Vital Funding for Wheelchair Services
Wheelchair
services in Scotland were boosted by the announcement on March
11 of �1.9 million to urgently tackle waiting times.
The
announcement was made by Deputy Health Minister Rhona Brankin
who reaffirmed the Executive’s commitment to improving services
for wheelchair users.
Ms Brankin
said:
“The
provision of wheelchairs in Scotland is a serious issue and one
which we have been seeking to address for some time.
“Current
waiting times to get the appropriate equipment are not
acceptable.� I expect this investment to make a real difference
towards improving the situation.
“The cash
will be distributed among Scotland’s five regional wheelchair
centres to pay for additional staff and equipment to tackle
waiting times as a matter of urgency.
“We
announced in December that NHS Quality Improvement Scotland
would be undertaking an independent review of services in the
long term.
“A
Steering Group has been appointed to oversee the review of the
project. Service users, voluntary organisations and
internationally respected experts will all be involved.
“I expect
that the review will improve services in the long term - but
this is not just a long term problem. It is one that needs to be
addressed quickly and effectively and the announcement I’m
making today should bring immediate benefits to wheelchair
users.”
The �1.9
million will be distributed among Scotland’s five regional
wheelchair centres for use in the financial year 2005/06 based
on bids which each have submitted.
The money
will be distributed as follows:
���������������������������� �s
Aberdeen��������������� 275,200
Dundee������������������ 202,965
Edinburgh��������������� 289,000
Glasgow����������������� 944,000
Inverness��������������� 197,000
For
further information contact: Stuart Lewis: 0131 244 2517
Internet:
www.scotland.gov.uk
�Visit
of SDEF Directors to Holyrood:
“A wonderfully accessible Parliament”
Edinburgh,
26 January:
Directors
of the Scottish Disability Equality Forum [SDEF] were shown
round Holyrood today and concluded that the new Scottish
Parliament was “wonderfully accessible — probably the most
accessible legislature in Europe.”
SDEF
provided advice to access consultants throughout the
construction process and Holyrood now offers:
-
Accessibility built into the design right from the start
-
Braille signage
-
Colour
signage for people who are partially sighted
-
Induction loops or infra-red systems for people who are deaf
or hard of hearing
-
Textphone and RNID Talktype service for public inquiries
-
A
wheelchair loan scheme
-
Carpets with a short, dense pile to assist wheelchair users
-
Fire
proof lifts
Additionally, all staff have received equal opportunities
training which includes disability-related matters.� Moreover,
around 20 MSPs and staff are current enrolled in a British Sign
Language course.
“Disability is a human rights issue,” said Presiding Officer
George Reid MSP.� “There should be no barriers whatsoever to
people with disabilities participating in the work of the
Parliament.
“Our SDEF
guests pointed out a number of minor snags, which are not
unexpected in a new building and which we shall now put right.�
Their major query was about suitable space to park while
unloading their wheelchairs, and I have asked staff to
investigate this as a matter of urgency.”
The
following office-bearers and officials took part in the visit:
Agnes Stewart (Company Secretary), Peter Ingram-Monk (Director),
Linda Miller (Director), Iain Strickland (Director) and Nick
Rochford (Director) accompanied by their carers and Robert
Pickles (SDEF Access Development Officer) and Wyn Merrells (SDEF
Manager)
Photograph
(above) available upon request to Ochil Constituency Office.
��
Have you experienced discrimination? Are you interested in
equality issues and how this affects your community? Would you
also be keen to learn more about working with your local media
in order to change the coverage your area of concern is getting?
Then come
along to one of these FREE events!
Sabhal M�r
Ostaig, (Gaelic College), Isle of Skye, Thursday 14 April
The Weigh
Inn, Burnside, Thurso, Thursday
21 April
Aberdeen
�(venue to be confirmed), Wednesday
8 June
Help can be
given with interpreters, cr�che facilities, transport and
accommodation, provided this is agreed in advance. Full disabled
access and loop systems are fitted.
Last year, successful events were held with people working
with grass roots groups all over Scotland.
Nick Bibby, who is a freelance journalist and trainer, will
be holding a three-hour practical media training session in the
afternoon.
Booking Forms and agendas are available on
www.forumondiscrimination.org.uk
Telephone
0131 524 9392
Email:
[email protected] �
Change
happens when people who do not normally speak are heard by
people who do not normally listen"
J D O'Brien
�
Scottish
Disabled Ramblers
Five years
ago Scottish Disabled Ramblers was set up by a group of disabled
ramblers to help less mobile people visit the beautiful Scottish
countryside.�� They began to collect information on paths and
trails, accessible by scooter and wheelchair in Scotland.� With
the help of a grant from Scotland UnLimited, Eva McCracken is
hoping to publish a book of 50 Wheelchair Accessible
Walks in
Scotland of 2 - 12 miles
by December 2005.��� Eva would like you to share with her
your knowledge of any paths and trails accessible to wheelchairs
in Scotland, or if anyone would like to advertise in the book,
please get in touch on either
01592-758149
or
[email protected]
Is it reasonable to claim obesity is a disability?
A 30 stone
man who was dismissed from his job at Sellafield nuclear plant
is going through the final stages of an internal appeal.
According to
British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) the employee was too fat to carry
out tasks essential to his role.� He could not fit into his
decontamination suit or get through the security turnstiles.
