TOP TIPS FOR INCLUDING BME DISABLED PEOPLE

  1. It is so vital that you think “OUTSIDE THE BOX, AND BEYOND”!
  1. Please DO NOT presume that BME Communities/Disabled People are “HARD TO REACH”!

HOT TIPS TO TRY OUT!!!!!!

Visit Day Centres, Libraries, G.P Surgeries, Older People groups, Universities, Schools, Colleges, Local cultural supermarkets/shops, advertise in restaurants, use the local newspaper, and radio, clinics and hospitals, especially Heart Disease, sickle cell, Arthritic, diabetes and stroke clinics, visit mental health survivor groups, lisie with CPNS, O.Ts, Job centre Plus and training schemes, domino clubs, music groups…. The list goes on!

  1. When you do liase with bme groups, its important that you show TRUST, and SHARE WITH THEM, THEIR RIGHTS TO EQUAL SERVICES, CHOICES AND CONTROL, in particularly how DP can make this a REALITY.
  1. DO NOT make STEREO TYPICAL ASSUMPTIONS!
  1. Understand that even WITHIN ETHNIC GROUPS, THERE ARE CULTURAL AND SOCIAL DIFFERENCES, SO individuality is KEY!
  1. During Assessments and BEYOND, USE THE HOLISTIC MODEL AS PRACTICE, AND THE NORM!
  1. DO NOT PRESUME that BME Communities “ LOOK AFTER THEIR OWN”! Assess each person as having a HUMAN RIGHTS TO EQUALITY.
  1. Recognise that food preparation, faith, preparation of self, and daily living routines are certainly different across minority groups and cultures, so PLEASE DO NOT JUDGE OR CROSS REFERENCE THE EXPERIENCES OR WAY OF LIFE OF ONE INDIVIDUAL TO THAT OF ANOTHER WITHIN THE SAME ETHNIC BACKGROUND!
  1. Like many other groups, BME Communities/Disabled People have their own families (they are parents and grandparents too) so its vital that their parental needs as well as being a person with a disability, are incorporated and included… AGAIN, HAVE A HOLISTIC VIEW!
  1. Take great care and consideration NOT TO BE TOO RESTRICTIVE

on how a DP Recipient may/may not use their funds ( as long as they are using it within the broad criteria noted by DOH/CSIP Social Inclusion model to DP, and are NOT MISUSING FUNDS allocated. This is particularly key for People with Mental Health and Multiple impairments.

11.If after assessing, you find that there is “UNMET NEEDS” IT IS VITAL that this is RECORDED and monitoring put in place so the need “does not remain unmet”!

  1. Advocacy is another KEY ELEMENT and is a SUPPORT of choice, which many BME Communities choose if it is on available. The reason for this is that the communities feel more trusting of this type of service. Do you have an Advocacy Service, or is their an independent service you can refer people to?

If so… how does it work in practice? Is it bme led? If NOT, would you consider this option of service by developing an Advocacy scheme?

WalthamForestCollege, 707 Forest Road, LondonE17 4JB

Direct T:020 8527 3211Advocacy:020 8527 3712F:020 8418 5662

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