Disability now. October 1996.

36 Pages·1996·14 MB·English

by  Scope

The award
winning
newspaper
for everyone
with an interest
in disability
[NEWS FOCUS PROFILEA RTS i city Focus [CLASSIFIED
11 17 20 22 32
Mencap at 50: still in The rum tale of a Reeling in reviews Birmingham under Jobs, friends,
the running? soldier turned sailor from Edinburgh the spotlight bargains, breaks
harities challenge
f:
MPs on equality
National disability groups across the board are urging a future government to
pledge equal rights for disabled people.
Disability Daily — a coalition with second class rights and e A percentage of all new
of 16 charities — backed by opportunities. housing stock should be built
tights organisations, has pro- In the run up to the party con- to recognised accessible stan-
duced a manifesto, which it says ferences this month, the mani- dards
is a “blueprint for the society festo calls for MPs to properly e A timetable should be pro-
that disabled people need and represent their disabled con- duced for bringing in accessible
deserve”. stituents. public transport
“Disabled people have one Its demands include: @ The Disabled Persons and
dear demand from the next @ All disabled people should Carers (Short Term Breaks) Bill
Government — Equality”. have the choice to purchase should be passed.
‘The groups, including Arthri- their own care Discrimination, says the mani-
tis Care, Disability Alliance, @ The benefits system should festo, starts at general elections,
MIND, Mencap, RADAR, be replaced by a comprehensive where only 12 per cent of
RNIB, RNID and Scope, argue disability income scheme polling stations are fully acces-
that the Disability Discrimina- © More money should be spent sible. It demands that all polling
tion Act does not give compre- on making secondary schools stations are made accessible.
hensive civil rights to disabled accessible The manifesto calls for a bene- A knight to remember: Matthew Bell, 10, a wheelchair user from
people and that they are still ® Action should be taken to end fits scheme with a benefit to Eccleston in Lancashire, finds out what life was like during the 13th
considered second class citizens discrimination in employment cover extra costs paid according century with members of the Marcher Knights Association. He was
to the severity of disability, a at the Rivington Experience — a sports spectacular and display of
pension to compensate people fight sequences — at Horwich, earlier this summer. NORTH WEST WATER
THERA*POSTURE
unable to work and a partial Disability law
capacity benefit for people with
Stay Independent
in Comfort reduced working capacity.
Lord Ashley of Stoke said:
in the balance
“These proposals merit. public
support and when we can make
them practical realities, the lives
of millions can be enriched and Fears are mounting that a major year, councils around the coun-
transformed.” piece of disability law will be try say they will be held in a
Disability Daily spokesperson under threat if a local authority financial straight-jacket.
Theraposture offer a carefully Sue Pratt said: “This is an all- loses an appeal at the House of Local authorities believe the
thought-out range of products to
help those with mobility party issue. We want equal citi- Lords. Government might have to
problems enjoy the zenship and hope the manifesto Gloucestershire County change the 1970 Act to allow
independence and comfort of
will get disability issues on top Council wants to overturn a them to prioritise cases, unless
their own homes.
of the agenda. Court of Appeal decision which it provides more money.
from over 1000 positions at “It should be hard for politi- enforces its duty to provide Tad Kubisa, president of the
the touch of a button. cians to ignore.” care, regardless of resources, Association of Directors of
Suppliers to DH The British Council Of Dis- once a person’s needs have been Social Services, said:
and Health Authorities
abled People (BCODP) was one established. tite resource implications
of the few major national The court ruled in June that would be horrendous. It would
Stands you up, groups not to take part. the council acted unlawfully be an impossible situation for
sits you down, Chairman Bob Findlay said: when it withdrew care from members to have to meet all
nice and gently,
at the touch . “We were involved but were not 1,500 disabled people who had assessed needs without being
FOR A FREE BROCHURE of a button. happy with the decisions being been assessed under the Chroni- able to prioritise.
