About
About Disability Nottinghamshire
We provide a free, confidential and independent advice service relating to any aspect of disability to disabled people, their family, friends, carers, professionals and students.
The service is offered by people who have personal experience of disability either by being disabled themselves or by having direct experience of caring. From a quick query about how to get a Blue Badge or RADAR key to a two hour session filling in a welfare benefit form. We have an experienced team on hand to help which is FREE to all residents of Nottinghamshire.
Disability Nottinghamshire only covers the Nottinghamshire County Council geographical area.
We are a Registered Charity (No. 1131621), Company Limited by Guarantee (No. 6972820) and a user led organisation managed by a Trustee Board who are responsible for making sure adequate governance, policy and procedures are in place to work effectively.
What we believe
The Social Model of Disability
The Social Model of Disability rejects the medical idea that the ‘problem’ lies with the individual disabled person who is ‘sick’ and in need of a ‘cure’. Instead it puts forward the view that it is the way society is run and organised that is the ‘problem’ not the individual disabled person.
The 12 basic Rights
Disabled People have identified twelve basic rights which, if met, would enable them to live independently and fully participate in society. Disability Nottinghamshire is committed to enabling people to secure these needs:
- Full access to our environment
- A fully accessible transport system
- Technical aids – Equipment
- Accessible/adapted housing
- Personal assistance
- Inclusive education and training
- An adequate income
- Equal opportunities for employment
- Appropriate and accessible information
- Advocacy (towards self-advocacy)
- Counselling
- Appropriate and accessible heath care provision
What is independent living?
Many people believe that independence is about doing everything for yourself, and therefore as disabled people often need assistance in their everyday life, they cannot be independent.
Disabled people challenge this assumption. We say that independence is not about doing everything for yourself, no-one lives in isolation from the rest of the world, we all depend on each other, this is why we all live as a society.
It is this fundamental understanding that gave birth to the independent living movement. Choice and control are two of the most important factors denied to many disabled people. Disabled people refuse to accept that non-disabled people have the right to deny them choice and control over their own lives.
Having the finance, and support to enable disabled people to employ their own assistants to assist them with their everyday lives is a good way of facilitating independence. By employing their own staff, disabled people can control how the assistance they need is provided, allowing them to lead the lifestyle of their choice.
The concept of direct payments was ‘invented’ by disabled people to facilitate control of the assistance they require and therefore facilitate independent living.