REACH is the self advocacy part of ASIST

REACH works with people in Stoke-on-Trent with a learning disability.

REACH support people so that people have their own power to choose the life they want to live.

·       We reach out to lots of people

·       We reach people without words

·       We reach decisions together

·       We reach high standards

·       We reach achievements

REACH helps people who plan and pay for services in Stoke-on-Trent by finding out what people with a learning disability think of services.

REACH helps staff working in services on self advocacy by sharing information and offering training.

REACH is the only independent self advocacy project in Stoke-on-Trent .

REACH supports people with a learning disability to speak up about their lives and the services they use to help them live the life they want.

 

   People with a learning disability in Stoke-on-Trent

We know there are lots of people with a learning disability who do not get the chance to take part in independent self advocacy.

In Stoke-on-Trent there are over a thousand adults and young people with a learning disability who have help from services.

We think there are more than 200 people with a learning disability from black and ethnic minority communities in Stoke-on-Trent .

There are over 200 people with a learning disability who have extra help with their health.

No one knows how many people with a learning disability are not having any help from services in Stoke-on-Trent .

    Services for people with a learning disability in Stoke-on-Trent

There are lots of Services in the Community that are part of life in Stoke-on-Trent including Health and Social Care Services and Independent Services for people with a learning disability:

nursing homes, residential homes, short break residential services, supported housing services, rehabilitation services, assessment and treatment services, continuing care services, day services and colleges and some people who have individual care packages.

REACH supports people to speak up to services and organizations and supports services to listen to people with a learning disability

   REACH Committee

  - REACH Members say what the REACH project will do

- REACH Committee make plans for the future

- REACH Committee vote on decisions

- REACH Committee report on the project to the Asist Committee

 

   REACH Meetings and Drop-Ins

People with a learning disability in Stoke-on-Trent are invited to speak up at REACH Meetings. 

People with a learning disability are invited to come to REACH Drop-Ins to find out more about self advocacy.

Carers and Staff are invited to some meetings to find out more about us.

    REACH Parliament

REACH set up a Parliament for people with a learning disability in Stoke-on-Trent .

There are nearly 30 Members of Parliament (REACH MPs) who were voted in by people they speak up for.

  - REACH MPs go to meetings and speak up for people

- REACH MPs organisations to Parliament meetings to listen

- REACH MPs campaign for things that are important to people

- The REACH Parliament speak up to the local Government MPs


  
   Meetings, Presentations and Conferences

  Partnership Board and Public Meetings

- REACH supports a co-chair at Partnership Board meetings

- REACH supports people to join in Partnership Board meetings

- REACH supports people to work with Partnership Board on plans

- REACH supports people to join in local public meetings

 
Conferences

- REACH supports people to go to conferences around the country

- REACH Members report back on conferences in our newsletter

 
Presentations

- REACH do presentations at meetings and conferences

- REACH present things we have found out

- REACH present people’s stories

 

   REACH Work

Workshops

- REACH supports people to plan and to run workshops

- REACH supported people to run a national bild workshop

- REACH run workshops with the Valuing People Team

 
Research

- REACH supports people to take part in research by other people

- REACH worked with Values Into Action on a research project

- REACH trains self advocacy groups to do their own research

 
Raise Awareness

- REACH raise awareness about people’s rights and disability

- REACH raise awareness in local schools

- REACH raise awareness in public places

 
Choosing Staff

- REACH train people to take part in interviews to choose staff

- REACH support people to be equal members on interview panels

- REACH support people to take part in choosing service providers

 
Reviewing Services

- REACH helps to review local services using traffic light colours

- REACH worked with the Quality Action Network

- REACH worked with the Health Care Commission

 
Clear information

REACH make information with clear words and pictures:

- Asist and Bild Guide to Advocacy

- Bild posters on policies

- Local Health plans and booklets

- Disability Equality Plans for Staffordshire and for Wrexham

 
Local, regional and national work

- REACH has worked together with local Self Advocacy Groups

- REACH has worked together with regional Self Advocacy Groups

- REACH Members go to the Regional Partnership Board group

- REACH worked with the West Midlands Valuing All People Team