OR PDLEEMAOSNES T‘RPAHTOINOE N, | * Available for easier taken and withdrew support. cally Sick and Disabled Persons “The Government would have
e) geotrt innugr siinn ga ndc aroeu t, “They say one thing and then Act 1970. The case was brought to change the law to reduce eli-
Fill in this coupon or phone for a F -. Brochure-no stamp needed do another. They have double by disabled pensioner Michael gibility or they could find more
1
H Please tick for brochure []Beds [Chairs standards. You can’t operate a Barry and supported by the funds or do a bit of both.”
H DIN/39. |
———<_ |. shopping list — it needs a more Royal Association for Disability But Neil Betteridge, head of
THERA:POSTURE ,1 Address. comprehensive approach.” and Rehabilitation (RADAR) projects and campaigns at
Theraposture Limited, 1| The BCODP will be drawing and the Public Law Project. RADAR, argued that a defeat
FREEPOST, i
Warminster, - up its own manifesto before the If the decision is upheld by the for Gloucestershire would not
Wilts., BAi2 8TZ { Tel Post Code next election. Lords this autumn or early next open the funding floodgates.
2 News
Taxi users slam design
Disabled taxi users claim that a disabled people are unable to refused an opportunity to check
city council has licensed inac- use them. The council should out the access of the vehicle.
cessible cabs. stop issuing licences for them In a meeting with disability
All new taxis in Newcastle until the problems are groups in September it refused
have to be wheelchair accessible addressed.” to stop licensing the vehicle, but
in order to get a licence. But Phil Hind, managing direc- it was due to reconsider the
But a number of wheelchair tor of Automotive, the Newcas- issue as DN went to press.
users are angry that the newly- tle-based firm which adapts and
Car campaign
licensed Volkswagen Sharan is sells the vehicle, said: “It is abso-
not fully safe or fully accessible lute nonsense. We consulted
for larger wheelchairs. every man and his dog on this The Disabled Drivers’ Motor
Dave Colley, of Disability adaptation. It meets European Club has launched a campaign
Action North East (DANE), Community approval.” to heighten awareness of dis-
said: “We are adamant that A council spokesperson con- abled people’s parking needs and
there are fundamental design firmed its decision and claimed is urging police forces around the
problems with the new taxi. those groups complaining country to enforce rules on
This means large numbers of about the adaptation had orange badge concessions.
A disabled man was stung with Dog of the Year. He won the Dogs at Work Award, run by anima
a £60 parking ticket in East charity Blue Cross, for enabling his owner Debbie Robbins, of Leam
London, even though he had ington Spa, to work as a public relations officer. Elton was trained b
two orange badges in his car. Dogs for the Disabled. Debbie said: “I would never have gained th
Albert Harvey (left) was parked confidence to do my job without him.” DOGS FOR THE DISABLEI
outside his home in a disabled
Care plan slammed
bay when the Tower Hamlets
Council traffic warden struck.
He issued the ticket because
one of the orange stickers was A compulsory —- insurance The Foundation is calling fos
upside-down — even though scheme to meet the costs of immediate action to prepare fo!
Albert also has a_ resident’s long term care for elderly peo- the surge in the elderly popula.
parking permit. ple has been dismissed by the tion — it predicts there will be
Albert, 55, had a heart by-pass Government as a “new and 7.9 million people over 75 ir
in 1983. He has difficulty unfair tax”. 2051.
breathing and cannot walk far The Joseph Rowntree Founda-
without getting severe chest tion has proposed that 1.5 per
pains. cent of earnings would be paid
“I am not going to pay £60. It’s into a National Care Insurance
Published by
absolutely ridiculous,” he Scheme, drawing £3 billion a year. Scope, 12 Park Crescent
said. Under the plan, elderly people London W1N 4EQ
A spokeswoman for Tower would not be charged for care, Editorial: 0171-636 5020
Hamlets Council said: “We and only accommodation in Fax: [phone]
Minicom: 0171-436 9914
request that Mr Harvey appeals residential and nursing homes
Editor Mary Wilkinson
straight away so that we can would be subject to means
Assistant Editor
look into it.” tested charging. Helen Gregory
Reporters Rod Hermeston
Jane Dunford
Our premier powered w
ARE YOU DISABLED OR RETIRED? Features/Production
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Editorial Assistant!/
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Secretary Hayley Kerr
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The views expressed in Disability
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Manchester M12 9AB OR CALL THE SALES HOTLINE: [phone]/ those of Scope.
