There are many ways that you can get involved as a disabled person, from your home writing letters or logging into an online forum, to joining an organisation, becoming a volunteer, attending a public meeting, starting or joining a campaign.
You may want to focus on issues relating to our lives as disabled people, or you may wish to have your say on a wider range of issues.
The important thing to remember is that if you don’t have your say, no one will know what you think – or need.
This section tells you about some ways you can get involved from local groups to city-wide forums. We also give you some pointers on setting up and running a campaign, and how to get your point across.
Scope has a team who organise campaigns around issues to do with furthering disabled people’s civil rights. Recent campaigns have been around access to polling stations, public toilets, and disabilism.
You can contact Scope to find out more:
Scope, freepost LON 23017, Sheffield, S98 1ZP
Tel 020 7619 7334
Website: http://www.scope.org.uk
The Direct Action Network occasionally arranges demonstrations around a particular issue.
When they do this the information is put up on the internet, you can find it by typing Direct Action Network disabled people into a search engine.
If you are thinking of setting up and running a campaign, you should make sure you have realistic and achievable aims. Think about what you want the campaign to achieve, whether this is possible, and how it might happen, before you start.
Find out what happens elsewhere; are there other groups in other areas you can learn from?
Check your facts – if you start off by saying things that turn out not to be true, your campaign will not recover.
Attract other people to your campaign by talking to them, leafleting etc – you cannot sustain a campaign unless there are a number of people willing to help with the work.
Plan a programme of action – this can be anything within the law, including letters to officials or the media, lobbying decision-makers, talking to other community groups and asking for their support, leafleting people who may be affected, contacting Councillors and MPs, petitions, events, stunts or protests that attract the interest of the public or the media.
The important thing is only to take on activities that you will be able to do – don’t try to do too many things, as your campaign will fail if people feel over-burdened.
Before you write the letter or fill in the complaint form, think about what you want to say, and what action you want to see as a result. You should include a short account of the nature of your issue or complaint, setting out any events in the order they happened.
You should say what you are hoping for as a result of the letter or complaint.
You should provide your name and contact details.
You should always keep your own copy of what you sent – even if it is a handwritten copy.
Make sure you send the letter or complaint to the right person or organisation.
When attending meetings on a particular issue or subject, it is a good idea to think about the things that are most important to you about this issue or subject. Write them down before the meeting.
Think of what questions you want answered before the meeting.
Go through the Agenda and decide what agenda item is best for brining up your points.
When you make your point or ask your question, try to be brief and keep to the subject, or the Chair of a meeting may prevent you from continuing.
Remember, when you speak, if you stay calm no matter how frustrated you may feel, you are more likely to get a better result - people don’t focus on what you are saying if you are angry.
Organising a meeting
One of the major points when organising a public meeting is to make sure it’s accessible to the maximum number of disabled people.
If you want to organise a public meeting on a particular issue, you need to arrange a time that will be convenient to most disabled people.
It is a good idea to have day times meetings that start at 11.00 because that gives disabled people time of they need help with their personal care, or help with transportation.
If you are holding a meeting in the evening, when employed disabled people will be able to attend, it is a good idea to make sure you finish by 9.00pm.
Make sure you invite the relevant decision-makers if you want your questions answered by them.
Make sure you give people plenty of notice – at least 2 weeks.
Before the meeting
If you are making leaflets and other information about the meeting, make sure they are in a variety of formats, in plain English, and have a picture of the venue (photo or drawing) as well as the address.
Don’t make the information too crowded, and don’t use columns.
Ask people to let you know if they need anything in order to take part, such as Braille information, or a signer or note-taker.
Deciding on a venue
You should try to ensure that your meeting place is easy to get to by (accessible) public transport, with drop-off points outside the door, and designated blue Badge parking outside the door.
If people have to cross the road – is there an accessible crossing point 9including a tactile surface) nearby? Are there dropped kerbs? Is the pavement and path wide enough and even enough for people with wheelchairs/dogs/sticks?
The venue should also have a short distance from entrance to meeting room, and a route that is not deeply carpeted or heavily patterned.
Entrance
Make sure the building has a level entrance. If this is not possible, make sure there is a ramp into the building, and steps with handrails and colour contrasted edges. Ideally the building should have automatic doors. If the doors are heavy, check that you can prop them open, or have someone standing by the door who can open it for people.
Inside
If your meeting is not on the ground floor is there an accessible lift?
Make sure corridors are wide enough and unobstructed, and the route is marked in a well contrasted colour.
The venue should have accessible toilets that are easy to find.
you may need to make your own temporary signage - make sure it is in lower case arial print and that the paper contrasts with the walls it will be placed upon.
You should arrange for a variety of seating inside - with and without arms, various heights, and with spaces for wheelchairs.
