Disability now. October 1993.

44 Pages·1993·16.1 MB·English

by  The Spastics Society

OCTOBER 1993
85p
Greenwich
This month
consults
12-13
_ INTERNATIONAL disabled
Rallying in Russia
14
LIVING people
Pain: (1) The invisible
disability
A pioneering project in the
16
PROFILE London Borough of Green-
Paralympic gold medalist wich will give disabled peo-
Tanni Grey ple more say in services.
Under Bexley and Green-
19
wich Health Commissioning
SPORT
Agency’s “empowerment pro-
National Athletics and
Special Olympics, ject”, people who need services
International Wheelchair like district nurses, physiother-
Pentathlon apists, artificial limbs or
wheelchairs will help draw up
22-24
the service contracts.
ARTS
Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Quality development officer
The Secret Garden, DAM Eirwen Williams said: “This is
a ground-breaking _ initiative. ee Vs
26
We want service users to tell us Life on the ocean wave for Dave Bennett (Jeft), of the Spastics Society in Plymouth, Heidi
MOTORING
Devon’s new Discovery what they want and what is Smith from Lipson Vale Community College and Lisa Orpin from Hillside Special School.
important to them.” They were taking part in the British Gas Sowester Sailing Project on board Sea Legs, a 32-ft
29 catamaran. With them: skipper Jim Wainwright, and Allan Smith, both of the Fieldfare Trust.
Greenwich Healthcare Trust
LEISURE
and Greenwich Association of
A day at the races Fears for residential services
Disabled People (GAD) sup-
36-39 port the project. GAD director
CLASSIFIEDS
Linda Lofts said: “We believe
this initiative can make a huge Charities and groups repre- the regulations were excessive, must register residential homes
difference to disabled people’s senting elderly people have how “unnecessary burdens of and inspect them twice a year,
lives. Resources will be limited, condemned Government regulation” might be removed while health authorities must
but how they are spent will be plans to consider deregulat- and if the cost of implementing inspect nursing homes. Inspec-
decided mainly by service users.” ing private residential and them could be reduced. tors check that homes meet
nursing homes as a “cyni- Health Minister John Bowis fire, safety and environmental
cal, cost-cutting exercise” defended the move, saying it health regulations and provide
which could lead to a dan- was part of a Government bid good quality care.
gerous decline in_ safety to improve standards by cutting James Churchill, executive
standards. “excessive” red tape that was secretary of the Association for
Stuart Etherington, chief “throttling” business. Residential Care, a charity which
executive of the Royal National But Counsel and Care, an represents residents with learn-
Institute for Deaf People, has advisory organisation for elderly ing difficulties, warned that any
written to Health Secretary people and their carers, called dismantling of regulations would
Virginia Bottomley, protesting the plans “‘outrageous”’. open the door to “get rich quick
about the plan and demanding Director Jef Smith said: “As merchants”. He said: “There
a Government rethink. we all know how vulnerable would be pressure to cut corners
The Department of Health elderly people are to abuse, it is and standards if regulation and
sent a letter in August to resi- hard to understand why the inspection were removed.”
dential home associations invit- Government is now question- Philip Hunt, director of the
ing comment on the costs and ing these regulations.” National Association of Health
benefits of current regulations. Under the 1984 Registered Authorities and Trusts, agreed.
It asked owners if they thought Homes Act, local authorities Continued on page 3
No money for special assessments
Delays and mistakes in the getting a lot of horror stories County Council in providing
assessment of children with about the length of time it is him with appropriate educa-
special needs have reached taking councils to assess chil- tion. The Ombudsman said the
record levels, as councils dren and the number seems to council had been tailoring help
strive to save money. be rising all the time.” to what it could afford rather
The Local Government One parent will receive £500 than to the needs of the child.
Make it easy on yourself. For the widest choice of Ombudsman has reported on from Sefton Council for malad- In other cases, local authori-
new and used Chairman Cars for non-transferring 21 cases of maladministration ministration and delay in pro- ties have been told to repay
between April and September, viding special _ residential families for tuition and help
wheelchair users, simply speak to Sue on our free
compared with 26 cases in the schooling for her speech- bought in while their children’s
advice line
0800 220878 last nine years. Complaints impaired child. cases were being considered.
about statementing to the Cere- The biggest payout recom- Special education experts
bral Palsy Helpline have dou- mended so far is £12,500 in believe Government funding
(S) GOWRINGS MOBILITY bled in the last two months. trust to a boy with behavioural cuts have caused the problems.
Debbie Thomas, a counsellor and learning difficulties because John Wright of the Indepen-
Established 1922 at the Helpline, said: “We are of delays by Lincolnshire Continued on page 10
2 NEWS
Parents learn to sign
Hearing parents are more pro- British Psychological Society’s
sign language than they were annual conference last month,
20 years ago, according to a Dr Sue Gregory said that deaf
new study from the Open Uni- children often have more diffi-
versity. culties with their hearing par-
But many still worry about ents than other teenagers
the consequences of their chil- because adolescent problems
dren having no other language. are exaggerated by the commu-
Forty per cent of over 100 nication difficulty.
parents questioned had learnt Stress can occur in the family
to sign, a quarter of them so when mothers learn to sign and
that they could communicate other family members do not.
with their children’s friends.
