Scottish
Disability Equality Forum����
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Scottish
Disability Equality Forum���� |
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� Recent Events Meeting
of SDEF Members and Friends
Stirling,
25th September 2001
SDEF � The Next StepsElma Mitchell, Convenor, opened the
meeting and welcomed those present (list attached
below).� She explained that the
purpose of the meeting was to consult with members and friends of SDEF regarding
the Management Committee�s initial thoughts for a future workplan.
Philippa Bonella of the SDEF Secretariat
explained the history of SDEF and recent achievements.�
This year, SDEF has held a major national conference on inclusion of
disabled people in public policy, has amended its membership criteria to become
more inclusive, and has gained charitable status.�
It has received short-term funding for secretariat services from the
Scottish Executive.� It is
continuing to increase its membership base both in terms of numbers and
diversity of organisations.� It is
also developing a database of voluntary sector disability organisations, with
more than 600 records so far.
Philippa listed the immediate priorities
for the Forum�s work as identified by the management committee:
These priorities were agreed by those
present.
Elma then opened the discussion to look
at longer-term objectives for the Forum.� There
was very clear consensus from those present for the issues identified, which are
listed below.
Access
It was agreed that a network for access
organisations was needed.� This
network should have good links with the professions working in the built
environment: architects, building control officers, road engineers, draftsmen
etc.� SDEF should facilitate this
network.
SDEF should represent the views of its
members to the officials involved in drafting future building regulations before
the consultation stage.
The access network should begin by
raising awareness amongst the relevant professions, and should work towards
ensuring access issues are integrated into the accredited training of these
professions.
SDEF should support the development of
new access panels to fill the geographic gaps.
SDEF should facilitate access audits by
acting as a signpost to accredited access auditors within its membership.
SDEF should encourage full and accurate
information to be published about levels of access to public buildings.
Access � beyond the built environment
SDEF should facilitate disability
awareness training within the public, private and voluntary sectors by acting as
a signpost to accredited trainers within its membership.�
As a longer-term goal, SDEF should take
a broad view of access alongside a broad view of disability.� Access is not just about ramps.
SDEF should pursue the issues around
access to tourism for all disabled people.
SDEF
should pursue the equality issues around access to training, education at all
levels (nursery, school and colleges) and employment for all disabled people.
SDEF should investigate the possibility
of delivering accredited training on disability equality and access audits in
Scotland, tailored to the Scottish context.
Working together
SDEF should work closely with other
organisations and networks to ensure that the views of the full spectrum of
disabled people are properly represented to decision-makers.
SDEF should facilitate links between
local and national organisations to ensure that disabled people�s views are
fully and properly represented on all relevant policy forums.
What Next?
SDEF�s current funding is now coming to an end.� The Forum will be meeting with the Scottish Executive to report on progress at the end of October.� Further funding is currently being sought to deliver the priorities set by members.� Please let us know your views.� We assure you they really do matter and are the keystone for everything SDEF undertakes. Attendance List
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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 |