DISABILITY
NEWSLETTER
Issue 107 March 2015
Reg Charity No. 1123915
Company No. 6396331
ENJOYING THE WARMER WEATHER
THIS MONTH PLEASE DON’T MISS:
Page 2: Accessible Britain
Page 3: Crowd funding bid
Page 3: Libraries prescription
Page 4: Scooter insurance
Page 5: Hands-free smartphone
Page 5: Website for children
Page 5: Access to work guidance
Page 6: Disabled models
Page 6: Leighton changing places
Page 8: Access guides
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GOOD NEWS – ACCESSIBLE BRITAIN CHALLENGE AWARDS 2015 SHORTLIST
Cheshire West Disability Action Forum and West Cheshire Dial have both been
shortlisted for DWP's Accessible Britain Challenge Awards. Nominations for the
awards were made by individual disabled people or disabled people’s organisations,
encouraging them to get involved and to share how they have benefitted from local
projects, initiatives, services or social activities. The shortlist announced recognises
those making an outstanding contribution to inclusive and accessible communities for
the 12.2 million disabled people across the UK. The awards highlight the huge
contribution disabled people make through accessible communities, through
employment and also economically, with a combined spending power of £212 billion a
year, known as the ‘purple pound’.
The award winners will be announced at a ceremony at the House of Commons on
12th March 2015, by Minister of State for Disabled People Mark Harper in association
with the British Institute of Facilities Management.
EQUALITY WATCHDOG FUNDS ‘DAVID AND GOLIATH’ BUS ACCESS APPEAL
A disabled campaigner has won backing from the equality watchdog to continue his
legal battle to protect the rights of wheelchair-users to travel on buses. The Equality
and Human Rights Commission has decided to support wheelchair-user Doug
Paulley’s appeal to the Supreme Court for his case against First Bus.
Disabled campaigners were left “frustrated” and “appalled” in December when three
Court of Appeal judges found in favour of First Bus, and against Paulley. That
judgement overturned a county court ruling that wheelchair-users should have priority
in the use of dedicated wheelchair spaces over parents with pushchairs, and that the
“first come, first served” policy of transport company First Bus breached the Equality
Act. Instead, the Court of Appeal said that a bus driver needs only to request – and not
demand – that a buggy-user vacates the space if it is needed by a wheelchair-user.
ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL NETHERLANDS
As a local travel agent, Accessible Travel
Netherlands knows best how to organise
tours, transport, accommodation and
mobility equipment hire for disabled visitors
with access needs.
They organise
accessible guided city tours, canal cruises,
bus tours and visits to tourist attractions
such as the museums, flower auction,
Keukenhof and other sights of interest.
To create the real Dutch experience they
can organise bike tours for everyone, with
special bikes for people with limited mobility.
Call 0031 653869092 or email to [email protected]
'CHOOSING COOKERS, OVENS, HOBS AND MICROWAVES'
This new consumer guide is based on the real-life experiences and comments of blind
and partially sighted people. It highlights the pros and cons of different types of
appliances and controls and is packed with practical advice and tips.
The guide is available online: http://www.rica.org.uk/content/choosing-cookers-ovenshobs-and-microwaves For a printed copy, call 020 8090 9268 or send a large (A4)
self-addressed envelope with £1.17 in stamps to: Rica, Unit G03, The Wenlock, 50-52
Wharf Road, London N1 7EU. The guide is also available on audio CD and in Braille.
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ACCESS TO WORK RECIPIENTS ‘HAVE THEIR SUPPORT CUT AFTER REVIEWS’
Nearly all of the disabled people whose Access to Work (AtW) entitlement is reviewed
are having their support cut, according to evidence being compiled by disability
organisations. The evidence suggests that the Department for Work and Pensions
(DWP) is only managing to increase the number of people receiving support under
the AtW scheme by cutting individuals’ allocations.
The DWP came under fire over the last year after reports of administrative problems,
delays and cuts to funding within the scheme. DWP insists that delays to processing
of AtW payments have “now been resolved, all backlogs have been cleared and
payments are being processed on time”, but the new research suggests that most
disabled people whose AtW allocation is reviewed are having their support cut.
RADIO ONE DJ’S CROWD FUNDING BID WINS HIGH-PROFILE BACKERS
A Radio One DJ is seeking crowd funding for a company that will stage live music
events for disabled people and their friends… with gold-standard access. ‘Why Not
People?’ (WNP) has been launched by Jameela Jamil, and has already secured five
huge acts – Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, James Blake, Mark Ronson and Tinie Tempah –
to perform at ‘Why Not People?’ events in 2015-16. The first event will take place at
the indigo venue at The O2 in London, probably in late May, and will feature Tinie
Tempah, while some of the future performers will host an accessible WNP area within
existing events.
