What's "Normal" Anyway? - Family, Faith and Community developing the legacy of the London 2012 Paralympics
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E13 People United
What’s “Normal”
Anyway?
Family, Faith and Community
developing the legacy of the
London 2012 Paralympics
Contributed to by
Act Up!, The 3Hs, Hope & A Future, Ju90,
and Portway & Plaistow Primary Schools
What’s it all about?
E13 People Utd was born of research carried out in 2008 when Plaistow Children’s
Centre was opening up. A survey of 600 parents showed that a high proportion
wanted opportunities to learn about other cultures and faiths in our local community.
Our first activity to meet this desire was a ‘Faith and Neighbours Walk’ in 2011 - more
than 70 people visiting 5 different faiths’ local places of worship over a Saturday
afternoon, hearing at each from a faith leader about what it means to be a good
neighbour in their tradition. From this we also developed a ’Good Neighbour Pledge’
which we launched with a party in November 2011 and are still promoting. In 2012
we organised a triptych of conversation evenings to explore approaches to birth,
marriage and death across the cultures and faiths (see our publication sharing this
experience).
After the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics our core group decided to prepare a
series of events to explore their impact on people’s perceptions and commitments,
with a focus on cultural and faith perspectives on disability. Three evening events
were organised in Spring and early Summer of 2013, incorporating drama, music, and
conversations in pairs and groups. The core group learned a lot through the process
of planning the events and, of course, still more along with the participants at the
events - especially through our partnership with disability groups and disabled
individuals.
This publication is part of our effort to share and extend some of that learning, raise
the issues in the wider community, and encourage action to make our families, faith
groups and communities more `disabled-
friendly’, including by signposting people to
potential resources. We are also sharing
elements of the events on our website, and
there are links to the relevant `pages’ in this
publication.
2
Contents
page
Disability & Family Life 4
Disability & Faith Life 6
Disability & Community Life 8
Ju90’s ‘What’s normal, anyway?’ 10
Summary reflec ons 21
Resources Directory 22
Contacts 24
3
EVENT 1
DISABILITY AND FAMILY LIFE
“I'm a single parent of 2 young children with
disabilities. My son has a diagnosis of Autism
and has severe learning disability. It was
important to me and my family that we could
access the community just like everyone else
and be amongst friends and family. I found
Children from Portway Primary School launched
that almost everyone had a willingness to try
the series singing songs by David Gue a and Katy Perry
and make things easier for us but didn't
You shout it out necessarily know how. As a parent it can get
But I can't hear a word you say frustrating - I found that for the places Rizwan
I'm talking loud not saying much
really enjoyed going to it was worth the effort
I'm cri cized but all your bullets ricochet
You shoot me down, but I get up making relationships with the community as it
From ‘Titanium’ ‐ David Gue a made the whole experience much more fun.
You don't have to feel like a waste of space I feel that we all should try and make our
You're original, cannot be replaced homes and work places accessible so that
If you only knew what the future holds Newham can truly be an accessible borough.”
A er a hurricane comes a rainbow
From ‘Fireworks’ ‐ Katy Perry
Zeenat Khan (The 3 Hs)
Act Up! Drama group performed “Changing A tudes”
based on personal experiences of the actors
Friend 1: That’s in breach of the Equality Act.
Bouncer: The what?
All: The Equality Act 2010! All non disabled people together:
Friend 2: You can’t refuse us entry because of our We don’t cast judgement on disabled people.
disabilities.
Friend 3: Yeah we’ll report you! All the disabled people:
Friend 1: Yes and if you don’t change your attitude, Thank you for listening to our stories (sign).
your club might be closed down.
Friend 2: What you're doing is against the law. Actors: Carey Noel, Chelsey Cairns, Ellen Goodey,
Bouncer: against the law? Faisal Bu , Houston Rasandram, Jade Sempare, Lo e
All: yes! Brown, Sterre Ploeger, & Yvonne Brouwers
4
Café‐style Table Conversa ons
1. Have the 2012 Paralympics changed attitudes towards disability/disabled people in your
family/home? In what ways?
2. What do we mean by ‘disability’? Who defines ‘disability’? Who is and who is not disa-
bled? What does our answer mean in practice for us?
