Scottish
Disability Equality Forum���� |
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SDEF News�������������������������������������������������������������������������������
February 2004
, No.13��������������������
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.�
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,
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 PeoplePlease 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
�
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
|
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