WNP will be a members’ club for disabled people, each of whom will be able to buy
tickets for themselves and up to three friends.
THE RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION (RFU) TO CHARGE WHEELCHAIR USERS
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has started to charge wheelchair users £41 to see
England play Rugby at Twickenham. This will be the first time since 1910, when the
first international match was played there, that spectators in wheelchairs will have to
pay to watch England in action.
The RFU said the decision was based on the recommendation made by Level Playing
Field, formerly known as the National Association of Disabled Supporters, which said
that the introduction of charges would promote equality. The recommendation allowed
that the provision of a free ticket for a personal assistant or companion represented a
‘reasonable adjustment’ to allow a disabled person to attend a match independently.
The move will raise an estimated extra £150,000 from England’s three home games
in the Six Nations tournament.
COUNCIL LIBRARIES LAUNCH BOOKS ON PRESCRIPTION SCHEME
Libraries across Cheshire West and Chester are now part of a reading scheme to
support people with dementia and their carers. The ‘Reading Well Books on
Prescription’ scheme for dementia will enable GPs and other health professionals to
recommend helpful reading from a list of books available to borrow free from local
libraries. Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Library Service will be offering the
range of titles throughout their network of libraries, and if the title required isn’t
available in your local branch, it can be reserved free. The 25 titles on the ‘Reading
Well Books on Prescription’ for dementia list have been recommended by health
professionals and have been tried and tested by people with experience of dementia.
The list includes a range of books offering information and advice about dementia and
ageing, support with living well after diagnosis, practical advice for carers, personal
accounts and suggestions for shared therapeutic activities.
For more information visit www.readingagency.org.uk
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HEARTS OF NORTHWICH FESTIVAL 2015
VRDS recently attended the first Hearts of Northwich
Community Festival, which took place at St Helens
Church Northwich. This provided a platform from which
VRDS could promote the benefits of Shopmobility, a
service that provides a range of wheelchairs and electric
scooters to enable anyone of any age who has a
temporary or long term mobility issue to independently
access the town centres of Northwich or Winsford.
West Cheshire Shopmobility Services has sites at:
• Northwich: 01606 288 820
• Winsford: 01606 557 550
• Chester: 01244 312 626
• Ellesmere Port: 0151 355 1420
COMPULSORY INSURANCE FOR MOBILITY SCOOTERS?
A European ruling could mean that mobility scooter users in the UK will have to take out
insurance. At the moment having insurance is purely optional although DMUK policy is
that it should be compulsory to protect users from large insurance claims. The reason for
the possible change in government policy follows a European Court of Justice ruling that
all motor vehicles must at minimum be protected by third party insurance – even when
used on private land – when that use is “consistent with a normal function of that vehicle.”
The court was ruling on a case in which a man was knocked off a ladder by a tractor that
was reversing in a farmyard. The insurer of the tractor had refused to accept liability
stating that its policy covered only road use and that the tractor was being used as a
machine not a vehicle. The court decided that these restrictions breached European
Union Motor Insurance Directives, including a key objective of ensuring accident victims
are protected. This means that a range of vehicles, including as many as 350,000
mobility scooters, may in future be subject to compulsory insurance legislation. Having
insurance may not yet be the law but the Department for Transport strongly advises all
scooter users to take out cover to protect their safety and that of other people.
THE CINNAMON TRUST
This is a specialist national charity for people in their last years and their much loved,
much needed companion animals. A network of 15,000 volunteers “hold hands” with
owners to provide vital loving care for their pets. They keep
them together – for example, they will walk a dog every day
for a housebound owner, they will foster pets when owners
need hospital care, they will fetch the cat food, or even
clean out the bird cage, etc.
When staying at home is no longer an option, their Pet
Friendly Care Home Register lists care homes and
retirement housing happy to accept residents with pets, and
providing previous arrangements have been made with
them, they will take on life time care of a bereaved pet.
They do have other services that they provide for pet
owners which can be viewed on their website. If anyone is
interested in becoming a volunteer I’m sure that they would
be welcomed. Telephone: 01736 757900, Monday to Friday,
9.00am – 5.00pm. Emergency Calls available 24 hours a day.
Web: http://www.cinnamon.org.uk/contact-us/
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LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
An Israeli start-up company has developed the first ever hands-free
smartphone that can allow disabled users to control the device with
simple head movements. The Sesame phone has been especially
designed for people with spinal cord injuries and other conditions that
restrict the use of hands.
