The Alliance for Inclusive Education and Disability LIB welcomes you Parliamentary Launch Tuesday, 19 th January 2010 Pushing for Change The Role of Disabled People’s Organisations in Developing Young Disabled Leaders of the Future

Introduction Baroness Jane Campbell of Surbiton DBE

Hardip Begol Deputy Director: Special Educational Needs and Disability Division - Department for Children, Schools and Families

An overview of the project and the report Tara Flood Director: Alliance for Inclusive Education

Why we did the work? Highlight the inaccessibility of leadership opportunities Identify the barriers to involving young disabled people in Disabled People’s Organisations To identify what needs to change to support the next generation of disabled leaders What Next?

Christine O’Mahony Pushing for Change: Researcher and author

What did the research find? Young People and Adults Agree No fundamental differences between disabled adults and disabled young people’s definition of a disabled leader Definition of a Disabled leader Someone who: Promotes social justice Empowers others Manages people Has specific personal qualities

What did the research find? Young disabled people Keen to challenge disability inequality Bring new perspectives to the table Need disabled adult mentors and role models Look to other disabled young people as role models 88% of disabled people asked thought young people could be leaders 88% thought non verbal disabled people can be leaders

What did the research find ? Disabled People’s Organisations 28% not currently working with young disabled people because they lack:  Funding and resources  Capacity and commitment  Experience and expertise  Access to young people

Miro Griffiths

Young Disabled People and Leadership Disabled Young Persons’ participation in decision making Promote shared experience and empowerment Accelerate Disability Equality - Driving Forward Structural Change

Melanie Close Manager: Disability Equality North West

The DPO Perspective It’s easy to tick boxes and con ourselves! The work is great fun to do – and well worth the time and effort! It’s a long term commitment!

We would like to thank all of you for coming today and for supporting the work of the Alliance for Inclusive Education