What is Disability Action Planning?
The process enables organisations to look at where they are in relation to providing access to disabled people, and to determine what to do about it.
Action plans are supposed to be active tools, not static documents. Disability Action Planning is about looking for ways to ensure disability or access-specific actions become part of the standard planning process.
Plans can vary in complexity, depending on the size and needs of the organization. Implementation is key. The plan, or relevant aspects of it will need to be disseminated, monitored, and the impact measured. The formation of an action plan is the beginning of the story and not the end.
Drawing on the recent Arts Council publication:
Disability Access, a Good Practice Guide for the Arts, the course provides practical support, information and guidance in a humorous and pragmatic fashion. It is not about wallowing in theory. It's about challenging preconceptions and moving forward to action.
How will it work?
The course is broken into five stages. Initial contact helps organisations begin the process of auditing where they currently are in relation to access. They are encouraged to look at key aspects of their operations and comment on their current plans for the future.
An intensive 2 day programme provides information, discussion and debate to give organisations the tools they need to put inclusive practices into action. This includes an opportunity to see live and recorded work and performances, drawn from disabled artists living and working in the region.
This is followed up with individual email and phone correspondence to support organisations. It is hoped that an e-group can be formed for discussion and that the involvement in regional platforms and initiatives can be maximized.
A month after the initial 2 day block there will be a chance for the organisations to come together and discuss their emerging plans - what is going well, and what isn't? What are the blocks to inclusion and how can they be solved?
6 months on the organisations will come together for a final session looking at the impact of their programmes so far and their plans for the future. This is a chance to evaluate the impact of the training process, learn lessons for future and inspire other organisations in the region to become part of the programme.
The course has been created by Jo Verrent, director of ADA inc.
For more information go to:
www.adainc.org Related information
ADA inc.
www.adainc.org