
Two main events have dominated the
scene since our last publication.
1.�����
AGM
We held a very well supported AGM on
8th December in Stirling and would like to say thank you to
all those who came and made it such a success.�
We were delighted that our patron, George Reid MSP, agreed to
be our speaker on this occasion.�
He spoke “off the cuff” for over 45 minutes and during this
time you could have heard a pin drop in the room as his talk was so
interesting, based as it was on his personal experiences.�
I think we were all inspired and filled with enthusiasm, and he
left us with a great deal to think about and lot to do.�
However, from little acorns giant oaks grow. �For
those unable to join us, his speech is enclosed by request.
Again, especially for those who could
not attend, I would like to explain the position regarding the removal
of the item covering the election process.�
Even after all the papers were sent out, we were still hoping
up to the last minute we would have received confirmation of the
position regarding our bid to become the Umbrella Body for Access
Panels.� However, this did
not happen, and we actually only received the news in early January.�
On legal advice, we therefore decided at that last minute to
hold this item over until a later date.�
We are currently updating our Memos & Articles of
Association, and when all plans are finalised we will send out full
details to everyone of the Extraordinary General Meeting which will
deal exclusively with this one issue.�
Thank you also for completing the
evaluation forms, or for your verbal comments.�
These were very useful and have been taken on board.
2.�
SDEF as Umbrella Body for Access Panels in Scotland - Update
As you know SDEF has openly and
consistently supported the need for a strong Access Panel Network. �After
a long time, and a great deal of hard work, we are pleased to report
that the Scottish Executive has accepted our costed Business Plan to
become the Umbrella Group, and has agreed to fund us over a three year
period.� Unfortunately
this does not cover our submitted figure in its entirety, but
apparently it is usual for voluntary bodies not to be 100% funded,
given the demands on Scottish Executive funds.
We have always promised that the
Access Panels themselves would decide the support they require. To
this end we have invited representatives of all Access Panels to a
meeting in Stirling on 8th March to discuss setting out
priorities for the work. �This
occasion will also offer the opportunity to agree the election
procedures for the Access Panels’ representatives as Directors on
the SDEF Board.� They will
be expected to assume the role of representing Access Panels and be
responsible for ensuring the business plan is carried out in the
manner and to the costs laid down.
Convenor - Elma Mitchell MBE
****************************
ADDRESS
BY MR. GEORGE REID MSP
SDEF
AGM 8TH DECEMBER 2003
����
Mr. Reid said it was a pleasure to be present, and opened by
referring to Article I of the Universal Declaration of Rights which
states that “we are all born equal in rights and dignity”, but
asked “are we?”
���
His deep interest in disability issues was fostered during
childhood, one of his great memories, as a boy in Clackmannanshire,
being of preparing a gift box each Christmas for an elderly lady with
learning difficulty.� His
father, Manager of MacLay’s Brewery, started the first employment in
1950 for people with learning disability, regularly taking people into
work which included a large proportion of Polish people who had
remained in the area during those post war years. Through these
experiences Mr. Reid became aware of the issues concerning people with
disability, which has remained with him throughout his life and work
with the Council of Europe and at Westminster.
���
Mr. Reid said that he was honoured to be Patron of SDEF and
would endeavour to add value to its work.��
He referred to the recent visit to the Holyrood site by SDEF
directors, and the Convenor’s comments to an officer�
“if you do not know what is required, just ask”, and he
stressed the need for increased communication.�
He referred to the survey being carried out on accessibility to
MSP’s premises and the fact that access should be available to all,
and advocated the use of the Press and media, persistence being the
key to success.� He
commented that work on the Toilet Survey is valuable, with progress
ultimately providing service to all as a basic human right.�
He commented similarly on the work being done on the Special
Needs Transport.
���
Mr. Reid referred to the need for good governance within
organisations.� A
competitive situation exists now, where many organisations are seeking
funds, professional leadership and staff guidance are most important
for success.
���
Mr. Reid’s career progressed from working in television on
disability programmes, he then moved to ITN, and at that time was
asked to stand for
election for Clackmannanshire and won his seat.�
A social democrat, SNP, Mr. Reid has a basic commitment to
achieving a just, caring country.�
He is a gradualist, believing in careful step by step progress,
building trust and confidence.� He
believes strongly that now we are Europeans we must see ourselves as
such.