The room should have a loop system.
The Meeting
Make sure all your speakers face the audience when they speak.
Make sure the chair explains what the meeting is about, and what will happen when, when people can ask questions and make points etc.
If you are providing handouts, provide them in large print and tape as well as standard print.
If you are providing written material as part of the meeting, you need to read this out in the meeting - visually impaired people may not be able to read any written handouts, and deaf and hard of hearing people may now be able to read the handout and follow the meeting.
You may want to run the meetings using coloured cards with “I have something to say”, on, that people raise when they want to speak – using coloured cards to agree, disagree, or speak is a system used by some groups of peole with learning disabilities.
If you are serving drinks etc, make sure there is someone around who can offer to bring drinks to people.
Finally, make sure everyone feels welcome, and free to speak, encourage people to participate – you can have an ordered meeting that is also a relaxed and friendly meeting!
One Voice launches its online forum in March 2007.
The forum will give you a chance to express your opinions and have discussion on a wide range of disability-related topics.
Check the one voice website for details:
www.1voice.org.uk
One Voice also runaccess groups and transport groups to give you the opportunity to meet with service providers and tell them what you think.
Contact: Regent House, Bath Avenue, Wolverhampton WV1 4EG
Telephone: 01902 810016
Email: mail@1voice.org.uk
Local Forums
There are several forums and networks that you can get involved in to help shape the services in your community.
Most of these are organised around your neighbourhood or area:
ASAN (All Saints Action Network)
All Saints Centre, All Saints Road, All Saints, Wolverhampton WV6 8NW Mike.S@asan.org.uk
Mike Swain, Diane Baker Tel. (01902)556680
BACF (Blakenhall Action Community Forum)
BACF, 124 Dudley Road, Blakenhall, Wolverhampton WV2 3DE bacf124@supanet.com or admin@bacf.org.uk
Lucky Kainth Tel.(01902) 572384
BBAP (Bilston & Bradley Action Partnership)
Innisfallen House, King Street, Bradley, Bilston WV14 8PQ info@bbap.co.uk or mel@bbap.co.uk
Mel Passmore, Lisa Ansell Tel. (01902) 556320
CAPE (Community Action Partnership Enterprise, Wednesfield)
Old Peoples Welfare Centre, Pickering Road, Wednesfield WV11 3RA wednesfieldcape@yahoo.co.uk
Angela Lewis, Loretta Mapp Tel. (01902) 551746
EPMG (East Park Management Group)
East Park Community Centre, 50 Colliery Road, Eastfield, Wolverhampton WV1 2QY melzhb@yahoo.co.uk
Melanie Heywood Tel. (01902) 551756 or (01902) 550938
FACE (Finchfield and Castlecroft Enterprise)
Windmill Youth & Community Centre, Castlecroft Avenue, Wolverhampton WV3 8JN faceonline2001@yahoo.co.uk
Kim Payne, Carol Binnington Tel. (01902) 572270
FOB (Fordhouses, Oxley and Bushbury)
74 Stanley Road, Bushbury, Wolverhampton WV10 9EZ sambob@onetel.com
Kelly Sheard Tel. (01902) 556633 Mobile 07814065117
GAPP (Graiseley and Pennfields Partnership)
Bingley Enterprise Centre, Norfolk Road,Penn Fields, Wolverhampton WV3 OJE janjames_gapp@yahoo.co.uk
Jan James Tel. (01902) 771008
LHPVCF (Low Hill Park Village Community Forum)
The Shepherd Centre, Second Avenue, Low Hill, Wolverhampton WV10 9PE cheryldando@aol.com
Cheryl Dando, Caroline Lee Tel: 07814 938234 or (01902) 683315
MAPP (Merry Hill and Penn Partnership)
c/o YWCA, Claverley Drive, Warstones, Wolverhampton WV4 4QL tinadavies@hotmail.com
Tina Davies, Tel. (01902) 341822 Mobile 07799 622667
PALS (Pendeford Agencies Link Scheme)
25 Catisfield Crescent, Pendeford, Wolverhampton WV8 1XG coordinator@pals-network.co.uk
Sylvia Simpson, Tel. (01902) 756839 extension 24
SPHERE (Springfield Park Village Heath Town Regeneration Enterprises)
c/o Next Steps Centre, 226 Chervil Rise, Heath Town, Wolverhampton WV10 0HR
Tel. (01902) 552831
TWIG (Tettenhall Wood Initiative Group)
The Institute, Wood Road, Tettenhall Wood, Wolverhampton WV6 8NF
Kim Payne, Carol Binnington, Tel. (01902) 550975 Fax. 550976
WRiP (Whitmore Reans in Partnership)
The Elms Resource Centre, Manby Close, Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton WV6 OQP wrip@btconnect.com
Arinola Oluwajana, Tel. (01902) 710920
CCAN (Wolverhampton City Centre Action Network)
CCAN, Wolverhampton Network Consortium Whiteheads Building, 26a Snow Hill
Wolverhampton WV2 4AN wnc@w--n-c.org
(01902) 572020
The other forums are organised around themes or groups of people across the city, these are:
The Disability Network is an umbrella organisation for disabled individuals and disability related groups and organisations. The main aims are to increase the number of disabled people participating in their community, to help disabled people improve their community skills, and to provide a platform for disabled people to influence decision makers about services and facilities.
