13 June 2012
PAMIS celebrates 20th anniversary
Photo opportunity: 6-8pm on Friday, June 15th at the Glasshouse, Dundee Botanic Garden. People with profound and multiple learning disabilities, parents, carers, MSPs, PAMIS staff and other guests will be celebrating the anniversary.
PAMIS, the University of Dundee-based charity that works with people with profound and multiple learning difficulties and their families, will this week launch a booklet to mark their 20th anniversary.
‘A Better Life’, a publication highlighting the work that PAMIS has done over the past 20 years and its current projects, will be officially launched at a celebration event at the University’s Botanic Garden on Friday, June 15th.
Service users, their parents and carers, PAMIS staff, professionals who have worked with the organisation over the past 20 years, and other invited guests will attend the event to celebrate all the charity has achieved in that time.
People with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their families face many barriers to accessing and participating in the community, and PAMIS works on a number of fronts to enable inclusion and improve their quality of life.
Rhona Lamond says her son Craig, who is profoundly disabled, and her whole family, have received support from PAMIS over the past 20 years.
“PAMIS staff have been like an extended family and there is a great camaraderie between the parents who are involved,” she said. “I only wish that we had their support when Craig was first born over 46 years ago.
“Over the past 20 years, I cannot fault PAMIS and can always rely on them. They have given me confidence to go into meetings and tackle issues head on. I don’t know how I would have got on without them. All you ever want as a parent is what is best for your son or daughter and that is at the heart of everything PAMIS does to support us.”
PAMIS aims to ensure that people with profound and multiple learning disabilities are valued both as individuals and in the contribution they make to the community. It is the only organisation in Scotland to provide support exclusively to people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their families from birth right through to adulthood and for the rest of their lives.
Kate Mure, who has worked at PAMIS since its inception, said, “The 20th anniversary publication is an excellent way of showcasing the work of PAMIS. It gives people a real flavour of the breadth of support, knowledge and advice we give. The organisation really does help families and make a difference to their lives.”
Initiatives include the “Changing Places, Changing Lives” campaign, led by PAMIS and MENCAP, which aims to ensure there is at least one public toilet built to the Changing Places standard in every town centre with a population greater than 15,000 and within each new public building such as shopping centres, concert halls, railway stations etc.
The organisation’s priority is to provide support to family carers, carried out by five dedicated Family Support Services, which cover 14 local authority areas. Additional intensive support is also provided to family carers through the difficult and often stressful period of transition from child to adult services.
The Training Workshop Programme covers a very wide range of subjects from healthcare procedures to understanding of legislation and policy, and PAMIS responds to carers who indicate there are areas in which they require more knowledge.
An Information and Library Service based at the head office in Dundee provides specialist advice and information on all areas concerning complex disabilities for family carers, professionals and students across Scotland.
PAMIS has worked closely with the Scottish Government on the development of policy and practice. This work includes representation on government committees, responding to consultation exercises, and campaigning on key issues.
More information is available at www.pamis.org.uk.
Notes to Editor:
PAMIS is a registered charity that supports people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their families across Scotland. PAMIS is the only organisation in Scotland that works solely with people with Profound and multiple learning disabilities. They provide a range of services and projects including an information and library service and campaigns for equity in services for people with profound and complex disabilities.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
