January 2006January 2006
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Hello again, and Happy New Year to you all and welcome to the first monthly addition of newsletter. The aim of our monthly bulletins is to keep our readers up to date with current information; we hope our readers find the information in our first monthly addition useful.
If members would like to contribute to our newsletter or receive it in different formats, please complete the form at the back of the newsletter and return it to me, or contact me on 02476 712984 or email info@cdp.org.uk or go to www.cdp.org.uk
Manisha Vadgama
This edition of CDP News comes to you with the kind assistance of:
BLYTHE & LIGGINS SOLICITORS
Edmund House, Rugby Road, Leamington Spa Telephone: 01926 831231 Website: www.blytheliggins.co.uk
CDP NEWS
Disability Rights Commission
CDP has been commissioned to carry out training on behalf of the Disability Rights Commission
Forum/Bulletin Board back up
As you may be aware the CDP forum was taken down over Christmas by some very nice people who left the message ‘Spastics We Own You’ (So much for free speech)
We have now be able to get it up and running with some more security features but there is always a line between encouraging open communities and free speech and balancing that against abusive behaviour.
If as you would like to discuss Disability issues, learn about Disability issues or indeed just have a chat please use the forum – it is there for you to make contact with other people.
Regional Disability Network
We are still at the first stages of the network but the site is up if not running and you can log in on www.rdn.org.uk. Members of the regional steering group are attending training here in Coventry and we have invited a well known person and ex Chair of BCODP to run a blog and become involved.
Open Spaces and the Big Lottery
CDP has worked alongside Heart of England Community Foundation to encourage them to apply to be grant distributor on behalf of the Big Lottery. If successful the fund would distribute grants to project to improve open and community spaces. CDP would obviously like to see accessible and creative spaces for all.
Best Practise Guide to improve placement opportunities for students -Marlon Nyrienda has been carrying out research on behalf of Warwick University School of Health and Social Studies to create the above guide.
Situation Vacant –Situation Vacant – Situation Vacant –Situation
RAMP Scheme
Employment, Mentoring and Development Co-ordinator
Funded through Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Global Grants
£20970 per annum for 35 hours per week
3% pension contribution, 25 days holiday per year
2 year contract in the first instance
The job will be based in Coventry but will cover the sub-region
CDP a organisation run and controlled by Disabled people to promote the interests of disabled people and their inclusion in economic, social and political life of the mainstream.
You will develop a Mentoring in Business scheme for Disabled people and work towards establishing an Employment Agency for Disabled people and business and other organisations alongside your colleagues and other partners such as Connexions.
You must have some experience of mentoring, training and employment issues that face disabled people.
For further information you can either visit www.cdp.org.uk to download person specification and job description, application form or telephone 024 76675802 or e mail admin@cdp.org.uk
Closing date for applications February 10.
Applications available in large print or on tape on request.
We welcome applications from Disabled people, non-disabled people with the right experience, from any cultural background, age, sexuality and/or gender.
For daily national and international news please use www.cdp.org.uk
NEWS BULLETIN
BCDOP SET UP CAMPAIGN TO DISCUSS MENTAL HEALTH BILL….
The Government are thinking about putting a Mental Health Bill before Parliament during Autumn. We are expecting the Mental Health Bill to be bad news for many people who are seen to behave or deal with their feelings differently from non disabled people.
We want to set up a network of groups and people who want to campaign on and against this Mental Health Bill. We need to make sure that Mental Health System Survivors human rights are not being stopped by other people like Doctors, judges and the police.
It would be great if this network could be set up before we know what’s in the Mental Health Bill Please make contact with
Simone Aspis on simone@bcodp.org.uk or on 0208-459-2998
Whose Life is it Anyway?
‘Disabled People call for greater say in the quest for their independence’
By Jared O’ Mara
Independent living is good for disabled and good for society; this has been recognized in the recent “Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People” report, Direct Payment laws and many other important areas of government policy.
However, ever more restrictive eligibility rules by Social Services Departments are stopping the ability of Disabled People to live independently. More and more disabled people are reduced to simply existing, effectively prisoners in their own homes.
