WHIS Ambassador Parmi Dheensa

Parmi Dheensa is an award winning philanthropist, community consultant and lobbyist. She is the founder and the Executive Director of the national charity ‘Include Me TOO’, whose vision is a disability inclusive, rights friendly society. As a mother of a child with a disability she is dedicated to championing the rights and entitlements of disabled children from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background including those from marginalised communities whilst promoting social justice and equality for all.

She is an inspiring woman with many accolades; she was a finalist for the Lorraine ‘Woman of the Year Inspirational Award’ 2015. She has also received the ‘Social and Humanitarian Award’ from the Asian Women of Achievement Awards and ‘Inspire Award’ from the GG2 Leadership Awards. Include Me TOO also have won the National Diversity Awards amongst 27,000 nominees in 2015.

With over 20 years’ experience of working in the areas of disability, equality, diversity, participation, human rights, community engagements and inclusion, she is a woman of many talents and is an experienced trainer and University lecturer. Her numerous blogs, articles and campaigns continue to raise awareness whilst changing the lives of children and young people with disabilities. She continues to demonstrate her passion and commitment by supporting and making positive changes in regards to disability, inclusion, participation and equality increasing awareness, respect and understanding. Parmi advises government officials, local authorities and providers on disability equality, participation, inclusion and rights issues. During October 2016 she was a speaker contributing at the UN Geneva Social Forum reviewing Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities marking the convention’s 10th Anniversary highlighting areas of inequalities still present for person with disabilities from diverse community backgrounds regarding their unmet needs, unsupported participation and unheard voices.

Include Me TOO developed the first ever National Charter of Rights with and for Disabled Children and Young People, which has amongst its supporting signatories has many national charities and the Prime Minister! This is just one example of Parmi’s approach of involving everyone in a creative and meaningful way to make disability inclusion a real reality, and the ethos of Include Me TOO.

Parmi has presented and produced a community programme, ‘Time for REAL Action’ community television channel. This programme provided a platform for disabled young people and their families to share their experiences, discuss solutions and break down stigma and negative perceptions regarding disability amongst our diverse communities.

Parmi has overseen many of Include Me TOO achievements which have included:

Producing the first ever National Charter of Rights for Disabled Children and Young People. The Charter received support by many national charities, government departments signing up a signatories. The Prime Minister also provided a statement of support for the charter
IM2 are the leading national charity supporting Black, Asian and Minority Communities disabled children, young people (0-25 years) and families
IM2 organised and hosted the first ever National Community Inspiration Awards for Disabled Children, Young People and Families which celebrated the 25th Anniversary of United Convention on the Rights of the Child during 2015
IM2 produced and developed a song with disabled children and young people which was sold in HMV music store

Parmi is also an Ambassador for Women of the Future and an Ambassador for BEAM Awards

She also has written blogs for Huffington post and is a blogger sharing her son’s Callum’s journey callumspromise.com

Developed and delivered training in the following areas for all sectors:

Disability, Diversity, Inclusion & Equalities
Increasing cultural awareness and developing equality impact toolkits
Involving BAME Communities as Community Researchers & Evaluators
Effective working with diverse communities
Developed accredited Peer Mentor training for Parents/Carers with Disabled Children called Parent 2 Parent.
Participation and Representation of underrepresented groups.
Disabled Children & Young People Inclusion and Participation
Safeguarding within a cultural framework regarding harmful cultural practices and misconceptions
Peer and Mentoring programmes
Disabled young Ambassadors programme in schools (IM2 Disability Rights Respecting Settings Award)
Produced the Championing the Rights of Disabled Children & Young People Handbook
‘All About Me’ Communication passport for universal services to support disabled children & young people