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At Happy Smiles Training, we aim to create inclusive communities, with all of our work being led by disabled people. From design to delivery and consultations to evaluations, disabled people are at the core of our work. In the past 12-18 months, our work has continued to go from strength to strength, as we have:
– Delivered training led by lived experience experts to over 5000 people
– Created long-term employment or volunteering for 30 local disabled people
– Extended our impact nationally with lived experience expert trainers joining our team from across the UK
– Led an innovative project to target inequalities across Wigan Borough and empowered our diverse communities to design a 3-year strategy to help break down existing systemic barriers
– Worked with global brands such as Levi’s and Manchester United and are currently delivering national training to NHS Trusts and local authorities
Disabled people tell us that we are changing how they are viewed and valued by local communities, whilst providing a platform that they haven’t seen the likes of before. We strive to shift the perception that there are only certain opportunities available for disabled people and allow everyone to witness the value of engraining disabled talent within your workforce.
Everything we do focuses on our mission of supporting communities to become more inclusive by valuing and acting on the advice of lived experience experts. We believe this is the only way to see true inclusion and this is reflected in our daily training delivery, advocacy and community projects.
We want everyone to share and practice our values of being inclusive, person-centered and forward-thinking. If an organisation like ours, that started with nothing only 5 years ago, can be described as a “life-changing family” by members of its workforce and as “changing the disability conversation” by national disabled leaders, we believe that every individual and organisation can also have an impact in support of our mission.
Our work has had a significant impact on the disabled community and raised awareness about disability issues through a multifaceted approach.
Our training and projects provide a platform for disabled people to share their stories, challenges, and triumphs. This has not only given a voice to those often marginalised but has also helped bring attention to the diverse experiences within the disabled community. By featuring these stories in our regular newsletters, social media channels, community events and training delivery, we have significantly increased public awareness and understanding of disability issues. This is reflected in feedback from training attendees who have made comments such as, “I have done hundreds of training sessions and this was by far the most memorable because of the power of having it led by people with lived experience.”
Our regular awareness campaigns have engaged the broader community and our training sessions have educated thousands of participants about the importance of inclusivity and the challenges faced by disabled people. We have also collaborated with local schools to integrate disability awareness into their curriculums, fostering empathy and understanding from a young age.
Furthermore, our advocacy efforts have led to tangible changes in local policies. For instance, we successfully lobbied for improved accessibility standards in public buildings, and now lead an access committee in our Borough that must be consulted before any new building works take place.
Building on our current successes, we have outlined several key objectives to advance our mission over the next couple of years:
Expansion of our Training Programmes:
We aim to expand our training programmes to reach more communities, particularly through virtual training. We plan to offer accessible, high-quality training sessions to a broader audience, ensuring that geographical barriers do not impede access to our services.
Inclusive Employment Initiatives:
We are dedicated to increasing employment opportunities for disabled individuals. Our future plans include developing partnerships with national and international corporations to create robust, inclusive hiring practices and workplace environments. We will also offer specialised career coaching and mentorship programmes to support disabled individuals in their professional journeys.
Policy Advocacy and Legislative Change:
Advocacy remains a cornerstone of our efforts. We will continue to work closely with policymakers to advocate for stronger legislation that supports disability rights.
Technology and Innovation:
Embracing technological advancements, we aim to develop innovative tools and resources that assist disabled individuals in their daily lives. This includes virtual reality experiences designed to enhance learning and independence.
Research and Development:
We will invest in research to better understand the needs of the disabled community and the effectiveness of our programmes. By collaborating with academic institutions and research organisations, we aim to develop evidence-based practices that can be replicated and scaled globally.
Attitudes and public perception of disability and disabled people. The engrained ableism and system barriers experienced by disabled people on a daily basis are what we are striving to overcome through out work.
Unlearning engrained ableism is again the first thing that comes to mind as well as the many, many other barriers that feel too long to list!
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