3. How can our families and homes be more ‘disabled-friendly’?
These were some of our answers ‐ is there anything you woud add?
Table 1 Table 2
It made me realize that people People with disabilities have different needs and re-
with disability are very strong quirements
and independent
Disabilities affect the way you live your life
Showed you that people with dis-
You need support to live your life like equal people
abilities can participate and learn
new things Having a disability means you face challenges that oth-
ers may not have
Created a positive attitude of the
performance and capability of We pull on society to appreciate each other’s definition
paralympians. We are seeing a change in attitude towards disability
Anybody can achieve and per- Everything is deemed normal
form.
Social model
Children in schools are accepting
and respect disabilities. Table 3
Challenges one to do likewise
Home improvements – physical, clear and tidy
Proud of achievement
Home awareness – talk and discuss with kids, open up home,
Belief in yourself inviting
Inspired me to aim higher Try to make our home accessible by adapting it like putting
Raises expectations hand rails and shower seats; rails to support yourself
Inspired me to think about other Stair lifts in order to get up to different platforms
possibilities for disabled people Change our attitudes to disabled people
Community denied opportunity Family & friends need to be more accepting & supportive
Lack of involvement from disa- towards their disabled relatives
bled people Financial costs of equipping the home to be disabled-friendly
Lack of involvement of disabled Through education & understanding of conditions
people behind the scenes
Teaching young children about disability and accepting
No live subtitles disability in a positive manner
Combine Olympics and Paralym- Grants for non-disabled people so their friends can visit?
pics
Free ramps scheme – households opt in
Key learning: I am not the only person to think the way I do.
We’re labeled ‘disabled’ because there is no place for disabled people.
Disability is a way of changing
5
things.
EVENT 2— DISABILITY & FAITH LIFE
Pupils from Plaistow Primary School helped A Personal Perspec ve
inspire us with posi ve songs “Muslims, I understand, believe that
disability is a disciplinary tool and beneficial
instrument, disability is also a means of test-
ing one's faith. Muslims are recommended
to have sympathy and be helpful to disabled
people.
I could also give information about Judaism
where the dominant position in Jewish
thinking is that disability is not a punishment
for sin nor are disabled people to be seen as
Act Up! Drama Group performed a piece they any different to non-disabled people in
God’s eyes; all have infinite value…
had wri en especially for our event —
Disability and faith for me as a Christian are
`True Stories of Faith and Disability’
a series of cliff edges. My life experience
often brings me to very edge of my faith in
good and bad ways. The first edge I come
to is one of darkness, difficulty and despair.
Disability is often a hard place and also an
extraordinarily isolated place….
Before my illness I had a very exterior faith;
I did a lot of things for God on His behalf
(by the way I’m not entirely sure He wanted
me to do all of them). My illness has given
me, with a lot of help from my son, an
interior faith; a much deeper connection
with God and I have to say despite every-
thing it’s a really good place...
If Jesus said the ‘First shall be last and last
Mother: My baby has no arms, no legs. shall be first in the Kingdom of God’, how
Husband: We should give thanks to Allah for this should that change the way the Church
child. Our child is a gift from god. It says in the treats people like my son? It has to be
Koran that disability is a gift from god and that we deeper than inclusion — it’s about giving
should all look after disabled people. them places of honour and visibility within
Friends: Oooh isn’t he sweet, our worshipping communities where we
Friend 1: Give thanks to Allah, he has blessed
really can learn from them.”
you with a beautiful child.
Alison Orphan (Hope and a Future)
Actors: Carey Noel, Chelsey Cairns, Faisal Bu , Houston
Rasandram, Jade Sempare, Sterre Ploeger, & Yvonne Brouwers 6
Café‐style Table Conversa ons
Table 1: What do you think your faith/culture teaches about disability (in scriptures, sermons,
attitudes and practices) – both ideally and in reality?
Table 2: What values/aspirations can faith (or cultural) groups take from the Paralympics?
Table 3: How can our faith groups and places of worship be more ‘disabled-friendly’?
These were some of our answers ‐ is there anything you woud add?