DN10/96 BUSINESS PRESS
Copyright © 1996 Scope
Disabilitynow October 1996
S 5
2s | Cash crisis for projects
Train protest
brings chaos
‘Airwaves award A Welsh training scheme for four to be set up by Mencap in Inter-Action have sent out forms
|} Scope has launched the first people with learning disabilities Wales, which is still waiting for asking such projects to claim Disabled protesters severely
), award to encourage commercial was cancelled because of delays the others to be approved. It has back their interest. A group of disrupted train services for an
)r adio stations to become more in funding from Europe. had to delay a catering course British lawyers in Brussles is hour and a half while they
|i nvolved in disability issues. The scheme is among a large for 20 people with learning dis- offering to take the matter up handcuffed themselves to
} It will be given to the station number of employment pro- abilities who will now have to with the European Commission underground trains in London.
|:w hich proves it has the greatest grammes aimed at underprivi- complete it in half the time. Ombudsman. Ten members of Direct Action
|,u nderstanding of disabled peo- leged people. “We had to cancel one project An EC spokesperson said the Network (DAN) _ stopped
ple and the issues involved, at Money should come from the because of late approval,” said UK Government also played its Piccadilly and Metropolitan
)t he end of next year. European Commission’s (EC) direct services manager, Chris part in causing delays. “We will line trains at Hillingdon station
European Social Fund in jointly Heavyside. investigate delays and try to in September, during a protest
funded schemes with local Kevin Baillie of the National address if the Commission is over access.
/Phone bills to fall organisations such as councils Council for Voluntary Organi- responsible.” They, and 100 members of the
Phone bills are set to fall by an and charities. sations (NCVO), which coordi- A Department for Education Hillingdon Station Access
) average £5.60 a year. But not only can funding nates funding, said: “Most of and Employment spokesperson Campaign, blocked the station
BT will cut the cost of week- arrive nine months after pro- the projects we are working admitted that the final batch of until London Transport agreed
|d ay national calls this month by jects begin, (forcing them to get with experience this problem.” approvals had only just been to a meeting.
| 20 per cent in the evenings and into debt and pay interest on In England 38 projects aimed sent out. The access group says a
) at night and by 10 per cent dur- loans), but they are also having at disabled people have had to Don’t forget to send padlocked gate means
‘ing the day. International calls to risk starting up before they wait for £3m this year. Payment in your reader survey wheelchair users cannot get up
\ will be cut by between 10 and 25 get official approval from the was overdue for 27 projects in the station’s ramp and there are
jper cent. Local calls are not British Government. Scotland and 16 in Wales. from last month’s no portable ramps for
The Welsh project was among NCVO and the teaching charity issue by 10 October. travellers.
| affected.
iFall halts trek Bathtime blues: Kenneth Clarke
look-a-like Barry Paterson
| An integrated expedition to takes a bath outside the Trea-
« cross Greenland has had to turn sury to illustrate how angry
| back because a team member elderly and disabled people are
(hurt an ankle (DN August). at having to pay twice for rou-
Carl Wilkinson, a visually tine needs such as washing.
\impaired member of the four- The Coalition on Charging
‘man team, fell down a snow called on Kenneth Clarke to
hole in July, forcing the expedi- stop assuming that local
| tion to be abandoned after only authorities have to raise income
a few days. through extra charges.
It says disabled and older peo-
‘AA‘s helping hand
ple rely on state benefits, yet .
Disabled members of the AA pay twice for services — through
who break down can finish their the Council Tax and through
service charges. Although
journey in accessible vehicles.
authorities can charge at their
The AA has started a joint
scheme with Tripscope, the dis- discretion, the coalition believes
they are effectively forced into
ability travel information char-
‘ity, which will provide a It. MICHAEL STAVRI
database of local agents with
accessible transport. HOW TO CHOOSE A
Card is the limit
POWERCHAIR OR SCOOTER
British Gas has been criticised
for discriminating against peo-
New, free booklet explains and guides,
ple over 70.
