COVID-19 Information and Resources

Posted

Hospital Communication Passport and Supporting Resources

We have been working with families, disabled children, young people and adults, professionals and organisations over the last week to get information out to prepare families for admission to hospital of their loved ones. It is really important to be organised and we hope that the information below will help you.

We know that the Coronavirus is putting our hospitals under great strain. Given the pressure that doctors and nurses are under they may not have much time to understand what disabled children, young people and adults need so we wanted to try and help make this easier.

We have produced an invaluable resource pack with two key documents added. The first of these is a two page summary record which is COVID 19 Hospital Communication Passport that lists the most important things that hospital and medical staff must know about disabled persons as soon as they arrive. It is important to complete your COVID 19 Hospital Communication Passport to ensure hospital and medical staff understand disabled children, young people and adults range of access and support needs.

This resource provides vital information to support their safety and dignity, their access, communication, sensory, physical and personal care needs that must be considered and supported. Once you have filled this in print and laminate or put in clear sealed plastic bag or poly pocket.

Do remember to also print and complete the second document which is the COVID-19 History Sheet and take both of these two documents to the hospital.

We have updated the ‘All About Me Communication Passport’ which we have supported many families with disabled children and young people complete over the last decade. We are making ‘All About Me’ available to as many families as possible to support planning ahead particularly if a parent or main carer fall ill with COVID 19.

‘All About Me’ will support other family members, carers, any new support staff understand more clearly loved ones communication, routines, personal care, sensory and physical needs etc. Whilst a parent or carer may not be available or not well due to COVID 19.

‘All About Me’ also has additional resources that can be included depending on each individual. We will be hosting webinars and zoom group video sessions to support completing the COVID 19 Hospital Passport and supporting families with the ‘All About Me’ resources and supporting discussions and questions, details will be shared soon. You can also contact our team if you wish to discuss.

We wish to thank Bringing Us Together (Katie Clarke and Ian Penfold), Helen Thornton, disabled children, young people and their families, carers and practitioners who have contributed in developing this resource pack.

Include Me TOO Resource Pack:

Other Helpful COVID 19 Resources

The Hand Washing Rap

This is a fun video produced by the Purple All Stars demonstrating good handwashing: https://vimeo.com/134952598

Easy read resources on the Coronavirus (COVID-19):

Mencap has produced an easy read leaflet:
www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/health/coronavirus

Talking Mats have produced an east read version of WHO social distancing recommendations:
https://www.talkingmats.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/20200319-coronavirus-easy-read-pdf.pdf

Inclusion North has produced an easy read leaflet, along with an audio copy:
www.inclusionnorth.org/coronavirus-easy-read-information

Photosymbols have created some posters too:
www.photosymbols.com/blogs/news/coronavirus

Beyond Words have produced a free e-book:
https://booksbeyondwords.co.uk/downloads-shop/beating-the-virus

Opening Doors have made an easy read guide: My Plan for staying safe and staying in. You can find the Opening Doors resources here

 

Free resources:

Makaton have made available free resources including resources explaining Coronavirus and how to wash hands and stay safe:
https://www.makaton.org/shop/shopping/browseStore/Free-resources

Challenging Behaviour Foundation are unable to send out their DVD resources. However they feel that it would be helpful during this difficult time to have practical information about behaviour that challenges. Their DVDs have therefore been published online and are free for anyone to watch.
https://www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk/information/information-sheets-and-dvds/dvdsonline.html

Mind: Coronavirus and your wellbeing
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/

 

Further information and advice:

Coronavirus Act 2020 – Social Care and SEND Guidance Note for England
Written by the 39 Essex Chambers public law team in response to some of the many queries we have had about the implications of the Coronavirus Act 2020 for social care and SEND. It is not a comprehensive review – legal advice will need to be sought in respect of specific situations that arise.  See here for the full guidance note

GOV.UK:
COVID-19 latest information and advice https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

NHS Coronavirus Advice:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions coronavirus-covid-19/

The First Commonwealth Children and Youth Disability Network

Posted

Strengthening the voices and inclusion of children and youth with disabilities in the throughout the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Children and Youth Disability Network (CCYDN) has convened its first strategic meeting in London, following its official launch during Commonwealth Week earlier this year.