Table 1 Table 2
Independent living is important – work, The need for acknowledgement of poten al No difference
money, friends
There’s nothing that you can’t do if you put your mind to it
We need more respect for disabled peo‐
ple without wan ng to change them The need for self‐affirma on We are all people
We are leaders Inspiring for non‐disabled people Disabled people are strong
Disabled people’s connec on with God A can‐do a tude – be the best you can be
may be so profound that they connect If you are good at something you should strive to achieve it
with God. They are gi ed – special. despite your disability or ability
Some disabled people have the capacity High expecta ons Don’t be so hard on yourself
to connect with God – simplicity, direct‐
ness Posi ve thinking Poverty of poten al
We are brought into this world to be Not recognising poten al See beyond disability
tested – the test could be impairment Count your blessings Develop resilience
I believe in the social model – some‐ Think about virtues Affirma ons Expecta ons
mes this society sees the disabled per‐
Carry on Encourage Everyone needs to do
son as the problem, like “well he can’t
do this” Disability is not inability Self‐empowerment
Jesus mixed with the outcasts in society See what’s possible with determined thoughts
and taught us that people are equally Change pre‐concep ons of disability Inclusion
loved by God. Sadly, you wouldn’t al‐
ways think this is the case because Enjoyment for all In some case, more effec ve in ac vi es
churches are not always welcoming to Ac vi es inspiring us to show kindness and give a hand in their
people who are different. general life
God says we should involve everyone Table 3
Together we will make world inclusion Make the effort to get to know people Messy church
Teaches us equality and respect Buildings that are fit for purpose A tudes that are flexible
Accessibility isn’t only physical Changing the way we do things
Our culture (family/friends/influences)
helps to form our world view – that dis‐ Changing mindsets Valuing Others Stop praying for healing
abled people can be accepted and find a Accessibility – facili es Accommoda ng others’ needs
place in society, even if the road to ac‐
Is the thing you are trying to protect (e.g. rituals) more important
ceptance is harder
than the person?
Learn from disability
More disabled priests/imams/readers Don’t worry about noise
Make sure we appreciate the good in
Develop circles of friends Signing Shorter/more interes ng talks
others
Acceptance of others Tolerance Think outside the wheelchair
Disabled people are independent and
proud Understanding others’ needs
Key Learning: The central 7relevance of disability to faith.EVENT 3— DISABILITY & COMMUNITY LIFE
Act Up! Drama Group performed
‘ATOS Stories’ ‐ a drama with music
I’m Spas cus! I’m Spas cus!
I’m Spas cus!
Ian Dury and all: I'm Spasticus, I'm Spasticus
I'm Spasticus Autisticus
Dr.Ju Gosling, aka
Ian Dury: Hello to you out there in Normal Land
Ju90, performed a
You may not comprehend my tale or understand spoken word piece
As I crawl past your window you give me lucky looks which she had
You can read my body but you'll never read my books composed
especially for the
All: I'm Spasticus!
event.
I'm Spasticus!
See page 10 for
SPASTICUS!
the full text, or
Ian Dury: Never underestimate ….. watch the Youtube
All Join in: THE POWER OF THE SPASTICUS video at:
Claimants: They have not defeated us yet! h p://youtu.be/
Actors: Amira Haddad, Carey Noel, Houston Rasandram, Jade Sempare, ddd‐wDgnTSM
Sterre Ploeger, & Yvonne Brouwers
Café‐style Table Conversa ons
Table 1: What does the label “normal” mean? Who is “normal”? Who decides what’s
“normal”? Can you choose to be “normal”? Do you want to be “normal”?
Table 2: What was good about the Paralympics? What could have made the 2012 Games
better?
Table 3: How can our community/ies be more ‘disabled-friendly’? Who is responsible for
making the changes?
8These were some of our answers ‐ is there anything you woud add?
Table 1 Table 2
Don’t know properly GOOD: Opening ceremony vision was great Entertaining
Living your life Normal is everything Enjoyed the sport Support from the na on
Normal is extraordinary
Able‐bodied amazed at disabled persons’ ability, knowing they don’t
Everyone is normal
have the same ability!