If he is not
reinstated, could he bring a claim at a tribunal for disability
discrimination?� Under DDA legislation, disability means a
“physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long
term adverse affect on a person’s ability to carry out normal
day-to-day activities”.� Being overweight is not specifically
excluded from the Act but so far there have been no claims that
obesity is a disability.
However, the
scope of the DDA has been extending bit by bit, and should
obesity now be classed as a disability?
If there were
a serious underlying medical cause it would almost certainly be
possible for the person to obtain the protection of the Act.�
Also, if the person had, for instance, diabetes or depression as
a result of obesity, then again it is likely that they would be
protected by the Act.� A recent case held that a cocaine addict
had a disability, not because he was an addict, but because he
had a depressive disorder.�
It is not
clear how far his depression was caused by the addiction.
But what
about people with no underlying medical condition who are simply
obese?�� Would they have a chance if they could prove that their
obesity had caused long-term impairment and made it difficult
for them to carry out their normal day-to-day activities?� Is it
reasonable to ask a person to change behaviour to reduce effects
of an impairment on normal day-to-day activities?�� With the
social and health issues surrounding obesity, can it still be
considered reasonable to expect a person to diet and/or exercise
to lose large amounts of excess weight?� The Obesity Awareness
and Solutions Trust found that 75% of obese people report
discrimination, and in the absence of any specific protection,
they might not have a choice but to claim disability
discrimination.
BNFL are
considering reinstating this particular employee which may give
an indication that they are worried that this member of staff
may be brave enough to bring a claim for disability
discrimination
First
reported in The Times Law, 25th January 2005
National Charity - Employment Opportunities
National
Charity Employment Opportunities, which helps disabled
people find and retain work, opened a new Scottish Centre in
Edinburgh with the help of actress Paula Sage.
The new centre will be the focal point for Employment
Opportunities’ work in Scotland as it aims to double the number
of disabled people it helps to find work in the next five years.
John Richardson, Employment Opportunities’ Director for
Scotland, said: “In Glasgow, we are already running Job Ready
workshops for one of the 12 pilots in the Government’s Working
Neighbourhoods programme.� With 25 years’ specialist experience,
we have a great deal to contribute to this and other such
initiatives.�� Our continued involvement in this sector will
mean we can develop our wide range of services and find jobs for
more disabled people.

For further information contact:
Scottish
Opportunities
3rd Floor
Princes House
5 Shandwick Place
Edinburgh
EH2 4RG
Telephone:
0131 229 0627
Fax: 0131 229 0694
Email:
[email protected]
Updated Website!
The SDEF
website has been updated and was re-launched on 28th
January 2004. The web address remains the same, but we hope that
the new look web will be both more user-friendly and flexible
than the previous model.
The site
has gone live with information under, ‘About SDEF’, ‘News &
Events’, ‘Our Work’ and, of course, the ‘Home Page’. The type of
build we have chosen, allows other areas of the site to be
filled successively and updated regularly.
The
building of the web has been undertaken by the Scottish Council
for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO). Part of our contract
involves staff training, which we hope to take up soon to allow
greater flexibility of use. The site should help us advertise
events and offer registration forms, offer information on access
issues and offer a high standard of service to members and the
public at large.
We hope
that the new look is appealing and that members enjoy consulting
the site in the coming years.
Wyn
Merrells
�
SDEF�� Annual
General Meeting
The
Scottish Disability Equality Forum held its Annual General
Meeting on 4 February 2005. The event attracted
nearly fifty participants from all over Scotland and was
addressed by our patron, the Right Honourable George Reid MSP.
Mr Reid’s keynote speech was to his normal high
standard and was very well received. He called upon his
extensive international experience of disability issues, drawing
attention to the lack of coverage of the plight of people with
disabilities involved in the Asian Tsunami, speaking about the
issue of landmines and noting that throughout the world there
are 800 million people who have a disability. He noted that,
even in this country there is generally poor media coverage of
disability issues.
His remedy
was simple, recommending that people complain to their elected
officials and write to newspapers and other media to keep the
disability agenda to the fore. With an election pending, he felt
this was an excellent moment to cause a fuss.
Mr Reid went
on to talk about his pride in the Parliament Building and felt
that, while not perfect, it was a good example of accessible
design. He thanked two members from AccessAble in the Borders
for their recent feedback following a visit to Holyrood.
The Company
Secretary Mrs Agnes Stewart gave the vote of thanks, saying that
the speech had been inspiring and gave much food for thought.
In the
afternoon the formal business was conducted, the Convenor
presenting the Annual Report and, in the absence of the Honorary
Treasurer, the Annual Accounts.
There were
elections for two places on the Board of Directors. The members
had been given pen portraits prepared by the four candidates and
voted to return two retiring Directors, namely Peter Ingram-Monk
and Muriel Williams.
The meeting
agreed that from April 2005, Access Panels would pay the same
subscription as other member organisations, this being �5 per
annum. The rate for individuals would remain unchanged at �1 per
annum.
One of the
most interesting and informative sessions took place during the
afternoon, when members were asked for their suggestions as to
priorities for the forthcoming year.
There were
many useful contributions including: wheelchair service quality
issues; wheelchair assessment problems; heating for people with
disabilities; the need for greater advocacy; and various aspects
of disabled parking.
This gave
SDEF much valuable information to consider when compiling its
next Business Plan.
All in all it
was considered that the event had been most helpful and
presented everyone with a great deal to think about.