The network aims to increase access to various platforms designed to help young disabled people influence positive change on issues which matter to them.

CCYDN has been spearheaded by the disability rights charity Include Me TOO who for more than a decade have been advocating for the rights and inclusion and facilitating participation of children and young people with disabilities.Include Me TOO delivered a the week-long programme bringing together CCYDN representatives and committee members representing four Commonwealth regions, who helped outline the network’s future strategic direction.

 

This included:

  • Ensuring the inclusion, participation and representation of children and youth with disabilities leading up to and during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2020 in Rwanda and other national and international events.
  • Increasing reach and engagement of CCYDN by working in collaboration with Commonwealth youth networks and other relevant Commonwealth networks
  • CCYDN campaigns and increasing membership of children and young people with disabilities to join CCYDN and NGOs working with children and young people with disabilities as well as youth DPOs that are disabilities-led.
  • Ensuring CCYDN is representative and particularly supports those with complex needs and in need of additional support to ensure their voices are not left behind.
  • Promoting and increasing support for the Global Disability Children and Young People’s Charter developed during the Global Disability Summit hosted by DFID in London in 2018.

Commonwealth head of social policy development, Layne Robinson, highlighted the significance of the Commonwealth Youth Programme’s newest youth network.

This network developed by Include Me TOO is a practical response to the Commonwealth Heads of Government mandate to ‘address the stigma around disability in all its forms and manifestations, ensuring that no one is left behind. By working with young people with disabilities who are promoting their right to be included and to participate in decision-making at all levels, we come closer to fulfilling the vision of a society where our young people lead the change they want to see in a fairer, more prosperous and inclusive society for all. The Commonwealth Youth Programme will work with all relevant partners and agencies to give voice and space to children and young people with disabilities to lead their own agenda in the Commonwealth. #NowIsTheTime

CCYDN co-chair Jonathan Andrews said:

I’m very happy to see CCYDN recognised by the Commonwealth Youth Programme as an official Commonwealth Youth Network. As co-chair of the network, I look forward to working with the Commonwealth to ensure that no child or young person with a disability is left behind and to ensure that, across the pressing issues facing children and young people with disabilities, from economic empowerment to inclusive education and tackling stigma and discrimination, barriers are lifted and opportunities are provided for all. I’d particularly like to thank Include Me TOO for its support in driving the network forward and its development over the last two and a half years to this point. I very much look forward to continuing to work with Parmi Dheensa as fellow CCYDN co- chair, representing Include Me TOO, in the years ahead to ensure NGOs working with children and young people with disabilities, and those they work with, are included.

Parmi Dheensa CCYDN co-chair and Include Me TOO Executive Director said: ‘This year during the Commonwealth 70th Anniversary CCYDN has been launched aiming to ensure a connected Commonwealth which includes the voices and representation of children ad young people with disabilities throughout the Commonwealth. We look forward to working with the Commonwealth Youth Programme and are delighted to have CCYDN officially recognised amongst the Commonwealth Youth Networks, particularly   as this is the first network which includes children and not only youth. This new model is essential to ensure children and youth with disabilities are connected within the Commonwealth for an inclusive future. We are looking forward to growing CCYDN reach and impact and working alongside Commonwealth and International networks and partners working and supporting children and young people throughout the Commonwealth’.

The week’s activities culminated with a roundtable discussion between the network’s committee members, internal teams from the Commonwealth and external partners working with children and young people with disabilities.

During the roundtable, committee members shared discussions from their side event held during the 12th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the United Nations in June this year.

