Peer Support and User Involvement
DAD offers opportunities for disabled people of all ages and carers to learn from one another, and to work together to tackle issues, this is called peer support.
Some examples of our work are:
- Bringing people who use Direct Payments together for peer support.
- Developing opportunities for young disabled people to develop skills as peer mentors.
- Members of the Independent Living Hub supporting each other to find and build confidence and find solutions to barriers which impact on their independent living. For example: accessing transport in the community, access issues etc.
- Supporting a disabled parents group.
- Supporting carers to access peer support.
- Supporting disabled people and carers who have used personal budgets, to support other disabled people and carers through the process and take control in developing their support plan.
Further detail of DAD’s peer support opportunities are listed below if you would like to get involved please contact DAD on 01325 489999:
Direct Payment Peer Support Group
Members are people who use Direct Payments. They discuss topics and support each other with issues related to self directed support and direct payments. It meets every 2nd Tuesday of each month between 1pm and 3 pm at the Independent Living Hub. It is hosted by DAD’s Direct Payment Support Service: the Direct Payment Peer Support Group supports the Direct Payment Support Service to respond and develop in line with the needs and wishes of people who use Direct Payments.
Darlington Peoples Parliament Group
This group is not for politicians even though it is called Darlington's Peoples Parliament although we do have some very lively debates at times! This group meets to discuss things that are important to people who have a learning disability and Autistic people. This can be things like housing, support planning, dementia, voting, keeping healthy and speaking up for yourself . The group also campaign towards improving awareness of the power of Self Advocacy and raise awareness of the rights of disabled people. We are always on the lookout for new members who have a learning disability or are an Autistic person to join the Peoples Parliament so get in touch with Jenny and Hannah by emailing to mail@darlingtondisaility.org or 01325489999 for more information. The group meet monthly on a Wednesday but other self-advocacy sessions are available every other Wednesday.
Young Leaders
A Peer Support group for young disabled people, aiming to develop future leaders of the Disability Movement. Facilitated by DAD’s Children’s and Young Peoples’ Service (ChYPS).
Return to Support DAD can provide to help you manage your Direct Payment
How you can support us
As a local organisation we very much rely on the support of our local community. We support over 2,000 people every year to have greater choice and control and remove the barriers that disabled adults and children experience in their everyday lives. But we need YOUR help.