Everybody is normal because they’re nor‐
mal to themselves Seeing the sports, not the disabili es George Osborne ge ng booed
You can’t define normal Visibility that showed people’s ability
Normal can be bad as well as good Involving the community Brought disabled people together – we
Normal is restric ve Normal is going out should be able to do that without the Paralympics
DVD game – The Brain Game, Noel Ed‐ Good to see fellow wheelchair users in the Olympic Park
monds from all over the world
Normal is what society puts upon us – it’s
NOT SO GOOD: Shame we’re invisible the rest of the me
crap
Achievement means different things to different people
The media and Govt tell us what is normal
Power and control is s ll with the non‐disabled
People in posi ons in power decide who is
normal Screenings in the park like for Olympics Not ATOS sponsored
It is hard to be “normal” for ourselves Disabled people were unnaturally segregated ‐ Paralympic and
We cannot choose anything Olympics should have been combined Should be the norm
We can choose our a tudes Opening Ceremony was 97% non‐disabled people – only
We have a choice how we respond to peo‐ ‘perfect’ performances passed at Newham College audi ons.
ple If you are abusing other people, you are abusing your own power.
Being in a mixed community is difficult
When we become a community of par cipators and not observers,
It is good to be different
things are be er
The idea of being normal is very oppressive
I want to be different
Table 3
Have spaces for disabled people No ‘special’ units – no segregated courses Girlfriends Going out
Sense of neighbourliness Disability equality training Talk Mee ng people Normalising spaces
There’s a lot of reliance on the wri en word – need more symbol use, signs, big le ers, yellow lines (e.g. on
stairs) More green man crossings Be er use of technology Making people aware of tech
Training people to use the technology What do we mean by ‘special’ schools? We can all help each other
Disabled and non‐disabled children should stay together Newham is be er for disability awareness
When people are excluded, they become excluded internally Take me to meet each other
We watch each other being hurt and we do nothing. We are encouraged to be observers.
One things which has made a change is having disabled and non‐disabled children being educated together in
Newham. If it’s the norm, people talk naturally about disability like non‐disability
Communi es listening and not being afraid We o en think community is ‘them’ but not ‘us’
Mainstream nurseries, communi es, schools welcome all disabled children from baby onwards
Reassess ‘achievement’ – not apply non‐disabled’s standard Be er a tude from teachers
We all have the power to make changes to help each other irrespec ve of disabled or abled people
Parents We vote. We can contact our MPs, our Councillors. All of us should be responsible
We all have the power to make change: making cup of tea for neighbours, reading le ers, etc
We are all responsible for making choices 9 I am responsible for how I treat peopleWhat’s normal, anyway?
Ju Gosling aka ju90 for E13 People United
Normal is being fat.
Normal is being thin.
Normal is being visually impaired.
Normal is being old.
Normal is being young.
Normal is being hard of hearing.
Normal is being Black.
Normal is being White.
Normal is having a learning difficulty.
Normal is being Christian.
Normal is being Muslim.
Normal is needing step-free access.
Normal is being a woman.
Normal is being a man.
Normal is speaking in Sign.
Normal is being gay.
Normal is being straight.
Normal is not looking like everyone else.
Normal is being happy.
Normal is being sad.
YouTube video with sub tles: h 10p://youtu.be/ddd‐wDgnTSMNormal is hearing voices.
Normal is growing up in Newham.
Normal is coming from the other side of the world.
Normal is not thinking like everyone else.
Normal is living in a city where less than one in five tube stations have step-free access.
Normal is spending an hour on the telephone to book a wheelchair space on the train,
because the online system doesn’t cater for disabled people.
Normal is having just one space for wheelchair users on the bus.
Normal is the bus driver who refuses to stop alongside the kerb to allow you to board.
Normal is the parent who refuses to remove their buggy from the wheelchair space to allow
you onto the bus.
Normal is living in a capital city that has the least accessible taxi fleet in the country.
Normal is booking a Black Cab online or by phone, and then being told that no driver will
take the job because you are a wheelchair user.
Normal is having a mini-cab driver complain the instant they arrive because you have a
wheelchair, even though they could have been faced by three drunk men with lots of
luggage instead.
Normal is having a taxi driver refuse to take you, because you have an assistance dog.
Normal is having lots of people watching while you struggle to unload your wheelchair from
your car, but no one offering to help.
Normal is living in a capital city where the European Blue Badge scheme isn’t recognised in
the centre, which is where most national attractions and major stores are based.
