“Compable”, (computer enable) was formed about two years ago, after I had acquired a Post Graduate Diploma.

It seemed a good idea to use this new expertise by obtaining and re-distributing computers to people with a disability.� I consulted with the Chairman of Peterhead Disability Forum and it was agreed that “Compable” be set up and run from their office.� It was to be a non-profit-making arm of the organisation and the remit was to acquire computers and computer parts by any means possible - e.g. Oil Companies.

After up-grading, these computers were to be distributed to any disadvantaged people of any age or disability, at a basic cost of �20-�40, which would cover administrative and travel cost.� To build the computers we needed volunteers, most of whom are disabled, who helped, from the lady who did the ‘begging’, to the man who had to abandon his computer course because of his disability, but was able to go on and build computers.� All who have helped enjoyed the experience and our finished products have been widely distributed throughout the North-East.

When the Peterhead Forum had financial difficulties a decision had to be made to protect the future of “Compable” and a small group was formed solely for the purpose of continuing “Compable”.� It has not been altogether easy working from my home but I enjoyed the work and believe that a computer is a great equaliser.� Computers allow disadvantaged people to

perform tasks just the same as anyone else.� It is my hope that by finding computers for those who would not�

normally be able to get one, we are giving

them a chance to learn and eventually to be able to enter the workforce on an equal footing with anyone else.

“Compable” was approached to see if they would be willing to work along with Aberdeenshire Council and other organisations.� The way forward was to form a steering group, create a Business Plan and Constitution, and to negotiate for funding and premises.� Some funding has now been secured.

Our hope is that people involved in the project would come from all the disadvantaged community so that no one is excluded in the mainstreaming process, thus helping others to help themselves.

Educate the public regarding the importance of computer re-use.

Tony Miller

Chairman of “Compable”

PROJECT ABILITY is a Glasgow-based visual arts charity with nearly twenty years experience in developing projects for disabled adults and children, people with mental health problems and others such as minority ethnic groups and homeless people.

We support individuals to develop their own artistic practice and to participate in local, national and international arts events through our developmental workshops and exhibitions at the Centre for Developmental Arts and in our extensive outreach programme.

Collaboration with the participants, some of whom have been coming to the centre since it opened in 1991.

Mental Health

The Trongate Studios opened in 1994 to provide a safe and supportive artists’ resource for people with mental illness.� The Studios are open throughout the year offering around eighty members access to their own studio space.

Children and Young People

In addition to the above projects we also have an artistic programme for children and young people with disabilities in Glasgow, East Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire.� New funding will allow us to roll out an extensive out-of-school programme for young people.� This will enhance the activities we already provide for young people at weekends and school holidays, as well as the school activities we provide in partnership with education.� Children with autistic spectrum disorders who attend our Saturday Art classes

The Centre for Developmental Arts (CDA) is a multipurpose space, housing:

�

Two Galleries

Our administrative offices

The Trongate Studios (Project Ability’s

A fully accessible workshop

Learning Disability

Each week, around one hundred learning disabled adults take part in the workshop programme at the CDA.� The programme is long-term and designed to be relevant, inspiring and thought provoking.� The artistic programme is developed in�����

throughout the year had the opportunity to exhibit their work at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in the “Young Talent 2003” exhibition.

Outreach Work

Outwith the CDA we provide a number of different workshop programmes in partnership with various local authorities.� One project for people living in East Renfrewshire is now in its fourth year.� The programme provides, often one-to-one, creative support for people preparing to leave long-stay hospital and for those who have recently moved into their own homes.

For further information on Project Ability, please contact Kirstin Bannerman,

McCABE ANNOUNCES ACTION TO IMPROVE SERVICE

An action plan to improve community care services for people with sensory impairments was published today for consultation by Deputy Health and Community Care Minister Tom McCabe.

The action plan - community care services for people with a sensory impairment - builds on what is already in place and sets out short, medium and long-term goals to improve services in the future.

The action plan was written in consultation with

������������ Deafblind Scotland,

������������ The Royal National Institute for the Blind

������������ The Scottish Council on Deafness an, importantly

������������ Sensory impairment users.

