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Working For the Whole of The Oldham Community

Depression Awareness Week 21-25 April 2008 (click on latest NEWS)

Volunteer Community Transport Drivers Needed. (Follow Link Below)

Oldham Disability Alliance and DIAL Oldham have both been in existence since 1992 and operated as two separate services within the Borough of Oldham. For several years the DIAL service relied upon the support and guidance of both paid staff and Board members of ODA.

In 2004 both boards met  to look at what and how the future of both services would be and look like. Several development meetings/workshops then took place and staff were consulted and involved in shaping the future of a potential single organisation. 

After much discussion and soul searching the Boards of Oldham Disability Alliance and DIAL Oldham made the decision to join together as Disability Action Oldham (DAO) and the new organisation came into operation on 1st July 2005.

At that moment in time DAO was a Company Ltd by Guarantee and awaiting Charitable status. This happened in August 2005.

The dual registration was essential for DIAL to maintain it’s charitable status which reflected the ethos of the organisation.

Oldham Disability Alliance had, since 1992, been responsible for the development and implementation of eleven disability services in Oldham.

The advent of the Disability Discrimination Act (1994) had seen the responsibility for service development and other inclusion of disabled people placed squarely upon statutory, private and commercial shoulders. Not that the voluntary sector could or should bow out of service provision but that legislation would be developed to ensure that service provision and needs of disabled people were fairly met by all.

The time was right to look at what Services would provided in the future.

Current Service.

DAO are responsible for providing an advice and information service to disabled people and carers in Oldham. This is still recognised and known as DIAL Oldham.

This service is available 5 days a week via telephone, home visits and office appointments.

During 2006/07 DIAL generated £1,458,990 extra income from benefits for people living in Oldham. Added to this is also the extra income that is received by OMBC for some 435 awards of Attendance Allowance / DLA Care component.

The information and development service has been responsible for writing a Toolkit for the engagement of diverse people with Diverse Needs. This will form a part of OMBC’s Engagement Strategy Document.

Under development is also a new approach to the directories known as Making Contact and Navigator. These will no longer be presented in their current format but a new and smaller pocket book will enable service users to assess needs and access interventions to help them.

A new interactive web site will be created for professionals and individuals to access the full contents of the previous directories with new additions. We are working towards this being available in April 2008.

These developments will mean that more up to date information will be available and the process to do this will be better to manage.

 Copyright © 2008 Disability Action Oldham  Site Last Updated: 24-04-2008

Disability Action Oldham, Disability Resource Centre, Honeywell Lane, Oldham OL8 2JP.  Company Reg. No. 5807178 Charity Reg. No. 1115691