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ELMA MITCHELL MBE

It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of our Convenor Ms Elma Mitchell MBE. She passed away on the morning of 6th March 2004 in Dunfermline.

The Scottish Disability Equality Forum would never have made the progress it has without the fantastic input of Elma. It was her vision and perseverance which led the process of development, from a meeting in Edinburgh in 1997, through the Steering Group stage, to the fully fledged and properly resourced organisation SDEF is today.

More recently, she was in the forefront as our organisation, in its first full year of operation, became the Umbrella Body for Access Panels. This was something very close to her heart, appreciating as she did the importance of access issues to full inclusion and equality for people affected by disability.

Elma was a leading light with a number of other organisations, notably the Disability Forum in her home town, Dunfermline. She was also busy in a range of activities to assist people with disabilities, serving on committees, advising MSPs, Ministers and the Scottish Executive and responding to consultations. Having been involved in advising on access to the new Parliament building, Elma was recently invited to Holyrood to view progress.

To the people who knew her, however, this picture of active engagement with the issues hardly does her justice. What we will remember is the warm, kind and supportive colleague. Elma was always willing to listen, to advise and to encourage, always sticking to her principles, but willing to go the extra mile to ensure people felt included, heeded and respected. She will be missed as a good counsellor and as a generous friend.

Elma�s work on behalf of people with disabilities was recognised when she was awarded the MBE. Honours say much about the person: however, her lasting legacy will be the improvements Elma wrought on behalf of others, the organisations and structures she established and, most especially, the warm memories of her many friends and companions.

Footnote

In the site you will find many contributions submitted by Elma. These show her breadth and depth of knowledge, her concern for others and her wry good humour.

We are sure that these are a fitting reminder of the person we knew and that she would have wanted them to remain.

Scottish Disability Equality Forum

Working together for the disability movement

SDEF is a recognised Scottish charity no. SC031893

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