Normal is never being able to find a Blue Badge parking space locally when you attempt to
access visitor attractions and shops.
11Normal is being surrounded by leaflets, posters and websites that we can’t read, because they don’t follow accessible design guidelines, and use difficult words. Normal is being forced to communicate by telephone, when hearing impair- ments and/or memory problems and/or pain make this difficult or impossible for us. Normal is being told that everything we need to know is available on the internet, when we don’t have any access to it. Normal is never being given enough notice to book the support and transport we need to attend community events. Normal is entering via the back door and then sitting at the back of the room. Normal is attending an event where there is no amplification for and lighting on the speak- ers. Normal is attending an event where the speakers continually turn their backs on the audi- ence, making it impossible to lip-read. Normal is attending an event where there’s no BSL interpreter or Palantype sub-titles, even when the event is specifically aimed at disabled people. Normal is being asked to attend a meeting specifically for disabled people, and finding that no access support has been provided. Normal is a venue leaving their hearing aid loop at the back of a cupboard for years, rather than installing it so it’s always available. Normal is no one understanding how to install the hearing aid loop when it’s asked for. Normal is no sign language interpreter turning up, even when they’ve been booked months ahead. 12
Normal is yet another multi-million-pound building opening where the access is poorer than the
building it replaced.
Normal is event organizers refusing to listen, however many times we explain why a new build-
ing isn’t accessible to us.
Normal is event organizers believing that they know what our access needs are better than we
do.
Normal is staying at home.
Normal is being bullied in your comprehensive school because you’re in the ‘special zone’.
Normal is not being able to take GCSEs, because your special school doesn’t teach them.
Normal is being refused entry to the col-
lege course you want to study, because
you have learning difficulties.
Normal is being unable to apply for the uni-
versity course you want to join, because
there is no Blue Badge parking.
Normal is not being able to make friends
with your fellow students, because you
have no access to a BSL interpreter out-
side your classes.
Normal is not being able to do your home-
work, because the lecturer refused your
PA his permission to record the class on video.
Normal is being told you can’t join an adult education class, calling you a health and safety risk.
Normal is being thrown out of the local community choir and steel band, calling you a health
and safety risk.
Normal is no one speaking to you when you join a community group, even though you are
blind.
13Normal is seeing yet another advert for a television programme where disabled people are
treated as freaks.
Normal is listening to a comedian make yet another ‘ joke’ about disabled people.
Normal is reading yet another stereotype of dis-ability.
Normal is a world where 97% of publicly funded cultural workers and artists are non-
disabled, even though 20% of people of working age have an impairment.
Normal is watching the Paralympic Ceremonies, knowing that 97% of the volunteer per-
formers were non-disabled.
Normal is being regarded as asexual, genderless and forever child-like, rather than as sex-
ual, adult men and women.
Normal is being unable to come out as lesbian or gay, for fear of losing the family support
you need to survive.
Normal is being unable to come out as lesbian or gay, for fear of your PAs victimizing you.
Normal is being unable to access your
local lesbian and gay group or club,
and being made to feel that no one
wants you there anyway.
Normal is being 22 and living in an old
people’s home, because there is no
accessible housing available.
Normal is being 32 and trapped in your
home, because you can’t afford the
necessary adaptations.
Normal is being 42 and forced into a
care home, because you are deemed
to be too expensive to live independently.
14Normal is living in an accessible home, but not being able to access any of the homes of
your family members and friends.
Normal is having very few friends, none of whom are non-disabled.
Normal is people judging everything you do as being inevitably second-class, because they
see you as a second-class person.
Normal is seeing all of the money allocated to support disabled people being spent on non-
disabled workers.
Normal is sitting in yet another meeting
telling non-disabled professionals how to
do their job, but not being paid for it.
Normal is being offered payment to at-
tend a meeting to tell non-disabled pro-
fessionals how to do their job, but being
paid for the whole day at less than the
non-disabled consultant who decided the
amount you receive was paid per hour.
Normal is being barred by a security
guard from entering the building you’re
working in, because as a disabled person
you can only be “a member of the public”.
Normal is not being short-listed for job interviews, even though you are much better quali-
fied than the person who eventually gets the job.
Normal is the vast majority of employers stating openly that they would never employ a dis-
abled person.
