Projects (21)
Children categories
Equal People (0)
In this book you will find 10 stories that reflect what people with learning disabilities can achieve today if they have the right support.
Throughout the book you’ll read the word “inspirational” many times. This is a word that’s been used over and over again to describe the lives of some very remarkable people.
The stories tell of how Sandwell residents with learning disabilities, young and old, have achieved equal citizenship, paid employment, a home of their own and a life!!!
A short film accompanies each story. In each film you will get a glimpse into the life of the person and their achievements.
We hope this book inspires you to imagine what is possible for people with learning disabilities when they have the right support which values them as people first.
Equal People is a series of short films and a book which showcases the lives of 10 people with autism. Each Equal People story shows how people can achieve independent lives as equal and valued citizens in society.
View items...
Can you help us develop a national learning disability history archive?
Changing Our Lives is a self-advocacy organisation that develops projects in co-production with people with learning disabilities. We are currently working on a history project called "Lost and Found" which is seeking to record the often hidden history of people with learning disabilities and additional mental health issues who have found themselves treated within secure settings. In addition to working closely with a number of individuals who have experienced this kind of support we are looking to develop an archive that can safely and securely house resources that represent the practices and policies of life within secure settings or long-stay hospitals. We are looking for any items that could be scanned or photographed in order to preserve them for the future. A website will eventually be created which will ensure the items are easily accessible for everyone who has an interest in preserving the history of people with learning disabilities. If you feel you could help us in any way or wish to discuss this project further please feel free to contact either Ruth Clinton or Subtan Mahmood (Project Development Officers) on 0121 533 7174. Alternatively you can contact us on our email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Read more...
Changing Our Lives is a self-advocacy organisation that develops projects in co-production with people with learning disabilities. We are currently working on a history project called "Lost and Found" which is seeking to record the often hidden history of people with learning disabilities and additional mental health issues who have found themselves treated within secure settings. In addition to working closely with a number of individuals who have experienced this kind of support we are looking to develop an archive that can safely and securely house resources that represent the practices and policies of life within secure settings or long-stay hospitals. We are looking for any items that could be scanned or photographed in order to preserve them for the future. A website will eventually be created which will ensure the items are easily accessible for everyone who has an interest in preserving the history of people with learning disabilities. If you feel you could help us in any way or wish to discuss this project further please feel free to contact either Ruth Clinton or Subtan Mahmood (Project Development Officers) on 0121 533 7174. Alternatively you can contact us on our email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
With the disbanding of Primary Care Trusts and the increasing responsibilities of Clinical Commissioning Groups, the demand for good quality information sharing is at its peak.
In most other regions of England, this hasn't been an issue because information sharing networks have long since been founded, developed and have quietly been disseminating content to all of their subscribers, from good practice guides, legislation outlines to peer support request.
Unfortunately until recently this hasn't been the case in the Midlands.
Changing Our Lives have developed 'Health Networker', a weekly newsletter that's delivered directly to the inbox of its subscribers. Health Networker aims to fill the gap in information sharing across the Midlands and bringing good quality, unbiased content to all of its subscribers.
If you have an issue that you want to get some expert help on, if you have a report or guide you want to circulate to your peers then the Health Networker could be what you're looking for.
To join the subscriber list or to keep yourself up to date with what's going on in the midlands go to www.healthnetworker.org
Read more...
In most other regions of England, this hasn't been an issue because information sharing networks have long since been founded, developed and have quietly been disseminating content to all of their subscribers, from good practice guides, legislation outlines to peer support request.
Unfortunately until recently this hasn't been the case in the Midlands.
Changing Our Lives have developed 'Health Networker', a weekly newsletter that's delivered directly to the inbox of its subscribers. Health Networker aims to fill the gap in information sharing across the Midlands and bringing good quality, unbiased content to all of its subscribers.
If you have an issue that you want to get some expert help on, if you have a report or guide you want to circulate to your peers then the Health Networker could be what you're looking for.
To join the subscriber list or to keep yourself up to date with what's going on in the midlands go to www.healthnetworker.org
Sarah Bentley, Catherine Carrington and Jess Bromley met for the first time yesterday to experiment with their cameras and share ideas. After spending some time looking at existing portrait photography, they decided upon some ideas they'd like to capture over the next few months whilst working alongside women with disabilities. Sarah very much liked black and white images and liked shots that showed eye contact and facial expression and gave an idea of the charater of the person. She also thought she would like to put her subject into a landscape to explain a bit more about that person. Jess favoured the quirky photos that included a sense of humour and also loved pictures that showed action and movement. Catherine prefered detail such as hands or eyes. No one had worked with a digital camera before, so all were keen to get 'hands on'. Here are a few of the photos taken on their first practise session.
