Wow, we’re at 2,999 followers. Incredible! How did we start? June 2016, we decided to set up a deaf-led therapy service, via zoom & f2f. Why? No other service was doing online remote therapies, however it made sense to reach deaf people in places that no one else could.
Interest increased, reviews were good, and NHS & health boards took notice of #DeafTherapiesWork #DeafTherapy Awards were given #bestdeafbusinessstartup #DisabilityEnterpreneurWinner @SteliosPhilFdn £30,000 prize money @LeonardCheshire @ndawards #2deafwalk injection of £30,000.
What did this do? Raise our profile, sustainability & trust developed. We delivered low-cost & accessible therapies to hundreds of deaf people all over the UK. @royaldeaf doubled the £30,000 from #2DeafWalk to £60,000 to create #TalkMore BSL helpline.
This was the first-ever accessible support helpline for deaf people in the UK & it's provided many with a lifeline for many. Next, our #DeafTherapistsConnect #TeamD4D grew from 6 therapists to 12.
Next, @NHSEngland #IAPT @SignHealth created the first ever Psychological therapies framework for Deaf people to get into therapies quickly without the need of IFR/ CCGs digging into their budgets for deaf therapies & shorter waiting times.
This meant D4D had to stop all referrals for deaf people in England. Why? We are not part of #IAPT (for many reasons) & will not do in the future. This meant deaf people go to one provider, that is @SignHealth Good news perhaps however the patient choice is limited.
Next, we are still open to referrals in Wales, Northern Ireland & Scotland, why? Scotland and Wales have not adopted England's IAPT programme but have developed independent models of increasing access to psychological therapies thereby allowing patient choice.
Changes- we have had to rethink our services- reduce our therapists #TeamD4D & start up a whole new service- @DisabilityPlus1 & create a new team #TeamDP with many new therapists with lived experiences of disabilities.
Exciting times ahead as we recognise there's a need for this service & we are making huge strides ahead with many disability services.
Note, D4D will still provide private therapies & NHS therapies to deaf people in Wales & some parts of Scotland. We are a culturally affirmative service- deaf specialised & proud to continue this. We meet the need for all communication needs- Oral/ BSL/ Voice off-sign/ SSE.
Take a look at DisabilityPlus.co.uk & see what we offer. #DisabilityTwitter #Disability #DisabilityTherapy #LivedExperiences
Services that @DisabilityPlus1 are offering are: Cerebral Palsy/ Spina Bifida/ Spina Cord Injury/ Limb Loss/ Parkinson’s Disease/ MS / Muscular Dystrophy/ Brittle Bone/ Tinnitus/ Vestibular Disorders/ Epilepsy/ Autism/ Dyslexia/ Sight Loss/ head injuries/ road traffic accidents.
We’ve hit 3000 followers thanks to @leicesterdeaf adding us- check them out as just found out they have received The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service - the highest award a local voluntary group can receive, equivalent to an MBE – in recognition of its amazing work. Impressive!
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