PENIEL FOUNDATION’s Post

Program Snapshot 🥳 Our high school program is designed to give our students & young adults with developmental disabilities the same high school experience as their peers with the supports they need. Building friendships, reaching goals, & developing independence are priorities of the program. 📈 #StudentsWithDisabilities #Disabilities #Education #Florida #Community #Nonprofit

It was a strange day in April 2023 when I visited a site that I am involved in alongside Rod Turner and Ross Harper in the East Midlands. I arrived to find a whole number of distressed staff and also the day centre clients in their care, some quite literally in tears, in the cafe on site. What's going on? I asked. The group - which offers not only day centre support but also support with personal care, which is a hard service to find and drastically needed - particularly post-covid as so many were shut down - was to be closed down permanently. Why? I asked. The nationwide charity running the service had employed a consultant to find out why there was a gigantic hole in their finances, and the solution proposed was to shut down in the entire county of Derbyshire. Now I've got a reasonable head for figures - and I knew that the discounted rate we were charging for the facility was very reasonable (on investigation, it was half of what some other venues were charging them for lesser facilities!). I knew roughly what the day rate would be - largely paid by the local authority from the budget of the clients, who tend to be adults with severe physical disabilities and/or special educational needs. I knew this because I've consulted for similar businesses in the past. A quick back of the coffee coaster revealed that the service should be able to survive, and perhaps even thrive with room for good management and - thanks to donations and community support - the ability to buy some much needed kit. So what was going on? Layers of management, no direction, impossible to make decisions - and, behind it all, rumours of a spending scandal after a very significant donation was received. This didn't matter, though, in the moment. This wasn't root cause analysis. It was absolutely clear to me, in that moment, that something had to be done. I spoke with my partners - both of whom have a strong track record in both care and charity work - and an agreement was made. I had a whole 7 weeks and their support and expertise to get this done. On day 50, that new service started - the staff were given new jobs, we were so lucky to get a great manager who was being pushed off a sinking ship - and, most importantly of all, the people who that day said to me "I'll have nowhere to go" and "this is the best part of my week" - still had their service - and instead had an agile management team, who could say yes to activities and trips that previously had been kiboshed for no good reason. It was day 365 of that service last week and yesterday was the day to commemorate what has been achieved. The service, as Rod says below, has doubled in size. Around it, other services have been closing. We are moving to larger premises and hope to continue to deliver this fantastic standard of day support services, and have eyes on the next site 20 minutes away. Humbled, fulfilled, delighted and honoured - it really was the case of being in the right place at the right time.

To kick off Learning Disability Week 2024, Sam Michael Wood and I made a short video for Friends 2 Friends, a local charity in Lichfield and Burton in Staffordshire that supports people with learning disabilities. This year's theme, "Do you see me?" focuses on being seen, heard, and valued. We spoke with the members to learn more about what this means to them. Please share this video to help spread awareness 🎥🎬 #LearningDisabilityWeek #learningdisabilities #learningdisability #learningdisabilityawareness #learningdisabilitiesawareness

How to include students with disabilities!

📢 Addressing Disability Hate Crime: Building a Safer Community According to the Office for National Statistics, an estimated 70,000 disability hate crimes occur every year. Disturbingly, our findings reveal that individuals with learning disabilities and/or autism are four times more likely to be targeted. . 🔹 73% of people with a learning disability and/or autism have been victims of hate crime. 🔹 Yet, 48% never report these incidents to the police, and among those who do, only 28% feel satisfied with the outcome. During Hate Crime Awareness Week, we hosted an open event in Camden and Islington to hear directly from those affected by hate crime. Through interactive games and discussions, attendees shared their experiences, explored how they responded, and learned about resources available to support them in the future. . A key takeaway was the role of Stop Hate UK, a national charity providing a 24/7 support line for those impacted by hate crime. Their guidance and advice have proven invaluable to many. We are grateful for everyone who attended, including those supported by C404 and our external guests. Together, we are working towards a safer, more inclusive community. #HateCrimeAwareness #SupportForAll #Inclusion #StopHate #charity #learningdisability

Did you know almost any business or charity can join the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program? You may have seen our recent stats post mentioning this program. Today we're explaining the 'hidden disabilities' symbol for those who don't yet know about it. You can also find out more about it, at the link in the comments. Image descriptions in alt text. #HiddenDisabilitySunflower #SunflowerProgram #DisabilityAustralia #DisabilityInclusion #Accessibility #WorkplaceAccessibility #InvisibleDisabilities

Deaf Nigerians face issues with the quality of interpretation services. To support our mission and help us continue this important work, visit our website and consider donating via https://lnkd.in/dwcxDAiQ. Also, our white paper report is in progress and will be published soon. If you're interested in reading it, please contact us. Visual description: The image shows a close-up of two people shaking hands. The text reads, "91% of deaf Nigerians surveyed did NOT express trust in interpreters’ ability to effectively work with them." #health #research #community #deaf #GDRI #global #quality #qualityoflife #diversity #inclusion #inclusive #equity #equitable #accessbility #accessible #disability #peoplewithdisability #disabledpeople #deafpeople #deafcommunity #publichealth #data #quality #project #DeafScientists #RepresentationMatters #WeAreBillionStrong

If you wish to support Russell please follow the link - https://lnkd.in/eqDq36Cr #learningdisability #connectinglivessince1990 #intensiveinteraction #charity #disability #specialneeds #PMLD #autism #disabilityawareness

🌟 Did you know that July is National Disability Pride Month? 🌟 It's a time to celebrate the diverse abilities and talents of individuals with disabilities, and to advocate for a more inclusive society. Let's use this month to raise awareness, promote acceptance, and celebrate the achievements of people with disabilities. Together, we can work towards a more equal and accessible world for all. #DisabilityPrideMonth #InclusionMatters #enddomesticviolence #endsexualviolence #reintegration #hivaidsawareness #housingfirst #communityresource #nonprofit #newjersey #njac_helps

To read Anne’s article follow the link https://lnkd.in/eGk7uYSc #learningdisability #connectinglivessince1990 #intensiveinteraction #charity #disability #specialneeds #PMLD #autism #disabilityawareness