Attendees also discussed areas of partnership and agreed to take forward collaborative efforts to strengthen the voices, rights, inclusion and participation of children and young people with disabilities across the Commonwealth.

#InternationalYouthDay #ConnectedCommonwealth #IncludeMeTOO #NowIsOurTime #InclusiveFutures #InclusionMatters

Global Disability Summit – Twitter Chat

Posted

Youth with Disabilities Participation, Inclusion and Rights MATTER!

Twitter Chat   #IncludeMeTOO  #NowIsTheTime

On Monday 23rd July 2018 from 12.30pm to 1.30pm London Time, Youth with disabilities will be hosting a Q&A twitter chat live from the Global Disability Summit with Include Me TOO. The discussion aims to include youth with disabilities from around the globe in the conversations taking place during the Global Disability Summit regarding participation, inclusion, rights, leadership, and commitments from global leaders needed for change.

We welcome everyone to take part in this discussion! We hope to provide a platform during the discussion to share views, solutions and experiences across the globe.

Include Me TOO and British Council have partnered with the UK Government Department for International Development (DFID) and International Disability Alliance to bring youth with disabilities voices to the Civil Society Forum and Global Disability Summit. For more information about the Global Disability Summit links

http://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/summit

https://includemetoo.org.uk/gdsannounce/

We will be discussing:

  • Strengthening participation and voices of youth with disabilities as change makers
  • Commitments youth with disabilities what global leaders to support in regards to things that matter to them at the Global Disability Summit
  • Bringing new voices and different approaches to engagement, leadership, mentoring and inclusion of youth with disabilities
  • Ensuring empowerment of girls and young women with disabilities to advocate for protection of their rights and inclusion
  • Commitments for Global Disability Summit Children and Youth Charter

 

How our Twitter Q&A will work

Be sure to follow @includemetoo and @DFID_Inclusive on Twitter. All questions will be posted by the @IncludeMeTOO Twitter account.

Hashtags: We will be using two hashtags #IncludeMeTOO #NowIsTheTimeTwitter for this discussion. In each response copy in both @IncludeMeTOO and @DFID_Inclusive

We will be tweeting six questions over the hour, but please feel free to take your time answering these. All questions are available in advance below.

Format of Q&A
If you respond to a question such as Q1, your tweet should follow the format: “A1 [your message] #IncludeMeTOO  #NowIsTheTime

In this case, Q1 stands for Question 1 and A1 stands for Answer 1.

The hashtag will allow us to see your responses, and the number means we know which question you are answering. However, if you find it easier, feel free to quote retweet with your answer.

You might be overwhelmed by the volume of tweets and only want to see the chat’s questions so you can respond to them, check @IncludeMeTOO account. Each question will tweeted about 10 minutes apart.

For an explanation of how to participate in a Twitter chat, please check out this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Uoqoc7hNIE

Check out this captioned ASL explanation of how to participate in a chat by @behearddc by clicking here.

 

Questions

Feel free to prepare your answers in advance, but please only post these once we have asked the questions on Monday 23rd July 2018.

Q1:    Please introduce yourself however you feel comfortable and reason for joining.

Q2:   What are the main consistent barriers for youth with disabilities participation and inclusion and why is it key to have youth with disabilities involvement in Global Disability Summit?

Q3:   What needs to change and be done differently to engage under represented youth with disabilities and support their voices to be heard and influence changes at grassroots community level to global policy level?

Q4:   a) How can we increase leadership and representation opportunities of youth with disabilities increasing their voices, choice and control?

  b) Do you have any good examples in your countries you can share of opportunities for mentoring    and leadership for youth with disabilities?

Q5:   What needs to be happen to ensure the empowerment of girls and young women with disabilities to advocate for their rights and inclusion and protect their rights to live without fear of violence and abuse,

Q6:   A Global Disability Summit Charter for Children and Youth will be discussed and principals drafted during the Global Disability Summit to be shared with global leaders. What commitments do you feel need to be included in the charter to support participation, inclusion, rights and aspirations for children and youth with disabilities?