Its new Goldfish credit card ensuring that you make the right decision
offers £20 off gas bills to hold-
Considering buying a of questions that you will
ers spending £2,000 a year, but
mobility vehicle in the next want to ask before you
its rules bar older people.
few months? Then you make your mind up, giving
However the firm says they
should know about a new, you all the information
may be considered individually.
free advisory booklet before you make the
which will undoubtedly important choice.
DLA cuts explained
help you to make the right
People receiving the mobility
decision. Get all the facts. Produced
component of the Disability Liv-
by the Mobility Matters
ing Allowance will have it cut
Making wheelchair accessible The easy to read booklet Network of mobility
after a four-week hospital stay
contains all the answers specialists “The In’s and
even if they are using it to pay transpogrt aa ffordable
you need to make sense of Out’s of buying a mobility
off a car loan, because the Gov-
what can be a complicated vehicle” is available now,
ernment says they do not incur
Sy @ affair. It tells you about all free of charge. All you have
extra mobility costs in hospital.
the different models to do is simply call our 24
However Under Secretary of
_ available, how they work, Hour Booklet Request
State for Social Security,
APPROVED what happens when they Line on 0990 134 130 or
Andrew Mitchell, has reiterated
that Motability contracts will Send for the latest colour brochure go wrong and the best way write to Mobility Matters,
still be honoured. Contact Peter Scullion or John Adair to go about buying a Dept DN10, Freepost
Douglas Campbell, of the Dis- The Lewis Reed Group scooter or powerchair. NHO0170, Kettering, NN14
abled Drivers’ Association, said: 6YA. A booklet will be
“It seems that if you don’t use 474 Woodchurch Rd., Prenton, Birkenhead, Wirral, “The In’s and Out’s of sent to you within 14 days
Merseyside L43 0SE Fax: [phone]
the Motability scheme the Gov- buying a mobility vehicle” from one of the Mobility
0151 608 9933
ernment thinks you can afford also arms you with a series Matters local Distributors.
to lose the benefit.”
Disabilitynow October 1996
4 News
Unfair shares
Building societies which convert other accounts in their name
to banks are refusing to make with the same society, they can
bonus share pay-outs directly to only receive one allocation of
severely disabled and elderly shares. The disabled person
people. does not receive money
The Halifax Building Society directly.
has even admitted that these Matthew also has money in an
customers may actually get account operated by a former
fewer shares. care worker of a care home
One customer who will lose where he lives. This person
out is Matthew Ward, who lives holds a number of accounts for
in St Albans, and has an other residents.
account in his mother Hazel’s The Halifax has admitted the
name with the Alliance & total allocation of shares will be
Leicester. She has an account lower in such cases, because
there too. individual account holders
The money in both accounts would each get a basic alloca-
will be added together when tion of shares, and a further
share entitlements are calcu- sum depending on the amount Shareholders: Matthew Ward with his mother Hazel DENZIL MCNEELANCE !
lated — but shares will go to his invested. Shaping up for top award
mother, not Matthew. The Alliance and Leicester has
“A number of people who can’t not yet decided how it will oper-
manage their financial affairs ate in this situation when it
may be affected. It is unjust,” becomes a bank in 1997. A project giving disabled people people. It has increased the pro- at least elsewhere in the UK.”
said his father Raymond. Spokesman Geoff Seymour arts training in the Midlands file of disabled artists and the St Michael’s House Research |
Severely disabled and elderly said: “Share allocation will be has won a top international number of disabled people in Stillorgan, Ireland, won a/
people often have money in a based on voting eligibility but award. teaching the arts. bronze award for educational |
joint account, with another’s we have not decided whether East Midlands SHAPE in Not- Director Jo Verrent said the integration, for work develop-
name appearing on forms first. there will be differences in the tingham won a gold award for award had already secured ing an educational curriculum |
If the first named person has amounts allocated.” vocational training in the Euro- them extra funding from Not- for those with and without dis-
pean Community Action pro- tingham County Council. abilities. And the Centre for|
TUC backs civil rights gramme, Helios, awards. “We’re over the moon about Independent Living in Thurles, |
The group came top for its the award. We’d love the chance Ireland, won a gold award for
project which gives customised to set a similar project up in open employment, for its ser-
The Trades Union Congress investigate cases of discrimina- training in the arts to disabled another European country — or vices for disabled people.