Presenting her study at the Dr Gregory, tel: (0908) 654470
Champions in the making
(from left) Robert Waltor
from Birmingham, Jame:
Bradford from Worcestei
and Bromsgrove, anc
Christopher Knight from
Coventry, taking part in the
21st birthday edition of the
BBC1 programme We An
The Champions.
Teams from three Wes
Midlands schools competec
in tests of skill, and games
on the track and in water a
the Midlands Sports Centre
for the Disabled in Coventry
The show, which went out
on 9 September, was hostec
by Linford Christie. Para.
lympic gold medalist Davic
Moreton was guest referee
and London Marathor
women’s wheelchair winnet
Rose Hill was there too. 88
Published by
The Spastics Society,
12 Park Crescent
London W1iN 4EQ.
Tel: [phone].
Editor Mary Wilkinson
Assistant Editor
Alison Rowat
Reporter Tim Russell
Editorial/Production
Assistant
Catherine Frame
Editorial
Assistant/Secretary
Victoria Grey-Edwards |
Subscriptions
"dl
Manager Karen Bresloff
At last, a pushchair we can Assistant
Jennifer Whitehead
Tel: [phone]
Advertising
all feel comfortable with. Richard Gresham,
Kingslea Press Ltd,
12 Dock Offices,
Surrey Quays Road,
London SE16 2XU.
The Roundabout has been made to the most demanding Tel: [phone].
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Its seat, strong and resilient, provides each child with Marlborough Road,
just the right support to stabilise the effects of a mild Banbury, Oxon OX16 8TH.
Tel: [phone].
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Light and manoeuvrable, it’s easy to fold, and is Printers, Banbury, Oxon
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REMPLOY Spastics Society.
Copyright
Remploy Wheelchairs, 11 Nunnery Drive, Sheffield $2 1TA. Telephone [phone] Fax: [phone]. ©1993 The ABC
Spastics Society “MBoER OsF TeHE AU DIT
Disability Now October 1993
NEWS 3
1.5 million
Grim funding cuts
Voluntary groups lost £12
mistakes at
4 million in local authority
grants in 1992-3, according
|} to a new survey by the Government
| National Council of Volun-
| tary Organisations (NCV0). agencies
Another £28.9 million is
| expected to be lost in 1993-4.
The Benefits and Employment
_ But the survey of 145
Service Agencies made more
local authorities did reveal
than 1.5 million mistakes in
| that voluntary groups on
calculating pensions and bene-
| contract to local authorites
fits last year.
1 to provide statutory per-
An error is made every four
} sonal social services have
seconds of the working day -
done better.
1,674,334 in 1992/3.
Contract fees increased by
The figure came to light in a
£78.4 million or 134 per
written reply last month to a
cent in 1992-3 and will rise
question from Frank Field,
by £38.4 million or ten per
chairman of the House of
cent in this financial year.
Commons’ Social Security
Even so, many community
Select Committee. It showed
care providers believe the
that benefit paid to more than
fees are not enough to cover
100,000 newly disabled people
all their costs.
was wrong. Nearly 10,000
NCVO’s policy _ officer
newly retired people got the
John Mabbott said: “The
wrong pension.
report is bad news because Fun in the sun: over a million people crowded the streets of London’s Notting Hill for the
The accuracy rate for decid-
| grant funding is crucial for annual carnival on Bank Holiday weekend, wheelchair users included. PAT MAGNOLO
ing Attendance Allowance
local voluntary organisations
Disabled people face higher water bills claims for severely disabled
and community groups that
people was 99.3 per cent in
provide advice, self-help
1988/89 with 2,300 given the
_and other initiatives.”
wrong amount. But in 1992/3
Water meters could leave installing meters and _ their patients who use large amounts accuracy had slipped to 92 per
Local Authority Funding for thousands of disabled people effects on consumption and of water in home dialysis, and cent and incorrect payments
Voluntary Organisations, £5, worse off, the biggest national bills. It was started after people who are incontinent.” had risen to 73,000.
NCVO, tel: [phone]. trial of metering revealed last thel989 Water Act ordered Chris Smith, Labour’s Envi- Complex, means-tested bene-
month. water companies to scrap the ronmental Spokesperson, is con- fits were the least accurate. About
The three-year trial, cover- current charging method, based cerned that metering does not 250,000 new claims for Income
‘Just Say No’ campaign
ing 60,000 homes in 12 areas, on the old household rate, by take account of some people’s Support were paid wrongly.
