The Kitemark
Is your organisation one of the fold, or a wolf in sheep's clothing?
Some organisations use the words of the movement but never transform those words into policy and practice. Some claim to be the voice of Disabled People, yet never listen, acting instead as a mouthpiece for their funding masters. Some say all their work is grounded in the social model of disability, but this is lip service rather than anything concrete.
Five questions. The answers will expose the truth.
"…our definition of the disability movement focuses on those organisations democratically controlled and run by disabled people themselves. It does not include those traditional voluntary organisations and charities that are not run by disabled people." — Campbell and Oliver, 1996
This Kitemark is built on three fundamentals that have long distinguished organisations rooted in the movement from those that are not:
- Grassroots control. Genuinely run by Disabled People, with real decision-making power, not nominal representation.
- The social model of disability. A political foundation for collective organising, not a phrase used to win funding.
- Accountability to constituents. Answerable to Disabled members, not to the funders who pay the bills.
You're one of the fold
Your organisation reflects the fundamentals of the movement. We'd like to formally recognise that with the VDPM Kitemark, a rigorous, independently assessed accreditation controlled by Disabled People, not government or charity.
Apply for the Kitemark
Not there yet
If your organisation doesn't yet fit the Kitemark, and you don't want to wait for it to change, there is another option: start your own. We've built a workbook that walks you through it, step by step.
Get the workbook