The Unique! Programme
The main aim of this project is to educate young people in disability, equality and diversity.
Through a series of fun and unique activities, the Unique! Programme shows young people that disability is another part of people’s character that makes them unique; in the same way that characteristics such as hair colour, skin colour, taste in music or favourite food can. Like the other things listed above, disability does not indicate what a person is like or where their strengths lie.
The programme aims to show young people that disability doesn't limit, stifle or hold back a person in any way. It also provides the opportunity for young people to learn and understand more about different types of disabilities in a positive way and to reduce negative stereotypes that may exist.
This training course has been developed by Enable Solutions UK staff Dean Paton, Jenny Boden and Roz Davison and is designed to be inclusive, encouraging disabled and non-disabled young people to fully participate. The authors presented this programme at an inclusive youth club for 11-19 year olds, where all three volunteer. As the youth club contained a nearly 50:50 mix of disabled and non-disabled members, it was important to ensure all of the members valued each other because of their diversity, not in spite of it. The youth club members also provided valuable input to the programme and were never afraid to tell it as they saw it, including telling the author's when they were wrong!
The Unique! Programme is now available as a free downloadable resource for use by groups, clubs and organisations. The only restrictions are that no other website is allowed to host the course, and that it cannot be used by "for profit" companies.
Footnote 15 March 2007: The Enable Solutions website appears to be permanently down.
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