Eighty-two DN readers,
found that meters cut the bills the year 2000. need for water, and he singled Lorna Reith, director of Dis-
plus 1,100 members of the
of most households. Environment Minister Tim out disabled people and _ people ability Alliance, said: “We are
Scunthorpe and__ District
But they could leave poorer Yeo said the report showed with big families. very disappointed that standards
Disabled Access group,
joined the protest against families and “people with cer- there was a “very powerful “You shouldn’t hit them seemed to have slipped, given
taxing Invalidity Benefit or tain health problems, which case” for meters, especially in with high water bills because of that disabled people rely on
tightening the rules. Your require above average toilet drier areas such as the South- their need,” he told BBC Radio means-tested benefits. It illus-
letters were handed into the use, bathing and laundry” East. 4’s Today programme. trates the need for better train-
Social Security Department worse off financially. But a spokesperson for the ing for Benefits Agency staff.”
on 8 September by Peter The national trial, sponsored National Consumer Council, Water Metered Trials Final A Benefits Agency
McDonald, disability act- by the water industry and its said: ““We are worried about the Report, WSA Publications, St spokesperson said: “We are tak-
ivist and DN supporter. regulator Ofwat, aimed to pro- effects of meters on the pockets Peter’s House, Hartshead, ing a number of measures to
Sheffield S1 1EU, £20.
vide data on the costs of of poor households, kidney improve the situation.”
Residential services
Continued from page 1
HIATUS HERNIA ¢ STRESS ¢ STIFF JOINTS ¢ INSOMNIA
ACHES & PAINS ¢ POOR CIRCULATION ® ARTHRITIS
“Relatives depend on inspec-
tions. It is one thing to simplify RHEUMATIC PAINS ¢ RESPIRATORY COMPLAINTS
BACKPAIN
‘regulations but you will still
Meed inspections to ensure
‘standards are kept up _ to
'scratch.”
The Royal College of Nurs- The Concern For Comfort adjustable bed is your
‘ing’s general secretary Chris-
personal comfort centre. Relief from cramped
‘tine Hancock warned _ that
‘deregulation could become a muscles and aching joints - gain independence.
cynical, cost-cutting exercise
Call or write for a free colour brochure.
and result in a “free for all” in
POCKETED SPRINGS
care standards, while Age Con- REMOTE CONTROL TO
SELECT THE MOST
cern said it was “alarmed” that
COMFORTABLE EIGHT LAYERS OF
the Government would put POSITION FOR: COTTON AND WOOL
costs before protection. UPHOLSTERY
Labour’s Shadow Health
Minister David Blunkett went
UNWINDING
further. He warned that dereg-
ulation would be a “disaster”
and said homes could be
reduced to “firetraps and cen-
READING
tres of food poisoning”.
LIFETIME
But Barry Hassell, chief DUAL AND TWIN GUARANTEE ON
VERSIONS ALSO
executive of the Independent
AVAILABLE COMFORT AT THE
Healthcare Assocation, thought TOUCH OF A BUTTON
SIMPLANTEX 3S ime’,
“it is timely that an open and WATCHING TV
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Address
Mr Bowis denied that stan- EAST SUSSEX BN22 SAP TELEPHONE [phone]
dards would fall. ‘““We are only
seeking views to see if we can THE BRAND LEADER DN 10/93
simplify things.”
Disability Now October 1993
|
|
S_NE_WS ___________—> |
|| Blind man fights |N ew paper
for job
‘unjust’ jury ban
seekers
A blind man who was disquali- Blind (RNIB), the National
fied from being a juror because Federation for the Blind (NFB)
The first edition of a free,
of his visual impairment has and Britain’s first blind judge,
quarterly, newsheet aimed at
protested to the Lord Chancel- John Wall.
disabled people looking for
lor’s Department Judge Wall, who sits in the
work has been published by the
Jim Bennett, 57, from High Court and is chairman of
Department of Social Securty. —
Merseyside, arrived at Liver- the RNIB, said: “I see no rea-
New Start, inserted with this
pool Crown Court last month son why blind people can’t do
month’s DN, gives practical
only to be told his disability just as good a job as anyone
help and advice, including tips
disqualified him. else in most cases. Unless there
on job applications and infor.
g Mr Bennett said: “I am very are photographs or machinery
mation on Disability Working
angry. It’s an absolute injustice. to be studied, there’s no reason
Allowance (DWA). |
I can hear evidence as well as why they shouldn’t be. We
It says that DWA claims are
the next man. I think blind must make it harder for courts
being dealt with “normally
people make better jurors than to turn down jurors just
within two weeks”. |
sighted people because they because they are blind.”
New Start will be mailed to
don’t get distracted and have to NFB president Jill Allen-
8,000 people who _ have
Nicholas Killen, 7, presented John Major with a replica of the concentrate harder on what is King said: “This is another
responded to the Government’s
statue on which the new RNIB logo is based. DOUG McKENZIE being said.” example of blind people being
DWA campaign, plus disability
He is being backed by the discriminated against for no
New start for RNIB organisations and advisers.