Normal is the 55-year-old graduate who’s never worked, despite applying for thousands of
jobs.
Normal is being told that you’re lazy and work-shy.
15Normal is attending family functions to find that no one speaks to you apart from your closest
relatives.
Normal is not being included in family outings and holidays.
Normal is being told you’re not welcome at your brother’s wedding unless you come without
your wheelchair.
Normal is having your sister-in-law take control of your Motability car, while you’re left to walk.
Normal is having your parents spend your benefits on themselves, leaving you with nothing.
Normal is being rejected by your parents and siblings.
Normal is being left by your partner when they realize you can’t be ‘cured’.
Normal is being ignored when you are the advocate for your disabled child.
Normal is being treated badly because you are a brother, sister, parent or friend of a disabled
person.
Normal is being a member of the poorest group in society.
Normal is being the hardest hit by cuts to benefits and services.
Normal is having other people believe you are rich
because of what they read in the papers and hear
from politicians.
Normal is being blamed for society’s difficulties,
even though you have no control over them.
Normal is being stereotyped as dishonest,
untrustworthy, untruthful.
Normal is being berated by parents and siblings for
not being able to ‘overcome’ our conditions, spurred
on by tabloid headlines about war heroes and
benefit cheats.
16Normal is having strangers scream abuse at you in the supermarket car park.
Normal is having passers-by make fun of you at the bus stop.
Normal is someone stealing your bag in the street.
Normal is having other people set their dogs on you
when you take your assistance dog to the park.
Normal is your neighbours attacking your property,
and making death threats against you.
Normal is being hit by your partner, who’s also your
carer.
Normal is not having the crimes against you recorded by the police, because you are not
regarded as being a reliable witness.
Normal is not being believed when you go to court, because you are not regarded as being
a reliable witness.
Normal is continually having murders described by judges as being ‘inexplicable’, rather
than being identified correctly as disability hate crimes.
Normal is pretending that you don’t have an impairment, if there is any way at all that you
can hide it.
Normal is being constantly required to provide every personal detail to strangers.
Normal is only having access to the help and support you require if you are deemed to be in
‘substantial’ or ‘critical’ need.
Normal is being provided with support only when it suits your PA or care agency, not when
you need it.
Normal is being charged for support you haven’t received, because the care agency wanted
to provide it when you weren’t available.
Normal is being left on your own every evening and all weekend, with nothing to do but sit in
front of the TV and eat.
17Normal is having yet another PA leave without giving notice, because they know you can’t
do anything about it.
Normal is struggling to cope in the absence of yet another PA.
Normal is not being able to book emergency support from a care agency, because the
hourly rate you receive from the council hasn’t been increased for a decade, but the agency
rate unsurprisingly has.
Normal is being told you are not in substantial need even though you are quadriplegic, since
your child is deemed able to provide you with help.
Normal is being blamed by society for the fact that your child is being forced to provide
support for you.
Normal is having your child taken away from you, because you are judged unfit to be a
parent.
Normal is being denied the support you need to be a good parent.
Normal is being forced into having an abortion because you ‘can’t be a good parent’, even
though your child is very much wanted.
Normal is having an Equality Act that spells out all of the ways in which you can legally be
discriminated against.
Normal is having a medical system where your life can be judged not to be worth living.
Normal is being told repeatedly that
other people would kill themselves in
our circumstances, because we are a
burden to others.
Normal is being told repeatedly that
your child should never have been
born, because they are a burden to
others.
18Normal is the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People.
Normal is being proud of who we are.
Normal is the mother who will do anything to support her child.
Normal is the man who battles tirelessly for his partner’s rights.
Normal is being recognized as the expert on our own needs.
Normal is disabled people and carers setting up our own
organizations to provide services and activities.
Normal is the school with the effective anti-bullying policy.
Normal is the college students who welcome the
opportunity to study alongside disabled students.
Normal is the support worker who opens up a whole new
world to the person they are working with.
Normal is the security guard who does everything they can
to help you get into their building.
Normal is the gallery manager who is happy to be challenged about access, and is never
defensive.
Normal is the council officer who picks you up and takes you to a meeting in their own car.
Normal is the receptionist who asks if your assistance dog would like a bowl of water.