We hope you can participate in the Global Disability Summit Youth with Disabilities #IncludeMeTOO   #NowIsTheTimeTwitter discussion!

If you miss it, don’t worry! You’re free to answer the questions at any point!

We have tried to make this Q&A accessible a possible. However, can you think of anything that could make it more accessible? We welcome suggestions, please email these to us: im2@includemetoo.org.uk

 

Strengthening the inclusion and voices of disabled children and young people at the Global Disability Summit  

Posted

Following the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in April and the first ever Commonwealth Disabled Youth Round table Event organised and led by Include Me TOO with the Commonwealth Youth Council we will be continuing  to increase the support for inclusion, rights and participation for disabled children and young people at the forthcoming Global Disability Summit.

The UK Department for International Development (DFID) is co-hosting the Global Disability Summit alongside the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and the Government of Kenya in London on 24th July 2018. Include Me TOO and the British Council are supporting disabled children and young people to have their say as they represent their peers, children and young persons with disabilities from around the globe by arranging a range of activities which include a video campaign #IncludeMeTOO, young people’s; online survey; social media discussions; workshops being held by schools and NGO’s, a disabled young people’s workshop during the Civil Society Forum on 23rd July 2018; developing a charter and disabled young people’s led roundtable event during the summit.

Include Me TOO are looking forward to supporting disabled young people to continue the discussion held during the Commonwealth Disabled Youth Round table on issues of inclusive education, tackling stigma and discrimination, gender equality, employment and technology and innovation strengthening the involvement, inclusion and voices of disabled children and young people.

The children and young persons programme includes:

 

Resources:

Global Disability Summit – Children and Youth with Disabilities

Posted

#IncludeMeTOO Video Campaign

It has been 10 years since the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted throughout the world. On 24th July 2018 Department for International Development (DFID) is co-hosting the Global Summit with the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and the Government of Kenya.

Include Me TOO with the British Council are supporting children and youth with disabilities to have their say. We want to increase the voices, rights, inclusion, participation and visibility of children and youth with disability in areas which matter to them #IncludeMeTOO #NowIsTheTime #DisabilitySummit

The video campaign will bring together children and youth with disabilities across the globe and all video films will be complied into a film to be shared at the Global Disability Summit taking place on 24th July 2018!

#IncludeMeTOO campaign is aimed for children and youth with disabilities upto the age of 30 years.

Closing date for video submissions: Friday 20th July 2018.

Instructions:
Each film to be no longer than 90 seconds to provide the following statement by first introducing their name, age, nature of disability or impairments and country they represent. Ensure the filming is filmed in landscape.

We want to hear from you …..

  • What are your dreams and aspirations?
  • What is your biggest challenge and barrier to your rights, inclusion or participation which you would wish to see removed?

Remember to hold up a sign with the hashtag #IncludeMeTOO when you say this final statement.
‘It is important to #IncludeMeTOO because ………..’

We welcome the support of schools and NGO’s to assist and encourage as many children and youth with disabilities across the globe to participate.

With signed videos it would be great if you can add captions or subtitles if possible or have an interpreter add voice over. You can also forward the text and our team can add to the videos in English .

Any videos sent in with community languages can you also send a translation in English as this will assist us to subtitle the videos.

Please email your video to us at im2@includemetoo.org.uk or direct message us via twitter @includemetoo you can also forward us your video via whatsapp to +44 7940367753

When sending or posting your video to us or on social media please remember to hashtag #IncludeMeTOO #NowIsTheTime #DisabilitySummit

If you have any further questions please do get in touch with us via email: im2@includemetoo.org.uk

What next? Get filming on you smart phones, with your schools and friends and let’s together share how we can build a Disability Inclusive & Safe Society for all.