Wyn Merrells
�
�
Are you a voluntary organisation interested in taking action to
increase your financial sustainability by generating income?
Futurebuilders Scotland is an investment programme managed by
Communities Scotland. It aims to help improve the effectiveness
of public services in Scotland by investing in the social
economy.
If you want to find out if Futurebuilders Scotland is for you, a
series of events will be held in Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen
and Perth towards the end of April. The events aim to give you:
�������
An overview of the Futurebuilders Scotland programme
�������
An understanding of the social economy sector and its role
in delivering public services
�������
Advice on applying for investment from Futurebuilders
Scotland
Further details of venues, dates and a booking form can be found
at:
www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk
St Annes Hotel
A new hotel has opened in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire which has
been specifically designed and equipped for people with
disabilities.� The Active8 Care Hotel is situated on the
promenade and is near the town centre.
For further information contact:
Adele Spencer
Active8 Care Hotel,�
St Annes on Sea
Tel: 07976 823110
www.st-annes-hotel.com
Deafblind Awareness Week
95%
of what we learn comes through our eyes and ears.
More than 23,000 people in the UK are both deaf and blind.
Most people do not know about or understand deafblindness.
Deafblind Awareness Week will take place from 27th June - 3rd
July 2005 and aims to raise awareness about deafblindness.
Charity Sense will have events running throughout
Deafblind Awareness Week.which always takes place on the week of
Helen Keller's birthday� (27th June). Helen was
probably the most famous and influential deafblind person to
have lived.
“Ignorance
and poverty are the causes of much blindness. These are the
enemies which destroy the rights of children and workmen, and
undermine the health of mankind. These causes must be searched
out ……..and abolished”
Helen Keller
�
Open 4 All
The
Disability Rights Commission would like to take this opportunity
to thank everyone who has completed and returned to us the Open
4 All postcards. The postcards were launched in the autumn of
last year as part of the Disability Rights Commission’s Open 4
All campaign. The purpose of the cards was two fold. One section
of the card was designed for disabled people to hand out to
service providers when they encountered an access barrier when
using their service. The service provider would be made aware of
the barrier and the DRC’s website and helpline. The second part
of the card was to be sent to the DRC including basic details
about the service provider and the barrier faced.
The post
cards have been a great success and so far over 100 have been
returned to us. All details on the post cards are being logged
by the DRC. The postcards however, are just one tool which
disabled people can use to inform the DRC of the barriers they
face when accessing services. At the DRC we really want to
gather as much information as possible from disabled people
across Great Britain, about their experiences good or bad, when
using services. We are interested in information about all
services from shops, to hotels, restaurants to local councils,
pubs to leisure facilities and much more.
There are two
main ways to let us know about your experiences. The first is
our Online Poll which can be found on our website at:
http://www.drc-gb.org/open4all/newsroom/sppoll.asp
Through the
poll you can comment on good and bad service providers on the
high street, local councils and leisure facilities. You are able
to give us as much information as you want to. Like the
postcards, all comments and results from the poll are being
logged and monitored.� This information is vital to the DRC
along with the research we are carrying out.
The other way
to contact us is through our helpline. The helpline staff can be
contacted by email now through our website at:
www.drc.org.uk/whatwedo/helplineenquiry.asp
You can
also contact the Helpline in these ways:
Telephone: 08457 622 633
Textphone: 08457 622 644
(You can speak to an operator at any time between 8am and 8pm,
Monday to Friday)
Fax: 08457 778 878
Post: DRC Helpline
FREEPOST MID02164
Stratford upon Avon
CV37 9BR
So thank you
again for all the postcards and keep the information coming in
to our poll and helpline!
New Access University Course
As a
Director of SDEF and activist associated with some fifteen other
disability organisations in the UK, I have in recent years
undertaken several one, two and three day courses on Access to
the Built Environment.� While eminently satisfactory in
themselves, I have never considered them totally adequate in
educating an individual to undertake access auditing to
acceptable standards.� A wheelchair user and a person with a
physical disability for well over fifty years, I have a serious
personal interest in both building and open space access.
SDEF
recognised that there was a particular need for a more advanced
course with professional tutors having specific knowledge and
interest in all forms of access.� It became part of our Business
Plan to pursue this. We noted that Access advice and information
can be given in some instances by untrained people and as a
result is of dubious value and on occasions positively
unhelpful.�
Having
undertaken research throughout the UK with the full support of
SDEF, I could not locate a suitable course of instruction
currently on offer which met the standards required, hence my
interest in setting up an appropriate course in Scotland.
This
course, titled “Inclusive Environmental Access and Design”
has now been established and the first course commenced on March
21st for a thirteen week period of which four
separate weeks will be at Heriot-Watt,
interspaced with periods of distance learning at the student’s
home or business.� Some twenty six tutors have been assembled to
teach, including sixteen professors and doctors along with other
professionals and a strong contingent of ‘life experience’
people with disabilities who are expert in their particular
field.
With the
first course oversubscribed, the second is scheduled to commence
late August or early September.
Discussions are in progress to ascertain if a form of membership
of the National Register may be possible for successful
students.� In addition, to date five European universities have
indicated a positive interest in the course with a view to
adapting it and introducing it under the guidance of Heriot-Watt.
The course
costs �2875 and is open to both disabled and non-disabled
people.�� The Scottish Executive has agreed to provide a bursary
for those people with a disability resident in Scotland
undertaking the first course. There will also be accessible
student accommodation available for those disabled students
requiring it during the four week in-house study periods.