Normal is the pub where every worker’s had Disability Equality Training.
Normal is the broadcaster headhunting disabled presenters.
19Normal is the website that is written in easy words, and includes BSL videos.
Normal is the company that provides free BSL lessons for all its employees.
Normal is the traditional disability charity that has challenged itself to change.
Normal is the young mother who asks if you need help to load your wheelchair in the super-
market car park.
Normal is the friend who asks if your assistance dog would appreciate a walk.
Normal is the neighbour who asks if they can fetch your shopping with their own.
Normal is realizing that together we are strong.
Normal is knowing that together we can change our world.
Digital image by Ju90
20Summary reflec ons
Planning and holding these three events was a profound learning experience for many of
us who were involved. As a group of non-disabled people the E13 People Utd planning
group made some early assumptions about the structure which were challenged by the
reps from disability groups we first consulted - a salutary reminder not to make
assumptions but to listen and consult with the real experts from the beginning when
doing any kind of community work! We were fortunate indeed to have active input from
Act Up!, Ju90, The 3Hs, and Hope and a Future in shaping the plans and putting the
three evenings together as a linked series which could also each stand on its own.
The events themselves felt like a rich mix of personal experiences, gut feelings and
considered views, and were approached by all participants with a moving openness
which allowed real learning to take place. The proactive hosting by the Harold Road
Centre as our venue was a key factor in the success of the evenings. Inspirational
school-children’s singing set a positive tone at the start, while the sometimes disturbing
and demanding dramatic performances (from Ju90 as well as Act Up!) and personal
stories prevented us from settling into cozy niceness. As participants in the ’café-style’
discussions we had to dig deep, listen carefully, and be prepared to put ourselves ’out
there’ - which paid dividends for our learning, witnessed in the tablecloth records on
pages 5, 7 and 9.
E13 People Utd hopes that this record of the events will add to the momentum for
disabled people’s rights and access which absolutely must be part of the legacy of the
London 2012 Paralympic Games, held a couple of miles from our own venue less than
a year previously. The views, hopes and expectations expressed in the record speak
for themselves as ’recommendations’ for us as individuals, families, groups,
organisations, authorities and communities.
If you or your group/organisation want to continue working on becoming more disabled-
friendly, you may find the directory which follows a useful resource.
21RESOURCE DIRECTORY
This directory is intended to provide contact details for organisa ons which might be able
to help you, your family, group or community become more disabled‐friendly. Most are
Newham‐based organisa ons, but we have included some na onal bodies. We hope you
find it a useful signpos ng resource.
Acount
Advisory Council Opening Up Newham Treatment.
From grassroots to consulta on and commissioning, ACOUNT strives to raise concerns and resolve issues on
behalf of all those affected by substance misuse in Newham.
Chair—Charlie Barlex—cbarlex@gmail.com Secretary— Sally Day—sally.day.2012@gmail.com
Ac on & Rights of Disabled People in Newham
ARDPN is a cross impairment disabled people's organisa on promo ng equality for disabled people who live
or work in the London Borough of Newham.
c/o Community Links, 105 Barking Road, Canning Town, London E16 4HQ
ac onandrights@btconnect.com 0207 473 9655
Act Up! Newham
Community performance group. Plaistow, Newham act‐up@live.co.uk 075 7086 0672
Churches for All
Disabled people inspiring faith without limits.
Churches for All is a network of UK Chris an disability organisa ons working in Partnership with Premier Life
part of the Premier Chris an Media group.
h p://churchesforall.org.uk/ makeadifference@churchesforall.org.uk
Dea lind
Na onal Centre for Dea lindness.
John and Lucille van Geest Place, Cygnet Road, Hampton, Peterborough PE7 8FD 017 3335 8100
Disability Reps Group
The Disability rep forum is pan‐impairment service user led group where a lot of the members are
facilitators for other groups, coming together to bring about change for disable people at local level, in
health and social care as well as making sure inclusion happens for all and breaking isola on.
The members are also Directors of Newham Associa on of Disabled People and Allies
sarifa.patel@hotmail.co.uk or chris ne@guidemail.co.uk 077 2373 9221
Greenhill Group
The Greenhill Community Group was formed by service users from The Greenhill Centre for people with
physical impairments in Manor Park when it closed in 2011 to help keep friends in touch with each other.