Centre for Independent Living (CIL’s), which are of great importance to successful Independent Living schemes, are having their funding removed by Local Authorities who are increasingly giving their work to ‘cheaper’ organizations who do not understand the issues. As a result, CIL’s are being forced to close across the UK.
This is not what the Government wants, more importantly this is not what Disabled People want!
The ‘Whose Life is it Anyway’ Conference was held in Birmingham on Wednesday 19th October, at the same time as the Local Government Association (LGA)/ Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) conference on Friday 21st October a list of demands and resolves made by disabled people were given to the non-disabled people at the Social Services conference. This included:
The Conference notes Patricia Hewitt’s speech to the 2005 Local Government Association (LGA) Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) conference, which focused on the importance of disabled people helping themselves and taking part in society (active citizenship).
The conference wishes the ADSS to recognize the groundbreaking work done by user-led CIL’s over the last 25 years in developing independent living schemes, particularly Direct Payments. In order for the Government to implement its policies of active citizenship (Older Persons Strategy, Disability Equality Strategy), service users need to be an important part of the process, and this needs helping along. User-led organizations have led to the developing Direct Payments and all other policies relating to disabled people over the last 25 years.
The Conference recognized that Local Authorities need Government funding for supporting user-led ideas and organizations such as CIL’s. The availability of user-led organizations shouldn’t be left to the affected by Local Authorities’ money issues. The conference also decided that the disabled people there would look at:
It is clear that the way forward to ensure an independent future for Disabled People can be found through greater consultation and conversation by the government and media with organizations of Disabled People like the BCDOP.
Above Article taken from BCDOP Activate Newsletter December 2005 issue 57 p. 16-17
Real -Time Texting for Deaf People…
Software has been developed which enables deaf people to have real-time text conversations using a mobile phone.
But the charity that has created the service says some mobile operators have yet to fulfill a legal obligation to make their services accessible.
The Royal National Institute for Deaf people (RNID) says only Vodafone has a relay service that uses the technology. Landline users can already make such calls using the Typetalk facility.
Relay services allow a deaf person to make and receive a call via an operator, who turns the voice part of the conversation into text and relays the deaf person's text replies into speech.
Pressure on operators
The RNID's new software effectively extends the facility to people using mobile phones which are now an everyday part of most people's lives. The charity says it will dramatically improve the ability of deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people to communicate in real-time.
Compatible Handsets
Nokia Communicator 9210, Nokia Communicator 9300, Nokia Communicator 9500, Nokia 6822, Sony Ericsson P900, Sony Ericsson P910
Mobile network operators are now being urged to provide the software for their customers. The application can be used on any modern mobile handset, and allows character by character text communication of unlimited duration.
"It has taken innovation in the voluntary sector to deliver this software," said RNID new technologies director, Guido Gybels. It's now time for operators to make sure that all their customers can access real-time text communication."
The RNID says that with more than 57m mobile phone subscribers in the UK, they are now an essential tool for anyone who wants to be a fully enabled citizen.
Like Vodafone customers, BT Mobile subscribers already have access to a text relay service which uses the RNID's technology. BT Mobile says the Nokia Communicator 9210 is one of a number of compatible handsets. T-Mobile says it already has a text relay service.
"Customers can use the RNID Typetalk service with BT's Relay Assist," a T-Mobile spokesperson said.
The company says it has recently launched an enhanced service which enables customers to make real time text/voice calls.
Additional hardware
O2 says its subscribers can access the BT text relay service with the addition of a portable text phone that connects to their mobile handset. One such device is the Textlink 9100 made by Sensory Communications.
Weighing more than 500g, this may well be taken on holidays or business trips but a deaf person is unlikely to take it with them to the pub.
A company spokesperson said O2 was committed to improving accessibility, already offering a range of mobiles with "qwerty" keyboards.
"We comply with our regulatory obligations and continue to research new features and services," the spokesperson said.
Orange customers also have access to a relay service, something the company introduced just over a year ago. But like O2, people wanting to make voice/text calls need to use additional hardware.
One of the key advantages of this, according to Orange, is that it has a larger keyboard than would normally be found on a mobile phone.