Include Me TOO and the British Council in consultation with UK Department of International Development and International Disability Alliance are supporting disabled youth to have their say as they represent their peers, disabled children and youth from around the globe. Include Me TOO take a social model approach which incorporates a Equality, Diversity and Inclusion method in our work supporting social model terminology and the Single Equalities Act 2010 in the UK.

The terminology Include Me TOO will be using leading up to and during the Civil Society Forum and Global Disability Summit will reflect UNCRDP terminology in line with communication associated with the events.

Disabled Young People from across the Globe gathered at the First ever ‘Commonwealth Disabled Youth Roundtable event’ during CHOGM in London

Posted

Include Me TOO, a national (United Kingdom-based) charity celebrated their 10th Anniversary this year during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2018 held in London. During the CHOGM Summit the charity organised the first ever  Commonwealth Disabled Youth Roundtable Event as part of the‘Commonwealth Include Me 2’ joint project led by Include Me TOO with the Commonwealth Youth Council to increase the inclusion, rights and participation for disabled children and young people from the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) represents 1.2 billion young people from across 53 countries of the Commonwealth.

The roundtable event took place at the House of Lords as an official side event for the Commonwealth Forums Summit 2018 and hosted by The Hon Baroness Uddin and The Hon Lord Holmes.

It was a privilege to host the first ever Commonwealth Disabled Youth Event on behalf of CHOMG, given that 60 percent of the Commonwealth population is under the age of 30 years. Include Me TOO were instrumental in bringing together youth delegates from different parts of the world to the House of Lords as the event marked a step in the right direction for disabled youth to have a seat around the table and discuss issues that matter to them. The Hon Baroness Uddin

I was delighted to attend the Commonwealth Disabled Youth Roundtable event in Parliament this week.  The presentations given by the young people from across the Commonwealth were excellent and packed with insight.  They provided great hope for the future. The Hon Lord Chris Holmes

Disabled young people representing Uganda,Tanzania, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Botswana, Bangladesh and United Kingdom presented in topics which mattered to them and their peers, highlighting key issues impacting on disabled young people from their respective Commonwealth member countries. The focus was upon the Global Sustainable Development Goals ensuing disabled persons are not left behind. The presentations covered:

  • inclusive and fair quality education which promotes lifelong learning opportunities for disabled persons
  • addressing additional disadvantages disabled girls and women experience in particular when working towards their inclusion in the Gender Equality agenda
  • disabled persons and employment, improving access, support and negative attitudes in the workplace
  • highlighting key barriers and challenges disabled children and young people experience in Commonwealth communities regarding their rights, participation and inclusion
  • the importance of planning and implementing an inclusive accessible society, inc suitable toileting and changing places, inclusive playgrounds, sport and leisure facilities, public services.

‘It was a real privilege to hear directly from young people across the Commonwealth on the challenges and issues they face as young people with disabilities. I was inspired and moved by their personal journeys and the work they are now doing to seek justice and equality in their home countries. There were lots of important lessons and reflections to take forward to the DFID-hosted Global Disability Summit in July this year’ said Richard Boden (Deputy Team Leader and Summit Policy Lead, Disability Inclusion Team – Department for International Development)

‘The Commonwealth roundtable event, presented young people as change makers who have a clear understanding of the issues which impact them and their peers and solutions to increase disability inclusion, rights and participation for all. We are looking forward to working with disabled youth from across the Commonwealth strengthening their voices and impact on local and global issues including the Global Goals to be achieved by 2030 as well as the Disability Summit taking place this July 2018 in London with DFID. We will be working with our young ambassadors, disabled young activists and partners to establish the Commonwealth Disabled Youth Roundtable as a key component for future CHOMG’s summits.   said Parmi Dheensa – Include Me TOO Executive Director

During Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting they agreed on several issues regarding disability rights and inclusion:

  • Full social, economic and political participation of all including disabled persons recognising it is essential for democracy and sustainable development
  • Quality education and learning guided by the principle to leave no one behind, they agreed to support marginalised groups, which includes children with disabilities to progress through secondary education and training through appropriate policies, advocacy and strategic partnerships.
  • Address the stigma around disability in all its forms ensuring no one is left behind
  • Encouraging all member countries to ratify and implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Include Me TOO look forward to continuing working with disabled young people from across the Commonwealth to ensure their voices are heard and the issues which affect them are present on the agendas and discussions encouraging progressive action for disability inclusion and implementation of disabled persons rights.

