Get Off The Bandwagon!

Guess what? There's a new book released called
"A Beginners Guide to Being An Expert in Independent Living" written by A. Cowboy.

Not really! Although it feels like this book really is in the domain and has a few followers too. We have been working since 1993 to ensure disabled people of all ages, backgrounds, lifestyles and interests live with choice and dignity independently, having taken over 50,000 enquires on all daily issues. However, in recent times a few organisations "out there" have become the self-proclaimed experts in the subject and seem to do nothing but go to meetings all day without any real concrete experience when commenting on our subject matter. Yes I use the word "our". Disabled People and organisations of disabled people have the true insight into barriers, difficulties and the successes of independent living, not those organisations who for the past few years have been more interested in rattling tins or have attended a few "workshops" on community care and now feel confident in representing us!!

Some organisations have even said that they do not consider their members to be "disabled people" but conveniently forward themselves as experts in the field - why? Money!!!!

Now everyone who knows me will confidently say "money is Amo's favourite subject". But Amo will not go and declare The Disability Syndicate as an expert in thermo-nuclear power because to my knowledge we don't employ any scientific experts! Get my point?

My advice to those organisations who want to get to know our subject of expertise, is to come work with us, let us train you, spend some time on our front-line amd most importantly stop rattling our cage!

If you feel this applies to you or your organisation, consider this blog a shot across the bow.

Agree?    Not Agree?   Amo is a grumpy old git?

Feel free to comment....

Amo

The Politics Show

Form an orderley line for autographs please!!!

Hope you had a chance to watch the show on BBC1 a few days ago. If not, the video is at the end of this blog. In all, it was a pretty good interview and a fair portrayal of our views on the state of the voluntary sector and business opportunities. As I was limited for time, some of the issues I would have liked to have added included:

1. The benefits of joining The Disability Syndicate.
2. The narrow mindedness of some boards in partnerships & mergers (see previous blog)
3. Opportunities in making money through sales commissions with Nimbus - The Disability Consultancy Service
4. The option to transfer backroom functions to The Disability Syndicate e.g. finance, HR etc

Anyway, hope you enjoy the video below...by the way, the "Smooth Operator" theme music was not my idea!!!

The interview itself starts at about 37 minutes into the broadcast below

CEO on the BBC!!!!!

Where's my Equity Card?

Wow! What a morning!!! A BBC camera crew has just spent the morning filming at DD offices on Normanton Rd and Pride Park. We have been highlighted as an organisation not solely reliant on local authority funding with successful social enterprises helping towards the funding gap. The filiming was for The Politics Show on BBC1 to be aired this sunday morning at 11am.

Naturally we are going to have our critics in the audiance and I will be on the show live to answer "queries" to our approach.

A big thank you to the staff at Normanton Rd who agreed to be filmed.

Tune in on Sunday 12th September 2010 BBC1 at 11am.

Amo