History

Disability Cornwall is a charitable organisation initially founded as the Cornwall Disability Forum (CDF) in 1997. We operate from offices based in Hayle, West Cornwall yet serve the whole County. Our user-led charity was founded by a small group of disabled people who felt they needed a representative voice in Cornwall.

The Charity was initially formed to provide this and to run Forum events which provided a platform on which disabled people could air their views and collectively have a stronger voice. Our work has developed over the years and now centres on managing community based initiatives.

We deliver a range of services, facilitate workshops, conferences and training events, all to further and enhance the disability movement in Cornwall. The membership currently stands at 400 individual disabled people and 60 organisations. Disability Cornwall had a formal Constitution that was adopted in April 1997 and was updated in 2003 and 2006. As of 1 April 2011 our organisation became incorporated and we become Disability Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Ltd.

Governance

Disability Cornwall has a voluntary governing body - the Board of Trustees. The Board is currently made up of 10 disabled people and always consists of not less than six members and not more than 12. A minimum of 75% disabled people make up the Board. The Trustees are responsible for the policy and management of the organisation.

Projects and Services

We manage a portfolio of projects and services which we deliver throughout the County to achieve our mission; the 'social model' of disability underpins the work of Disability Cornwall.

The Social Model of Disability

• Disability is caused by society's failure to adapt to the different ways in which people with impairments accomplish activities.
• Society in general (and the non-disabled majority in particular) bears the responsibility for disabling those people who are prevented from accomplishing activities in their own ways.
• Disability can be best overcome by society learning to adapt to the variety of its citizens.

(NB. In this document, we have used the term 'disabled people' because it implies that their environment and not their impairment disables people. Other people prefer 'people with disabilities' to 'disabled people' as it puts the person first. (Generally it comes down to individual preference.)

Our Mission and Aims

Mission Statement

'To facilitate a fully inclusive society in Cornwall through empowering disabled people to achieve independence, choice and control'.

Strategic Aims

1. To proactively work in partnership to achieve our mission.
2. To increase opportunities within the social, education, training and employment environments.
3. To challenge discrimination and inequalities.
4. To promote examples of good practice.

Strategic Objectives

1. To champion opportunities for discussion, information exchange and networking.
2. To act as a focus for the disability sector in Cornwall, providing a representative voice where appropriate.
3. To channel information, both to and from the disability sector, acting as a consultative body and a point of contact as appropriate.
4. To ensure representation of disabled people and their organisations on issues of importance across Cornwall.
5. To proactively raise awareness of issues that affect disabled people.
6. To involve people in opportunities that fulfil Disability Cornwall's aims and objectives.
7. To work in partnership with groups and organisations of disabled people and working with or for them in Cornwall.
8. To raise awareness and promote positive images of disability, encouraging the media and others to increase and improve their portrayal of disabled people.

Working Principles

We operate an open invitation to our Membership and do not exclude anyone from our discussion platform.

Membership is open to individuals and organisations as stated in the membership documents. Individual membership will at all times constitute a minimum of 51% disabled people.