One Voice - action for disability
We asked our users to help us and Wolverhampton Council to find out how useful One Voice services are to people. In September and October, we encouraged our service users to complete a form answering questions about where they would go if One Voice didn't exist, and how One Voice is different from other services. We did this as part of our own Disability Impact Assessment.
You can see a copy of the form here>>
Here were some of the responses we got:
“One Voice is a service run by and for disabled people, no other service could replace that”
“One Voice came to my house when I had brain tumour and helped with all different problems. No one else can do this”
“one voice has specialist knowledge on a vast range of disability services”
“The website has more information on it than any other disabled website and easy to understand and easy to find things”
“One Voice meetings are great – where else do you get Chairobics and have a say!”
“One Voice listens”
“We have strong links with this group, and currently call on them for their involvement in projects across the city, for consultation purposes which prove invaluable and always result in a positive outcome” (council officer)
“I came to One Voice because the Council could not help”
“one voice understand our problems first hand”
“If one voice closes it will mean no one to turn to when I need help, more isolation, less sense of being part of a city that cares that I exist”
“...without One Voice I would not have had anyone to go to when I became ill, and no help to make things ok at work”
“There is a duty under the DDA to consult disabled people..This group enables us to include disabled people” (council officer)
“loss of one voice would be loss of a helpline”
(one voice)”speak up for disability rights and help to change things to disabled friendly”
“there would be no more training opportunities to be able to develop my skills”
“one voice gives us chance to have a real say”
“i use the directory many times”
“Most community services are no good for blind people, (One Voice) information is always on audio. If I need help I use the audio directory or ring up”
“We use the group for consultation and to seek firsthand knowledge from disabled people to gain as much information as possible” (Council Officer)
“Especially for people with disabilities – all services under one roof”
“If one voice closed it would be bad for disabled people”
“One Voice does things differently from other organisations because it understands disabled people’s needs – we don’t have to put up with the usual barriers when we go to One Voice”
“One Voice finds out what we think by coming to us and asking us, then trying to do something about any problems”
(Without One Voice) “I wont have a say and I wont have anywhere to go for help – most places I cant even get in the door”
“One Voice helped me with my employer when I got sick – I didn’t know where else to go, I am not in a Union. I kept my job thanks to One Voice!”
“One Voice gave me free counselling in my home when I was suicidal – I might not be here without them”
“One Voice comes to our group to ask us what we think. They come back and tell us what has happened – no one else seems to do that”
“Stop Hate Crime UK told me about One Voice – they have really been there for me”
“One Voice came to Tribunal as my representative, no one else does this”
“One Voice is our voice!”