Applications in the first instance with full CV by hard copy to:
Peter
Ingram-Monk, Bengairn, Barncrosh, Castle Douglas, DG7 1TX
A brochure is available and all enquiries will be dealt
with personally.
�
Access greater independence at Independent Living Scotland
The
Show, which takes place at the SECC from April 6-7, aims to
showcase
hundreds of mobility products to help people lead a more
comfortable and independent lifestyle.
With an
extensive range of exhibitors all under one roof and experts on
tap to help and advise - what better time to find out more about
the rehabilitation products that can really make a difference.
There
will also be a series of special martial arts workshops to suit
visitors with a disability - ideal for increasing movement and
enhancing flexibility and control for anyone affected by
paralysis.
A
lively two-day programme of seminars is planned on a broad range
of healthcare topics for allied healthcare professionals.
Independent Living Scotland is an ideal platform for keeping
occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language
therapists, carers and private care home owners and managers in
the picture with the latest developments.
It also
offers significant business opportunities to dealers and
distributors of equipment, and to community wheelchair loan
store managers.
For more
information, contact Bowles Associates on 0115 982 1210 and for
free tickets to the show contact the hotline on 0870 429
4372 or visit the website at
www.independentlivingevents.co.u
Special Olympics National Summer Games
2nd
- 9th July 2005
In 2005, Glasgow will host the 7th Special
Olympics Great Britain National Games, an event that will
attract over 2,500 athletes with learning impairments to the
city.� Athletes will compete in venues across Glasgow, in 23
sports, including: athletics, tennis, netball, basketball,
swimming, football and equestrian events.� For further
information visit:��
www.specialolympicsglasgow.com
�
Anti-tremor mouse stops PC shakes
A special
adapter that helps people with hand tremors control a computer
mouse more easily has been developed.
The
device uses similar technology found in camcorders to filter out
shaking hand movements.
People with hand tremors find it hard to use conventional mice
for simple computer tasks because of the erratic movements of
the cursor on the screen.
The Assistive Mouse Adapter (AMA)
is the
brainchild of IBM Researcher Jim Levine who developed the
prototype after seeing his uncle, who has Parkinson’s disease,
struggle with mouse control.
IBM
hope to partner up with a small UK electronics firm, Montrose
Secam, to produce the devices which should cost around �70.
�
Who cares?.........
Carers look after a relative, friend or neighbour who can no
longer manage on their own due to illness, disability or
frailty. Carers can be any age or sex and can come from all
backgrounds and communities. Carers provide practical, emotional
and social support to those they care for and do not get paid to
carry out their caring role, except for benefits, as their
caring role is based on a personal relationship with the person
they care for. Carers may be parents, partners, children,
friends, relatives or neighbours just doing what needs to be
done to maintain the quality of life of those they care for and
help them lead as independent a life as possible in the
community. Carers do not ask to take on a caring role - they
just get on with what needs to be done. Caring can be very
rewarding but it can also be very stressful and isolating.
In the Stirling Council area there are in excess of 8000 Carers
(Census 2001) i.e. 1:10 of the population - almost 2000 of this
number care for more than 50 hours per week.� In Scotland there
are approx. 600,000 Carers
-
if they were to give up their caring role the Government would
have to find an extra �5.7 billion to provide that same level of
care - this is equivalent to the cost of providing another
health service in Scotland.
Stirling
Carers Centre provides free, confidential and impartial services
to all Carers in the Stirling Council Area, irrespective of the
condition of the person they care for. The Centre is open as a
drop-in facility from 10-4pm
Monday -
Friday. As an organisation we are unique - our services are
generic to all Carers and help those with illnesses,
disabilities and who are frail to maintain their independence in
the community.
The
services we offer are:
�����������
Information and advice on a range of services available to
Carers and who provides them
�����������
Practical & emotional support
�����������
Advocacy
�����������
Advice
on Carer rights and entitlements including Welfare Benefits
and income maximisation
�����������
Liaison with GPs and Practice staff
�����������
Contact with other Carers through Support Groups, Carer
events etc
�����������
Young
Carers Groups
�����������
Facilitation of consultation with Carers in the planning of
local services
�����������
Volunteering Opportunities for Carers and members of the
community
We have an
Information Pack for Carers and currently distribute our Centre
newsletter to 1200 Carers and Professionals who work in the
fields of health and community care every quarter.� The Centre
works with a range of professionals e.g. social work, health and
other voluntary agencies to add value to the services provided
to our clients.
If you are
a Carer and want to access any of our services please call us
today on 01786 447003.