Royal National Institute for the good reason.”
Free from Disability Working
Lucy’s winning swing
The Royal National Institute deciding what they need. We Allowance, FREEPOST, (BS4
for the Blind (RNIB) is cele- also have a mission: to chal- 335), Bristol BS] 3YX. For tape
brating its 125th birthday with lenge blindness.” version, tel: (0800) 100123.
a new strategy to challenge The new “See it Right” cam- A 16-year-old schoolgirl has
blindness, and a logo which won the Young Engineer for Speaking out
“has character, is mobile and is Britain award after inventing a
purposeful and _ energetic.(s”e e swing exercise for disabled
right). children. Help the Aged has launched a
Prime Minister John Major Lucy Porter, from Bath, won Speaking Up For Our Age
launched the new RNIB in a £500 personal prize from the Campaign, which asks older
London on 16 September. competition’s organisers, the people what they need to keep
Minister for Disabled People Engineering Council, and her mobile.
Nicholas Scott was there too. school was given £1,500 to buy Older people all over the
Director general Ian Bruce paign aims to give 1.7 million engineering equipment. country are being sent ques-
said the RNIB was setting a visually impaired people the Her device uses a handle to tionnaires. They are being
new agenda that would take it right to get information im a for- enable children to swing with- asked such things as whether
into the next century. “It’s an mat that is accessible to them. out using their legs. transport services are good
agenda which is not about dis- “Engineering is very addic- enough, should they be sub-
abilities, but equality - not See it Right report, £3.50, RNIB tive,” she said. “Especially if sidised for pensioners and
about telling blind people what Customer Services, PO Box 173, making something solves a SSS could trains, tubes and buses
they can have, but blind people Peterborough PE2 6WS. problem and helps others.” Inventor: Lucy Porter be better designed.
Is Your Mind Razor Sharp?
Do You Have An Outgoing Personality? |
Are You a Member of a Quiz Team?
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Disability Now October 1993
Every Mondeo is
packed with
features we h
Ope
you ll never use.
Reinforced cro
Front impact bars
Reinforced rocker }
The Ford Mondeo is the only car with Dynamic in the seat. Specially designed “anti submarining” seats
OC Safety Engineering. None of the safety features also stop you sliding under the belts.
are optional extras, they are all fitted as standard. Before an accident you wouldn't even know these
In a crash, side impact bars and crumple zones features were there, thankfully after one, you'll be able to
immediately absorb the force, the fuel supply from the appreciate why they were. For more information on Motability
reinforced tank is automatically cut off and sensors instantly schemes and details of your nearest
detect the severity of collision. Ford Motability dealer, call free (quot-
If the force of impact is great enough, within a tenth of ing M19) on: 0800 Il 222.
a second the steering wheel airbag will inflate and seatbelt Everything we do is driven by you.
“grabbers” and “pretensioners” will operate to hold you tight
Disability Now October 1993
6 BREAKTHROUGHS
Alzheimer’s dementia which affects people used by the body to store and our members. But more large The new technique is simila
over 65. retrieve information. The test scale studies are now needed to to a cervical smear. Foetal cell
gene found The team studied 42 families was developed after scientists replicate the findings.” are washed from the cervi
with a history of “late onset” discovered that the channels of with a sterile saline solution
Alzheimer’s. They discovered people with Alzheimer’s are Smear test The fluid is then drawn into |
Important advances have been that 90 per cent of those people missing or malfunctioning. syringe and the cells isolated s
made by scientists researching who inherited two copies of the Although the test can only gives early that doctors can search th
into Alzheimer’s disease, a con- gene were affected, while 47 identify the condition once it is nuclei for signs of the condi
dition which affects around per cent of those with one copy established, it is hoped that warning tion.
350,000 people in Britain. had the condition. another test will eventually be Dr Peter Soothill, consultan
Researchers at Duke Univer- Meanwhile, researchers at developed that identifies people in foetal medicine at Universit
sity in North Carolina, USA, the USA’s National Institute of at risk. British scientists are developing College Hospital, London, saic
have announced that the gene Health have devised the first A spokesperson for the an early test for Down’s Syn- the test means mothers coulk
APoF4 is responsible for two diagnostic test for people with Alzheimer’s Disease Society drome which they believe is be told if they have a foetu
thirds of “late onset” Alzheimer’s. It checks the con- said: ““These developments are quicker, safer and easier than with the condition before tht
Alzheimer’s, a form of senile dition of potassium channels potentially very significant for other screening procedures. 12th week of pregnancy.
He has successfully testec
the method on 12 women anc
now plans to ask pregnan
mothers, due to be screenec
using other procedures, if they
will take the new test first.
A DynaVox Case History He said: “We think that the
My Best Friend” new method is probably safer
66
easier, and quicker than other
techniques. It is also less inva-
sive, as we do not need to g¢
into the uterus. I would like
ma
every woman to be offered thi
test when she attends the hos-
pital for the first time.”