��� The action plan proposes:

��������� every social work or care facility should have a member of staff who can meet the basic communication needs of a person with a sensory impairment by April 2005;

��������� local research projects should be undertaken to find out what is working well in both urban and rural areas and identify possible improvements to services and;

��������� devise a national training strategy that strikes a balance between

generic and specialist needs, placing the needs of users and carers at its heart.

��� Launching the consultation Mr McCabe said:

“Good quality community care services for people with sensory impairments are often important lifelines that offer a better quality of life that might not otherwise be possible.

We have already consulted with representative from Deafblind Scotland, the Royal National Institute for the Blind and the Scottish Council on Deafness and, importantly, with sensory impairment users.

We are now consulting widely and I hope people will use this opportunity to give their views which will help shape the future of community care services that people with a sensory impairment want and deserve.”

NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS

1.�������� A Social Work Services Inspectorate report, Sensing Progress, was published in 1998, which inspected sensory impairment services in local authorities in Scotland. The action plan published for consultation today actively encourages existing good practice and identifies common priorities for the future with principal stakeholders.

2.�������� Last year the Scottish Executive set up a planning group with representation from Deafblind Scotland, the Royal National Institute of the Blind and the Scottish Council on Deafness. Its purpose was to outline what common community care needs might be for those with a sensory impairment.� Their ideas formed the basis of a consultation seminar that engaged with users of sensory impairment services. The clear message given was that people with a sensory impairment would appreciate better access to information about services, better access to services, clear service standards, improved training for staff who provide the services and increased user participation in how services are developed.

3.�������� Taking the seminar views into account, the planning group then formed an Action Plan, which includes short, medium and long-term goals which, it is thought, will make a positive difference to those who use these services.

4.������ As advised by the planning group, a summary of the Action Plan will be available in Braille, audiotape, CD, BSL Video and community languages� (Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Cantonese, Hindi and Gaelic).� The consultation will take place over a period of thirteen weeks.

Made available by Ron Skinner MBE

Since June 2003, SDEF has been taking part in a project to improve the ways in which legal advice is given to people affected by disability.� The initiative dates from late 2000, when the Scottish Executive set up a group to consider how ‘community legal services’ could be developed in Scotland.� The main aim was to look at how access to justice could be improved and how an effective and consistent network of advice provision could be established.

One of the first results was a pilot scheme run in the Glasgow area in 2001-2 to look at advice services for all people in the city. Subsequently four other pilots were announced, three geographical: respectively in Edinburgh, Fife and Argyll & Bute; and one ‘thematic’, looking at legal advice in Scotland for disabled people. SDEF has been assisting in the development of the latter.

We all know that advice, much with legal overtones, tends to come to us from a variety of agencies.� Some is specifically about legal matters, such as the Disability Discrimination Act: other information may have a legal component, such as advice on benefits or housing entitlements.

The aim of the ‘thematic’ steering group is to look at how the quality and availability of legal information for disabled people

can be improved.� A further consideration is physical access for disabled people to advice, irrespective of whether the information itself relates to disability matters.

The Steering Group has been formed to reflect four interest groups. SDEF is there to represent ‘user interest groups’; ‘funders and policy makers’ are represented by the Scottish Executive, COSLA and the Scottish Legal Aid Board; ‘providers of advice to disabled people’ are represented by a range of agencies, including the Disability Rights Commission and Update; and ‘providers of general advice’ include Citizens Advice Scotland, Scottish Association of Law Centres and Money Advice Scotland.

The group will meet over a period of one year and make its recommendations on how the spectrum of information services can provide advice that is consistent, widely accessible and to a high standard. We will tell you more as the process continues.

Submitted by Wyn Merrells

Project Manager

SDEF

�

I had the privilege of attending the above Conference on August 14^th.

Much of what was said is common ground, but we gained insights into the problems peculiar to being part of the ethnic minority.� I found ‘minority’ a difficult word to deal with when listening to the speakers, e.g. “I was born in Yorkshire”, and “I came here over fifty years ago”, and so on.� Surely people should be fully integrated by this time, and British.

