Newcastle Disability Forum
Our Story
Disabled people, world-wide, have always found it difficult to make their voices heard. Fortunately, disabled people in the City of Newcastle have the advantage of being able to link with an energetic, vocal and tireless group of disabled people who are working to destroy the barriers which prevent disabled people from living the full and independent lives to which they are entitled.
Newcastle Disability Forum (NDF) represents and draws its membership from people with any physical or sensory impairment, carers of disabled people and other interested people. Many of its members also represent other organisations. Underpinning the Forum's philosophy and activities are a commitment to a multi-disability approach, anti-racism / equal opportunities and the Social Model of Disability.
Newcastle Disability Forum was established at the end of 1988, in response to a growing feeling that disabled people should have a genuine influence over City policies concerning everything from access and transport to education, training and housing. The group regularly contributes to City Council decision-making processes across various Directorates. For example, NDF members are often invited to assist the City Council in carrying out surveys on accessibility, and on the effectiveness of Newcastle's specialised transport facilities. These members have also made significant contributions to nationwide surveys on the subject.
Representatives of the Forum are currently involved in over sixty groups. Members have often been successful in influencing policy decisions by cross-sector agencies regarding fundamental issues affecting disabled people. Members have also taken a key role in various Local Authority / Health Authority consultation processes. NDF has been involved in the Community Care Forum since its inception, and members have spoken at a number of Community Care conferences. The Forum is heavily involved in a wide range of other local health initiatives including Newcastle Health Partnership, Health Action Zone and the Joint Action Group.
The growing influence of NDF is reflected in the fact that the group's expertise has increasingly become recognised and valued by organisations who may once have assumed that they were qualified to decide what disabled people might need in terms of services and facilities.
Forum members are delighted to be able to influence policies for the benefit of everyone. However, this growing influence also means that more disabled people are needed to come forward and share in the Forum's activities.
Potential members have no need to worry about being 'flung in at the deep end' if they join the group. Members always support each other through the process of becoming more active, and anyone wishing to become more skilled at reading and analysing policy documents will have the help and support of other members. Communication support is provided wherever necessary. In-house training programmes are regularly made available to new and current members to enable them to deal with the various issues that they face.
Joining Newcastle
Disability Forum means making a serious commitment to working for
all disabled people in Newcastle. It is also a way of sharing in
the satisfaction and sheer fun of belonging to an energetic and
committed group.