���
He quoted an example of success from grass roots, user led,
level when, in 1975, a woman from Dunfermline with an autistic son
needed help.� At that time
diagnosis was difficult to obtain.�
Through her persistence a house was purchased in the area,
Struan House, which is now, according to the New York Times, a world
centre for excellence in autism, caring for 2.5k people in the
community.
���
Mr. Reid had introduced the first Bill to Parliament on
domestic violence.� It had
become clear to him that women with disability suffered most, not
necessarily from direct physical violence, but threats and refusal to
assist.
���
From parliamentary business he was offered a position with the
International Red Cross, set up in 1859.�
There are a billion people with disability throughout the world
which remains one of the major economic and social issues.�
In Europe and USA most people of 75+ will develop some form of
disability;� who pays for
it and provides the extra care?� He
contrasted this statistic with the situation in Africa and Asia where
the young suffer more, due to lack of food and water, high incidence
of war, and high levels of AIDS.�
Civil wars, e.g. in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq, where
women and children suffer most.� In
Addis Abbaba in 1984-85 the Red Cross had fed 7.5 million people.�
The people had to walk to a food source, when enormous
decisions had to be made about who to feed.��
Disabled people, the elderly and the innocent came at the
bottom of the rung.� It is
a universal matter to create equality.
���
Mr. Reid also spoke of the enormous loss of life and drastic
damage to people caused by landmines that were made of plastic and
difficult to detect.� They
can lie for many years undetected.�
There are 22k people killed throughout the world every year due
to this.
���
He was present after the Armenian earthquake in 1988/89, having
gone there for three days and stayed eighteen months.�
35.5k people dead, many
thousands displaced and 800k homeless.�
He said that in the West disability was not addressed properly,
with funds put into kidney machines which were
only successful if provided instantly and with appropriate
infrastructure. Loss of limbs was a far more urgent situation.�
Other European countries e.g. Norway giving 30%, provide
funding to the Third World.��
It is important that consciousness is raised within the UK to
these issues.
���
Mr. Reid said he had observed that women in these dire
situations of war and famine can be trusted to share equally and e.g.
keep seed for next year’s sowing.�
He referred to work that is done by himself and his wife in
sending out hand operated sewing machines to Afghanistan, thus
providing a source of provision of clothes and income for communities.�
Mr. Reid quoted examples of government provision for disability
groups in other parts of the world e.g. Russia, where money went to
the Union of the Deaf, and in Spain where, after the Civil War General
Franco’s wife had granted blind people benefits from their lottery.�
Conversely wheelchair users and deaf people in Spain did not
receive these benefits.
���
Mr. Reid then referred to SDEF’s work in gathering
information about accessibility to MSP’s premises.�
He assured members that the new Parliament building in
Edinburgh would be totally accessible.�
He stressed that persistence would be essential for results,
commenting that carers organisations were currently far more
successful than disability organisations.�
���
Mr. Reid said that many options were available to pressure
government for assistance.� Pensioners
had formed a party as had Highland groups, disabled people could do
this also.�
���
In closing, Mr. Reid stressed that persistence would be
essential to success in gaining mainstream consideration for those
with disability.
�

STOP
PRESS
GOOD
NEWS FOR ACCESS PANELS
Further to our Convenor’s Report,
we are pleased to tell you that Margaret Curran, M.S.P., Minister for
Communities, has announced that �525,000 would be made available to
Access Panels in Scotland.
This news has only come as we were
preparing to go to press, so how these funds are to be administered,
will be an item for further correspondence.
�
Raigmore
Hospital Pilot

This
was a pilot project at
Raigmore Hospital which was funded by the RARARI initiative.
The
aim of this study was to investigate the cost and benefits of
carrying out planned preventative maintenance on wheelchairs issued
to patients in remote areas.� This
was in the form of a mobile workshop which visited the wheelchair
users at their homes instead of their having to travel to a distant
Centre.� Unfortunately
this funding has come to an end, and this innovative approach is
being assessed at present.
We
await the report with interest as we can see great benefits if this
were extended to other similar rural communities.
�
Disabled
- Able Accessible Accommodation
Money
talks and disabled people have power.�
We need to use it.
It
can be estimated from the DRC’s Open4All Campaign that the annual
spending power of disabled people in Scotland is over �4 billion, but
a
national survey for the DRC found
that more than 70% of disabled people find it difficult to get into
shops or use high street services.
