Here are just some of the things people have said about CHANGE and the work that we do:

About CHANGE

“You are doing pioneering work. You should be proud of your organisation which is making a difference to people’s lives.

“I was hugely impressed with the work CHANGE is doing and I think it has been a real eye-opener for me about that experiences that people have had, good and bad. It has left me clear about focusing about what people can do in all aspects of life”.

Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People, 2009

“I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for having me yesterday and for your time explaining what you do at CHANGE.

“It was possibly the most positive, productive and collaborative meeting I have been in to date – everyone was able to input and have their say without being talked over or ignored which is more than can be said for a lot of meetings I have been in!”

James Hart, Bradford Council, Design Studio

“CHANGE plays a critical role in promoting inclusion and social equality for disabled people.

“The Making The Equality Bill Work For Us Conference (Sept 2009) itself was a perfect example of how one organisation, CHANGE, can have a massive positive impact. It was the most information inclusive event I have ever attended. Well done to all concerned.”

Tim McSharry, Head of Disability & Diversity, Access Committee for Leeds

Making Information Accessible Training

"Your publication How To Make Information Accessible has been the most valuable and insightful piece of literature I have ever read on accessibility issues. It has provided a vast amount of useable information that can be so easily applied. It has given me a wealth of ideas on how to make information accessible. It is a truly fantastic book!"

Steve Woodward, PA to a member of the Equality Commission

"The day was fun, interesting and informative. It was great to hear the experiences of people with learning disabilities. And the building is beautiful too. And the food was very tasty and healthy. Thank you!"

A worker from London Women's Resource Centre

"Beautiful experience - thank you!  I've learned so much".

A worker from London Women's Resource Centre

“Very useful and will be able to feedback to other team members on how to use Picture Bank and provide easy read documents to our service users. I enjoyed the day very much”

A delegate from Mersey Care NHS Trust
Following attendance at one of our Making Information Accessible training courses

“Thank you for making this course interesting, useful and fun. I’ve learnt a lot today and I will use the picture bank to write my inspection summaries. I shall also think carefully about the words I use too.”

A delegate on one of the Making Information Accessible training courses we ran for the Commission for Social Care Inspectors (CSCI)

Picture Banks

"CHANGE pictures are really clear and accessible. I use them to design exercises for use with particular groups. The black and white drawings are clear to photocopy, and good because they don't use up all the ink!"

Kristina Thordal, Director of Tina Training Initiatives

“CHANGE picture bank is an excellent resource. The pictures are comprehensive and give the chance to produce information of a very high quality and easy to read. We use the CHANGE images with great success.”

Thomas Doukas, Service User Involvement Manager, Choice Support

"Many of the people we support like using pictures to support communication. We are very committed to accessible communication and the CHANGE picture bank is a fantastic resource to support this."

Mark Vahrmeyer, Marketing and Publications Manager, United Response

Paid Work for People with Learning Disabilities

"I  met some of your collegues last week at the National Midwifery Conference where I was reallly impressed with their presentation. It was so powerful to hear individuals with learning difficulties talking about their experiences of maternity services and I remember what they said much more clearly than many of the other speakers".

Rose McCarthy, NCT antenatal teacher and assessor, Joint Chair Leeds Maternity Service Liasion Committee

“You’re given a good chance at CHANGE. Being on an equal wage gives you more confidence and self esteem. You feel valued as a person and as a human being, not just someone with a learning disability.”

John Tattersall, Sexuality Project Co-Ordinator, CHANGE

Resources for Parents with Learning Disabilities

"LOVE the Pregnancy Book!! Still working my way through it but it is BRILLIANT!!!!"

Social Worker, Wakefield Children Centres

“Using these books is a simple guide for professionals as well as the parents to ensure that teaching is consistent and that all areas of parenting skills have been covered.”

Ruth Stebbens, Parents in Family Crisis Project, CASBA

Learning Disability Awareness Training

“I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for running the course about working with Parents who have a Learning Disability.
 
“It was simply fantastic... all three trainers were really enthusiastic and made me think.
 
“I work with children who have Additional Needs and their families.
 
“I have been telling anyone and everyone at work about what you do. In fact I am going to give a presentation to my team at our next meeting to tell them about the course and your work.
 
“So thanks again for opening my eyes.”

Anne-Marie Ward, Social Worker, Newbury, West Berkshire

“Staff need to have their perceptions challenged and the CHANGE Trainers were very effective in facilitating that.  People said afterwards that they never realised that people with learning disabilities felt the way they did and that they had the skills they have. 

“I believe that people have gone away from the CHANGE sessions with a very different mind set - one that will start organisations changing the way they work with parents.  Small steps I know but ones that will hopefully lead  parents with a learning disability to  be supported appropriately in their parenting journey.”

Claire Hellawell, Parenting Support Development Officer, Kirklees Parenting Support Service

"I loved the interactive aspect of my CHANGE session. The volunteers and the session organiser were really enthusiastic and clearly enjoyed the work they were doing - this made us all feel really confident"

A medical student on a 'Sexual Education for People with Learning Disabilities' workshop run by CHANGE on the 'Valuing Diversity 2009' day at the University of Leeds

"The drama was interesting and helped to highight problems facing young people with learning disabilities.  Asking us to respond to questions and play characters helped me"

A medical student on a 'Sexual Education for People with Learning Disabilities' workshop run by CHANGE on the 'Valuing Diversity 2009' day at the University of Leeds