledgeable trainers whose infectious enthusiasm inspired our staff. Evaluations at the end of the day were glowing but more significantly the anecdotal feedback on return to work showed just how much impact the trainers from Living Options Devon had on peoples' understanding of and responses to disability awareness.

Orlando Rutter, Dartmoor National Park Authority