INTRODUCTION:
Background of the Asian People's Disability Alliance
APDA meets the dire needs of Asian disabled people and their carers and families and improves their lives and welfare. It came into existence in 1988 and is a non-political, non-religious and non-profit making entity.
APDA is the only UK organisation for Asian people with disabilities, set-up, managed and run by Asian people with disabilities themselves. It pioneered the concept of culturally sensitive services for Asian disabled people. there are a multitude of well-resourced organisations for able-bodied Asians but the needs of Asian people with disabilities and their desperate carers and families have never been dealt with seriously. Even today, no other organisations has the particular needs of this section of the community as its main and only focus.
Current Activities
APDA currently provides culturally tailored need-led and user-led services to individual users through specialised Care Centres currently based in the London Borough of Brent. It also acts as a resource collaborating with health authorities, central and local government bodies and various other institutions to alleviate any other additional difficulties encountered by Asian disabled people, their carers and their families.
Need For Expansion
APDA's current premises is restricted in space. It is therefore unable to adequately meet the many and growing demands of its large number of users, carers and families, who are in great need of APDA'S culturally specialised services.
A sustainable strategy for its long-term existence also needs to be implemented, to benefit its users, staff, volunteers and other stakeholders.
Financial Viability
APDA's new Community Centre will continue to meet the dire needs of its users, as well as generating sustainable means for itself.
Ideal Location
The Community Centre will be located in a London borough where its users will feel safe, comfortable and be in a environment conducive for their social development.
Design Concept
PRP Architects have conceived a 'model' building design to illustrate the activities and spaces envisaged for the new building, in accordance with the brief prepared by APDA. This design provides a template against which potential sites can be assessed for their suitability. In due course the model will need to be developed in response to the constraints of the selected site.
The new Centre aims to widen the already large range of services and activities on offer at the existing site. In addition to social activities, therapy workshops, training, advice and counseling facilities there will be residential Respite support.
The new building will be designed to enable all users, whatever their abilities, to access and use the full range of facilities available. Care will be taken for example to ensure that the design facilitates those with hearing and visual impairment well as those visiting in wheelchairs. The design aims to illustrate best practice in design for an enabling environment in all respect.
It is also an important requirement of the new Centre that it is a welcoming building and one that is comfortably within the community; easy to reach and access and making it's resources available to those who need them. An attractive design in the right location is an important factor is ensuring the continued effectiveness of the Disability Alliance.
In designing the new Centre we will strive to ensure a socially responsible building that minimises it's environmental impact through low energy use, recycling and the use of non-polluting products. The aim is to produce a 'green' facility, keeping running and maintenance costs low and making a contribution to sustainability in the capital.
The new Centre will be designed for the maximum possible flexibility in terms of the day-to-day activities that can be accommodated. The building aims to be a genuinely multi-function resource for it's users. in addition the design will consider the possibility of future expansion, particularly with regard to the Respite Suite, should circumstances demand it.