Access for the Disabled
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Should our name be changed from 'Access for the Disabled' to something else?
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In The Beginning
Access for the Disabled was established in 1981 financed through the North Tyneside Community Program Agency with financial support from the Inner Areas Program. The original aim was to survey all public premises in North Tyneside and publish a directory with the findings. In early 1985 the directory was published and delivered to every person who was registered as having a disability.
During this survey we identified a need that was not being met by any other organisation for people who had a physical disability. Many existing services were accessible but there was no means for many people who had a disability to get to these services. During this period we introduced the 'Out And About' project.
The project has developed and progressed since it's original conception, to meet with the demands of service users and differing funding opportunities. The original 'Aims and Objectives' of the project have though, always remained firmly in place and their commitment adhered to.
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The 'Out And About' Project
Aims and Objectives
To promote visibility in the community of people who have a disability and hence cause change in the environment.
To show a person who has a disability that mobility within the community is possible without specialised vehicles etc.
To encourage people who have a disability to use existing community services.
By all the aims to show the individual that they are valued and cared for by the whole community.
To establish patterns of access that people who have a physical disability might be able to follow independently.
To empower and enable people who have a physical disability. |
The Project Today
The project is now funded North Tyneside Council. It provides a service to people who have a physical disability, offering a trained enabler for a minimum of a half-day each week. Project staff, Field Assistants, work on a one to one basis with individuals to enable them to gain access to the community and it’s facilities. The use of existing services and public transport is still maintained by the project and assists in the empowerment of service users, to establish patterns of mobility that may be used independently.
The project currently provides a regular service to approximately 200 people each week. The service is delivered free of charge and constantly strives to allocate extra sessions to all.
The project and the service we provide enables many people who are older or disabled to remain independent in the community for much longer than would otherwise be possible.
Our service dovetails into other services such as domicilary support; home care; district nurses etc. The stimulation that we can provide is getting people out of the four walls of their homes, which for many can or has become a prison.
We always place maximum emphasis on service user choice and control over visits. |
Training Opportunities
As well as providing a service to people with a physical disability, the project also provides comprehensive training programs. Trainees receive a training allowance and are employed for a 12-month period, where they acquire practical caring skills and attend college on a day release basis to study for a nationally recognised qualification. The project has learnt the importance of excellent standards of training to produce an excellent service to the client.
Each trainee is regarded as an individual and therefore has individual training needs. Trainees access a network of training opportunities with the organisation, which may incorporate:
Work Placements
Job Shadowing
Work Experience
Job search Skills
Career Guidance
Comprehensive Training At All Levels
Support With College Work
Travel Expenses
Generous Training Allowance
4 Weeks Paid Holiday
The organisation strives toward training individuals to a high standard in Health and Social issues to enable the trainee to progress into other fields and hence promote the standard of care to all.
All recruitment for the organisations care proffesionals takes place from within the trainees. If you wish to apply to become a trainee, please use the eMail link at the top left-hand side of your this page. Please note: You must be over 25 years of age and have been unemployed or working less than 16 hours per week for the last six months.
The training we provide is funded via the European Social Fund. |
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