(TUC) has again pushed for full tion and enforce a new act.
civil rights at its annual confer- TUC disability policy officer, Cash dispenser of the future:
ence in September. Richard Exell, said they had This smart card machine
It slammed the Disability Dis- always supported civil rights should make getting cash easier |
crimination Act and called on legislation. for visually impaired and blind |
the Government to introduce a “Members feel very strongly people, as well as those with a
Disability (Civil Rights) Bill.
about the issue and wanted to mobility impairment.
Members also pressed for a be more upfront. It’s an ongo- The prototype features larger
a
Commission which would ing thing.” characters on the screen, more
time for transactions, varying
screen colour and voice mes-
sages. It can even scan the card
Mazda Minibus without it being taken from
Ss
your wallet.
It has been developed by the|
Saturn Project — a consortium
<<
of manufacturers and interest|
groups — which believes we
could see the machines on high |
streets very soon. RNIB |
a\ . With Wheelchair”
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DisabilityNow October 1996
—
Wo
Incapacittyes t gives unlucky break
/A disabled woman claims she She claims the benefits agency Her doctor later told her that Invalidity Benefit until Incapac-
| was left with broken bones after doctor refused to help her up, she had injured herself. She has ity Benefit was introduced in
vundergoing the medical test for and as she was trying to get up, now made an official complaint. 1995¢
)I ncapacity Benefit. she broke bones in her hand. Ironically, Sarah then received a A Benefits Agency spokesper-
Sarah Chapman, from New- “The doctor just turned her letter from the benefits agency son said: “Our medical services
}castle, who has _ spondylosis back and walked away when I saying she was not entitled to the are conducting a full investiga-
|a ffecting her spine and neck, told her that I was in pain, hav- benefit, although it has now been tion. Doctors tailor a medical
) was given the examination in ing hurt my hand and that she reinstated. examination to a customer’s
| July. would have to help me,” Sarah, Sarah worked for 23 years expected ability. They would
_ During the test she was asked 44, said. before an accident at work in not ask them to perform activi-
}to kneel down but found she “Tt took me about five minutes 1991 led to her spondylosis. She ties which they thought they
could not get back up. to get to my feet.” had previously been receiving could not achieve.”
ALL CLAIMANTS
GO THROUGH
THE DOOR &
DSS
UP THE STAIRS
BENEFITS
INCAPACITY
BENEFIT
MEDICAL FREE
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EXAMINER
pee
“| wouldn't mind - but we only came here to clean the windows ! "
Butlins snubs disabled visitor
Sunny outlook: Forty elderly blind and partially sighted people
from Birmingham and their carers will enjoy the first holiday they
have had in years thanks to the Promenade Appeal run by Help the
Butlins has put up the is “no complain. requests. I have the perfect right Aged and Action for Blind People. Paralympic swimmer Chris
vacancies” sign for a disabled Four days to refuse any booking. It’s not Holmes met two of the elderly holidaymakers who will be going to
holidaymaker after she com- later Butlins because of her disability.” either Bognor Regis or Weston-super-Mare. CATERS PHOTOGRAPHIC
_ plained about her room. A told her she Norah is upset and believes she
Norah Tunney (pictured S Sam = was not wel- is being discriminated against.
right), who is an_ electric Bane come back “T have been to the hotel a num-
wheelchair user, arrived at But- because there were not enough ber of times before and stayed in
lins Holidays’ Ocean Hotel in porters to meet her extra needs, accessible rooms,” she said. “I
Brighton on 26 July for a week- such as moving a bed and fitting was no more of a problem than
long stay. a mattress raiser. any able-bodied person.
But she found the room and Hotel general manager Jim “T never required any assis-
shower were inaccessible and Waldock said: “I have to stop tance or room service and used
decided to leave. the whole hotel and rearrange to take my own porta-hoover
Norah, from Hove, wrote to my staff to accommodate her to clean the room myself.”
