Our strategy

Our vision is a society in which all people – regardless of impairment – are valued,
live full family, social and economic lives and can access and actively take part in
their local communities.

1. Rights, Equal Opportunities, Diversity and Social Inclusion

Disability Equality (nw) is committed to ensuring the human and civil rights of disabled people are upheld, embracing diversity and promoting equality of opportunity. We will not tolerate discrimination on grounds of gender, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, race, nationality, religion, age, impairment, HIV status, working pattern, caring responsibilities, trade union activity or political beliefs – or any other grounds.

We are determined to ensure that:

• we treat all individuals fairly with dignity and respect;
• we accept people for who they are;
• the opportunities we provide are open to all disabled people;
• we provide a safe, supportive and welcoming environment;
• we challenge and pro-actively educate society about all forms of hate crime;
• we promote and campaign for social justice and social inclusion.

2. The Social Model of Disability

Disability Equality (nw) actively promotes the Social Model of Disability in everything
it does. This defines ‘impairment’ and ‘disability’ as follows:

 

Impairment

Impairment is the loss or limitation of physical, mental or sensory function on a
long-term or permanent basis.

 

Disability

Disability is the loss or limitation of opportunities to take part in the normal life of the community on an equal level with others due to physical and social barriers.

 

Therefore disability is not a medical problem but rather a social issue – the result of
society being organised to meet the needs of the majority of people who do not have
significant impairments. It is a type of oppression, similar to sexism and racism.

3. The Principles of Independent Living

Disability Equality NW interprets “independence” as disabled people having choice and control over how support is provided, who provides it, and when. This means having the same choice, control, and freedom as other citizens in all areas of life. These are:

• Full access to our environment
• A fully accessible transport system
• Technical aids – equipment
• Accessible/adapted housing
  Personal assistance
• Inclusive education and training
• An adequate income
• Equal opportunities for employment
• Appropriate and accessible information
• Advocacy (towards self-advocacy)
• Peer support
• Appropriate and accessible health care provision

4. Peer Support and Volunteering

Disability Equality NW is dedicated to providing volunteering and peer support opportunities for disabled people. In doing so, we recognise that the people who know best the needs of disabled people and how to meet those needs are disabled people themselves. Therefore part of our role must be to ensure that local disabled people have a voice and are listened to.

5. Person-Centred Approach

Disability Equality (nw) is dedicated to a person-centred approach to delivering services and support. This means that services are based around the needs and wishes of the individual.

Our organisation’s mission is to promote the removal of disabling barriers from society and further the human and civil rights of disabled people.

This mission has been translated into 5 strategic aims:

1. To empower individual disabled people to achieve independent living and
   realise their full socio-economic potential in society;
2. To facilitate volunteering and peer support opportunities for disabled people;
3. To influence the community, statutory organisations, voluntary organisations and businesses to remove barriers for disabled people;
4. To continually work to embed good practice in the organisation.
5. To work strategically to end all forms of hate crime and oppression

To empower individual disabled people to achieve independent living and realise their full socio-economic potential in society

 

Activities and indicators we will use amongst others include:

 

1. Ensure that all information and publicity materials produced by the organisation are accessible and available in alternative formats whenever required.

 

2. Seek to continue to deliver the following support services and promote independent living:

• Information and Advice projects and support
• Lancashire Independent Living Service: Direct payment support
• Supported Banking Service
• Independent living workshops and events
• Hate crime support service

 

3. Develop and expand the organisation to cover the 12 Pillars of Independent Living:

• Access
• Transport
• Technical aids and equipment
• Accessible / adapted housing
• Personal assistance
• Education and training
• Income
• Employment
• Accessible information
• Advocacy
• Peer support
• Appropriate and accessible heath care provision

 

4. Work to develop the financial resilience of individuals.

To facilitate volunteering and peer support opportunities for disabled people

 

Activities and indicators we will use amongst others include:

 

1. Explore the potential of moving to a more prominent, accessible, high quality base through identifying a possible building, considering ownership versus renting (including potential asset transfer) and identifying potential funding sources (including renovation and/or purchase of a building).

 

2. Explore the potential for a trading arm / social enterprise, particularly a selfsustaining community café to provide local disabled people with a place for to
meet and socialise plus peer support and volunteering opportunities.

 

3. Secure funding to continue delivering a supported volunteering service

 

4. Secure funding to develop a new service to provide a pathway for volunteers
and members into paid employment.

To influence the community, statutory organisations, voluntary organisations and businesses to remove barriers for disabled people

 

Activities and indicators we will use amongst others include:

 

1. Identify areas of social injustice and gaps in current provision.

 

2. Develop and consult on a set of position statements which clearly set out the stance taken by the organisation on key issues affecting local disabled people.

 

3. Recruit and train a number of disabled people to attend strategic boards and partnerships and influence decision making.

 

4. Continuously update and develop our disability equality training with a view to training employers, public bodies and other organisations.

 

5. Campaign on issues identified by the membership which adversely affect disabled people.

 

6. Continue and further develop the regional and national strategic / policy / rights work to better inform our campaigns and decision makers.

 

7. Empower disabled people to take action to positively change and influence their community.

 

8. Provide advice to statutory organisations and representation on partnership boards and other strategic committees.

To continually work to embed good practice

 

Activities and indicators we will use amongst others include:

 

1. The skills base of the board should be regularly reviewed, developed and extended where necessary.

 

2. Ensure the board and staff team take account of the views and needs of diverse groups

 

3. Equality Impact Assessments should be carried out on all of the organisation’s activities.

 

4. Equality champions from the board and the staff team should be identified, trained and supported.

 

5. There should be transparent and honest reporting to its membership about the organisation’s activities.

 

6. Work to create more employment opportunities for disabled people within the organisation.

 

7. Work to ensure the financial resilience of the organisation.

 

8. Ensure that the organisation’s IT system is up-to-date and fit for purpose

 

9. Develop an environmental policy for the organisation.

To work strategically to end all forms of hate crime and oppression

 

Activities and indicators we will use amongst others include:

 

1. Continue to be a Disability Hate Crime 3rd party reporting centre.

 

2. Provide training to disabled people and the local community to raise awareness of disability hate crime.

 

3. Secure funding to continue some of the work from the Hate Crime projects project.