Shine Community Hub

The Shine Community Hub's aim to celebrate the strengths and abilities of all disabled people including those with mental health issues and those with 'hidden disabilities'.

To recognise, value and celebrate the fact that everyone is unique, and to support the aim of a world where disabled people are able to live exactly as they choose to. 

In order to achieve these goals, we aim to promote the awareness, understanding and adoption of the Social Model of Disability throughout Cumbria County Council and beyond into the wider community.

For those who are not yet aware of this model, The Social Model of Disability makes an important distinction between 'impairment' and 'disability'.  "The Social Model has been worked out by disabled people themselves. Our experiences have shown us that in reality most of the problems we face are caused by the way society is organised.  Our impairments or bodies are not the problem. Social barriers are the main cause of our problems.  These barriers include people's attitudes to disability, and physical and organisational barriers."

To celebrate the strengths and abilities of all disabled people including those with mental health issues and those with 'hidden disabilities'.

We believe that improving understanding of disability will give Cumbria County Council staff a unique advantage when working with disabled colleagues, but also with all disabled children, young people and adults across our beautiful county.

Examples of hidden disabilities:

While this list is not a full list, some examples of hidden disabilities include:

• Autism
• ADHD
• Brain injuries
• Crohn's Disease
• Chronic pain
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, and other mental health conditions
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Learning difficulties, including dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, and language processing disorder
• Lupus
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Visual and auditory disabilities

Why you should join

Members of the group are able to have their say on policies and procedures within Cumbria County Council and influence the way we work as an organisation. Discussions in the group can have a direct impact on decision making.

Get in touch

This new online hub has been created to share learning from the network and to provide more information to people who are interested in joining the network.

Email: Shine@cumbria.gov.uk 
Yammer Community Group