Independence and Choice for All

Information in Other Formats
About Darlington Association on Disability (DAD)
Access Interest Group
Carers’ Support Service
Children and Young People Service (ChYPS)
DASH
Disability Equality Training
Dimensions Disability Initiative
Direct Payments Support Service
Self-Directed Support
Citizen Experts
Equal Access to Information and Advice
Information Service
Shopmobility
Volunteer Project
Make your Views Known
Become a DAD Member
Contacts

Information in Other Formats

If you need this booklet in another format, such as electronic, large print or easy read, please contact our Head Office.
Telephone: 01325 489999
Fax: 01325 488188
Email: mail@darlingtondisability.org
If English is not your first language and you would like more information, contact our Head Office by telephone on 01325 489999.

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About Darlington Association on Disability (DAD)

DAD began as a charity in 1986 led by disabled people. We are now also a company limited by guarantee and have a Board of Trustees. The majority of Trustees are disabled people, who direct our work.
We act as a focal point for consultation with disabled people and carers and manage a range of services and projects to support our aims.

Mission Statement

We exist to promote independence and choice. We support disabled people and carers through the provision of services, support and information, and by tackling issues affecting disabled people both locally and nationally.

Values

We strive to ensure that individuals are treated equally, particularly in respect of impairment, race, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, belief or religion.
DAD is accredited by Investors in People. We are also a member of DialUK, who service the disability advice network.
All our premises are accessible and have loop systems available.
Website: www.darlingtondisability.org

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Access Interest Group

The Access Interest Group brings disabled people together to improve access for disabled people by addressing barriers created by both the physical and attitudinal environment.

We aim to involve disabled people in order to:

Highlight good practice around access issues and actively campaign on Disability Issues.
Raise access issues and concerns with planners and providers.
Promote and provide advice on anti-discrimination legislation to disabled people, carers, services and public bodies.
Encourage disabled people to take up their rights under the Disability Discrimination Act and, from 1st October 2010, the Equality Act, supporting disabled people to overcome discrimination.
Work with organisations from the planning stage through to delivery to ensure their services are accessible.
For more information contact us on:
Telephone: 01325 489999
Fax: 01325 488188
Email: aig@darlingtondisability.org

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Carers’ Support Service

The service provides free information and advice to anyone providing support to a family member, friend or neighbour who has a long term illness or impairment. This includes:

Advice

Information and guidance about services and sources of support.

Support

Opportunities to meet with other carers.
Relaxation sessions.
Listening ear, home visits and drop-in service.
Access to training.

Register with the Carers’ Support Service as a carer.

Receive a bi-monthly carers’ newsletter.
Receive information about services and events that may be of interest to you.
For more information contact us on:
Telephone: 01325 357533
Email: carers@darlingtondisability.org
We can also register you with your GP as a carer.
Carers’ Support is affiliated to Carers UK, the voice of carers.

Register as a Carer

The Carers’ Support Service and your GP Practice have strict codes of confidentiality. They will not share your information with other organisations without your permission, unless a child or vulnerable adult is at risk.
The Carers’ Support Service is supported by Darlington Adult Social Care and County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust. They will not have access to any personal information about you, although they may ask the service to send out information that may be of interest to you.

On receipt of your registration slip we will:
Record the fact that you are a carer
Offer you a carer’s check
Send you a regular newsletter
Pass your details to your GP if you want them to know that you have caring responsibilities.
If you wish to register with the Carers’ Support Service as a carer please open the Word attachment “Request to Register as a Carer.” Please contact the Carers’ Support Service if you are unable to do this and would like to use another format or have a form sent to you.

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Children and Young People Services (ChYPS)

Inclusive play and leisure opportunities, supporting young disabled people to make their voice heard.

Bridges is the Inclusive Bridging Support Service

Support to children and young people to access and participate in play and leisure opportunities of their choice.

Inclusion Support Service

This Service is aimed at children and young people accessing a Direct Payment to enable them to access play and leisure provision of their choice.

Professional Development Training

Inclusion, communication and disability awareness training are provided as part of this Service, to enable play and leisure providers to develop skills and increase their understanding of inclusive play.

Quality in Play is Quality Assurance Mentoring

This is an accredited play mentoring service for providers in Play England’s “Quality in Play” Quality Assurance Standards.

Young Leaders looks at Inclusion, Participation and Leadership

This service provides opportunities for training, personal development, and to influence DAD and other services.
For more information contact us on
Telephone: 01325 254848
Fax: 01325 254841
Email: chyps@darlingtondisability.org

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DASH

This Service provides inclusive play and leisure sessions during holidays for disabled and non-disabled children.
DASH promotes a free play structure, but some structured activities are also provided, including indoor and outdoor play sessions, workshops, trips to the seaside, soft play, swimming and bowling.
Through trained staff and volunteers we are able to maintain a high level of support for children. All volunteers are offered training and are fully CRB and reference checked.