Anna Khan, director of the
Down’s Syndrome Association.
said: “Doctors and researchers
are placing too much emphasis
on screening out these babies.
Mothers should not have an
abortion just because their baby
has Down’s Syndrome, as peo-
ple with the condition can lead
full and normal lives.”
Genetic
vaccine to
combat HIV
British and American scientists
hope to combat Aids by devel-
oping a genetically engineered
version of the HIV virus.
The harmless HIV replica
: Fs Oh would be used to pass a genetic
vaccine into T-cells, an impor-
=
tant part of the body’s immune
system that are taken over and
Abe what ten-year-old Courtney Whitfield calls machines. And its intu-
destroyed by the HIV virus.
her new DynaVox® electronic communication aid. itive, language-based
And although she’s only had it for 6 months, architecture allows them The vaccine would be made
she was happy to use it to tell us so. to develop a new, more of “therapeutic genes”
Because Courtney has cerebral palsy, and she’s natural sense of self: designed to immunise the cells
struggled with other communication aids for expression. But, best of noSeeess by depriving the invading virus
most of her life without much success. In fact, all, it’s so fast and easy to learn that most people of the protein it needs to sur-
she says they left her “sad and confused.” can begin using it in less than halfa n hour. vive. The vaccine would lie
But now that she has the DynaVox, things are “T assumed it would be hard to learn,” says inactive in each cell until it was
different. “Easy for me”, she says. “I more talk.” Vickie, “but I let her play with it for a day, and attacked by the virus.
Vickie Whitfield, is just as pleasantly surprised Courtney taught me how to use it.” The work is being carried
as her daughter. “We were coming from another And the secondary benefits can be immeasurable. out by teams of scientists at
system where you had to remember everything in “This machine has totally changed her life,” says Oxford University and _ the
it,” says Vickie. “Some of the logic was baffling to Vickie. “It’s made her independent. It’s the next University of California in San
me. After 7 years, I still didn’t trust myself to best thing to having Courtney speak for herself.” Diego, USA. They began
program it. And she hated it. It was like a And Courtney agrees. “DynaVox best,” she says. assembling the replica virus last
punishment.” “Love most!” year.
Fortunately, things took a turn for the better So if you know someone who might benefit
Dr Susan Kingsman, a lead-
when the DynaVox was recommended by from the DynaVox, we urge you to give us a call.
ing researcher at Oxford Uni-
Courtney’s rehabilitation advisors. Because nothing gives us greater pleasure than
versity, said: “We are making
Because the DynaVox’s user-friendly, state-of. making new friends.
the-art technology is designed to free people like cs it’s helping those friends find their voices good progress and hope a
Courtney from the constraints of old-fashioned at replica of the HIV virus will be
ready to test by next year. It is
impossible to say, however,
how long it will take before the
DI y[n falv o[x } technique is perfected.”
A spokesperson for the Ter-
co A SENTIENT SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY ence Higgins Trust said: ““We
NBOW Rainbow Rehab m Unit 15 m7 Ainfeld Road m Christchurch a Dorset BH23 3TQ m Tel: [phone] mwaeyl colmeead taon ya naedwv atnrceea tmtehnatt
but that’s still a long way
off. It will take many years
before doctors can vaccinate
people for the virus.”
isability Now October 1993
NEWS 7
TUC fight for deaf
No time
workers’ rights
to lose
The Trades Union Congress unions must play their part in
An investigation by Age Con-
(TUC) is calling on members creating job opportunities for
cern shows that the Govern-
to negotiate a better deal for deaf people and ensure equality
ment’s new community care
_ deaf people at work. in the work place.”
system has got off to a “‘a very
It has joined forces with the RNID president Lord Jack
uneven start”.
| Royal National Institute for Ashley said: “It is scandalous
The charity believes that
| Deaf People (RNID) to pro- that over 50 per cent of all deaf
action must be taken now if
duce a booklet for unions, people of working age are
early problems are not to
Deaf People and Their Rights, unemployed. The TUC’s
become entrenched.
_ which offers practical advice on action will go a long way
The investigation is part of a
_ what can be done to help deaf towards changing this.”
year-long monitoring process
people. Bernadette Hilton, chairper-
carried out by Age Concern
The booklet encourages son of the TUC’s equal rights organisations.
unions to: committee, condemned Govy-
The report shows:
* seek the inclusion of deaf ernment policies which dis-
* wide variations in the quality
workers’ needs in equal oppor- criminate against disabled
and availability of information
tunities agreements; people at the TUC annual
from local authorities;
* negotiate for adequate com- congress last month.
