Changing Our Lives supports people with disabilities of all ages to speak up for their rights and take control of their lives.

Changing Young LivesSupporting young people with disabilities to speak up for their rights and be recognised as young people first, whatever their disability. The work includes the Young Voices Network, the Rights Squad training team and the Quality Crew audit team.

People’s ParliamentsWe support MPs with learning disabilities to run their own People’s Parliaments. The Parliaments give local people a powerful voice to change policy and shape service. All of the Parliaments are known for the positive outcomes we achieve for people’s lives.

Equal VoicesEqual Voices supports people on the autistic spectrum to speak up and champion their rights through a range of projects.

Making Our Voices HeardWorking in partnership with Black Country Partnership Foundation Trust, we ensure that patient voices and experiences are heard in their services via Patient Forums and a patient led audit programme.

Quality of Life AuditsQuality of Life audits are a person centered way of checking what’s working well in a person’s life and what needs to get better.

Quality of Health PrinciplesDeveloped by people with disabilities, these principles set out the expectations of local people about what a good quality patient experience should be like from local health services. The principles are used in audits of health services.

Training TeamThe Changing Our Lives Training Team is led by trainers with disabilities and autism. We train a range of staff across statutory, voluntary and public sectors. All of our training is tailor made to the organisation and individual learning need.

Safe PlacesA safe place is somewhere you can go if you have a disability and you get into trouble in the community.

SpotlightFun! Spotlight is a celebration of the artistic talents of people with disabilities. We hold Open Mic nights where anyone can perform. Talent Scouts select artists to perform in the live final each year.

Changing Our LivesThe PublicNew StreetWest BromwichWest MidlandsB70 7PG

Tel: 0121 533 7174Web: www.changingourlives.orgEmail: ask@changingourlives.org

Our Values

l People with disabilities are citizens in their own right and have the same legal and civil rights as other members of society.

l All people with disabilities can communicate and have a right to be heard. Some people use words, others use signs, some use pictures and objects and some people move parts of their body or use other ways to communicate. All of these ways of communicating should be valued.

l People with disabilities should be supported to lead ‘ordinary lives’. This means people should not be left in segregated services but be supported to lead valued lives in the community.

l People with disabilities should be supported to be as independent as they are able. Being independent doesn’t mean doing everything for yourself. It means having people support you with things you find difficult.

l All people with disabilities are able to learn. We need to understand how to encourage and support people’s learning.