All
businesses need customers. If high street shops and services are not
accessible, then, if possible, they should not be used. Owners and
managers
will get the ‘message’ quickly enough if their customers go
elsewhere.
Disabledinscotland.com
is an accessible website that is operated by the company Disabled and
Able Ltd. The web site provides disabled people with relevant
information about products and services. The areas covered include:
accessible holiday accommodation, travel, daily living aids, mobility,
sources of legal advice and a discussion page.
The
site will be used to give companies the message that things are not
good enough, that there is a choice and that we’ll take our money
elsewhere until they do get better.
Conversely
some companies are good. Those companies that are on the site and do
provide a good service to disabled people will have the benefits of
doing so reinforced. Companies that provide a service for, or sell
products that are of use to disabled people will be invited to
advertise on the site. �People
can also nominate companies that they feel should be on the site.
It
is a new web site that is still being developed. The way that it
develops will be guided by users. If people reading the site find that
a topic that they are interested in is not covered then please let me
know (using the email address on the site - [email protected]).�
We will try to get it changed.�
The site will largely focus on Scotland. It is intended to be
useful both to people living here and visitors to Scotland.
�4 billion
is a lot of money and a lot of power. This site is a tool that we can
use to make that power improve society.
*************************************************
STOP
PRESS - BSL at the Scottish Parliament
A PILOT
SCHEME BRINGING BSL TO “FIRST MINISTER’S QUESTION TIME” (FMQT)
and “QUESTION TIME” will take place in the public gallery at the
Mound on the following Thursdays: �26th
February;� 4th
March;� 11th
March and 18th March.�
Members of the public who use BSL are encouraged to come along
and provide feedback on these pilot sessions.�
If successful, this could become a permanent feature at
Holyrood.
FMQT runs
from 12 noon to 12.30 and Question Time from 2.30 p.m. to 3.10 p.m.
Fieldfare
Trust - Kielder Challenge Final 2003
��������������������������������
����������������������������������������������������������������

I
have just finished watching a DVD of the above which was made last
year.� I found this
extremely well produced and it was great to see how much all the
children got out of the whole challenging experience.�
It was wonderful to see everyone working together to achieve
a common goal and was a true example of how young people can accept
their differences without question, and just get on with the job in
hand.� The adult world
could well learn from their example.
If
you are aware of any schools or youth groups who might be interested
in participating in the Challenge in 2004 please contact the address
below and details will be forwarded.
Submitted
by SDEF Convenor - Miss E. Mitchell, MBE
Dr.
Ian Newman - Chief Executive,
Fieldfare Trust
7 Volunteer House�������������������������������������������������
69 Crossgate
Cupar - KY15 5AS
Telephone
01334 657708;� Fax 01334
657978;� e-mail�
[email protected]
Congratulations
�to�
East
Renfrewshire Access Panel
East
Renfrewshire Access Panel launched its Access Guide on all public
buildings within East Renfrewshire at a special ceremony on 23rd
February.
The
guide can be accessed on East Renfrewshire Council’s website - www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/accesser.�
A wide variety of properties are included, such as office,
libraries, schools, sports centres, doctors’ surgeries, banks and
railway stations, and it is hoped eventually to include all shops in
the area.�
The Guide gives useful information on each property with
regards to parking, external
and
internal access and the availability of toilet facilities.�
The Chairman of the Panel, Gordon Shepherd, paid tribute to all
the many disabled volunteers and
Council
staff who had worked on the preparation of the Guide over several
years, and emphasized that this had been a good example of disabled
people working in unison with the Council to make a difference for
local people.�
He added also that the benefit of an electronic access guide
was that this could be regularly updated to take account of
improvements to buildings as they take place in compliance with the
requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.
�
European
Parliament of Disabled People
Please
Note that the European Commission,
sitting in Brussels, has not given any Directive so far on Disability.
The
following is a summary of the Manifesto and Resolutions adopted by the
E.P.D.P. on Nov. 11, 2003.
The
Manifesto reads:- �From
the European Parliament of Disabled People to the European Parliament
(and all prospective election candidates) regarding the 2004 European
Parliament Elections.