* lack of appropriate informa-
munication aids, such as sign She warned that the intro-
tion for elderly people from
language interpreters and loop duction of market testing, com-
ethnic minorities;
amplification systems; pulsory tendering and
* wrong information given to
* and ensure union publica- privatisation were having a
older people about the new
tions, meetings and offices are “devastating and disproportion-
financial assessments for resi-
accessible to deaf members. ate impact” on disabled work-
dential and nursing home care;
TUC president Alan Tuffin ers and said 100,000 jobs could
* discrepancies between the
said: “Deaf people are often be created for disabled people
price of local residential and
On your bike: Kevin Cherry, 8, from Middlesex, is presented
excluded from job and training if the quota system was fully
nursing home care and _ the
with a custom-made tricycle by Recreation and Easy Access
opportunities because they are implemented and fines levied money local authorities are pre-
for Disabled Youth (READY), a charity which helps young
not given adequate communica- against offending firms. pared to pay;
people take part in activities with able-bodied friends.
tion facilities.
* and local variations in rules
“We have produced the Deaf People and Their Rights, about who is eligible for com-
Artistst o celebrate historic day
booklet because we feel trade 60p, TUC, tel: [phone]. munity care assessments.
Director Sally Greengross
Great goods if you can find them
Disabled artists are being asked help organisations, will give a said: “It is still early days for
to paint a picture, make a first prize of £15,000 for “a the community care system,
Products designed to make life had never heard of the prod- sculpture or create any other work of art that will be a per- but we are keen that the views
easier for elderly and disabled ucts. work of art to celebrate The manent and tangible reflection of older people are not over-
people work well. The trouble “Our volunteers said the International Day of Disabled of human rights of disabled looked at this crucial stage.”
is many customers do not know products really helped them,” Persons on 3 December. people.”
they exist, according to a report said Which? editor, Sue Leg- The European Community No Time to Lose, Age Concern,
in the September edition of gate. “But before they took Committee of Disabled Peo- Entry forms from DPI-EC, 11 Astral House, 1268 London
Which? magazine. part in the tests few of them ple’s International (DPI-EC), Belgrave Road, London SW1IV Road, London SWI 4ER, no
Volunteers who tried out knew these things existed.” part of a global network of self- IRB. price yet.
equipment like tap turners and
zip pullers all agreed they made Which?, 2 Marylebone Road,
life easier, but complained they London NW1, tel:[phone]. “lhe
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Disability Now October 1993
8 NEWS
National teaching
campaign launched
Disabled people who want to organisations and how to deal
become teachers can now get with medical regulations that
advice and information from a have to be met before a person
new booklet. can get into teacher training.
So You Want to be a Teacher? A series of fact sheets are
has been published as part of a also available which aim to help
national campaign that aims to school governors, teacher train-
improve disabled _ people’s ing establishments and _ local
access to teacher training. education authorities retain and
The campaign, co-ordinated attract disabled teachers.
by the Royal Association for RADAR’s education policy
Disability and Rehabilitation officer, Paul Simpson, said: “In
(RADAR), has the backing of 1978 the Government-spon-
five leading disability groups, sored Warnock Report said
including — Skill: National more disabled teachers were
Bureau for Students with Dis- needed in schools to ensure
abilities and the Royal National special needs children were
Institute for the Blind. successfully integrated.
The booklet, published by “Unfortunately, this has not
RADAR and the _ Disabled happened. Our own research
Teachers’ Campaign Group, is has shown that disabled teach-
aimed at disabled people con- ers still only make up 0.1 per
sidering a teaching career. cent of all teachers employed in
It offers advice and informa- LEAs. This is just not good All change here: deaf businesswoman Sarah Brooks is looking for a larger workshop after)
tion on choosing a course, how enough and we hope our cam- beating the recession. She set up her London upholstery firm, All Change Upholstery, a year |
to get funding and support, paign will help to improve the ago with the help of a £1,500 bursary from the Prince of Rya lee Youth Business Trust and |
useful publications and helpful situation.” funding from the North London Training and Enterprise Council.
Fighting elder abuse | Bursary offer
Carefree Holidays Ltd
64 Florence Rd,
A new organisation set up to AEA chairman, Dr Gerry The South East Arts board will |
Northampton NN1 4NA fight elder abuse, headed by Bennett, called on _ health award two or more bursaries to |
ex-Disabled Living Foundation authorities and social services help artists, technicians or |
UK & Continental Holidays and Short Breaks clothing adviser Ginny Jen- departments to work together administrators with disabilities |
For people with a disability or a mobility problem. kins, was launched by Health to develop joint strategies. living in Kent, Surrey, East
Minister John Bowis last He said: “There has been a Sussex and West Sussex.
Wide choice, competitive prices, luxury coaches
month. tendency to ignore elder abuse Each of the bursaries, worth
with lifts. Fully escorted throughout. Many joining Action on Elder Abuse because it is a taboo subject for up to £1,000, is designed to |
points in the Midlands, London and the South East. (AEA) aims to prevent abuse of many people. It must be recog- help disabled people develop
Door to door service available. older people by promoting nised as an important problem their skills and take up training |
changes in policy and practice. and be adequately tackled.” opportunities at home and |
ABTA bonded for your security.