Disability Network,16 Temple Street, Wolverhampton, WV2 4AN
disnet@postmaster.co.uk
Women Organising in Wolverhampton
The Haven, PO BOX 105, Wolverhampton WV3 OTN ndc@havenrefuge.org.uk
Parvinder Chana Tel: (01902) 572138
City of Wolverhampton Faith Network
2 Clarence Road, Wolverhampton WV1 4HZ wolverhamptonfn@yahoo.co.uk
Wolverhampton Social Enterprise Network
All Saints Centre, All Saints Road, Wolverhampton WV6 8NW Jay.P@ASAN.org.uk
Jay Pannu Tel: (01902) 556680
Youth Organisations Wolverhampton
PO Box 3657
Wolverhampton WV2 4WY charlotte-roberts@btconnect.com
Charlotte Roberts and Sharon Thompson. Tel: (01902) 371563
Wolverhampton Citywide BME Community Forum
c/o Windrush Employment & Training, Unit 1 Imex Building, Temple Street, Wolverhampton WV2 4AN suffiaperveen@hotmail.com
Suffia Perveen Tel: (01902) 313052
LGBT Network
Bond House, 242-244 Bond Street, Wolverhampton, WV2 4AS lgbtwolverhampton@yahoo.co.uk
Nicky Howells c/o CEN Tel: (01902) 572392
Wolverhampton Federation of Tenants Associations
31 Cannock Road, Spring Valley, Wolverhampton WV10 0AG Lal.Salter@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Lal Salter Tel: (01902) 556816
Wolverhampton Federation of Community Organisations
East Park Community Centre, 50 Colliery Road, Eastfield, Wolverhampton WV1 2QY wfco@hotmail.co.uk
Julie Saunders Tel: (01902) 551857
The Learning Network
C/o Wolverhampton CEN, Whiteheads Building, 26a Snow Hill, Wolverhampton, WV2 4AN spriest@w-c-n.org
c/o Sue Priest CEN Tel: (01902) 572392
People who are over 18 and registered to vote in Wolverhampton may vote in local, national and European Elections.
To register, you must be over 18, live somewhere in Wolverhampton, and be a British, Irish, European or Commonwealth citizen.
The Electoral Registry sends out registration forms every September/October, but if you miss the form, you can get one by contacting:
Electoral Registration Office, Blossoms Fold, Wolverhampton, WV1
Telephone (01902) 555051
If you cannot get to your polling station by reason of disability or some other reason, you may be able to register long-term for a postal vote. To do this you need to fill in a form which you can get from the Electoral Registration Office (above). If you are unable to fill in the form, you can visit the office and get help from the staff. You need proof of where you live.
Becoming a Councillor
To become a Councillor, you must get nominated by 10 voters that live in your ward (councillor area).
You can get a nomination form from the Council website:
http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/government_democracy/council/councillors/recruitment/nomination_form.htm
You do not need to pay a deposit.
When you have been nominated, you need to talk to the people who live in your ward about your ideas and policies.
This is especially true if you are an independent candidate.
Today, candidates for the main political parties often don’t come and talk to people about their policies, because people know what their party stands for.
To be nominated for one of the political parties, you must be a member of the party and you must get nominated from your ward political party.
Wolverhampton Partnership
The Wolverhampton Partnership is a body made up of many agencies, including the Council, the health authority, business, the voluntary sector, colleges etc
They cover education, health, housing, employment, leisure, safety, business, environment and community.
The Wolverhampton Partnership has a website where you can have a say about life in Wolverhampton. The site is at:
http://www.wton-partnership.org.uk/ui/inovem.ti/text?page=getinvolved
You have to register, then they will contact you when they want to consult about an issue or service.
Wolverhampton e-Panel
The e-Panel lets you take part in regular online surveys and discussions. It is made up of local people over 16 who have signed up to it. You can become a member of the e-panel by registering with them at
http://www.wton-partnership.org.uk/ui/inovem.ti/group/epanel/JoinGroup
The Council and it’s partners state that they intend to use the information from the e-panel to improve services and better meet the needs of the citizens of Wolverhampton.