(i)��Elections
for a new enlarged European Union will take place in June 2004. This
is a turning point for Europe. It is an opportunity for future members
of the new European Parliament to make strong commitments to concrete
changes that will ensure that disabled people can fully enjoy their
civil, social, economic and political rights;
(ii)�
Disabled people
make up at least 10% of the population and at least one in four people
has a disabled family member. Allies such as families, friends,
colleagues and assistants are also concerned that society should take
the concerns of disabled people into account. Disability issues are
issues for everyone and the European Parliament of Disabled people
calls on prospective MEPs to listen and address our demands;
(iii)�
Europe has
developed without adequately taking into account the needs and the
rights of the whole of its population. As a result, there are many
types of barriers to the full participation of disabled people in
society. The consideration of issues related to disability concerns
everyone because their resolution will benefit the whole population;
(iv)�
We the delegates of
the European Parliament of Disabled People, 200 official disabled
representatives of 50 million disabled people and parents of disabled
people unable to represent themselves, call upon all candidates
running
(v)
as prospective
members of the European Parliament and all political parties
to
adopt the following commitments which are crucial to respecting the
human rights of disabled people and to ensuring equal opportunities
for disabled people in society;
(vi)
The European disability model should be based on a broad
definition of human rights and consist of a combination of
comprehensive anti‑discrimination legislation that outlaws all
forms of discrimination faced by disabled people and positive action
that provides disabled people with the support they need to ensure a
real integration in society;
(vii)
The
decentralisation of responsibilities from central governments to
regional and local authorities is advancing in the whole of Europe and
increases the need for national planning of local disability policies,
also it increases the need for a nationally monitored,
local
human rights-, or UN-Standard Rules based programme on disability
policy planning, such as Agenda 22.
We the delegates of the European
Parliament of Disabled People representing the diversity of the
disability movement which consists of 50 million people in Europe,
call upon all candidates in the June 2004 European Parliamentary
election campaign to commit to realise the following:
Campaign
for Human Rights Legislation
1.������
Adopt Disability
Specific Directive -- to enable people to achieve their full
potential.
2.������
Support National
non-discrimination legislation.
3.������
Equal Treatment in
Employment -- for immediate action.
4.������
Support legally binding
U.N. Conventions.
5.������
Mainstreaming.
6.������
Funding Conditions
-- Involve disabled peoples’ representatives in the development of
the criteria for the allocation of Funds.
7.������
European Parliament for
All -- Ensure that the E.P. be an example of good practice.
Demonstrate
Commitment to Disability Issues
8.������
Endorse Madrid
Declaration and Agenda 22 for local community disability policy
planning.
9.������
Join Disability
Intergroup of the European Parliament.�
Become a member of this informal group of M.E.P.’S from all
nationalities who work with the E.P. on disability policy.
10.�������
Consult disabled
constituents.��������
To include constituents, their representative organisations and
parents of disabled people.
�
Full
and Equal Access to Democracy.�������
This will include fully accessible 2004 Elections.
11.����
Consultations.��
Before the election campaigns are finalised, disabled
people or the parents of disabled people who are unable to represent
themselves and members of European or National disability movements
are consulted regarding what their issues are.
12.������
Accessible and
Inclusive Campaigns.� The
campaign should reach all voters with disabilities, e.g. by way of
accessible formats of information.
13.������
Accessibility of
Information about Procedures.�������
The whole election procedure be made fully accessible to
disabled people including those with
���������
complex needs, e.g. how to present oneself as a candidate, how
to register as a voter and where and how to vote.
14.�������
Disabled Candidates.�
That candidate lists are representative of society and that
disabled people are encouraged to run as candidates.
The
Resolution -The European Year of People with Disabilities and beyond
A
Vision for the Future
(i)��
This European
Parliament of Disabled People (EPDP) is of historic importance. It has
brought together the European disability movement in plenary
discussion with Members of the European Parliament and other key EU
decision makers to consider the legacy of the European Year of People
with Disabilities (EYPD) and the future for EU disability policy.
(ii)�
The EPDP made up of
200 official delegates of different organisations of people with
disabilities and parents of disabled people unable to represent
themselves demonstrates the diversity of the disability movement in
Europe which consists of 50 million people.
(iii)�
The EPDP is
outraged at the fact that disabled people and their families continue
to be discriminated against and have their rights denied every day.
(iv)
The EPDP considers that the dynamic generated by the
EYPD 2003 must continue after 31 December 2003 and be quickly realised
through the implementation of concrete and sustainable measures to
combat discrimination and bring down barriers which disabled people
and their families face in all areas of life. We want clear targets
for this with deadlines for implementation of these targets.