It plans to raise people’s aware- abroad.
Individuals, couples, groups welcome.
ness through education, AEA, Astral House, 1268 Lon- The board, which was set up |
[ABTA 93611] research, and providing infor- don Road, London, SW16 4ER, by the Arts Council in 1991 to
mation, guidance and advice. tel: [phone]. provide financial support,
Write or call for a free brochure
advice and information on the
0604 34301/30382
Babies ‘twice as likely’ to die arts to people in the South|
East, plans to offer at least two |
more bursaries next year.
DISABILITIES, Premature babies in neonatal ing 1.5kg or less in nine teach-
intensive-care units in district ing hospital and four district Application forms from
BENEFITS & WORK
hospitals are twice as likely to units. Charmian Stowell, South East|
die as those in teaching hospi- Dr William Tarnow-Mordi, Arts, 10 Mount Ephraim, Tun- |
tals, a new study has revealed. of Ninewells hospital, Dundee,
bridge Wells, Kent TN4 SAS,
If you are disabled, or work with people with The International Neonatal who carried out the research, tel: (0892) 515210. Closing
disabilities who want to get back to work, you will Network research group looked said: “We will now carry out a date: 30 October.
at 1,548 babies born five weeks bigger study involving 200
need to know when that odd little job will lose you
or more premature and weigh- units throughout the country.” A UNIQUE SERVICE! | .
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Disability Now October 1993
NEWS 9
New funding
for scooter space to help deaf
students
' Adisabled Halifax pensioner “Its been driving me mad as
)spent six months virtually all I wanted to do was be able
} trapped in a sheltered housing to go out on my own, get some Nottingham Trent University
| scheme designed for disabled fresh air and do my own shop- has been awarded a £78,000
) people because there was not ping.” grant to investigate ways of
|,e nough room for her to keep a Mrs Moroney wrote to local helping deaf students succeed
|: scooter. counsellors and Halifax MP in higher education.
| Alice Moroney, 66, began Alice Mohan who supported The money provided by the
| her battle with the Yorkshire her and urged the YMHA to Higher Education Funding
| Metropolitan Housing Associa- find a solution to the problem Council will be invested in a
| tion (YMHA) six months after as quickly as possible. year-long research project into
} moving into Asquith Court in “This was a fight I felt I had the best ways of encouraging
) Halifax last September. to win,” said Mrs Moroney. more deaf and hearing impaired
She decided to buy a scooter “There should be space for all students to apply for university
| because a broken hip meant she kinds of equipment in housing places.
| found it difficult to walk more schemes like Asquith Court. The project will look at how
| than a few steps. YMHA, how- They are meant to be designed universities currently provide
} ever, objected, telling her there for disabled people after all.” communication support and
|w as not enough room to store YMHA chief executive Bill recommend a_ series’ of
|t he equipment. Payne said a fire officer had improvements.
| Mrs Moroney was left wait- caused the delay by insisting A specialist researcher will
} ing from April until September that the scooter would be a fire Assessing his chances: David McManus (centre), from ask the views of deaf and hear-
when the association finally hazard if it was kept in the cor- Cardiff, was one of the first people to take a new assessment ing impaired students at vari-
(found a safe place for the ridor or foyer. course for Welsh visually impaired people without a job. ous universities and the results
{scooter after months of wran- “But we have now found a The course, which gives information, guidance and advice, of the survey will be included
|g ling. safe place where it can be is organised by the Wales Ability Development Centre in a report on good practice
She said: “I asked if I could stored and recharged,” he said. (WADC) and run in partnership with the Partially Sighted published next year.
keep it in the foyer or a corri- “We realise it has been very Society and the Royal National Institute for the Blind. Brian Robins, head of aca-
‘dor. But I was told that it frustrating for Mrs Moroney, WADC, tel: [phone]. demic support services at Not-
) would be a fire hazard. I was but we hope she understands tingham ‘Trent, said: “This
| angry because I had to depend that we had to put a consider- Climbing into history research is badly needed
}o n others for lifts or take taxis able amount of effort into find- because there is growing con-
ing the correct solution.” cern about the low proportion
Six British mountaineers with by the MacIntyre charity and of deaf students entering uni-
Russian appeal launched learning difficulties are setting led by explorer Robert Swan, versity in the UK, the lack of
out this month to make history the first person to have walked adequate support for them and
and conquer one of Everest’s to both poles. the shortage of qualified inter-
The Belarusian Association
most daunting peaks. Top mountaineer Chris Bon- preters working in higher edu-
of International Youth Work* is
They plan to scale the nington has helped the team cation.
asking for donations and wishes 6,173m high Island Peak. It prepare for the climb and some “We hope the research pro-
{) dren affected by the Chernobyl to hear from anyone who can would be the highest ascent of them have also had media ject will play an important part
nuclear disaster. help out at the centre as a vol- ever made by people with skills training to enable them to in charting the best way for-
The centre is needed because unteer. learning difficulties. write their own record of the ward for universities and pro-
5
»many children have no access The expedition is supported expedition. vide a model of good practice.”
