1. What does YP-in involve?

YP-in works to five outcomes:

  Disabled Young People have more opportunities to meet other young people in their 
  leisure time.

  Disabled Young People have more opportunities to access mainstream leisure and
  recreational  activities on an informal or formal basis

  Disabled Young People are better prepared for adulthood through accessing new
  opportunities, experiences and information.

  Disabled Young People have a national voice, using a variety of media to communicate their
  views and requirements about how they wish to spend their leisure and recreation time.

  Youth and leisure services across England refer to and use a model of inclusive leisure provision
  and activities - a model that has been devised and tested by Disabled Young People.

2. Who runs YP-in?

YP-in is a project run by the charity Kids and funded by the Big Lottery Fund. The idea of the project is that Disabled Young People are fully involved in making decisions and shaping plans.

3. How long will YP-in run for?

The project is funded for three years, ending November 2008. Hopefully after that point the young people involved in shaping the project will be able to sustain it.

4. What service does YP-in provide for young people?

The project is about development, not service provision. The aim of the project is to improve the way leisure and youth services include Disabled Young People. Young people themselves are involved in this process, exploring leisure opportunities and socialising together - but they do not receive a dedicated service as such.

5. Why does YP-in only operate in five regions?

1. Can anyone join YP-in?

At the beginning, YP-in involves a relatively small number of young people. This is to enable the level of intensity needed to carry out the work. As the project develops it will involve more and more young people.

The online community has the capacity to involve more young people from the beginning. For security reasons this community is not open - it will be built by existing members inviting their friends. Eventually we hope that all Disabled Young People will have access to the community.

3. Can you be 'too disabled' for YP-in?

Absolutely not. We aim to work with young people whatever their impairment - we are committed to finding the best way to include everyone.

4. How can other organisations get involved?

We are happy to explore partnerships with other organisations seeking to promote inclusion and to learn from real experience about how to make services inclusive. For more information contact info@yp-in.net

5. I've got a particular skill - will I be able to use it in the project?

There's plenty of space for skills, particularly in media, writing, communicating, campaigning. Young people involved in YP-in can bring any skill to bear on the project. If you're not already involved, tell us what your skill is and why you'd like to use it to promote inclusion.

1. 1. What is disability?

2. What is the Social Model of Disability?

Basically, the Social Model says that Disability is the barriers in society which stop someone being included. This could be bad attitudes, inaccessible environments, or even the policies and practices of services and organisations. Individuals have impairments - but society does the disabling.

This is in contrast to the Medical Model, which says that Disability is something wrong with a person. This leads to discrimination and oppression.

3. What is inclusion?

In terms of youth and leisure services:

Segregated provision is the setting aside of Disabled Young People, based on a professional's view of the impairment and lack of ability to 'fit in'. Non-Disabled professionals have total control.

Separate provision is where groups of Disabled Young People choose to meet to develop their own agenda, similar to other minority groups.

Integrated provision involves the inter-mixing of young people previously segregated. Non-Disabled individuals tend to take the lead as to when, where, how and who.

Inclusive provision is open and accessible to all and takes positive action in removing disabling barriers so that disabled and non-Disabled Young People can participate.

In a more general sense, 'inclusion' refers to the systematic removal of disabling barriers in society - whether in attitudes, environments or institutions. By removing barriers and enabling non-Disabled People and Disabled People to interact freely, inclusion will lead to less fear and more understanding.

Disabled Young People tell us that good access does not necessarily equate to inclusive experiences. In fact they are much more willing to attend services that have the barriers of poor physical access but are welcoming and inclusive in their attitudes, rather than services with good access but an unwelcoming, uninclusive atmosphere.

4. Is inclusion right for everyone?

Yes. Certainly inclusion should be a right for everyone - Disabled People should be able to choose whether to use a particular service. Some may choose separate provision at times, but it is their right to have a meaningful choice and not to be forced into it.

5. 5. What can I do about it?

Society won't change overnight, but you can do your bit. Examine your own attitudes towards Disabled People. There's no secret formula - just think about what it would take for you to be inclusive as a person and for any services or organisations you are involved with to be inclusive for Disabled People.