Using proprietary head-tracking technology and an advanced
computer vision algorithm, the phone’s front facing camera actually
tracks the user’s head movements thus allowing control of a cursor
on screen. This cursor is what the company calls a virtual finger
which makes it possible for users to do what others can do with a
regular smartphone.
For more information visit: http://sesame-enable.com/
END NO GO AREAS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE
A new pledge has been made to ensure a promised European Union law to require
access for disabled people to shops, work places and transport in Britain and across
Europe is finally lodged in the European Parliament.
The 'final push' to ensure publication of the draft law which was left pending during
the changeover between the former and current European Commission will to be a
'top priority' of the new All-Party Disability Rights Group in the European Parliament,
according to its newly elected Co-President Richard Howitt MEP.
To read more, see www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2015/january/end-no-go-areasdisabled-people#sthash.Ipbn1Ad4.dpuf
LIMBCARE WHEELCHAIR APPEAL
There are people all over the UK that have
experienced the trauma of loosing a limb, in
some cases more than one. Many of these
people have to wait months for a wheelchair,
leaving them feeling isolated and alone.
You can help them. Limbcare will come and
collect any wheelchair no matter of its age or
condition, even if it’s damaged or broken. They
will recycle it and put it back to good use.
Call 0800 052 1174 or email: [email protected]
NEW WEBSITE TO SUPPORT ADULTS WORKING WITH DISABLED CHILDREN
The Disability Matters website features e-learning resources to support organisations,
workers and volunteers across all sectors to develop the communication and
problem-solving skills required to work confidently with disabled children.
The content covers over 30 topics related to disability and includes practical things that
can be done to make a difference to the health and well-being of disabled children.
Web: https://www.disabilitymatters.org.uk/
ACCESS TO WORK
Campaigners from Stop Changes to Access to Work have ensured that guidance on the
eligibility rules for Access to Work is publicly available. The group had threatened the
Department for Work and Pensions with legal action if they did not publish the guidance.
The Access to Work guidance can be seen on the government website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-to-work-dwp-provider-guidance
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DISABLED MODELS TAKE TO THE CATWALK IN NEW YORK
An Italian research organisation for spinal cord injuries, showed
how disabled models look beautiful, as part of the New York
Fashion Week. The fashion show also collaborated with Londonbased Models of Diversity which promotes diversity and
representation of people from different walks of life.
One of the highlights of the fashion show is the participation of
British personal trainer Jack Eyers, whose leg was amputated
since he was 16. He was chosen by the designer, Antonio Urzi,
who has a name in dressing up celebrities like Lady Gaga and
Beyonce.
Various sources including:
http://www.newseveryday.com/articles/9048/20150218/new-york-fashion-week-ftlmoda-disabled-models-ftl-loving-you-fashion-show.htm
SHOCK TOLL OF FIVE-MINUTE CARE VISITS
Care visits for thousands of frail pensioners are being rationed to just five minutes, the
Daily Mail has revealed. Some staff are even being told not to make conversation in
case they waste time. Over 12 months, at least 209,000 of these five-minute home
care slots were allocated by six councils. Campaigners and ministers condemned the
‘drive-by visits’, saying they could have catastrophic consequences.
The figures obtained by the Daily Mail also show that 70 per cent of councils are still
commissioning 15-minute slots even though the Government calls them
unacceptable. Care staff say many of these 1.8million visits actually last for just five to
ten minutes because they include travelling time. Town halls routinely outsource visits
to contractors, whose workers can be poorly trained or ill suited to the job. It is not
uncommon for a pensioner to see ten or 15 different carers in a fortnight.
Central government grant cuts have seen social care spending for the over-65s fall
from £9.95 billion in 2011 to £8.85 billion last year. These cash pressures are likely to
increase further the number of five-minute visits.
The Daily Mail’s investigation was prompted by a similar exercise in 2012 by Leonard
Cheshire which found two thirds of councils routinely commissioned very short visits.
THE ELIFAR FOUNDATION
They aim to help improve the care, facilities and equipment
available to profoundly disabled children and young adults at
home or in residential care. They fund a wide range of
specialised equipment, therapies and respite which would
otherwise be unavailable because of a lack of funds or because
there is no statutory provision. Items funded in the past include:
Wheelchairs, beds, specialised seating, trikes, communication
aids, sensory equipment, holidays, treatments and therapies.
For more information please visit: www.elifarfoundation.org.uk
POWER LOSS EMERGENCIES – GET ON THE REGISTER!
