Disability Action Haringey reached 536 older Londoners through their project, 80% of whom were D/deaf and disabled Londoners. As a result of the project:
- 85% survey respondents reported an increased understanding of the different tiers of government (local/regional/national).
- 60% reported increased understanding of who their elected representatives are and what they do.
One of their participants, a Deaf woman in her 30s, had lived in Haringey for over a decade, but had never voted in a local or national election. While she was politically aware, she often felt excluded from civic life due to language barriers and a lack of accessible information, as well as previous negative experiences with public services. She felt, like many other D/deaf and Disabled residents, that democratic participation was not designed with her in mind.
She connected with DAH by watching an awareness-raising video they had produced. She then joined one of their voter-awareness sessions, which removed the language barrier and taught participants how to influence local decisions through consultations and public forums. She participated actively and asked questions about how to provide feedback on local transport services, which directly affected her independence and mobility.
Following this session, she was supported by DAH to register for a postal vote. This is an example of how targeted, accessible and inclusive engagement can empower individuals to overcome longstanding barriers to civic participation.