First ever ‘Commonwealth Disabled Youth Roundtable event’ taking place in London with Disabled young people from the Commonwealth

Posted

Include Me TOO, a national (United Kingdom-based) charity celebrate their 10th Anniversary this year, the charity also developed the first ever National Charter of Rights for Disabled Children and Young People 10 years ago. The Charter received support by many national charities, government departments, government ministers and Prime Ministers signing up as signatories and providing statements of support for the charter in 2008.

Include Me TOO an award winning charity has led on disabled children and young people, and their families, from a diverse range of backgrounds participation and inclusion for over a decade, with innovative and creative approaches. The charity is committed in promoting and supporting social justice, equality, inclusion and the rights of disabled children and young people.

This year London is hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)2018 and the Commonwealth Forums Summit is one of the forums being held during the week commencing April 16th 2018. During the summit the first ever Commonwealth Disabled Youth Roundtable Event has been organised by the charity as part of the‘Commonwealth Include Me 2’ joint project led by Include Me TOO with the Commonwealth Youth Council to increase the inclusion, rights and participation for disabled children and young people from the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) represents 1.2 billion young people from across 53 countries of the Commonwealth.

The roundtable event is taking place at the House of Lords, on Monday 16th April 2018 as an official side event for the Commonwealth Forums Summit 2018and hosted by The Hon Baroness Uddin and The Hon Lord Holmes.

‘I’m a passionate supporter of improving life chances and opportunities for disabled people to live the life they want to lead. I know many other Queens Young Leaders, Commonwealth Youth Award nominees, and Associate Fellows of the Royal Commonwealth Society, agree with me – with disability being the issue most prioritised by Queens Young Leaders when last surveyed. There is real passion among young people to make a positive change, and the institutions of the Commonwealth must channel that passion into real action.’ said Jonathan Andrews – Queens Leader and Young Ambassador (Include Me TOO)

There will be presentations by disabled young people representing the Commonwealth discussing the Global Sustainable Developmet Goals (SDG’s) including disabled young Ambassadors, Lucy Watts, Jonathan Andrews, Saliha Rashid, Paul Ntulila, Vibhu Sharma and Honey Jones representing Include Me TOO. Young people will be sharing their views and perspectives from their countries regarding issues affecting disabled young people and increasing representation and involvement of disabled young people in the Commonwealth.

‘We are delighted to have the support of the Commonwealth Youth Forum and the Commonwealth Youth Council as we host a momentous roundtable event strengthening the application of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and building upon the National Charter of Rights for Disabled Children and Young People we produced with young disabled people which gathered many signatories from government and NGO’s a decade ago. Being the first Commonwealth Disabled Youth roundtable and providing them with an international platform to share their views and be heard is certainly a positive move for progress, inclusion and participation. We are looking forward to the event with all our partners and building upon the aim of this occasion with the Commonwealth.’   said Parmi Dheensa – Include Me TOO Executive

For further information please contact us via Email: dot@includemetoo.org.uk

Contact number: 01902 399888/01902 711604    

Disabled Champions come together to support National Summit in Birmingham for Disability Inclusion and Rights

Posted

World Health Innovation Summit, Include Me TOO and Birmingham City University have come together to build and strengthen a national platform for Disability Inclusion and Rights with a host of disabled champions. The national summit event is taking place on Saturday 18th November 2017, 10am to 4pm at Birmingham City University.

In the UK we have over 12 million disabled people of which over 800,000 are children under the age of 16 years.

