Scottish
Disability Equality Forum����
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Scottish
Disability Equality Forum���� |
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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.
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� Scottish Disability Equality Forum Working together for the disability movement SDEF is a recognised Scottish charity no. SC031893 end of page |