Development of tools to measure service user and carer
satisfaction with single shared assessment
�
SDEF is
pleased to forward a link to the Health and Community Care
Report ‘Development of tools to measure service user and carer
satisfaction with single shared assessment’, published recently
on the Scottish Executive website:
www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/health
Single
Shared Assessment is an element of the Joint Future Agenda for
implementing joint working to meet the needs of users of
community care services and aims to provide better and faster
access to services. The Joint Performance Information and
Assessment Framework (JPIAF) sets out performance indicators to
measure the effectiveness of local partnerships in implementing
the Joint Future Agenda. For further information on this, visit
the Joint Future Agenda web pages:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/care/17673/9471
The
development project was conducted by Infusion Co-operative. You
will find the following aspects of the publications particularly
interesting:
�����
a
review of existing practice within partnerships across
Scotland on collecting service users’ and carers’ views of
health and social care, highlighting what works well
(chapter 2);
�����
a
review and summary of relevant literature, including that
referring to assessment processes and satisfaction measures
(chapter 3);
�����
a
‘toolkit’ for measuring user and carer satisfaction with
single shared assessment (annex);
�����
Service users’ and carers’ guidelines for community care
assessors (page 76-83).�
The
toolkit and the guidelines for assessors were developed through
intensive input from groups of service users and carers and
reflect the views they voiced about assessment processes. The
toolkit has not been validated due to the limited number of
partnerships and individuals able to participate in the piloting
exercise. However, the toolkit could prove very useful to
partnerships in conducting their own measurements of service
user and carer satisfaction and in informing and generating
discussions in user and carer forums and groups.
The
Guidelines for Assessors summary will also be accessible via
the Joint Future website.

As was
reported in a previous edition of Open Door, I am a user
representative of Rehabilitation Technology Services Advisory
Group (ReTSAG), and its sub-group The National Wheelchair
Forum.� I am also heavily involved with a NHS Users’
Wheelchair Survey, being carried out within NHS Forth
Valley.�� The evidence from this survey will be available
shortly on the SDEF website along with all of the reports that
have been prepared on the Wheelchair service over the years.
Margaret
Scott is also on the Wheelchair Forum and is a parent of a
teenage daughter who is a wheelchair user.� Margaret has been
working tirelessly over a number of years to improve the
wheelchair service for younger people.� Margaret approached
Margo Macdonald MSP to seek her support in submitting a petition
to the Scottish Parliament’s Petition Committee.� Given the
experience which we have, I supported Margaret at the
presentation of the Petition on 8th December 2004.��
There was a fair amount of media coverage both in newspapers and
on television.�� We also had a very supportive meeting with
Margo Macdonald who undertook to meet with the Minister
responsible for Health the next day.
On the 19th
January 2005, Margaret together with the representatives of two
of the Wheelchair Services, with the attendance and support of
Margo Macdonald MSP, gave additional evidence to the Petition
Committee.� The evidence was well received and the Petitions
Committee was very supportive and agreed to write to the
Executive and the Ministers involved.� It was also agreed that
the Petition would remain open.
The
matters which were the subject of Margaret’s petition were to:
1.��
Invest in the wheelchair and specialist seating
services across Scotland by dedicating sufficient funding to
resolve the immediate problems;
2.��
Carry out an enquiry, in consultation with users,
that will address minimum standards, the scope of equipment
provided and how the services are delivered
3.��
Recommend a strategy for the integrated provision of
equipment for people with physical disabilities
We are
happy to say that we had an immediate response from the new
Minister for Health and Community Care, Mr Andrew Kerr, whose
announcement was made following the meeting with MSP Margo
Macdonald on 9th December 2004.� The Minister has
asked his officials to take forward two pieces of work:
a.�����
To progress the Wheelchair Needs Assessment Review to
be completed by 31 March 2006.
b.�����
To investigate with the Service what interim measures
can be put in place in the short term to address the
unacceptable waiting times
The
Minister’s officials took action immediately and began to form a
Steering Group.
ReTSAG’s
Wheelchair Forum has asked me to be on the Steering Group set up
to oversee the independent review.� No time has been lost by the
Scottish Executive officials who are reporting back directly to
the Minister on progress.
The group
held its first meeting on March 1st to agree the
specification for the review and the work will go out to tender
shortly.� I thought it was very thoughtful that the Deputy
Health Minister, Rhona Brankin, took the time to meet with the
individual members of the group prior to the meeting and I came
away with the feeling that there was indeed strong support to do
something to remedy the issues surrounding the service.
Certain
members of the group will be involved of the tender process in
early May.
Again no
time has been lost, the Deputy Minister, Rhona Brankin,
announced on 11th March announced an injection of
�1.9 million as a short-term fix to address the waiting times
for wheelchairs and special seating.� Although each of the five
Wheelchair Centres receives its funding directly from Health
Boards it would appear that this additional funding is going
directly to the Centres.
As
Convenor, I will make members aware from time to time on the
progress made and SDEF wishes to record its thanks to all the
effort that Margaret Scott has put in to seek to improve the
Wheelchair Service in Scotland.� Members will recall that the
issues surrounding the NHS Wheelchair Service have been raised
by members at the last two AGMs.
Ron
Skinner MBE
Convenor
SDEF

Subtitled and audio described cinema enables people with less
than perfect hearing or vision to enjoy film, presented in� the
cinema.
Subtitles
@ your local cinema
is the only listings service created exclusively for accessible
cinema. Our service can be found wherever there is internet
access.
email:
[email protected]
web:
www.yourlocalcinema.com
Heard any
good movies lately?
Around 8
out of every 10 cinema releases at any one time are available
with audio description for blind or visually impaired people.
Over 130 U.K. cinemas have the facilities to screen these films.
Cinema
audio description is similar to listening to a cricket or
football match on the radio, having the action described to you.
The normal film soundtrack comes through the cinemas surround
sound speakers in the usual way, and a recorded narrator
explains what's happening on screen - in gaps in the dialogue -
through personal headphones.� Films are rarely available with
audio description on DVD, so catch them while you can at the
cinema! Ask for an a.d. headset at the box office. The audio
description is broadcast through personal headphones - only you
hear it!