We now keep people aware of issues around disability, both locally and na onally, and advocate for
members who are having problems with service provision. Membership is free and open to anyone with an
interest in issues around disability. angus.davie@gmail.com
22Hope And A Future
A local network asking the ques on “if Jesus said the ‘First shall be last and last shall be first in the Kingdom
of God’, how should that change the way the Church treats disabled people?”
Alison Orphan alisonorphan@hotmail.com
Inclusive Church
Anglican organisa on commi ed to working for a church that is welcoming and open to all.
(type ‘disabled’ into their search field and see what comes up!)
h p://inclusive‐church.org.uk office@inclusive‐church.org.uk
Newham People First Group
Newham People First is an organisa on run by and for people with learning difficul es in Newham.
all@newhampeoplefirst.org.uk 020 8519 9001 — ask for Ameet , loleta, Yasmin or Michal
NuLife User Group
The group facilitates customer engagement and co produc on regarding service redesign.
Contact person: Rose Hassan email: rose.hassan@newham.gov.uk Tel. 0203 373 4592
Older Peoples Reference Group
The Older People's Reference Group is a group of older people designed to promote the consulta on of older
people and their engagement in the design and delivery of local services for them.
For more info, mee ng dates and loca ons contact Chloe Lyons ‐ Newham OPRG Coordinator on 0207 241
5902 or chloe.lyons@ageukeastlondon.org.uk.
www.ageuk.org.uk/newham/news‐‐campaigns/the‐older‐peoples‐reference‐group
Powerhouse
Powerhouse aims to empower women with learning disabili es physically and mentally to get them access to
mainstream services by providing ac v es/sessions. Email:info@thepowerhouse.org.uk
c/o St.Luke's Community Centre, 85 Tarling Road, Canning Town, London E16 1HN.
www.thepowerhouse.org.uk info@thepowerhouse.org.uk 020 7366 6338
Real Life Paren ng
Set up by a group of parents and carers of disabled children in order to address key gaps in services.
c/o Children & Families Resource Centre, 140 Balaam Street, London E13 8RD
rlpservices@hotmail.co.uk 020 8552 1364
Together! 2012
A social enterprise in Newham, led by four locally based disabled ar sts under the ar s c direc on of Dr Ju
Gosling aka ju90, to make Newham an interna onal centre of excellence for Disability Arts as part of the 2012
Legacy. Together! will also be offering consultancy and training services to arts organisa ons, and helping to
strengthen exis ng Disability Arts groups in East London and to create new ones.
90A Tudor Road, London E6 1DR 07973 252751 www.together2012.org.uk info@together2012.org.uk
23Contact Us
E13 People Utd and E13 Learning Community
c/o Plaistow Primary School & Children’s Centre
Junc on Road, London E13 9DQ
Tel.: 079 2010 1740 E‐mail: info@e13LC.org Web: www,e13LC.org
Act Up! Newham
Tel: 075 7086 0672 Email: act‐up@live.co.uk
Ju90 & Together! 2012
mail@ju90.co.uk www.ju90.co.uk
c/o 90A Tudor Road, London E6 1DR Tel.: 07973 252751
The Church Urban Fund Near
E‐mail: info@together2012.org.uk
Neighbours programme which
Web: www.together2012.org.uk
funded the 3 events and this
publica on brings people
Hope And A Future together in religiously and
alisonorphan@hotmail.com ethnically diverse communi es,
crea ng friendships, building
The 3Hs rela onships of trust and helping
c/o St.Mark’s Centre, Tollgate Rd, people to transform their
London E6 5YA Tel.: 078 0518 1084 neighbourhoods together.
E‐mail: the3hs@hotmail.com Further info from:
Web: www.the3hs.co.uk tel. 020 7898 1508
E13 Learning Community Ltd is a local charity working
in partnership with community groups, schools and
statutory authori es to make the Plaistow and Upton
Park area an excellent and inclusive living and learning
environment for children, young people, and families.
Our community ac on forum, E13 People Utd works to
build community life and grow rela onships between
people of different cultures, faiths and genera ons.
Join in!
Funded by
Charity no.1138176 Company No.7118908
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