SP Energy Networks keep a Priority Services Register so that they can contact their
most vulnerable customers if they experience a power interruption. People can be
included on the register if they are dependent on medical equipment, chronically sick,
disabled, or have some other special need that may require a special level of
assistance.
Register by calling 0845 273 4444 or email: [email protected]
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INTO HIGHER EDUCATION 2015 IS NOW AVAILABLE
• Do you have a health condition?
• Do you have a learning difficulty?
• Do you have a disability?
• Are you thinking about going to College or University
this September, to do a degree or post grad, but
have a few questions?
The latest edition of “Into Higher Education Guide” aims
to answer these – and it’s free to download.
The guide includes information on choosing a course,
the student finance system, the support you should
expect and any accessibility issues you may encounter.
The guide also has a section where students talk about
the challenges they have faced, the support they made
use of and the importance of their own creativity,
perseverance and motivation.
See more at:
http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2015/january/higher-education2015#sthash.rpoSGw6Z.dpuf
CHANGING PLACES – LEIGHTON HOSPITAL
Changing Places has seen the opening of a Changing Places
toilet and change facility, located near to the Main Entrance
at Leighton Hospital. The facility was funded by charitable
donations and provides the additional equipment and space
that some patients require in order to safely use public toilets
and changing areas, such as an adult-sized adjustable
changing bench, a tracking hoist system, an adjustable sink
and a height-adjustable toilet.
FAMILY FUND
The Family Fund has launched a new video to raise awareness of the impact that
technology can have on outcomes for disabled and seriously ill children and to
encourage parents to consider the benefits that they can make to the whole family.
The video looks at two children who have received grants from Family Fund to obtain
iPads and examines the different ways in which the children, Oscar and Marnie, have
used these devices as a tool for learning and development.
Read more and watch the video on: http://www.familyfund.org.uk/news/news-andannouncements/family-fund-launches-new-video-showing-how-ipads-makedifference-disable
WHEELCHAIR RAMPS & SCOOTER RAMPS
Wheelchair ramps and ramping equipment can maintain access to the home and
increase quality of life. Wheelchair ramps range from the lightweight and portable
through to heavier ramps designed for heavy duty use. Ramps assist in providing
elderly or disabled people with greater mobility and independence.
Telephone: 01273 719 889. Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.essentialaids.com/contact
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HEAR MY VOICE
Mencap has set this website up to collect the stories of people with learning difficulties
and their allies to share what is important to them and pass this on to parliamentary
candidates visit: https://www.mencap.org.uk/hearmyvoice
Download the Easy Read Register to Vote Form from the Electoral Commission.
ACCESS GUIDES
Cheshire West and Chester Council has produced a Chester City Centre Access
Guide leaflet that provides useful information to visitors with disabilities. The leaflet is
also available in paper format from the Visitor Information Centre (Town Hall), or from
the DIAL House Disability Rights Centre and Shopmobility in Hamilton Place.
http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/health_and_social_care/adultso
cialcare/living_with_a_disability/access_guides.aspx
DisabledGo provide online access guides to over 90,000 venues across the UK,
including 1,000 venues in Cheshire West and Chester. You can find detailed
information about access to all kinds of places - cinemas, hotels, restaurants,
libraries. The website is free to use and you don't need to register. Disabled Go
The Multiple Sclerosis Society provides help and guidance on obtaining grants and
financial aid from charitable and statutory funds. The MS Society branches can
support individuals with financial help towards equipment, adaptations to the home
and car, and top up funding for respite breaks. Call: 020 8438 0701 for details of your
local MS branch. Visit: www.mssociety.org.uk/ms-support/practical-and-financialhelp/wheelchairs-and-scooters
__________________________________________________________
VALE ROYAL DISABILITY SERVICES
Hartford office
Telephone: 01606 888400
Northwich Shopmobility
Telephone: 01606 288820
Winsford Shopmobility
Telephone: 01606 557550
Northwich Infirmary Desk
Telephone: 01606 564096
____________________________________________________________________
If you have any news that you would like us to publish, or comments you want
to make, then send them to us. To receive your personal copy of this
newsletter, please refer to the newsletter page on our website www.vrds.org.uk,
or telephone us on 01606 888400 or email [email protected]
Published by: Vale Royal Disability Services, 4 Hartford Business Centre,
Chester Road, Hartford, Northwich, Cheshire, CW8 2AB.
Editor: Christine Pickthall MBE.
Registered Charity No. 1123915.
Important disclaimer:
Please note that much of the information in this newsletter is acquired from third parties.
The views expressed may not in any way reflect the views of Vale Royal Disability Services.
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