On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Cedar attended Parliament Buildings to celebrate the work completed within the Physical and Sensory Disability Strategy and Action plan (2012-2015/17). The Physical and Sensory Disability Strategy and Action plan was launched in February 2012 and was developed using a novel, partnership working, multi-agency approach. Stakeholders from government departments, the health and social care board (HSCB), HSC Trusts and the voluntary and community sector developed this strategy using a life cycle approach taking into consideration that people living with disabilities will have changing needs throughout their lives. At the heart of the work streams, within the strategy, was partnership and working with people living with disabilities. The strategy addressed the range of needs a person living with disabilities may have such as physical, emotional, psychological and social.

Elaine Armstrong, Cedar, Director of Employability and Community Inclusion said:

‘It was a pleasure to be a part of the Regional Physical and Sensory Disability Strategy since 2012. This event celebrated the initiatives that came out of this strategy and particularly those Cedar were a part of such as employee disability awareness training, as well as social networking and enabling people with disabilities live the life of their choice within their communities. A key to the success of the strategy was coproduction and the involvement of people living with disabilities including Cedars user forum representatives’. 

A wide range of initiatives emerged from the strategy such as the Cedar InclUSion Matters Service. InclUSion Matters supports people with disabilities, especially those who experience isolation, to build new social networks within their local communities. The service is focused on encouraging peer support and enabling user-led networking to help participants become involved in social, leisure and recreational opportunities within their local area.

If you would like to find out more about Cedar’s IncUSion Matters programme please visit our dedicated page. You can also keep up to date with Cedar through Facebook and Twitter.