We aim to:

Promote a fun, stimulating and safe environment for disabled children to play and socialise.
Provide a range of exciting play and leisure opportunities.
Encourage children to be as independent as possible through providing the appropriate level of support.
Provide parents/carers with an opportunity to take time off from caring to enable them to have time for themselves.
Provide a "children first" service.
For more information contact us on:
Telephone: 01325 254848
Fax: 01325 254841
Email: chyps@darlingtondisability.org

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Disability Equality Training

This comprises the provision of up-to-date training, exploring the concept of disability and offering guidance on current legislation. The training reflects both the Social Model of Disability and the philosophy of the Disability Movement.

What you will gain from the course:

An understanding of the distinction between impairment and disability.
Confidence when working with disabled people by using appropriate etiquette and language.
Understanding the importance of disability issues when developing or implementing practices, policies or procedures.
Knowledge of best practice.

What participants thought

“Informative and interesting”.
“Increased understanding of disability”.
“More aware of the barriers faced by and attitudes towards disabled people”.
“More aware of my own actions and surroundings”.

For more information contact us on:
Telephone: 01325 489999
Fax: 01325 488188
Email: det@darlingtondisability.org

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Dimensions Disability Initiative

Dimensions is led by disabled people who have physical or sensory impairments. Dimensions is based on the Social Model of Disability, promoting equality, independence, choice and control.

Dimensions:

Provides support staff, volunteers, accessible premises, equipment, resources and access to transport.
Supports people to work at their own pace, to devise Personal Development Plans, including community involvement, education, training, leisure and employment.
Supports people to improve Life skills including Confidence Building, Independent Living, Information Technology, Deaf Awareness and Disability Equality Training.
Offers information, advice and support to people who choose to use personal and/or individual budgets.
Offers emotional, advocacy and peer support.
For more information contact us on:
Telephone: 01325 254840
Fax: 01325 254841
Email: dimensions@darlingtondisability.org

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Direct Payments Support Service

Direct Payments are a way of getting more choice and control over the support you are assessed as needing from Adult Social Services or the Children’s Department. The Direct Payments Support Service assists people to look at options and provides a range of support to people using or thinking about using Direct Payments, including:
Individual support to look at how you might use a Direct Payment.
Support for people who choose to employ their own personal assistants and support workers, including a full payroll service and recruiting and advertising support.
Peer support groups and user involvement forum.
Newsletter to keep you up-to-date with any changes.
Advice and support help line.
Ongoing support to help make your Direct Payment work for you.
For more information contact us on:
Telephone: 01325 360524
Fax: 01325 267338
Email: directpayments@darlingtondisability.org

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Self-Directed Support

The provision of Social Care is changing in Darlington to give more control to disabled people, older people and family carers. We are supporting this change, which will mean the introduction of Self-Directed Support, where the person is in control of the service they receive.

Changes include:

The introduction of Individual Budgets; a way of having more choice and control over services.
Increasing the uptake of Direct Payments.
Health and Social Services working together.
Local Authorities involving disabled people more in decision making.
Support for Centres for Independent Living (CILs). These are local user-led organisations like DAD.
Advice, support and advocacy for people who do not qualify for public funding.
For more information contact us on:
Telephone: 01325 360524
Fax: 01325 267338
Email: directpayments@darlingtondisability.org

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Citizen Experts

The term “Citizen Experts” is used to describe people whose knowledge about social care services comes directly from using social care services themselves. They have personal experience either as a disabled person or carer.
Citizen Experts play an important and key role in shaping adult care services. Citizen experts may be paid or unpaid.
Current work includes contributing to local authority work streams which are developing Personalisation, contributing to disability impact assessments, and supporting other disabled people and carers around the issues of Personalisation.
We also use Citizen Experts as “Experts by Experience” to support the work of the Care Quality Commission by working alongside inspectors in carrying out inspections on care homes and services in the region.
For more information contact us on:
Telephone: 01325 360524
Fax: 01325 267338
Email: directpayments@darlingtondisability.org

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Equal Access to Information and Advice Project

Supporting disabled people and carers to make informed choices and increase independence through access to disability rights based information.

Through the Project you can:

Find out more about your rights as a disabled person, a carer or parent of a disabled child.
Find out about the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and from 1st October 2010, the Equality Act, to understand when you have been discriminated against.

We offer:

Training on disability equality, anti-discrimination legislation and making rights information accessible for advisors.
Group presentations and themed meetings.
One-to-one advice and support.
Opportunities to share your concerns with others and help make local services better.
For more information contact us on:
Telephone: 01325 489999
Fax: 01325 488188
Email: equalaccess@darlingtondisability.org

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Information Service

The Information Service provides comprehensive and up-to-date disability information and advice.