Read more...
The Altogether Different women's group is running their own photography project. Women from this group are being supported to learn about portrait photography. They will then use these skills to take photographs of positive images of disabled women in the local community. Often women with disabilities are denied the experience of motherhood, marriage, employment and owning their own home. This project will capture images of disabled women achieving all of these things. An online gallery of these images will be created and the group is looking for venues to display their work as they are hoping this will be a touring exhibition. For more information or to get involved in this work please contact
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
.
Read more...
Changing Our Lives recently received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to work on an exciting new project that researches the history of people with learning disabilities and mental health needs in secure settings since 1948. The project is extremely significant because it will also explore the lives and experiences of a group of local people who have used secure hospitals. We hope to uncover how it felt to stay in secure settings, what treatment people had and to find out how life has changed for people who are now living in the community again.
In common with much of our work, the project is built upon co-production, and sees Changing Our Lives working closely with a group of self-advocates who have previous experience of researching historical issues affecting the lives of people with learning disabilities. The group will do a number of things with the information that we learn including creating an accessible website and a book.
We are always interested in capturing people's stories and experiences and would welcome the chance to talk with people with learning disabilities who have used secure hospitals who would like to be part of this project. For more information please contact Ruth Clinton on 0121 533 7174.
Read more...
In common with much of our work, the project is built upon co-production, and sees Changing Our Lives working closely with a group of self-advocates who have previous experience of researching historical issues affecting the lives of people with learning disabilities. The group will do a number of things with the information that we learn including creating an accessible website and a book.
We are always interested in capturing people's stories and experiences and would welcome the chance to talk with people with learning disabilities who have used secure hospitals who would like to be part of this project. For more information please contact Ruth Clinton on 0121 533 7174.
19 Nov
Samee and Gemma Take Over!
We are excited to announce that Children's Commissioner's Takeover Day 2012 will take place on Friday 23 November. Following the success of Takeover Day 2011, which involved thousands of children and young people across the country, this year Samee Ahmed will take over the role of Jan Britton CEO Sandwell MBC, and Gemma Caffrey is shadowing the role of Dr Maggie Atkinson, The Children's Commissioner For England.
Takeover Day gives children and young people the chance to work with adults for the day and be involved in decision-making. Children benefit from the opportunity to experience the world of work and make their voices heard, while adults and organisations gain a fresh perspective on what they do. We hope this will help break down barriers between generations and encourage children's active involvement in their communities.
Samee is 12 and has been going to Young Voices since 2011. He was involved in putting together the Whole of Life standards and believes that everyone should be equal and young people with disabilities should have the same rights as everyone else. His ambition is to be a computer programmer. Gemma is 18 and is part of Right Squad training, My Life My Dreams representing the views of young people in Sandwell and has recently proved to be an excellent compere at Spotlight!
We'll keep you updated as to how they get on!
Read more...
Takeover Day gives children and young people the chance to work with adults for the day and be involved in decision-making. Children benefit from the opportunity to experience the world of work and make their voices heard, while adults and organisations gain a fresh perspective on what they do. We hope this will help break down barriers between generations and encourage children's active involvement in their communities.
Samee is 12 and has been going to Young Voices since 2011. He was involved in putting together the Whole of Life standards and believes that everyone should be equal and young people with disabilities should have the same rights as everyone else. His ambition is to be a computer programmer. Gemma is 18 and is part of Right Squad training, My Life My Dreams representing the views of young people in Sandwell and has recently proved to be an excellent compere at Spotlight!
We'll keep you updated as to how they get on!
On the 7th June, me, Sarah B and Gemma went to London for the day. On the day we went to the House of Commons and the House of Lords, had a guided tour of the Westminster Abbey, we saw where the MPS hold their Parliament meetings with the Prime Minister, we saw Big Ben close up and the room above where Guy Fawkes was found. After that, we went on the London Eye which was amazing as we could see the views of London from high and we had an amazing 4D experience of the London Eye . It was an amazing day.
Read more...