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Blind people still
find job door shut
Most blind and __ visually was ahead of people with learn- Act come into force, said
impaired people still-live below ing disabilities (30.6 per cent), RNIB’s Steve Winyard, author
the poverty line because of people with impaired mobility of the report. a
employment discrimination, (26.4 per cent), and those with The report is part of a joint
according to a new report, depression or nervous and men- employment initiative involving
Blind in Britain: The Employ- tal disorders (22.6 per cent). the RNIB and five other groups. |
ment Challenge. Robert Latham, a graduate Out of Sight — Out of Work? will |
A Royal National Institute for from Newcastle Upon Tyne, is encourage employers to recruit
the Blind (RNIB) survey of 60 an information and advocacy visually impaired people. |
blind and visually impaired peo- officer for visually impaired The most common reasons'|
ple, found 63 per cent were not people. He had applied for 136 employers gave for not employ-}
in work. Of these, 58 per cent jobs before he found work. Job ing disabled people were a lack |
had not worked in ten years. clubs were not geared to his of disabled applicants or thata
The report complements needs, he said. disabled person had left and}
another by the Institute for “They offered me jobs that not been replaced. |
Employment Studies (IES), they would not have expected
A family demonstrated outside school gates in a bid to admi t their published earlier in the year. other graduates to do.” Blind in Britain: The Employ-|
son into mainstream education. Recruitment and Retention of Discrimination against dis- ment Challenge, £5, RNIB, tel:
[phone]
Pete and Wendy Crane, from Preston, pictured with Niki and clini- Disabled People found that 51 abled people in the workplace
cal psychologist John Kenworthy (right) now need to find at least per cent of employers said they will become illegal in December The Recruitment and Retention |
£20,000 to fund the legal challenge to support Niki, 13, who has would not hire someone who when the employment rights of of People with Disabilities, £35,
severe learning difficulties. had “difficulty in seeing”. This the Disability Discrimination BEBC Ltd, tel: [phone]
Niki went to primary school for six years, and was set to move up to
senior school until Tarleton High School refused to accept him. Steal on wheels Creative coup: 98-year-old
Mum Wendy said: “Educational psychologists, teachers and speech sculptor Mary Ashwell, who is
therapists all backed a two-term trial for Niki at senior school. We A wheelchair user held up a blind, has been named one of
were really upset and went to a Special Needs Tribunal.” chip shop owner with an imita- the country’s Women of the
The family lost and were told Niki would have to go to The Elms tion gun. Darren Staddon, 21, Year. Mrs Ashwell, from
special school in Fulwood — 17 miles away. of Gloucester demanded £70 Uppingham in Leicestershire,
Until recently, disabled children were entitled to legal aid to help from the owner before escaping won the‘ annual Frink Award
them meet court fees, but now parents must find the cash them- in the chair. for visually impaired women |
selves. He was given a two-year sus- achievers. The award has been
© Midge Caryer won an appeal to send daughter Kate, 12, who has pended sentence at Gloucester running for ten years and is
cerebral palsy, to mainstream school. Midge, from north London, Crown Court and told that if he open to the estimated 600,000
won the appeal against Haringey Council which had wanted to was able-bodied he would have visually impaired women in the
send Kate to a special needs school. ORMSKIRK ADVERTISER been jailed for six years. country. Mrs Ashwell was pre-
sented with a cheque for £1,000 |
by HRH Princess Michael of |
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Disabilitynow October 1996
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Disabilitynow October 1996
8 News
Road is long for
transport access
Just because there will be more was seen by some as an outdated Douglas Campbell, of the Dis-
disabled people in the future, it benefit which did not ultimately abled Drivers’ Association,
does not mean there will be bet- improve transport. thought that even if more fund-
ter transport arrangements, a Ann Frye, director of the ing was given to accessible
debate on transport and disabil- mobility unit at the Depart- transport, it might not have the
ity heard. ment of Transport, said it did desired effect.
Ex-Royal Association for Dis- not always meet the additional “Those of us who use expen-
ability and Rehabilitation costs of transport. sive transport will trade down
(RADAR) chairman, Sir Peter “For most people it just disap- to cheaper transport. But those
Baldwin, added that the issue of pears into the household spend- who use Dial-a-Ride services
accessible transport needed a ing pot,” she said. may not trade up to public
political push that it was Pam Moffatt, of the Greater transport because Dial-a-Ride
presently not getting. London Association of Disabled offers more choice.”
