Top tips on involving disabled people to help ensure that you understand your audience
Tip 1.
If you are setting up a group, use a transparent appointment or recruitment process.
Tip 2.
Pay for travel and other relevant expenses.
Tip 3.
If you can, pay people a competitive rate for their time - subject to any benefits restrictions.
Tip 4.
If you cannot pay attendees, you may be able to provide recognition in kind, such as gift vouchers.
Tip 5.
Set up the group at the beginning of a project, so they can be part of the planning.
Tip 6.
The group should be disabled people, not simply representatives of disability organisations or trade unions.
Tip 7.
Make sure people have a good understanding of issues facing others with their particular impairment or a broader understanding of disabled people generally; both are useful.
Tip 8.
If you are creating an online forum work with access specialists to ensure it is as accessible as possible for all disabled users.
Tip 9.
Publicise the forum to organisations of people with learning disabilities, those with mental health conditions, and people with long-term health conditions such as cancer and HIV, as well as people with physical and sensory impairments.
Tip 10.
Provide members with regular updates on feedback received and the progress of plans.
Tip 11.
When targeting specific audiences, local community groups will know the best ways to publicise activities to the community they work with.
Tip 12.
If you want to reach disabled people from specific communities you need to find them through black and minority ethnic and religious groups, as well as disability organisations.
Tip 13.
Involve stakeholder and / or disability organisations and value their input and advice.
Tip 14.
Do not use them solely as a distribution network.
Tip 15.
Make sure, where possible, that you involve organisations that are user-led or that have a strong membership of disabled people and are truly representative of the audience you want to reach.
Tip 16.
Make sure that the groups or individuals you approach can see a benefit and so will be willing to be involved.
Tip 17.
Large national organisations often have a network of local groups who work with people at a local grassroots level.
Tip 18.
Make sure you can cover administration and mail-out costs to the organisations involved.
Tip 19.
Remember to include community organisations, such as those for people from ethnic minorities, which people may use for health information.
Tip 20.
Disabled people might need information in a range of languages, as well as accessible formats.
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