Orange says it has investigated a number of potential options - including the RNID's - but prefers to stick with the existing technology for the time being.
Article taken from www.bbc.co.uk/ouch Monday 2 January 2006
Sacked – a Person with Diabetes goes to Tribunal….
A shop floor worker who claimed she was sacked for being diabetic is taking her case to an employment tribunal.
Elizabeth Morrison said she was fired from Emma's Country Cakes after her boss claimed her medical condition made her a liability on the factory floor. She said she was reproached 10 days after being employed by the Gloucestershire factory for not disclosing her diabetes at interview.
"He [my boss] asked me if I was diabetic and I told him I was. When he asked me why I hadn't told him I had a disability when I was hired, I told him I didn't consider myself disabled," Morrison said.
Morrison, who has had her case taken up by the Disability Rights Commission, said her manager claimed she was too "high risk" to work around machinery. A letter from her former boss stated: "With your medical condition we felt it would be dangerous to let you continue working on the premises."
The company has declined to comment on the claims.
Blind waiters in a pitch-black restaurant: the toast of Paris diners comes to town
Does eating a meal in total darkness make your food taste better? London will soon be able to find out
By Danielle Gusmaroli
Published: 01 January 2006
We have been treated to bacon-and-egg ice-cream and the £100 pizza, but the latest culinary experiment on offer to British diners will have them rubbing their eyes in disbelief. For it is a blind tasting like no other.
Despite a bizarre approach to haute cuisine, the restaurant Dans le Noir has won over Parisian diners, and next month it opens in London. Guests will be led to a pitch-black dining room and served food that they cannot see. Guiding them will be a team of 10 blind waiters.
Article taken from www.independent.co.uk
RESEARCH
UNTRAP (Universities/User Teaching and Research Action Partnership) is a partnership between users of health and social care services and carers, and the Universities of Warwick and Coventry and the NHS.
The message of UNTRAP is that we all have much to learn from each other and that everyone will benefit if service users, carers, academics and professionals can work better together. UNTRAP aims to support the involvement of service users and carers in teaching and research. This is so that service users and carers can have a direct influence on the skills and knowledge of professionals in training and on research and evaluating agendas.
UNTRAP is made up of service users who are interested in research and training. The members of UNTRAP come from different backgrounds and have varied interests but they share a commitment to learning together. Members are involved at different levels, with some people getting involved in one-off events while others are more heavily involved.
USEFUL INFORMATION AND WEBSITES
CAR-GO-BUS Community Transport Ltd
A new wheelchair accessible bus service to employment sites across Nuneaton, Bedworth and Coventry from Camp Hill and Bedworth Heath. For bookings and enquirers call 01827 715946
www.mobilityshowroom.com – is a virtual showroom that offers a range of disability products at reduced prices. For more information please call Taylor 0700 340 1599
CDP contact details:
Director, Judith Stephenson on 024 76675802 or director@cdp.org.uk
Personal Assistant to Director, Francisco-Jose Rodriguez on 024 76675802 or admin@cdp.org.uk
Social Justice Team Coordinator Warwickshire and Coventry, Paul Tolley on 024 76716217 or paultolley@cdp.org.uk or justice@cdp.org.uk
Information Research Worker, Manisha Vadgama on 02476712984 or info@cdp.org.uk
Web-site Designer/Co-ordinator, Richard Proffitt on 01926 889349 or web@cdp.org.uk
Participation and Research, Marlon Nyirenda on 02476 76716217 research@cdp.org.uk
BME Rights and Participation Worker, Aggrey Nhiwatiwa on 024 76716217 or bme@cdp.org.uk,
Coventry Social Justice Team, Tony Walsh, Co-ordinator on 024 76712984 or justice@cdp.org.uk,
Accounts and clerical support, Carol Hunt on 024 76716217 or carol@cdp.org.uk
Information and advice in Coventry, Lamber Sandhu or Melanie Jones on 024 76712984 or justice@cdp.org.uk
Disclaimer Note
The CDP whilst producing and disseminating information that is correct to the best of our knowledge does not take responsibility for any views or comments or inaccuracies of information from external agencies.