Parmi Dheensa

parmi

Parmi Dheensa

Founder & ED at Include Me TOO

United Kingdom (UK)

Parmi Dheensa is an award winning philanthropist, community consultant and lobbyist. She is the founder and the Executive Director of the 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 has received many accolades; she was a finalist for the ‘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 this field, developing holistic support services, supporting cultural competency of organisations and providers.
Parmi advises government officials, local authorities and providers on disability equality, participation, inclusion and rights issues. She has developed mental health, family support, women support services, managed several research and campaigning programmes. Parmi has led on several projects with leading charities addressing cultural barriers, stereotypes, misconceptions, barriers, safeguarding, abuse, mentoring, participation and rights in regards to disability within our diverse communities. Through her creative and holistic methodology Include Me TOO are a leading charity in ensuring the participation of disabled children, young people, strengthening their voices, sharing their aspirations and role as global change makers.
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.
Parmi has presented and produced community programmes providing 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 various communities.
Parmi is also an Ambassador for Women of the Future and an Ambassador for BEAM Awards and the Disability and Inclusion Ambassador for World Health Innovation Summit.
She also has written blogs for Huffington post and is a blogger sharing her son’s Callum’s journey