�
New report highlights lack of progress in making primary care
services accessible
�
A new report from the Scottish Consumer Council says that
local health services need to do more to improve access for
disabled people.� The research aimed to identify examples of
good practice across Scotland, but found it very hard to find
more than a handful.
Six examples
of good practice are highlighted in the report Bridging the
gap: improving access to primary healthcare services for
disabled people. These examples all show how staff are
working to make services more accessible, often in partnership
with disabled people.
Some
improvements were driven by the recognition of service providers
that they must do more to make their own services accessible,
while some were driven by the need to comply with the Disability
Discrimination Act. Some involved health boards doing things
differently, for example by appointing a disability adviser or
setting up a disability working group.� Others were primarily
driven by the requirement to meet building regulations, rather
than being motivated by a desire to improve access.
The report
found a lack of consultation with, or involvement of disabled
people themselves in planning changes. It also expressed concern
at the lack of emphasis given to disability equality training
which disabled people rate as being of central importance.
The report says there is little evidence of disabled people
noticing any real improvements in primary health care services.
The report provides a checklist that primary care services
can use to help improve access.� A summary and checklist have
been sent to all GP surgeries, dental practices, opticians, and
pharmacists in Scotland.
Copies of the report, or the summary and checklist can be
got from:
�

�
Tel:
0141-226-5261
Fax :
0141-221-0731
Minicom:
0141-226-8459
www.scotsconsumer.org.uk
Railways
for All
The Strategic
Rail Authority has recently published a substantial consultation
Document seeking views on how best to make the railway more
accessible.� The document sets out proposals for making rail
travel more accessible.� It describes how accessible Britain’s
railway could be in ten years time, depending on the choices
that are made.� The SRA states:� “Priorities have to be
established and not everything can be done at once.� We need
your help to determine the priorities….the challenge is for
everyone to work together to achieve this Strategy.” The SRA is
seeking the views of disabled people, the railway industry, the
public sector including the devolved administrations, and the
wider community.� The deadline for responses is 14 June 2005.�
Responses to this consultation exercise will inform the final
Accessibility Strategy, to be published in summer 2005. The
document is available on the Internet at
www.sra.gov.uk
�
Access to Public Houses
The
Centre for Accessible Environments has recently prepared a new
guidance booklet for the Disability Rights Commission (DRC).�
The latest in the series is called Bringing the DDA to life
for small shops: Improving access to goods and services for
disabled customers.� The booklet called Bringing the DDA
to life for publicans, �aims to help publicans understand
their duties under the DDA (1995) Act and to respond positively
and appropriately in ways that will benefit both their customers
and business.�� Through case studies, an action checklist and a
series of tips and hints, the booklet offers practical advice on
improvements to customer service and premises - many of which
have little or no cost - that will help publicans to meet their
legal duties and generate more business from disabled people and
others.�
Copies
of the guide can be downloaded from the DRC website:
www.drc.org.uk/publicationsandreports
or
by
contacting the DRC Helpline on 08457 622 633.
�
Inclusive Theatre
Are you
missing out when you go to the theatre because you cannot hear
what is going on?� A new system has been developed to help you -
it is called ‘captioning’ which builds on the experience of
television subtitles. Captioning converts the spoken word into
text, which is displayed on a caption unit that is viewed by the
audience. As the captions roll (delivered live, from a laptop
computer by a trained captioner) audience members can follow
what is said, when it is said and by whom. Sound effects and
off-stage noises are also included.
Captioning is
particularly useful for people whose hearing loss means that
sound enhancement systems such as loops and infrared alone are
not enough and who do not read sign language. Evaluation of the
system has shown that 85% of audiences find the captions useful
- so it is not just people with an identifiable hearing loss who
use it!
This system
has been developed by the charity STAGETEXT and has been in
operation in theatres in England for several years. So far there
have only been pilot performances in Scotland because there is
no funding to buy the equipment and train local captioners.
If you want
to know more about captioning go to
www.stagetext.co.uk� and, if you want to have it in
Scotland, start lobbying your local theatre and the Scottish
Arts Council for funding.� The SAC knows about STAGETEXT but
have been dragging its feet on this, in spite of its commitment
to inclusiveness.
Disability West Lothian
Disability
West Lothian is a group that brings together individuals and
representatives of organisations who are committed to improving
the quality of life of disabled people in West Lothian.
Along with
providing a useful and comprehensive service for people with
disabilities, their families and carers and other individuals
and groups in West Lothian, they administer two annual awards
schemes:
Jamie Andrew Award
Honours outstanding achievements by people with
disabilities living in West Lothian
Good Access Award
Recognises business and services in West Lothian that
ensure ready access to their organisation.
For further information contact:

West Lothian
Access Committee
Tel:� 01506-774030
Prestonpans Rail Station -
Not Funny but True!
This story
might ring bells elsewhere in Scotland:
One of our
Access Panel Members has been trying to resolve the� “One way
only, accessible rail station”.
One of the
station platforms is accessible but the other isn’t, at
Prestonpans in East Lothian, which means that if you have access
problems you can travel happily in a direction away from
Edinburgh but not towards it!
The Access
Panel has raised this anomaly with Scot Rail, Network Rail, and
The Strategic Rail Authority and seems to have achieved a
catch-22 status, as our� enquiries are now being directed back
into the loop of Network Rail again!