(to rehabilitation services and * 34 Tikotski Street, Munsk,
) there is no money to send them 220119, No 64, Republic of
} abroad for treatment. Belarus.
“lhe Wacsteoat
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Disability Now October 1993
10 NEWS
Benefit report to
IN BRIEF
Sustify’ clampdown
Child friendly
Leicester City Council has
Doctors consider factors other will be used to justify the Gov- launched a scheme to make the
than a patient’s medical condi- ernment’s proposed clampdown city the most “child friendly”
tion when deciding whether to on IVB. in Britain.
endorse Invalidity Benefit Sally Robertson of Disability The Council will make |
(IVB) claims, according to a Alliance said: “Ministers seem awards to shops, restaurants
study commissioned by the determined to use anything to and public buildings that have
Department of Social Security. justify their actions. We would, easy access for children with |
GPs interviewed said they however, back the doctors disabilities.
also took into account a per- quoted in the report. They are
son’s job prospects, age, moti- right to take other relevant fac- Leicester City Council, _ tel:
vation to work and financial tors into account.” [phone].
circumstances. It said some are A spokesperson for the
unwilling to stop payments if British Medical Association New post announced
there is no real prospect of said: “We fear it will wreck The Irish charity Disability
their patient finding work. doctor-patient relationships if Action (DA) _ has appointed |
Although the research was we are made the final arbiter as Monica Wilson as its new chief '
carried out by an independent to whether someone gets IVB.” executive.
group called Social and Com-
Ms Wilson carried out devel-
munity Planning Research, dis- GPs and IVB, £12, HMSO, opment work for the Interna-
ability groups fear the report tel: [phone]. tional Year of Disabled People |
and worked on Northern Ire-
Travel servic e launched land’s first information service |
for disabled people before |
becoming an assistant director |
The John Grooms Association dation at a wide range of holi-
with DA in 1989.
for Disabled People has day destinations, including
Ms Wilson — said: “Pm
launched a new travel service Euro Disneyland and Legoland
delighted at the appointment
for disabled people, their fami- Park in Denmark. Put to the test: Jean Ward of Barnet’s Access Group and her
and see my main job as chal- |
lies and friends. son Jonathon were impressed with the new ramps and
lenging the discrimination
Freeway Holidays provide Freeway Holidays, tel: 081-800 lightweight doors installed at Edgware Library in August.
faced by disabled people in
accessible travel and accommo- 8695. Two parking spaces for disabled people are also provided.
everyday life.”
No money for assessment don’t know what to do because worse as the number of chil- He said: “Schools must be
Continued from page 1 they have no money.” dren with special needs going provided with _—_ additional Record sales
Alan Yeo, the Spastics Soci- to mainstream schools resources. It is vital that the A firm which makes knitwear,
dent Panel for Special Educa- ety’s education officer, agreed. increases. A Department of Government recognises the print and design products and
tion Advice said: “These cases “Government funding cuts Education estimate leaked last financial demands made by this employs 8,500 disabled people
are just the tip of the iceberg. have meant local authorities are month to Wallend’s Labour growing number of children.” has announced record sales.
There are many other people in trying to avoid appropriately MP Stephen Byers anticipates The Department of Educa- Remploy Limited achieved
the same boat because of the assessing children’s needs in a leap from 71,000 now to tion said the new education act sales of £124.7 in 1992/3 -
financial problems facing local case it costs them too much 113,400 by September 1997. would lead to a code of practice nearly four per cent up on last
authorities.” money. There is also a greater Mr Byers has asked Educa- giving practical guidance on year.
Baroness Warnock, whose awareness among parents of tion Secretary John Patten to effective procedures. It also The firm has now increased
1978 report led to the 1981 their rights and it is good that ensure that the needs of state- plans to introduce independent its sales each year through the
Education Act and the present sO many are going to the mented children are not sacri- appeal tribunals to help parents recession and placed 400 dis-
system, said: “Local authorities Ombudsman to fight for them.” ficed to the Treasury’s public fighting for formal statements abled employees in managerial
are in absolute despair. They The situation is likely to get spending review. of their children’s needs. and supervisory posts.
Travellers’ tape
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enone ED Corrections
CUT
From DN, September. Largs is
MOBO ies ees doecconssenssnvenensandseanssnnesanpedticeetons tickled in Strathclyde and not
Aberdeenshire. The correct
<_< «<< <'- POS<TCODE_... < <_<" P7o2s,t coBdAe.B..B.A..C..O.M..B:E.. ...R.D.,. .FTeOleRpQhoUnAe YS,SS CRSSDS ESeVe OSEN ee. e eSe TeeQ e1eeis ees3eeSseWS telephone number for Relaxa
Tapes is [phone].
Disability Now October 1993