The Service includes:

An on-line Information Guide which can be viewed at: www.darlingtondisability.org
Information provision and advice on options.
Availability of information in a wide range of formats.
Signposting to other local, regional and national services.
Provision of assistance to contact other organisations, fill in forms and apply for charitable funding.
The Service is confidential and enquiries can be made by telephone, fax and email, or in person at our head office. Home visits can sometimes be arranged.
For more information contact us on:
Telephone: 01325 489999
Fax: 01325 488188
Email: equalaccess@darlingtondisability.org

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Shopmobility Service

You may be aware from recent reports in the press, that Darlington Borough Council has reduced the amount it pays DAD to run the Shopmobility service. Regrettably this means we have to implement a charge for hiring all Shopmobility equipment and as of the 1st December 2010 will be charging £2 per hire. The Shopmobility opening times will also alter from 1st Dec; we will be loaning equipment between the hours of 9:45am - 4:30 pm. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and hope that you will continue to use the service.
Register to use the service by completing a simple registration form and providing two forms of identification.
All new members are given a full demonstration on how to use the equipment by fully trained staff.
Free parking is available when using Shopmobility.
Equipment is available Monday to Saturday 9.45 am to 4.30 pm.
Find wheelchair and scooter accessible premises within Darlington Town Centre on the “Wheelygood” website at www.wheelygood.org
For more information contact us on:
Telephone: 01325 489999
Fax: 01325 488188
Email: shopmobility@darlingtondisability.org

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Volunteer Project

The Project recruits and supports volunteers to work across DAD.

Some of our current volunteer opportunities include:

Administration and reception work.
Computing, collating and updating of information.
Supporting disabled individuals or groups to develop skills in education, training or leisure activities.
Working with children on our play schemes and after school activities.
Whatever time you have available, we will value your skills and commitment and place you within a Project that best suits you.

Some of the benefits of volunteering include:

Access to free training.
Developing new skills.
Improving levels of confidence.
Flexible hours to suit you.
Opportunities to gain experience.
A step towards employment.
For more information contact us on:
Telephone: 01325 489999
Fax: 01325 488188
Email: volunteers@darlingtondisability.org

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Make your Views Known

We welcome compliments, comments and complaints. These may be written, or communicated in another way, for example, verbally, signed or by email. The views of people using our services are helpful in future planning and developing a quality service.

If you wish to make a complaint:

Contact a Project Coordinator or Senior Manager.
You can be supported or accompanied by a person of your choice and we will provide a communicator if required.
Complaints will be dealt with promptly within given timescales outlined in our Complaints Procedure.
All complaints are fed back to our Trustees.
For a copy of our Compliments, Comments and Complaints procedure contact:
Darlington Association on Disability (DAD)
Head Office
20-22 Horsemarket
Darlington
DL1 5PT
Telephone: 01325 489999
Fax: 01325 488188
Email: mail@darlingtondisability.org

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Become a DAD Member

We are a user-led charitable organisation and a registered company. Membership is free and open to disabled people and non-disabled people who actively support our mission and aims. If you receive support or information from us you automatically become a non-company member and will receive a newsletter. We also have formal company members. 75% of our Trustees and the majority of formal members must be disabled people. By becoming a formal member you can support and influence our work. You will receive an invitation to members’ meetings and other events and can take part in decision-making by voting in elections. To become a member of DAD please open the Word attachment “Request to Become a DAD Member.” Please contact Head Office if you are unable to do this and would like to use another format or have a form sent to you.

DAD Definition of a Disabled Person

A person who has or who may experience disability as a barrier in society deriving from a long-term physical, sensory, learning or mental impairment or condition that is more than minor or trivial irrespective of cause or diagnosis.

DAD Definition of a Carer

Family, friends or neighbours who provide physical, practical or emotional care or supervision to another person, as a result of that person's age, frailty, mental or physical health needs or learning difficulties. People often find it difficult to see themselves in this role and may resist being called carers, seeing themselves as primarily sons, daughters, husbands, wives, etc.

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DAD Contacts

Head Office

Our Head Office is located next door to the Dolphin Centre, in the Market Place. The nearest car park is behind the Town Hall.
Projects based here include the Access Interest Group, Information Service, Shopmobility Service, Equal Access to Information and the Advice Project.
Darlington Association on Disability (DAD)
Head Office
20-22 Horsemarket
Darlington
DL1 5PT
Telephone: 01325 489999
Fax: 01325 488188
Email: mail@darlingtondisability.org

Enterprise House

Located on Valley Street opposite Homecare. Free parking is available at the back of the building.

Direct Payments Support Service and Citizen Experts
Enterprise House
Valley Street
Darlington
DL1 1GY
Telephone: 01325 360524
Fax: 01325 267338
Email: directpayments@darlingtondisability.org

Carers’ Support Service
Telephone: 01325 357533
Email: carers@darlingtondisability.org

West Lodge

Located on West Crescent, off Woodland Road. Our building is accessible. On-street parking is available in certain areas of West Crescent. Dimensions Disability Initiative has limited Blue Badge parking.
West Lodge
West Crescent
Darlington
DL3 7PS
Fax: 01325 254841

Dimensions Disability Initiative
Telephone: 01325 254840
Email: dimensions@darlingtondisability.org

Children and Young People Service
Telephone: 01325 254848
Email: chyps@darlingtondisability.org

Volunteer Project
Telephone: 01325 489999
Email: volunteers@darlingtondisability.org

All our premises are accessible and have loop systems available.

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