(v)�
The EPDP demands
that disability policy and issues relating to discrimination and human
rights of disabled people are placed among the top priorities in the
political agenda.
(vi)
The EPDP considers
the Madrid Declaration and the 22 UN Standard Rules (1993) as a valid
framework on how disability policies should be designed at all levels
of governmental and non-governmental policy planning. As the Madrid
Declaration has stated, non-discrimination plus positive action
results in social inclusion. The Standard Rules state the importance
of equal partnership of disability organisations, authorities and
service-providers.
(vii)
The EPDP considers
disability not as a problem of the individual, but as a problem of
society lacking in accessibility or services. Human rights apply to
all disabled persons, regardless of the nature of the disability being
intellectual, physical, mental and chronic or 'hidden'. Whereas the 22
UN Standard Rules refer to the former International Classification of
Disabilities, Impairments and Handicaps of the World Health
Organisation, EPDP now takes the International Classification of
Functioning as the basis for the working of the Madrid Declaration,
the Standard Rules and the Agenda 22.
The E.P.D.P. call for the following:
Legislation.�
We call for Non
Discrimination Legislation
1.�����
Support for an E.U.� Disability
Specific Directive
2.�����
The E.U. Member States to produce National Law relating to
combating of discrimination.� This
to happen as soon as possible.
3.������
Member States to use the opportunity to promote comprehensive
anti-discrimination legislation covering all aspects of life and all
levels of government.
�
The
new Constitutional Treaty of the E.U.
4.������
We call that decisions are taken by qualified majority voting.
5.������
Support the positive measures already in the Draft
Constitutional Treaty
The
U.N. Convention on the Rights of Disabled People
6.������
We call on the E.U. to continue to support the process for a
comprehensive Convention which will protect and promote all rights of
disabled people through enforceable anti-discrimination legislation as
well as positive action
Mainstreaming Disability
7.������
We call for an E.U. Action Programme to be established and
request the European Commission to produce an annual report on how
disability has been into account in all policy issues.
Better
co-ordination of national disability policies
8.�������
Call on E.U. Institutions to set up the following process which
should result in better policies
(a)����
The E.U. Member States agree to provide structured information
on national disability policies
(b)����
The European Commission after discussions with member States
and having consulted the European Disability Forum will produce a
comprehensive report highlighting examples of good practice.
(c)�����
These reports will be presented to the last Council of
Employment and Social Affairs, every second year and will also be
presented to the European Parliament.
�
Priority Policy Issues
Employment and Social Inclusion
Policy
9-11.�
Give much greater prominence to the status of disabled people
-- to mainstream disability -- to compile regular statistics on the
living and employment situation experienced by disabled people.
12.����
The family of disabled people play a vital role in their
education and social inclusion.� Adequate
measures for families need to be established by public authorities in
order to allow families to organise their support in the most
inclusive way.
Freedom
of Movement
13.�����
We urge all European institutions to encourage the Freedom of
Movement of disabled people through all member States.�
To achieve this, benefits need to be exportable and personal
assistance services move with individuals.
Transport
14.�����
Adopt a directive requiring all transport to be fully
accessible.
15.�����
Accessible transport systems need to be consistent over Europe
to give people the confidence to travel.
Access to the Built Environment
16.�����
Accessibility to the built environment is a fundamental right
and central to securing free movement of disabled people.
Information Society
17.�����
Request that work is started on an IT-directive which shall
prevent exclusion of persons with disabilities.
18.�����
E.U. Legislation in the field of electronic communication
requires the provision of accessible services and equipment
Domestic Product Design and
Assistive Technology
19.�����
Research into development of domestic products with a view to
improving the usability of everyday products for all.
Co-ordination of Access
Initiatives
20.��������
In the fields of ICT, Transport and Built Environment and
Tourism through close and regular communication
and information exchange between the European Commission
Directorates-General and other EU institutions, and in consultation
with representatives of the disability movement.
�
Public Procurement Legislation
21.����
Legislation to allow public authorities and other public
contractors to include among the award criteria of public tenders, the
bidding companies’ practices towards disabled people.
22.�����
Call for legislation to include Design-for-All and
accessibility requirements in the provisions on technical
specification of tendering documents.
Media
23-24.
Provide advice on how to become more effective in working with the
media in communication work.
Culture,
Education and Youth
25.����
Prepare a communication on access to cultural places and
activities.
