The Disabilities Trust

The Disabilities Trust is a UK charity founded over 30 years ago[1] in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, as The Disabled Housing Trust. The Disabilities Trust provides residential, day services, care, rehabilitation and support to meet the needs of people with physical disabilities, acquired brain injury (ABI), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and learning disabilities as well as children and adults with autism.[2] The Disabilities Trust also provides care and support to enable living in the community and support at home.[3]

Aims

The charity’s stated values declare that "People with disabilities are at the heart of all that we do. While meeting care and support needs, we will endeavour at all times to enhance their independence and promote the rights of disabled people as equal members of society."[4]

History

Between 1979 and 1989 The Disabilities Trust opened two residential services[5] in Sussex for adults with physical disabilities. Both these services were formally opened by Her Royal Highness Diana, Princess of Wales.[6]

In 1991 the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT) was established, and The Trust's first specialist brain injury rehabilitation service was opened in Milton Keynes.[7] The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust has since grown to be one of Europe’s largest providers of specialist brain injury rehabilitation.[8]

The Disabilities Trust continued to grow throughout the 1990s and 2000s and extended its provision to include services for adults with autism and special education for children with autism and Asperger syndrome.

Activities

The Disabilities Trust campaigns on behalf of the people who use their services to give a voice to people who are disabled and raise awareness of key issues.[9]

Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT) was established in 1991 to provide clinical neurobehavioural rehabilitation for people with acquired and/or traumatic brain injuries.[10]

The Disabilities Trust Foundation was founded in 2009 to utilise the Trust’s knowledge through research and the piloting of new ideas designed to initiate and enhance good practice and direct or influence policy within the fields of Brain Injury, Learning Disabilities, Autism and Physical Disabilities.[11]

References
  1. http://patient.info/support/the-disabilities-trust%5B%5D
  2. http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/CharityWithPartB.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=800797
  3. Services Archived 2012-10-04 at the Wayback Machine
  4. http://www.thedtgroup.org/about-us/who-we-are/mission-and-values.aspx
  5. THE OAKENFIELD REVOLUTION - News - Mid Sussex Times
  6. Norman Thody obituary | From the Guardian | The Guardian
  7. Thomas Edward Mitton House, Milton Keynes
  8. Treatment and Support - Mind - 4Health from Channel 4
  9. COMMUNICATIONS NEWS: Disabilities Trust heads campaign to tackle autism | Third Sector
  10. Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust achieves high level accreditation | Care Industry News
  11. Charity Performance
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