Contact is a support service for disabled people across Bradford and District. We are based in Yorkshire, England.
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CONTACT is a support service run by and for disabled people in the Bradford District. We train disabled people to become volunteer support workers. Our one-to-one service offers support sessions for disabled people who want to talk about issues that are important to them. Our support workers understand the issues which come from being a disabled person in today’s society.
CONTACT offers free support to disabled people across the District. It differs from other support services - all of our volunteer support workers training courses are free. For more information about training courses [ go to ‘Our volunteer training’. ]
CONTACT recognises that disabled people want support sometimes. Usually it is assumed that they want support relating to their medical condition or impairment. This isn’t true and does a disservice to all disabled people. Our volunteer support workers are trained to break this cycle by not making these assumptions.
We believe that there is something very powerful about disabled people receiving support from another disabled person. Usually it is assumed that disabled people will need support, rather than be in a position to offer support.
This is what makes our service different to others.
Support Workers work across the District and we always use accessible rooms. We do not pay travel costs but we do have limited funds for sign language translation and translation for people whose first language is not English. We also work with other organisations whenever possible to share resources and make sure that access issues do not prevent someone receiving support.
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Tel: 01274 371945
Bradford People First is an independent self-advocacy group run by and for people with learning disabilities. To find out where your local People First is phone:
Tel: 0171 713 6400
Tel: 01274 233739
Minicom: 01274 235094
e-mail disabilities@bradford.ac.uk
Offers a peer counselling service, run by and for disabled people
Tel: 01773 740246
Minicom: 01773 748452
Tel: 01302 769219
Minicom: 01302 329788
Email: information@disabilitydoncaster.org.uk
Telephone / 24 hr answerphone 0113 2143597
Confidential phone line)
General enquires 0113 2143599
Minicom 0113 2143598
www.yorkshiredisabilitynetwork.org.uk
Antenna is a counselling and an emotional support service for disabled people offering a range of services including a telephone help-line 0800 169 6415. We are open from 10.00 to 12.00 weekdays for face-to-face counselling.
Tel: 0116 251 5565
Email: mosaic@totalise.co.uk
National umbrella organisation set up by disabled people to represent their interests. It represents over 130 organisations run by disabled people.”
Email: general@bcodp.org.uk
National Disability Rights and Advocacy Newspaper. Includes feature stories, an archive of past stories and advertises employment opportunities.
Lothian CIL is a dynamic user-led organisation, which aims to provide choice and equality of opportunity for disabled people. They offer a peer support service.
Tel/minicom: 0131 475 2350
Promotes the human rights of disabled people through full participation and equality of opportunity. It is a cross-disability network of member organisations in over 160 countries, over half of which are in ‘developing’ countries.
The International Disability and Human Rights Network
To become a CONTACT 1 to 1 Support Worker, you must first take part in the training courses that we run. Our courses are accredited through the Open College Network. This means that people get credit and a certificate showing what they have learnt and achieved. These qualifications will help you to go on further courses or will help with other volunteering or work opportunities.
All our courses are taught by experienced disabled trainers who are used to working with groups of disabled people. These trainers know how to run courses so that everyone has an equal chance to take part.
Courses are designed, delivered and controlled by disabled people. They include information about disability equality, current legislation effecting disabled people, equal opportunities and the disabled people’s movement.
We have limited funds for access costs for people who are on our courses. This pays for a variety of costs, including: transport, child-care, personal assistance, writing hands for people who have difficulty with reading and writing, and interpreters.
Courses are hard work, friendly and rewarding. People get strength, independence and confidence from working with other disabled people. They learn about themselves, CONTACT and the national and global disability movements.
Interested in joining our courses? Or do you want more information about us? Please contact us and we will send you further information.
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There are
two approaches to disability; the social approach which CONTACT
promotes and the more traditional medical approach. We believe that
a social approach offers the opportunity for greater equality and
independence for disabled people. We also believe that the
medical approach prevents equality for disabled people.
CONTACT encourages people and
other organisations to work towards a social approach.
Below is a brief explanation of the two approaches.
This approach suggests that disability is not about people’s impairments, medical experiences or health backgrounds. Barriers come in many forms; for example:
inaccessible services
patronising or negative attitudes
low expectations of disabled people
poor education and employment opportunities
These barriers and attitudes can be challenged by both disabled people and non-disabled people.
This is why CONTACT’s support service is based upon a social approach to disability. We believe that this approach will bring about more equality and opportunities for disabled people.
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A medical approach suggests that disability as inevitable for people who have impairments and are not ‘normal’. Difficulties and barriers are things that disabled people must learn to ‘cope’ with. The world is meant to be for ‘normal’ people and disabled people are expected to be grateful for whatever they receive. Disabled people need to be ‘cured’ if they are to become ‘normal’ people and take part in all aspects of life.
Most services, organisations, legislation and decisions that affect disabled people are based on this approach. This places responsibility for change on disabled people.
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Write to us at:
Unit 81,
Carlisle Business Centre,
Carlisle Road,
Bradford, BD8 8BD,
UK.
Phone us: voice, minicom, ansaphone and fax (01274) 494121
Tell us how to get in touch with you:
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Address
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