Open Doors - Shaftesbury

Christmas is a time for opening doors – to family, loved ones and to celebration.

But many doors are often closed to people with disabilities – because of problems with transport, physical access, sensory over-load, big crowds, or communication methods they cannot use.

This Christmas and beyond, Shaftesbury wants to open doors for people with disabilities.

Our support enables people with disabilities to overcome the barriers they face and open those doors, so they can take part, be included, feel valued and flourish.

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Veasna (known as V) has lived at Shaftesbury Ashley Place for since last November. He has Cerebral palsy and is non-verbal, using head gestures and assistive aids to communicate.

After a traumatic experience where he lived previously, V had become anxious and withdrawn. Sarah, his long-term friend and advocate, facilitated the move to Shaftesbury where he is now thriving.

V has far more independence which makes him happier and more confident; a different person to the one who first arrived. V’s care manager from the local authority has been overwhelmed by the positive change in him.

How we support people to flourish

Mandy's Story

Mandy has a learning disability, epilepsy, osteoporosis and has been in residential care all her life. Her decision to move to Shaftesbury Ashley Place has been a happy one; she loves having her own room and a sea view.

Her strong Christian faith makes Christmas an important time for Mandy. She views her church community as her family, but barriers to transport means getting to church can be a problem. Staff are supporting Mandy to have conversations with local commissioners around this issue.

Understanding barriers

Many people with disabilities face unacceptable barriers to living full lives.

These barriers can include: a lack of accessible or affordable transport to take them to the places they want to go; physical barriers to access, like a lack of ramps or lifts; the attitudes of others, including stereotyping, stigma, prejudice and discrimination; the extra financial costs living with a disability can cause.

At Christmas, those feelings of loneliness and isolation can be compounded by barriers to taking part in festivities.

Research shows that four times as many people with disabilities feel lonely 'always' or 'often', compared with non-disabled people.*

* Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-loneliness-and-relationships-a-thematic-report/disability-loneliness-and-relationships-a-thematic-report

Play our interactive barriers game

Click to open the doors, find a matching pair and discover more about the barriers that people with disabilities encounter.