He said: “If you do something People, agreed. She added that Irvine Lavery, of the Transport
which helps people who can’t the Government was denying its Research Group at Ulster Uni-
use the present system and make responsibility for transport, as it versity, said “more accessible
it better, it benefits everyone.” was for community care. mainstream transport” was a
The debate, at Brunel Univer- “The burden of cost is going myth put out by public relations ‘Taline aoe tv presenter Anthea miner and user Rory Dyer)
sity, London, in September, heard back on the individual. People departments. launch the Talking Newspaper Association’s larger service. The,
that the mobility component of are now having to pay for taxis “People have to get to the bus charity puts 185 newspapers and magazines onto audio cassette for
the Disability Living Allowance to hospital,” she said. stops in the first place.” blind and visually impaired people. CONCERN COMMUNICATIONS |
Sergeant wants forces to be PC Tunnelling in |
the spotlight —
A Scottish policeman hopes to every police force in the UK.
improve the way police officers “There has been no specific
HR
deal with disabled people police training or guidance on
The Health and Safety Execu- decompression _ times.
throughout the UK. how to deal with disabled peo-
tive (HSE) is to study the would also look at why some
Sergeant Ronnie Dukes, of ple,” said Ronnie. “I would like
effects of tunnelling in com- tunnellers are affected and oth-
Strathclyde Police, is starting a opinions from disabled people
pressed air. ers are not.
year-long study into the needs nationwide.”
The aim is to improve knowl- “This was not prompted by|
of disabled people who come The project will help police
edge on how decompression the JLE problems. But there)
into contact with the police. respond to the Disability Dis-
may cause problems such as the does appear to have been a high’
He will ask disabled people crimination Act (DDA).
niggles and the bends which are incidence on the _ section’
and police officers to complete Aware: Sergeant Dukes
also experienced by divers. involved,” he said.
questionnaires on the subject Ronnie Dukes c/o Cranstonhill
It is thought these may lead to Dr John King, a Harley Street’
and will then develop new A set of recommendations for Police Office, 945 Argyle Street,
Glasgow, G3 8JG long-term health problems such expert, said: “There is variation)
methods of training officers. good practice will be sent to
as bone necrosis which dam- in individual susceptibility. There
Group is all go ages joints and can cause are some men who you should|
arthritis. not put in compressed air.”
How to read More than 20 groups of dis- Attention will focus on Lon- Dr Valerie Flook, of Aberdeen}
abled people have formed the don’s Jubilee Line Extension University, who is carrying out)
Norfolk Coalition of Disabled (JLE), where up to 28 tunnellers one of the studies, warned that
with your Talking books
People’s Organisations working for construction firm the precise causes of the prob-|
(NCODP). It aims to help Aoki Soletanche experienced lem were not yet known.
eyes closed for people
ensure disabled people have full the niggles earlier this year. As DN went to press the HSE)
access in all areas of life. A spokesperson for the HSE was due to introduce new regu-
who are said that a number of studies lations on compressed air
Tel: [phone] would examine guidelines on work.
not blind,
ooo onabeconeteneaneeecenee renee onsoposcodoont tonnie ntenserceeenbeehetaseeonebetonactosontttoototeniestthoratsiessoceecearentesisessesnisnnessnbuestuabososcosonenbbnntboottonionteesteeseonetett
but cannot read
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Disabilitynow October 1996
eeae e
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Disabilitynow October 1996
10 Health news |
Flu virus Professor Ted Evans and stu- And the condition costs the
dent Robert Morse, from country at least £1 billion more
may hold Keele’s department of commu- than previous _ estimates,
nication and neuro-science, are according to a new report from
the key looking at using controlled dis- the British Diabetic Association )
turbance to improve the sound (BDA). /
|
quality of cochlear implants. One million people in the UK
Wave-like changes in the shape have been diagnosed with non- .
Experiments on a collection of
of the earth’s orbit may lie insulin dependent diabetes, the |
70-year-old brains and lungs i1
behind altering climates, but it most common form of the con- |
could worldwide
prevent a is thought that resonance dition, and complications often
brain disease outbreak.
caused by random disturbances go undetected.
