MODULE 3: Steps towards inclusive structures and practices
2. Barriers to participation for young people with disabilities in youth work projects
3. Establishing the strategy Decide on priorities.
4. Implementing the plan
Define, write and implement your strategic plan.
Develop strategic long-term goals. Based on the above analysis, what do you want to achieve? Prepare a budget.
This manual would not be necessary if young people with disabilities found it easy to take part in international youth work activities. For many years, youth workers have been trying to come up with more new ways to include young people with disabilities in their pro- jects. Yet despite an increase in diversity-relat- ed projects, this target group is still less visible than other diversity dimensions. There are many reasons for this, from family upbringing to community support or access to education. Reflection: Have a look at some examples of barriers to participation. These challenges have been identified by young people with disabilities based on their experiences in international youth work activities. How could the barriers be reduced? è Factsheet 3.2. Input: These are key barriers to participation in youth work generally: On the part of young people with disabili- ties: Low self-esteem; overprotective families Limited access to education and, e.g., language skills Lack of voice and visibility – to assert a right, a certain level of visibility is needed Lack of (social) skills and knowledge of one’s rights Lack of information about programme accessibility, or fear of in accessibility Differing visibility of disabilities (“minor- ity within a minority”) – for example, the needs of young people with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities and deaf-blind or hard-of-hearing participants are more easily overlooked.
5. Evaluation
You will find some Tips on action planning in è Factsheet 3.1.
2
Analyse needs
Check current situation against de ned priorities and strategic goals De ne need for action e.g., with a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats)
On the part of youth organisations: Lack of facilities, access, skills and knowl- edge related to working with young people with disabilities Reluctance to work with or for young people with disabilities, since it is not considered “sexy” Fear of the extra efforts and costs; miscon- ception that mixed-ability projects cannot be carried out Assumptions about the actual capacity of young people with disabilities (perfor- mance ≠ capacity) Lack of projects by young people with disabilities and with young people with disabilities - most projects are done for them Youth programmes often do not reach out to young people with disabilities What can youth organisations and stake- holders do? Understand the specific needs of the young people with disabilities they work with Provide skills-based training and volun- teering opportunities for young people with disabilities
1
Start process
De ne inclusive vision and mission Set priorities and strategic objectives
3
Develop inclusion strategy Select own objectives and actions (chapter 5) or de ne new ones Develop suitable measures and dedicate resources
Start a new project or re-de ne new priorities and strategic aims
e.g., using re ection ques- tions in chapter 5 or the “SMART objectives analysis”
Adjust objectives, actions and measures
5
Verify success
Have our objectives
been met? Did we select the right actions? Did the measures work? If not, adjust as required.
4
Implement strategy
Implement the new measures
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