Many of the problems that our ethnic friends experience are based on culture and religion being intertwined, and we need to recognise this.� For some of them religion is a way of life.

We can’t assume what other peoples’ needs are.� We need to get to know one another.� Can we really know the problems facing a child who is being taught B.S.L. at school, and then goes home to parents who have no English?� Can we begin to realise the difficulties faced?

I was particularly impressed by the enthusiasm of the people I met, and feel that other opportunities like this, where we can meet together, would go a long way to “Bridging the Gap”.

Submitted by Agnes Stewart - Board Member of SDEF

07/08/03� -� Labour Councillor faces being ejected by Council after being charged with

������������������ deception.� Colindale Councillor suspended by Labour Party and has been

������������������ subject of internal party investigation.

14/08/03� -� The Colindale Councillor was a tireless campaigner for the survival of

������������������ Edgware Hospital Charitable work, including setting up Larches Trust, a

������������������ Charity for people with learning disabilities, and he founded a friendship

������������������ Organisation for Jews and Hindus.

In Court he admitted using a blind man’s expired parking badge to help his son escape parking fees.� He sent a letter, on Council headed notepaper, to Camden Council asking for four parking tickets and a clamping release charge, worth about �260, to be dropped.� He attached a photocopy of an expired disabled parking badge belonging to an old friend.� The friend had left the area two years previously, giving his car, containing the Orange Badge (which had expired in 1998) to the Councillor’s son.� The Councillor had had no contact with his friend during the two years since he had left, but claimed in his letter to Camden Council that the parking fees were causing great distress to his friend, although he (his friend) was unaware of this.

Although his misdemeanour could have carried a six month sentence, or �5000 fine, he was, in fact fined �250 for deception, and ordered to pay �60 costs.� Ironically, as a diabetic, he has a disabled parking badge.

He claimed that all politicians were arrogant people and he had allowed his arrogance to go too far in trying to ensure his son did not have to pay parking tickets by using an expired disabled parking badge belonging to a visually impaired man.

(Names and Addresses withheld)�

Family Fund has produced a range of new materials about living with disability.

Taking Care was written by parents and looks at how families cope with caring for a severely disabled child.

Your Life, Your Future is a brief guide to opportunities and choices for young, disabled people, with tips on planning and finding the right support.

www.after16.org.uk details the opportunities and services available to young, disabled people in the UK after leaving school.� It has information on finances, learning choices, housing and holidays.

Leaflets are free to young, disabled people and their carers.

Call 01904 550 033

�

The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) claims employees with a progressive medical condition could be at risk of discrimination unless a legal loophole is closed.� In its first major review of current disability discrimination law, the DRC has urged the Government to introduce legislation which would protect employees from the point at which they are diagnosed.� The Disability Discrimination Act currently comes into force only when an individual develops symptoms.� The Government is due to publish new disability rights legislation in the summer but has not indicated when the draft bill would become law, or what further protection it would provide for disabled people.

The DRC is also calling for people with a generic predisposition to a progressive condition to be protected by legislation.

For a copy of Disability Equality: Making it happen call

�

The 3H Fund, a UK charity which provides holidays for disabled people, is looking for volunteer carers, preferably with experience of looking after someone with a disability.� The carers will help a range of physically disabled people on group holidays in the UK.� A contribution of �50 is expected, to cover accommodation and food.

If you are interested, or would like more information please call

Four new consumer guides for older and disabled motorists have been launched by independent charity, Ricability (Research and Information for Consumers with Disabilities).

Titles include:

“Getting a Wheelchair into a Car”

“People Lifters”

“Ins and Outs of choosing a Car”

All the guides are free and contain practical advice on equipment and adaptations.� For more information or to receive free copies

call 020 7427 2460 or visit www.ricability.org.uk

Have you noticed changes at your ASDA?

Some stores have changed to private parking operators and fines of �50 can be expected.

News has just reached us of one store who ejected three lads, late at night and refused to let them shop there, for failing to move from a disabled space when asked.

Signs have been erected warning the public of the parking conditions.�

Please let us know of any other positive action you may have come across at a Supermarket near you.� So far we have no action in Dunfermline and Aberdeen.