The SPLIT Project: Working Together with Disabled Experts to Improve Communication

Haringey Disability First Consortium presents The SPLIT Project By Mhairi McGhee Disability Representation Worker

Haringey Disability First Consortium

Haringey Disability First Consortium and a D.P.O

D.P.O = Disabled People’s Organisation

D.P.O = Disabled People’s Organisation We are run BY disabled people FOR disabled people

Elected Steering Committee Local Disabled people Want to improve disabled people’s lives Represent the broad demography of: the ‘disabled community’ the borough Elected by the members

Elected Steering Committee Local Disabled people Want to improve disabled people’s lives Represent the broad demography of: the ‘disabled community’ the borough Elected by the members

Elected Steering Committee Local Disabled people Want to improve disabled people’s lives Represent the broad demography of: the ‘disabled community’ the borough Elected by the members

Elected Steering Committee Local Disabled people Want to improve disabled people’s lives Represent the broad demography of: the ‘disabled community’ the borough Elected by the members

Elected Steering Committee Local Disabled people Want to improve disabled people’s lives Represent the broad demography of: the ‘disabled community’ the borough Elected by the members

Elected Steering Committee Local Disabled people Want to improve disabled people’s lives Represent the broad demography of: the ‘disabled community’ the borough Elected by the members

Elected Steering Committee Local Disabled people Want to improve disabled people’s lives Represent the broad demography of: the ‘disabled community’ the borough Elected by the members

Elected Steering Committee Local Disabled people Want to improve disabled people’s lives Represent the broad demography of: the ‘disabled community’ the borough Elected by the members

Our members Pan-diagnosis

Our members Pan-diagnosis Financial and social cross section

Our members Pan-diagnosis Financial and social cross section Many of our members benefit from ‘plain English’

Our members Pan-diagnosis Financial and social cross section Many of our members benefit from ‘plain English’ 60% of our members do not use

Our members Pan-diagnosis Financial and social cross section Many of our members benefit from ‘plain English’ 60% of our members do not use Request reasonable adjustments, lobby for accessible communications, demonstrate best practice......

......but

More and more access is dependent on the internet IT literacy as a Human Rights issue Reduces isolation, connects people, improve employability

......but

Our secret weapon

Stroke survivor

Aphasia Stroke survivor

Aphasia Stroke survivor parent

Aphasia Stroke survivor parent Disability campaigner

Aphasia Stroke survivor parent Disability campaigner author

Aphasia Stroke survivor parent Disability campaigner author actor

Aphasia Stroke survivor parent HDFC Steering Committee Member Disability campaigner author actor

Aphasia Stroke survivor parent HDFC Steering Committee Member Disability campaigner author actor cyclist

Aphasia

is the name given to a collection of language disorders caused by damage to the brain

User lead – Disabled Experts Effective and efficient The contacts The knowledge The experience The passion and drive

One-to-one learning a Stroke Survivor with Aphasia and a Speech and Language Therapy student

Drop-ins practice new skills, bring in equipment, ask questions, learn tricks from others

Feedback

Because its run by people with aphasia for people with aphasia it avoids a lot of explanation. They already know where you’re coming from. They’ve been there themselves

Feedback

To be part of this programme its exciting for us the support workers...coz you actually see the changes they went through... [from] not knowing where the internet explorer is, to coming in, logging in independently

Feedback

It helped me a lot of ways. I learnt . I learnt facebook, I learnt youtube. I can do very skype (sic)

Feedback

Its all lead by the students, we’re there to support them but if the student wants to take a separate angle we’re there

Feedback

The first time my son phoned up... He’s sitting right in front of me. Its absolutely fantastic.

Feedback

To go on the computer and feel confident. Knowing not putting my bank details online, that was good. Before I was a very technical person. Its made me know that I can do it again.

Feedback

Course wise or content wise to be able to develop it a lot further. There’s so many different ways we could take this further... I think there’s a lot more opportunity for development

Feedback From the start to now seeing how far my student has come from the very beginning, its really good to kinda see that progress first-hand (sic)

Disabled experts design projects that work!

By Mhairi McGhee Disability Representation Worker SPLIT film For HEAR Human Rights and Equalities Network Conference Working Together for Health Equalities