27 Jun
Gina and Siraaj Dudley help MPs put together the employment White Paper and meet with Job Coaches
Tagged under
On the 31st of May, Siraaj and I went to the Ladies Walk centre in Sedgley to help the MPs write the employment White Paper for their People's Parliament in Dudley. The White Paper is a long document which includes a list of actions the MPs want the professionals to do, times when this will be done and by who. This White Paper will be presented to the professionals at the first Parliament meeting on the 30th July.
Then in the afternoon, we met with two Job Coaches in Dudley called Kay Cartwright and Judith Rumble to tell them about this Parliament. A Job Coach is there to help people with a disability to find a job. We told them about what the Parliament is and who we already met, who we are going to meet and what we have done. We explained the 3 outcomes. One of which was about Job Carving. The Job coaches told us about how they supported people to find a job. They also told us a couple of success stories when they have helped people. As Job carving is one of the targets, the Job Coaches told us about how one of the people they support has being doing a job as a PA in Andrea-Pope Smith's office through Job carving.
They agreed to come to the first People's Parliament meeting to talk about Job carving on the 30th July 2012.
Read more...
Then in the afternoon, we met with two Job Coaches in Dudley called Kay Cartwright and Judith Rumble to tell them about this Parliament. A Job Coach is there to help people with a disability to find a job. We told them about what the Parliament is and who we already met, who we are going to meet and what we have done. We explained the 3 outcomes. One of which was about Job Carving. The Job coaches told us about how they supported people to find a job. They also told us a couple of success stories when they have helped people. As Job carving is one of the targets, the Job Coaches told us about how one of the people they support has being doing a job as a PA in Andrea-Pope Smith's office through Job carving.
They agreed to come to the first People's Parliament meeting to talk about Job carving on the 30th July 2012.
Recently, I applied to be a part of a new young people's Scrutiny Panel which is made up of 15 young people from all over the UK. This panel is set up by the UKYP (Uk Youth Parliament) and the BYC (British Youth Council). About a week ago, I found out that I had been chosen as one of the young people to be on the panel which I'm excited and thrilled about as this is big national work and in London!
As being a part of the Scrutiny Panel, I will "youth proof "and examine UK Government policies. I will be advising UK Government Ministers on young people's needs and the impact of Government policies on young people. I will meet with the Government at least three times a year and I will also get an insight into Parliament.
On the 1st of July, I will be going down to London to meet with the other people who will join me on the panel and I will also get trained up. Then on the 2nd July, I will be meeting up with the Government for the first time with the rest of the panel.
The BYC do loads of other work with young people and so do the UKYP.
To find out more about the BYC and its other work. Please visit http://www.byc.org.uk/
To find out more about the UKYP and its other work. Please visit http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/
Read more...
As being a part of the Scrutiny Panel, I will "youth proof "and examine UK Government policies. I will be advising UK Government Ministers on young people's needs and the impact of Government policies on young people. I will meet with the Government at least three times a year and I will also get an insight into Parliament.
On the 1st of July, I will be going down to London to meet with the other people who will join me on the panel and I will also get trained up. Then on the 2nd July, I will be meeting up with the Government for the first time with the rest of the panel.
The BYC do loads of other work with young people and so do the UKYP.
To find out more about the BYC and its other work. Please visit http://www.byc.org.uk/
To find out more about the UKYP and its other work. Please visit http://www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk/
23 May
Gina & Siraaj meet with Darren & Daniel to recruit more MP’s for People’s Parliament in Dudley!
On the 23rd April, myself and Siraaj went to Dudley Council house to meet with Daniel and Darren to discuss whether they wanted to become MP's for Dudley. We discussed how the Parliaments works and that the MP's (who were people with a Learning Disability) would hold the power over the professionals and that they would be given deadlines to complete a task set by the MP's and that every Parliament meeting is filmed to show when or if a professional hasn't complete a task and they say they weren't ask to. But this film shows footage saying that they would so they can't go back on their word!
We then explain that in between the big Parliament, there are MP meeting to which the MP's are kept inform with the progress of work done by the professionals. Afterwards, we explained that there would be Select Committees led by MP's who have chosen to specialise in a certain area.
So please watch this space!
Read more...
We then explain that in between the big Parliament, there are MP meeting to which the MP's are kept inform with the progress of work done by the professionals. Afterwards, we explained that there would be Select Committees led by MP's who have chosen to specialise in a certain area.
So please watch this space!
