Tag Archives: disability

ToyotaUk

Toyota Employees Explain Their Dedication to Amplifying the Voices and Visibility of the Disability Community

While Disability Pride Month only lasts for one month, Toyota’s business partnering group, ToyotAbility, advocates for disability awareness throughout the year.

ToyotAbility is a group of employees at Toyota that supports individuals and families with various disabilities, including those with neurodiversity. The group aims to promote awareness, provide shared experiences that foster empathy, and amplify the voices and visibility of those affected by disabilities.

The ToyotAbility chapter based in Plano, Texas, held its first Disability Pride Month in July, which was well received. The proceeds from a silent auction during the event were donated to My Possibilities, an organization that assists adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in North Texas.

Additionally, ToyotAbility participated in a volunteer event at My Possibilities to help students in the classroom. The group also partnered with Parents at Toyota and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) to provide virtual support and resources for caregivers.

These initiatives and events highlight the significance of ToyotAbility in supporting Toyota’s commitment to inclusivity and mobility for all.

Driving Connections

One ToyotAbility member, Gus Perez, joined the group shortly after joining Toyota in 2019. As a senior instructional designer for Toyota Financial Services, Perez felt a desire to connect with his colleagues and found that ToyotAbility’s mission resonated with him.

Living with spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic neuromuscular disease that affects his strength and mobility, Perez found a sense of community and leadership within ToyotAbility.

He became involved as a board member and contributed his expertise as a senior instructional designer to support education and development within the group. Perez has also taken on the role of a spokesperson for ToyotAbility, participating in training programs and leading conversations both within and outside the company.

Perez’s involvement in ToyotAbility has given him a sense of pride and fulfillment, as he believes he has contributed to the group’s progress in advancing their shared mission and values.

Speaking Up and Sparking Change

Gabriel Marciano, a product engineer at Toyota, sought out ToyotAbility while facing his own mobility challenges at Toyota West Virginia. Due to mitochondrial disease, Marciano needed accommodations to move around the facilities, ultimately leading to the use of a power chair on the plant floors.

Using his voice and advocating for himself not only improved his own work experience but also empowered him to help other employees facing similar situations.

Marciano is passionate about promoting awareness for individuals with physical disabilities and “invisible” diseases. He believes that providing mobility solutions for people with physical disabilities is an important aspect of inclusivity.

Passion for Service

Wendy Teufel, an engineer at Toyota, became involved with ToyotAbility after being inspired by her daughter, who has neurodivergent special needs. Teufel saw ToyotAbility as an opportunity to advocate and improve the lives of individuals with disabilities.

As the chair for ToyotAbility’s Community Engagement program, Teufel has organized events that raise awareness and provide educational experiences. For example, she coordinated a baseball event with the Miracle League of Frisco, where ToyotAbility members volunteered as “buddies” for kids with special needs.

Teufel believes that community engagement is crucial for promoting exposure, inclusion, and impact, and she is grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside a supportive team at ToyotAbility.

News

Judge: London ULEZ expansion can proceed on 29 August

A judge has ruled that the proposed expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London can go ahead on 29 August. To be eligible for certain benefits, residents must scrap a car that does not meet the new emissions limits. Those claiming the higher £5000 allowance must scrap a wheelchair-accessible vehicle.

The mayor’s office has stated that the ULEZ expansion will help remove 200,000 highly polluting vehicles from the city’s roads. However, the AA disputes this figure and claims that up to 400,000 cars will be affected. The AA spokesperson, Luke Bosdet, expressed concern that the scrappage allowance only applies to people on benefits, excluding those with low incomes who hold multiple jobs and those in the care sector who require cars for patient visits.

The RAC has raised questions about the timing of the ULEZ extension. Nicholas Lyes, the head of roads policy, voices concerns that expansion is happening while drivers already struggle with high fuel costs. The RAC suggests either expanding the scrappage scheme to benefit more households or providing residents with a sunset period until August 2024 to allow them more time to upgrade their vehicles.

Experts in vehicle valuation have also questioned the value of the £2000 scrappage allowance. Dylan Setterfield, the head of forecast strategy and operations at Cap HPI, believes this amount is unlikely to cover the cost of purchasing a car that meets the current requirements to avoid the ULEZ charge. Darren Rodwell, leader of the Labour-controlled Barking and Dagenham council, shares this sentiment, stating that the £110 million scrappage budget will not adequately compensate those forced to change their cars.

However, there is a silver lining for drivers and residents in the affected zone. Non-compliant older cars have seen a recent increase in value of approximately 3%, according to Cap HPI. In comparison, values for three-year-old vehicles have remained stable. This increase in value may help ease the cost of transitioning from a non-compliant car to a Euro 4 petrol or Euro 6 diesel.