This event marks the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 10th anniversary and the 60th anniversary of the Human Rights Declaration. The event will provide an insight to the numerous areas overlooked impacting on the lives of disabled people, sharing expertise, learning and inspiring to achieve the future we aim to achieve a Disability, Inclusive, and Safe Society for All.

Amongst our speakers are disability advocates and personalities Kamran Malik CEO Disability Rights UK, actress Sam Renke, journalist Mik Scarlet, award winning campaigner and presenter Adam Pearson and TEDx speaker and World Champion Para triathlon (swim, bike and run) Steve Judge.

‘The national summit will be providing a platform to review the challenges and the progress made over the last 10 years since the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We aim to share ideas, create solutions and opportunities for building a Disability Inclusive Society. We are delighted to have such a diverse range of speakers sharing their knowledge, experiences and achievements. Furthermore they are supporting the event as they recognise to make real progress for disability rights and inclusion and the many issues the disabled community experience throughout their lifetimes a collective effort is crucial. This event is a start of a much needed conversation as we all have a role in creating a world where our diverse disabled community can truly have a sense of belonging and are valued’.
Parmi Dheensa Include Me TOO

‘In societies which function well, every single member of that society both contributes to and benefits from the collective energy and productivity created by everyone working together for the common good. Including everyone isn’t just the right thing to do, it actively strengthens and builds a sense of community and well-being throughout society. One in 15 of us are disabled, and often don’t feel properly included. We short- change all of us when we exclude even one person. Help us change that, come to WHIS Birmingham and help us start essential conversations to ensure that nobody gets left behind.’
Gareth Presch and Yvonne Newbold, World Health Innovation Summit

‘I’m proud to be an elected student officer who campaigns on behalf of students with disabilities, to ensure they get the best possible student experience, whilst they are studying at Birmingham City University.  Myself and my colleagues within BCUSU and the University, work hard to ensure Birmingham City University is a fully inclusive place to study’
Amanda McCabe, Disabled Students Officer for Birmingham City University’s Student Union (BCUSU)

The event topics will be covering:

  • Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRDP) what the reality is in UK
  • Inclusive technology supporting Independent Living, Support and Access
  • Building stronger foundations for Disability Inclusion through Media
  • Safeguarding and ending violence, and all forms of abuse against disabled children and adults   
  • How can we ensure we have disability inclusive implementation of the Global Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Increasing opportunities and choices to disabled persons inclusion and contribution towards sustainable economic growth and access to employment
  • Building a disability inclusive, safe and accessible society with inclusive transport and public spaces

___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Issued by Include Me TOO, Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street, Wolverhampton WV1 4AN
For further information please contact us via email:im2@includemetoo.org.uk or visit the event page on our website.
Contact number: 01902 399888/01902 711604

A call to Government for a SEND Equality Review

Posted

A call to government for a SEND Equality review following a decade of failings to disabled children & families from diverse community backgrounds.

Charity is calling for the government to review the last 10 years of equality duties failings in SEND delivery to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Disabled Children Young People and their families.

BAME disabled children, young people and their families continue to be underrepresented in services uptake, participation and representative bodies. Furthermore have limited support to accessible information and advice.

During July 2016 House of Lords roundtable event Include Me TOO led on with Baroness Uddin a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Disability and All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism; Lord Chris Holmes, Chair of the Disability Committee at the Equality and Human Rights Commission and an Ambassador of Include Me TOO and partner organisation Equalities National Council, asking to readdress the balance of equality, race and disability.

The roundtable discussions highlighted concerns of SEND reform and delivery failing the Equality Duties in regards to the multiple characteristics BAME disabled children, young people and their families are protected under including the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child and Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities.