There may
well be some poor puzzled soul in a wheelchair, or indeed a
mother, travelling with a pram on a train as we write, trying to
visit the undoubted attractions of Historic East Lothian but
unable to get off!
If we ever
get a reasonable answer from any of the rail operators or
authorities, of whom there are many - we will let you know in a
later issue of this Newsletter!
Does this
situation sound familiar to anyone else?�
East
Lothian Access Panel (ELAP)
Nairn Access Panel goes World Wide!
Nairn
Access Panel has just completed the update and re-print of its
local access brochure, promoting accessible venues in and around
Nairn and District
The guide
provides information on accessible facilities for residents and
visitors. It includes details on accessibility and services
provided within the area, looking at accommodation, restaurants,
public services, health services, sporting and leisure
facilities and much more
Originally, this was a very basic guide which the panel first
produced over
six years
ago, with the help of friends and family. It has been updated
and improved since then: however, this production has had the
benefit of funding from the Scottish Executive, through SDEF,
which enabled the panel to recruit a design consultant and
produce a much improved and professional design and layout. This
funding has also enabled it to be taken into the technical age
and go worldwide onto the web!
To request
a copy of this brochure, or information on how to access the web
site, contact Liz Bow at
[email protected] or telephone 01667 452208. If you
already have web access, find us at
www.nairnaccess.co.uk
�
Sutherland Access Panel’s
New Guide
Sutherland
Access Panel is in the process of printing its access guide. An
audit questionnaire was sent to businesses a couple of years
ago.
It was followed up with a request for permission to use the
information obtained and a section to include any upgrades.� In
order to ensure a level of accuracy some of the panel members
carried out spot checks on premises.
With funding from "Awards for All" and "Community Economic
Development" the guide will be available locally.� It will also
be available via the websites of East Sutherland and North &
West Sutherland Community Care Forums. The guide is free and
available in different formats, including large print.� The
guide itself has been compiled, where possible using
symbols/pictures.�
For more
information about the guide contact:
Shirley
McHardy, Secretary
01408 641444
February 2004

Deeside� Access� Panel
Is your
business accessible?
Are you
worried you may have to spend more money than you have?
Don’t
panic!
Your local
Access Panel is here to assist and advise you!
Deeside
Access Panel was formed in June 2004 to bring to the attention
of service providers their legal obligation to make “reasonable
adjustments” in accordance with the Disability Discrimination
Act 1995.�
From 1st
October 2004, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 placed a
legal obligation on services providers to make ‘reasonable
adjustments’ in the way they provide their services so as to
ensure they are not unreasonably difficult for disabled people
to use.� This applies to buildings such as hotels, B&B’s, shops,
banks, doctors’ surgeries, dentists, libraries, restaurants,
churches, post offices, offices, cinemas etc. - in other words,
practically any building which is open to the public and to the
services which are provided therein. �It also applies to the
countryside and information of any kind.�
The Act
enables a disabled person to take legal action against a service
provider who refuses to make “reasonable adjustments”.
Your local
Access Panel has new premises at Bonty Court, Aboyne and meets
there on the third Tuesday of every month at 1.30pm.� It is a
voluntary user led Group and helps get access to the
built environment, accessible approaches and information.��
Membership is open to all disabled people, carers and
individuals who have awareness of disability and in promoting
“Access for All”.� The Panel gets support from Aberdeenshire
Council and, along with over 40 Access Panels throughout
Scotland, is recognised by the Scottish Executive.�
The
introduction of the new consumer laws surrounding disability
means that we can help businesses to find solutions that are
cost effective and as appropriate as they can be.� All
businesses, organisations and leisure facilities that provide a
service to the public need to comply with the new legislation.
“Doing
nothing is not an option”
The Panel
is here to help resolve access problems and offer informed
advice.� Any business or individual who would like more
information or a chat about whether they have managed to comply
with the new legislation should please contact the Deeside
Access Panel by telephoning:
Ruth on
013397 42353:� or
Peter on
013398 80067:
e-mail
[email protected]
�
News from the Highlands
Just a note to say that I am a new Director of SDEF
“specialising” in the issues that affect the development and
future of Scottish Access Panels.
As I am
myself, based in the Highlands, it would be a great first step
for me, to come out and visit as many Panels as possible, to be
able to help us identify our strengths and weaknesses.� I could
also report to the Panels, from SDEF HQ., what is developing
there, and, hence, how we can help each other.
I would
welcome any Panels’ invitation to meet me:��� telephone me on:
01349� 862879, or e-mail me at
[email protected]��������
Then I can
also tell you how Ross and Cromarty Access Panel,…..
well, actually me and Marj Donaldson, from the Panel, discovered
how�
NOT
to audit a complete High Street!!!!!!!!!
Well I
guess you learn from your mistakes, too!
So I look
forward to hearing from you,
Warm
regards,
Nick
Rochford
February 2005
Inverness Service Point
Inverness
Service Point has just opened its newly refurbished accessible
premises in the City Centre.� Five years ago, Highland Council
invited Inverness Access Committee (IAC) to take a look at the
Service Points in the area to identify where disabled access may
need improvement.� So, in consultation with the IAC founder
member consultant architect, a Disability Access checklist was
created.