26.����
In Education, Youth and Culture, promote the inclusion of all
disabled children, young people and adults.
Research
27.����
Give greater priority to social research in relation to the
quality of life of disabled people and in areas where there is an
impact on their lives.
Bioethnics
28.����
Representatives of the disability movement to be members of
bioethnic committees and working groups.
Development Co-operation and
Disability
29.�����
A specific European Commission Communication on Disability to
be drawn up to address the needs of disabled people.
Disability Communities for
Positive Action
30.�����
Women with disabilities
31.�����
Disabled people who experience multiple discrimination.
32.������
Children with disabilities.
33/34.��
Disabled people with complex dependency needs.
35.������
Independent Living and Personal Assistance
36.�����
Augmentative and Alternative Communication.
37/38.�
Disabled People in Institutions
39.������
Disabled People in the ten new Member States
40.������
Disabled People in the future accession countries
�
Structured Consultation
41.�����
We call for a clear recognition of the European Disability
Forum as an umbrella organisation of the organised disability movement
in Europe.
The
European Disability Forum cannot fully function without input from
European disability specific organisations.
We, the
E.P.D.P. encourage and urge E.U. Institutions and Member States to
disseminate this Resolution widely.
We call on
the above to commit to actions that will bring about real equality for
all disabled people and their families.
NOTHING ABOUT US
WITHOUT US
Please Note����
The full Manifesto Document and Resolution Document can be
obtained on request from the S.D.E.F. Office.
�
Lipreading in the
Forth Valley Area
Have you ever watched a TV programme
and noticed that the person’s voice was ‘out of sync’ with the
sound?� What you were
doing was lipreading:� your
eyes were telling you that the person’s words did not match up with
their lip movements.� We
all lipread to some degree but, when you are hard of hearing, the
skill of lipreading becomes very important.�
One in seven adults will experience
hearing loss at some stage in their life.�
Loss of hearing, either through old age or as a result of
illness or industrial injury, can have a devastating effect.�
It can cut people off from their family, friends, work
colleagues and the wider community.�
They may experience difficulties on the phone, watching TV,
gaining access to information, shopping or when talking with friends
and family.� Many people
feel embarrassed by their hearing problems:�
families and the wider community generally have little
understanding or empathy and often think of deaf people as stupid
because of their slowness in understanding conversations.�
It is little wonder that many deaf people withdraw from company
and become socially isolated.� Lipreading
classes can do a lot to improve their situation.
Qualified lipreading tutors do much
more than encourage lipreading skills.�
Within a relaxed and friendly class they also
�����
Explore ways of coping with difficult hearing situations
����
Give information about the support services available to
people with impaired hearing
����
Alert learners to the wide range of technical devices
available: special phones, flashing doorbells, smoke alarms etc
����
Help rebuild some of the confidence often lost through
deafness
����
Give guidance on the use and maintenance of hearing aids
����
Introduce relaxation techniques to help minimise the
stress caused by deafness and especially tinnitus (ringing in the
ears)
There are currently four classes
available in the Forth Valley region.�
Rose Goodacre runs a class on
Wednesday mornings at the Park Street Community Learning Centre in
Falkirk and a second class at the Mayfield Centre, St Ninian’s on
Tuesday evenings.� Janice
Vamplew runs a class on Thursday mornings at the Camelon Community
Project and on Tuesday mornings at the Victoria Halls in Dunblane.
The Falkirk classes are free and are
funded by Community Education, Falkirk Council.�
The St Ninian’s class is administered by Clackmannan College
in partnership with Community Learning and Development, Stirling
Council:� there is a
charge of �42 for ten two-hour lessons with a 50% discount for
pensioners and fee waivers for those on benefits. Places are still
available in all of these classes.�
Anyone
interested in learning more or in joining a class should contact Rose
on 01786 833313 or Janice on 01786 825354.
�

Motability
has announced changes to its scheme for disabled drivers.�
Contract hire customers can now keep their old car until the
new one is ready for collection, and those with highly adapted cars or
wheelchair accessible vehicles may be able to extend their agreement
by up to five years.� Call
0845 456 4566 for further information.

�
FROM
RUPERT’S NEWS
(Muscular
Dystrophy)
�
“PLACES
TO GO”
Farm Museum,
Kittochside, East Kilbride
�

Some comments on Disabled Toilets in
public places from A. Fielding in Glasgow.�
“Why is it that designers of these toilets quite often put
the washbasins on one wall and the drying facilities on the other side
of the room?� Sliding
doors should be a must for disabled people.�
The best I’ve come across is at The Farm Museum, Kittochside,
East Kilbride”.