‘Whilst as diverse communities we need to increase disability awareness, acceptance, change attitudes and increase community support we also need to strengthen our voices in ensuring disabled children and their families are receiving support from services and having their needs met. Our main concerns and our involvement in this article was to highlight that substantial resources have been available over the last decade to improve services and support to disabled children and their families yet there are only a few pockets of practice which are seen as making progress regarding the needs of the BAME disabled children, young people and families. When resources are allocated to the BAME sector these are tokenistic small resources that are yet again to consult on how to improve BAME engagement and access, this is a waste of resources which could be allocated to strengthen the BAME sector who already are supporting these families and communities.

The bias culture needs to change and after a decade of meetings, advising on steering groups, highlighting the importance of equality and diversity with government officials and their strategic partners sadly there has been no progress to address the inequalities a generation of BAME disabled children, young people and their families have experienced and as a result the government and their partners in delivery have failed them. The barriers to diverse representation and contribution by having a ‘seat around the table’ are consistently made impossible surely this is an area which needs to be challenged as the strategic representatives and delivery partners for SEND do not represent the BAME sector of disabled persons, families and communities’. Parmi Dheensa (Include Me TOO Executive Director)

Include Me TOO are calling for a review to readdress the balance as a first step towards progress:

• Equality duties considered in decisions made by the DfE in regards to SEND policy, implementation and service delivery.

• Review of contracts and equality impact/outcome assessments of SEND programmes delivered since 2006 highlighting areas to meet ‘hard to reach’ communities.

• Review of the last 10 years of BAME representation in government level strategic decision making processes, advisory panels and delivery partners in the implementation of SEND

• Identify resources allocated specifically to reduce the inequalities of BAME disabled children, young people and their families to provide them with an equal chance.

• Review the last ten years national programmes such as Aiming High for Disabled Children, Parents and Carers participation, Early Support, Preparing for Adulthood, Short Breaks, SEND reform, Independent Supporters etc…

• Highlight lessons learnt and produce a disability equality and diversity strategy providing clear outcomes and tools to measure the needs of BAME disabled children, young people, young adults and their families are considered and supported.
Include Me TOO are further concerned that without real action and collaboration to readdress the balance within the existing mechanisms the barriers to the inclusion, participation, support and rights of BAME disabled children, young people and their families will continue.

For further details please do contact us on im2@includemetoo.org.uk Contact number 01902 711604 Mobile contact number 07940367753

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/aug/08/midlands-mother-autistic-son-ingrained-minority-ethnic-prejudice

Global Disability and Inclusion for Disabled Children and Young People #IncludeMeTOO Video Campaign.

Posted

To celebrate 10 years of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the 60th Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights this campaign is to increase the voices and visibility of disabled children and young people’s rights inclusion and participation in areas which matter to them #IncludeMeTOO     

The video campaign will bring together disabled children and young people across the globe and all video films will be complied into a film to be shared on a global platform later this year!

Entry to #IncludeMeTOO campaign is free entrants ages upto the age of 29 years. Each film to be no longer than 90 seconds to provide the following statement by first introducing their name, age, nature of disability or impairments and country they represent.

  • What are your dreams and aspirations?
  • What is your biggest challenge and barrier to your rights, inclusion or participation which you would wish to see removed?

 Remember to hold up a sign with the hashtag #IncludeMeTOO when you say this final statement.

  • ‘It is important to #IncludeMeTOO because ………..’

Please email your video to us at im2@includemetoo.org.uk or direct message us via twitter @includemetoo

When sending or posting your video to us or on social media should contain #IncludeMeTOO
#videocampaign

To get in touch with on twitter follow or like @includemetoo or on facebook Facebook.com/IMTOO

We welcome the support of schools and NGO’s to assist and encourage as many disabled children and young people across the globe to participate.

With signed videos it would be great if you can add captions or subtitles if possible or have an interpreter add voice over.

Any videos sent in with community languages can you also send a translation in English as this will assist in the final film launch when all videos are received during the year

If you have any further questions please do get in touch with us via email: im2@includemetoo.org.uk

What next? Get filming on you smart phones, with your schools and friends and let’s together share how we can build a Disability Inclusive & Safe Society for all.