Following good basic access audit training the IAC
secretary, usually accompanied by a founder member and Convenor,
set off as arranged with clip boards and measuring tape,
venturing into nine Inverness and rural area Service Points.�
Explaining their purpose to many enquiring staff was not without
its unforgettable moments, as they measured car park approaches
and thresholds, counted stair treads, noted desk heights and
knee spaces, wayfinding and signboards, loo accessibility,
observed lighting, decoration and floor coverings, and discussed
disability awareness etc. etc.
However, this
pilot volunteer Access Panel survey has resulted so far in
allocation of Highland Council funding in two phases,
implementation of accessible refurbishment to all the Highland
Area Service Points and to many prioritised public access
buildings.� A program of Disability Awareness training is being
delivered to all front line staff and others by Highland Council
disability trainers.�
Inverness
Access Panel
February 2005
�
Robert’s Travels
Since the last newsletter I have been back on the road,
mostly in the Central Belt, during the winter months.
Before Christmas I met up with the Panel in East Lothian -
I eventually found the right Community Centre!� The last meeting
before Christmas was at Perth & Kinross AP where I renewed a few
old acquaintances.
Since January I have crossed to the West a few times,
meeting with APs in Helensburgh & Lomond, East Ayrshire North,
Glasgow, South Ayrshire and Cumnock & Doon Valley.� So there
have been a few late night drives home to Portobello in the
dark.� I have also been to the Borders twice, meeting Tweeddale
AP in Peebles and Central Borders in St Boswells.
I have also
had a couple of meetings in North Lanarkshire (Wishaw and
Cumbernauld) in connection with setting up a new Panel here.�
Watch this space for further developments
The major trip of the year so far has been also the
furthest - to Shetland.� There was a shaky start to the visit
with snow and blizzards on the day in Edinburgh but the plane
got away only a little late, and by the time we got to Shetland
we were back on schedule.� The weather was crisp and clear,
unlike the snow everyone else was getting.� As an example of how
different things are in Shetland to the mainland, the Shetland
Access Committee is the only Panel to own and operate their own
minibus.
Apart from
the Access Panels Conference, described elsewhere in the
newsletter, the other big event for us was welcoming the three
new Access Panels Directors, Iain Strickland (from Argyll &
Bute), Nick Rochford (from Ross and Cromarty) and Linda Miller
(from Aberdeenshire North) at an induction meeting in January.
Lastly, it was a pleasure to meet again members of the
Orkney Access Panel who decided to extend their trip to the
Conference by a couple of days and visit Edinburgh and Perth as
well as Stirling.
Robert Pickles
Access
Development Officer
�
You may have noticed the cartoons in this issue - if you
have any “funnies” to send us, please do so - we do have a
sense of humour (and so do our readers!)
�
�
And Finally……………………..
Access Panels
Conference - 9th March 2005
SDEF
recently hosted a conference that was attended by over eighty
representatives of the local Access Panels from across Scotland.
The event,
which was held at the Stirling Management Centre at the
university, included speakers from Volunteer� Development
Scotland, Disability Rights Commission, and the Building
Standards Agency who all spoke about the changes that were
taking place in their own particular fields and how they might
affect local Access Panels.
The
conference gave delegates an opportunity to network and to
identify areas of mutual concern where the SDEF might be able to
offer support or guidance to enable the Panels to develop their
services.
The new
SDEF directors, elected by the local access panels, Linda
Millar, Nick Rochford and Iain Strickland enjoyed meeting so
many people involved in the work of local Access Panels.
One delegate
shared the thought with Iain that we are all participating in
a social revolution.
There is no
doubt that this is the case.� We only have to reflect the
changes that have taken place over the past few years to the
built environment and also the increasing level of disability
awareness within our communities.
Of course,
there is a continuing need to raise the awareness of the issues
that affect disabled people, their families and friends and in
this the members of the Local Access Panels, have an important
role.
Iain
Strickland
Access Panel
Director

Post
Script
According
to the Evaluation Sheets received from delegates, 83% felt that
the day had been “excellent” or “good”. Nonetheless for SDEF a
number of learning points have been identified for future
events.
We worked
closely with staff of the Management Centre, both in the
planning phase and in organising activities on the day. Although
a large majority found the location, access, facilities and
refreshments highly satisfactory, we are always looking for ways
to improve.
We will
take on board any adverse comments given on the Evaluation
Sheets and do our best to ensure the difficulties are ironed out
for future events.
Perhaps
readers have had a good experience of other venues: please let
us know. Meanwhile, we print below the results of a survey we
held a little while ago on the areas where Access Panels would
most like to hold an event. If readers have any other views on
this, we would be pleased to hear them.
Location Survey for Future Events
You may
remember a few months ago we asked the Access Panels where they
would prefer us to hold events such as the conference.�� Just
50% of the panels replied - results as follows from 1 (most
preferred) to 7 (least preferred):
1.���������
Perth
2.���������
Stirling
3.���������
Edinburgh
4.���������
Inverness
5.���������
Aberdeen
6.���������
Glasgow
7.���������
Dundee
�
Open Door is published by
�
Scottish Disability Equality Forum
12 Enterprise House
Springkerse Business Park
Stirling� FK7 7UF
Tel: 01786 446456
Fax: 01786 450902
Email:
[email protected]
www.sdef.org.uk
�
�

�
Charity No SC 031893
Company No SC 243392
�
�
Any comments
made in any contributed article do not necessarily reflect the
policy or the views of SDEF.
�
Open
Door is available in alternative formats on request
�
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