Have you had a good experience to
share with readers of “OPEN DOORS” or one that you would prefer
not to experience again?� With
the holiday season ahead of us, this is a good time to share with one
another.� Please don’t
hesitate to contact the S.D.E.F. office.
�������������������������������
***************************
A
Commission for Equality and Human Relations
The Government recognises the crucial
contribution to the diversity agenda already made by the Commission
for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission and the Equal
Opportunities Commission and the need for a single body to build on
and protect the programmes they have put in place.
�
The
Role of the New Body
The working title of the body will be
the Commission for Equality and Human Rights.�
It will promote an inclusive agenda, underlining the importance
of equality for all in society, as well as to combat discrimination
affecting specific groups.� It
will promote equal opportunities for all and tackle barriers to
participation.� It is not
expected than any changes will be operative before 2006.
�
Don’t
forget

MOBILITY
ROADSHOW
at
Royal
Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh
9th
- 10th July 2004
�
Telephone
0570 770 3222 for further details
www.justmobility.co.uk/roadshow

�

�
The
Royal National Institute of the Blind is looking for Dare Devils to
take part in their "Jump for Charity" abseil event.
The
100ft Thistle Shopping Centre, on Goosecroft Road, Stirling, is the
location for the first such event in the city in 2004 and is
happening over the weekend of 13th and 14th
March.
Mhairi
Pearson, Area Fundraising Manager for the RNIB said,�
"Visual impairment can affect anyone at anytime. The
money raised will bring enormous benefits to blind and partially
sighted people in Scotland and the UK. Abseiling is great fun and
really memorable - anyone from students to pensioners can take part.
No previous experience is necessary, as fully trained instructors
are on hand to guide you.� So
why not rise to our challenge and contact us for a registration
pack?
It's
a great way of having fun as well as making a contribution to a good
cause.
For
further information and registration details please contact:�
Mhairi Pearson, Tel. 01355 30 1279/E. [email protected]
�
Ryanair
at Stansted

A
disabled man who was forced to pay to use a wheelchair at Stansted
Airport has won his case against Ryanair.
It
was the first case that the D.R.C. had undertaken against an
airline.� They have
another thirty five people who have complained about paying the
wheelchair charge and want Ryanair to pay compensation.
Ryanair
have now imposed a 50p wheelchair levy on all passengers from
Stansted and Gatwick Airports.
�
Welcome to new members
Breaking
Down Barriers
Associate
�
|
Alex
Thorburn
|
Lockerbie
|
Alan
A. Bolland
Individual
|
Alan
A. Bolland
|
Girvan
|
George
Hislop
Individual
|
George
Hislop
|
Inverkeithing
|
Ross
& Cromarty Access Panel
Full
|
Marj
Donaldson
|
Muir
of Ord
IV6
7YH
|
�
MORE
NEWS OF THE MEMBERSHIP
Aberdeen
Disability Consortium is planning a full-day event on various aspects
of
the D.D.A.�
This event is being made possible by the generosity of the Lord
Provost and Aberdeen City Council who have granted Civic Hospitality.
It is
expected that 120 delegates will attend to hear a range of speakers at
the Beach Ballroom on Friday 12th March 2004, from 9.00a.m.
to 4.00p.m.
Amongst
those taking part will be Disability Rights Commission, Capability
Scotland, Grampian Society for the Blind, Council officials and
others.
�
Dial-a-Journey
Survey

�
As you may have read in earlier
editions, SDEF has been asked to conduct a survey into the community
transport service operated by Dial-a-Journey. This should be completed
by the end of March 2004 and a report compiled for the Mobility Access
Committee Scotland (MACS).
SDEF was delighted by the numbers of
service users who offered to take part. We sent out over 550 letters
inviting participation and received around 190 replies from willing
interviewees. This is a very healthy response and actually exceeds the
number we had planned to speak to.
We have drawn a sample from the
respondents to give a good geographical spread to the survey. At the
time of writing, service users have been interviewed in various
locations served by Dial-a-Journey, including, Stirling, Bannockburn,
Falkirk, Camelon, Bridge of Allan, Doune, Dunblane, Callander, Alloa,
Strathblane, Crianlarich and points in between.