Scientists at the Royal London
such as volcanoes forces major A further one million people
Hospital in Whitechapel, east
London, are using organs pre- upheaval. may have gone undiagnosed. }
The pair believe that by The report, by the King’s |I
served decades ago to search for 1
adding noise to the surgical Fund Policy Institute, estimates
links between flu and neurologi-
implants, the quality of the that treatments for diabetes |
cal illness. They aim to establish
final sound will be greatly cost the NHS at least £2 billion i|
whether the flu virus can attack
improved. each year, making up eight per.
the brain.
Forty million people world- “It sounds counter-intuitive, cent of hospital spending.
but by adding the right amount But with an increasingly over-
wide were killed by flu in 1918.
of random noise to the implants weight and ageing population |
This was followed by bouts of
we think we can make them this is set to rise, says they
sleeping sickness and Parkin-
son’s disease. more effective,” said Mr Morse. report.
So far, experiments involving “We can save people’s eyes, |
If the two are linked, it is
feared a new flu outbreak could nerves taken from toads have limbs, and even their lives if we
lead to an epidemic of neuro- been very successful. intervene early enough with
logical diseases. Flu pandemics diagnosis and proper health
occurred in 1918, 1957 and Sickle cell care,” said BDA chairman
1968, and scientists say there Harry Keen.
.
could be another at any time. discovery
“There will be another pan- Counting the Cost: The Real |
demic — it is just a question of Feat of strength: Russian Valentin Dikual (seated) teaches Matthew Impact of Non Insulin Depen-
when,” said John Oxford, Pro- Stockman how to defy doctors. The strongman in the Moscow State An international medical dent Diabetes, £10.50. Tel: |
fessor of Virology at the Royal Circus was told he would never walk again after an accident in the breakthrough could transform [phone] }
London. big top. Mr Stockford, who broke his back in a skiing accident, the way people with sickle cell
“We could be pro-active and spent time in Moscow learning the techniques. are treated. Brain pH |
CHANNEL 4
think of making experimental Scientists in Birmingham who
vaccines which may work when advantage of new treatments, a some regions and not in others are taking part in a Euro-Amer- linked to
the pandemic arrives,” he survey by the MS Resource Cen- and there are concerns over side ican project, have successfully
added. tre (MSRC) has revealed. effects. used intravenous bone marrow cleverness
Those with the relapsing and John Simkins, information transplants to treat three chil-
Patients remitting form of the condition executive at MSRC, called for dren who have the life-threaten-
in the UK are confused over improved communication. ing blood disorder. Scientists working on a study of
lose out what is available, it claims. A three-year study of ms If the treatment proves a long- children with muscular dystro- |
Patients find it difficult to get patients using Betaferon in term success, it will be the first phy have discovered that intelli- |
information from their doctors North America found that the cure for this condition. gence may be linked to the level
People with multiple sclerosis about new drugs such as frequency of attacks fell by a “This study represents an of chemical acidity in the brain |
(ms) in the UK are not taking Betaferon; they are available in third and the number of severe important first step in finding a (pH).
relapses were halved. potential cure,” said consultant Research at the John Radcliffe
haematologist Phil Darbyshire, Hospital in Oxford measured |
Manufacturing specialists in Noise isa who is leading the research the acid content in the brains of
shower bases & enclosures team. 42 boys aged between six and
for those with special needs. sound idea 13 who did not have muscular
Diabetes dystrophy. It showed that those
with a more alkaline brain pH
as
A theory about the cause of ice on the rise were likely to have a higher IQ.
ages could revolutionise the lives It is the first time that intelli-
of profoundly deaf people, sci- gence has been linked to a bio-
entists at Keele University claim. People with diabetes face blind- chemical “marker” in the brain.
They believe feeble signals ness, limb amputations, It raises the prospect that one |
such as sound can be strength- strokes, and heart disease, day it may be possible to artifi- |
ened by adding random distur- because insufficient money is cially increase people’s intelli-
bance to help deaf people hear. spent on diagnosis. gence levels.
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Disabilitynow October 1996