Disability Advocacy Programme (DAP)

Location

Programme manager: Parul Begum

Established in 2000, the Disability Advocacy Programme works as a professional partner with local authorities in the London area, supporting disabled children and young people who have complex communication needs and impairments. We offer a full package of services:

• Camden Buddying Service – we match volunteers who are linked to disabled children and young people with similar interests and hobbies, for 2-4 hours each week.
• The Disability Toolkit has over 100 resources to support practitioners to involve and support disabled young people.
• Independent advocacy – we provide advocacy to disabled young people, most of whom are placed out of borough.
• I Want to be Involved Training – this training is designed for professionals working with disabled children and young people and provides creative approaches, methods, resources and guidance for involving disabled young people in meetings.
• Independent Travel Training and Travel Buddy Service - this training is to provide travel training and buddying to students aged 10-19, with a Statement of SEN, to be accompanied and trained whilst travelling between home and school using public transport with the aim to become independent travellers to and from school.  
• Department of Health Sexual Health and Relationships Project - Providing training to professionals to raise awareness and support of delivering sex and relationships work with disabled children and young people. The project includes an Advisory Group which directs the work of the project through group sessions and consultation and is involved in the production of a resource to support the training.