Young Disabled People

SYMPSONS Project; Aims to promote choice, control and independence for young disabled teenager's city-wide.

Photo showing some of the young people attending a SYMPSONS presentation where they received certificates of appreciation signed by M.P. Right Honourable Richard Caborn

SYMPSONS (which stands for Sheffield Youth Mentoring & Personal Support Scheme) has been designed for and by disabled young people who may have a physical disability, learning difficulty, sensory or cognitive impairment. SYMPSONS is a project which is run by Inclusive Living Sheffield, which uses a social approach to help disabled people overcome the barriers that prevent them being fully involved in society.

Active participants in the community

The SYMPSONS project believes that an important part of an experience of social inclusion is being part of the local community. In order to participate within a community, it is necessary to interact with others and have one's individuality recognised.

We plan a range of social and educational activity sessions which gives young disabled people the confidence to believe that, they do have options and can have futures to look forward to.

The benefits of these sessions are clear and direct. They give increased knowledge of opportunities available to disabled people and promote choice and control; inthis way giving increased confidence and independence. These sessions have proved very successful and we are looking forward to the expansion of more SYMPSONS centre's including "Centre In The Park", in Norfolk Park, "Darnall Education Centre" in Darnall (previously known as Starworks) and Millan Centre opposite Longley Sixth Form College.

Additionally we are rolling out a programme plan of arts and craft activities within schools and colleges.

Making Choices

Perhaps one of the biggest barriers to making choices is when it's assumed that impairment means that it's not feasible for young disabled people to make choices. Nevertheless we should realize that some disabled people may communicate using body language and facial expressions.

Independent Social Life

Having a social life independent of family is part of growing up. For thse young people this can be very difficult.

How people's view of disability in the wider community affects the young people. One young member comments:

"I think it's worse when people don't understand your disability and their ignorance sometimes makes you upset, I don't feel this ignorance at SYMPSONS."

Generally young disabled people feel that, compared to their siblings, they miss out on social opportunities and face discrimination in education, training and in employment. Additionally those from an ethnic minority have increased feelings of being left out and further polarized in society.

"I don't feel it's my disability that disables me. I think its more society who disables me by not enabling me to do things like what other teenagers do."

SYMPSONS offers young disabled people:

A safe inclusive environment
An informal place to meet other young disabled people
Make new friends/socialize
A place to talk with and consult project worksers and older disabled people
Trips and outings during term time
Increased confidence, through choice, control and independence
Prospect of being a mentor
Opportunities to volunteer to help run aspects of the project

For a number of young disabled people coming new to the project there were many benefits:

The environment at SYMPSONS gave many their first chance to make sense of their situation in a way that supported their development, rather than putting them down.
For many members, this was their only initial opportunity to mix with other members of similar age and circumstances outside their family and home surroundings.
Members were coming into settings which were fully accessible and inclusive, contrary to former experiences of segregation and isolation.
Gradually as young disabled people become more confident, they began to express their beliefs and ideas cooperatively and acquire new skills through the various opportunities of voluntary work within the project.
When speaking to other young disabled people and support workers, this gave them ideas and information about ways in which they could achieve goals and move on in their lives.

Member's perceptions of the value of the project reflect the impact it had on their personal feelings, understanding, skills and hopes for the future:

"Being part of a group where you're not alone feels powerful, because we understand and support one another."

"I feel more confident and independent."

"I'm beginning to understand discrimination and have the confidence to challenge it."

"I feel like I can try to do anything I want now because nobody really believed in me before or even gave me a choice."

Breaking barriers to inclusion

Presently, a failure in appropriately meeting young disabled people's needs can only indicate that their human rights are being contravened.

One young member when asked what he really wanted, he replied, "to love and be loved, to be part of a family and a community." However only if this member is given the right of 'freedom of expression' by having their communication needs recognised and respected, they will be denied their basic human rights.

And that is the key to the experiences of these young people. So many times and by so many people, they are treated as somehow less than fully human. So their need to communicate is not recognised and it is considered acceptable that their lives are so narrow that they have few if any opportunities for friendships, for relationships, for doing anything which makes their lives meaningful. While the practical needs associated with their impairments may be considerable, the biggest barrier is the prejudice they experience, a prejudice which is so deep that it is unrecognised, considered almost natural. We may have moved away from the days when children with high levels of support needs were confined within long stay hospitals, but we still, as a society, have not accorded these children and young people entitlements to the support necessary to enable them to be fully a port of our community.

If we are to be a truly inclusive society then we need to ensure the needs of all members of the communities we live in are met. By designing these services we hope that SYMPSONS plays its part in breaking down the barriers that hamper the development of those with disabilities.

For further information on the SYMPSONS project, whether you want to help, volunteer, joing or request further information please contact the Project Co-ordinator: Saara Nawaz on 0114 253 6746 / 07964 251 291, e.mail: saara.nawaz@inclusivesheffield.org.uk

Accessibility | Disclaimer |