It would, of course, be premature to
indicate what the customers think about the service. However, certain
themes are emerging which will probably be borne out in the final
report. It is hoped that the work will help Dial-a-Journey respond to
the needs of passengers and also give MACS an insight into how other
community transport services might operate. We will give details of
our findings in a later edition.
SDEF is extremely grateful to all
those who offered to take part. At our Annual General Meeting in
December a raffle was held, and prizes were awarded to three lucky
winners drawn at random from the 190 potential participants.
Wyn Merrells
Project Manager
********************
BAYWATCH

Survey
shows ‘shocking’ parking abuse rises as competition launches to
highlight the best and worst supermarkets.
A survey published on 16th
February shows the abuse of parking bays allocated to disabled people
has increased.� Supermarket
management at local store level has failed to respond to the parking
needs of disabled customers, despite the clear guidance given by the
Baywatch campaign.
The findings of the survey, organised
by the Baywatch campaign, show that the rate of abuse - cars parked
in disabled bays without a valid badge - has risen from 18.5% in
January 2003 to nearly 21% in January 2004, or more than 1 in 5.�
The survey of more than 800 car parks belonging to the ‘big
four’ supermarkets (Asda, Safeway, Sainsbury and Tesco) across the
UK also shows:
����
In more than one third (37%) of the stores, disabled
people were unable to park in a designated space because of abuse by
non-badge holders;
����
All supermarkets have seen an increase in abuse levels;
����
Those who complained to stores say the response has
worsened, with only 30% saying stores responded well to complaints,
compared to 32% in 2003.
Ed Passant, Chief Executive of the
Disabled Drivers’ Motor Club, was shocked by the result.�
He said:
“Disabled people are sick to death
of not being able to park.� Despite
all the efforts of the Baywatch campaign, there remains a fundamental
problem at local level which needs to be tackled now.”
Mary Wilkinson, editor of Disability
Now, said:
“The supermarkets must put in place
proper mechanisms to police their disabled parking bays and ensure
lazy and selfish people stop abusing them.”
The results come as Baywatch, run by
the British Polio Fellowship, Disabled Drivers’ Association,
Disabled Drivers’ Motor Club and campaigning newspaper
Disability Now, launch a new annual
competition which invites disabled customers at the ‘big four’
supermarkets - Asda, Safeway, Sainsbury and Tesco - to nominate
their favourite store when it comes to disabled parking.�
The competition runs until mid-March.
Categories for nomination include:
����
Best parking facilities for disabled customers
����
Best store employee in relation to parking for disabled
customers
����
Worst disabled parking experience at a store
The competition is supported by the
‘big four’ supermarkets, as well as the Disability Rights
Commission.� An awards
ceremony, sponsored by RAC, will be held in July, where winning stores
and employees will be announced.
Douglas Campbell, Director of the
Disabled Drivers’ Association, added:
“There are some individual stores
out there doing really well, but there are many seriously failing to
meet the needs of disabled customers.�
Parking at supermarkets is not a luxury;�
it’s a basic necessity to maintain independence.”
Customers can pick up nomination
forms in their local Asda, Safeway, Sainsbury or Tesco, or online at www.baywatchcampaign.org
For
further information, contact Ben Furner at the Baywatch campaign on
01273
277518 / 07946 355795 or [email protected]
Notes
1.�
The 2004 Baywatch survey was carried out over the week 12-19th
January 2004, and covered 808 stores across the UK.
2.�
Local spokespeople from around the UK are available to comment
on parking issues.� Please
contact Ben Furner for local contact details.
3.�
Baywatch has also been commissioned by the Department for
Transport to research the most efficient ways of enforcing parking for
disabled people.
�

Articles submitted are
not necessarily the views of Scottish Disability Equality Forum
The Editor, Mrs. Agnes Stewart, �either c/o SDEF, or directly to:�
72 Riverside Drive, Aberdeen AB10 7LE, or e-mail to :�
[email protected] or [email protected]�
��
Scottish Disability Equality Forum, 12 Enterprise House, Springkerse
Business Park, STIRLING, FK7 7UF�
Tel: 01786 446 456� Fax: 01786 450 902� email: s[email protected]�
www.sdef.org.uk�
Scottish Disability Equality Form�
Working together with people affected by disability�
SDEF is a recognised Scottish Charity: No. SCO31893
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