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Once again the South West
Disability Show returns to the Westpoint Centre Exeter.
Entry and Parking
is free and visitors will have the opportunity to feel, touch and see the
latest products, services and innovations. The show now includes a range
of Free CPD and certificated Workshops and this year, we are pleased to
announce that leading expert Fiona Collins from Tissue Viability
Consultancy Services will be giving a full Presentation on Friday 9th
July. Again this is free for all visitors.
In addition, the show boasts a range of demonstrations and activities
including Basketball, Football, Dancing, Kite Flying and Tennis.
We hope you will be able to visit the show and would very much appreciate
it, if you could pass on this email to any friends or colleagues that may
be interested. We also seek help in getting details of the show onto
various related and information websites.
With more stands, more workshops, more activities, more demonstrations and
leading experts on hand. The South West Disability show really is the show
for members of the general public, Carers,
Occupational Therapists and other Health Professionals.
For Further information visit <http://www.southwestdisabilityshow.co.uk>
www.southwestdisabilityshow.co.uk
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London Fashion
comes South ... BY POST !!
GOOD NEWS for those younger
readers ( and yes ... before you comment ..... I am including myself ) who
long for something different from the usual run of the mill high street
options that we have down here in the South West ...
UNIQLO the innovative Japanese
Designer of Casualwear, with outlets New York and Paris but whose
stores in England centre around
London, have now launched an online UK catalogue, which covers most of their
stock from new arrivals to sales items ... and at great prices !!
This great news for those of who are
less mobile as it gives us access to a fashionable wardrobe from the
comfort of home. You can also sign up for their news
letter to keep abreast of what is "on-trend".
Click on the logo below and shop till
you drop ... and by doing so, help support this site !!
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Stroud and
District Access Group is able to offer on loan a manual wheelchair. This
is offered free of charge and is available to anyone in genuine need of
the use of a wheelchair. The wheelchair has been passed to me, to be put
to good use, it is a self propelled or attendant chair and has an eighteen
inch seat, so suitable for a larger person.
Those wishing to make use of this wheelchair, will need to contact me to
arrange collection and safe return, and although no charge will be made
for this service, I will not refuse donations to our Group.
Phil Hughes - Stroud & District Access Group - Telephone :- 01453
758716.- E.Mail :- stroudaccessgroup@tesco.net
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 Swindon
Guide Dogs Blind Drive
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Thousands will
lose benefits as harsher medical approved
Tens of thousands of claimants facing losing their benefit on review, or
on being transferred from incapacity benefit, as plans to make the
employment and support allowance (ESA) medical much harder to pass
are approved by the secretary of state for work and pensions, Yvette
Cooper.
The shock plans for ‘simplifying’ the work capability assessment, drawn
up by a DWP working group, include docking points from amputees who can
lift and carry with their stumps.
Claimants with speech problems who can write a sign saying, for example,
‘The office is on fire!’ will score no points for speech and deaf
claimants who can read the sign will lose all their points for hearing.
Meanwhile, for ‘health and safety reasons’ all points scored for
problems with bending and kneeling are
to be abolished and claimants who have difficulty walking can be assessed
using imaginary wheelchairs.
Claimants who have difficulty standing for any length of time will,
under the plans, also have to show they have equal difficulty sitting,
and vice versa, in order to score any points. And no matter how bad
their problems with standing and sitting, they will not score enough
points to be awarded ESA.
In addition, almost half of the 41 mental health descriptors for
which points can be scored are being removed from the new ‘simpler’
test, greatly reducing the chances of being found incapable of work due
to such things as poor memory, confusion, depression and anxiety. There
are some improvements to the test under the plans, including exemptions
for people likely to be starting chemotherapy and more mental
health grounds for being admitted to the support group. But the
changes are overwhelmingly about pushing tens of thousands more people
onto JSA.
If all this sounds like a sick and rather belated April Fools joke to
you, we’re not surprised. But the proposals are genuine and have already
been officially agreed by Yvette Cooper, the Secretary of State
for Work and Pensions. They have not yet been passed into law, but given
that both Labour and the Conservatives seem intent on driving as many
people as possible off incapacity related benefits, they
are likely to be pursued by whichever party wins the election.
We know that many people will find this news deeply upsetting and
even frightening and we know that some people will condemn us for
publicising the planned changes or for the language that we are using to
do so. But we also believe that it’s not too late to stop these ugly
plans in their tracks if claimants and the organisations that represent
them act now.
With 1.5 million incapacity benefit claimants waiting to be assessed
using the work capability assessment in the next few years and tens of
thousands of people already on ESA and set to be reviewed annually,
these changes will be of great concern to many voters – if they find out
about them
before polling day.
So, please spread the word in forums and blogs and to people you know
who may be affected. Ask any disability charity you have a connection
with to speak out now, before election day, against these plans. You
might also want to contact local newspapers and radio to warn people
about the proposals.
And above all, contact not just your MP, but the other candidates in
your constituency, and let them know you will not be voting for anyone
who does not loudly condemn this shameful attack on sick and disabled
claimants.
These plans really are a potential seat loser, but only if enough people
know about them.
Benefits and Work
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 For
those of you who signed our petition asking the Prime Minister to
"provide high quality information after diagnosis of a condition like
Down's syndrome."
The Prime Minister's Office has responded to that petition and you can
view
it here:
http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page23040
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Boat for
wheelchair users launched on lake in Cornwall
 A
special boat which gives disabled people access to the water has been
launched on a lake in Cornwall.
The new Wheelyboat, on Stithians Lake, near Redruth, has cost £16,000 and
has a ramp allowing access for wheelchair users so they can go sailing.
The outboard motor-powered vessel is mainly aimed at anglers but can also
be used for trips.
It is the third in the county. The other two sail on Siblyback Lake and on
the River Fowey.
The Environment Agency has also been involved in the project.
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Amble for Arthritis 2010
In 2010 Arthritis Care South England
will be running a fundraising event called 'Amble for Arthritis'. The aim
of this event is for individuals or groups of people to obtain sponsorship
to do an amble for Arthritis Care. The amble can be as short or as long as
you like and is for all abilities, anyone can do it.
The money raised will be used to
support vital work within South England - our training workshops,
supporting our branches, campaigning on behalf of local people, and
providing the most up to date information about arthritis and living life
with arthritis.
We hope that you will
support us by doing an 'amble for arthritis' in your local area
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Deaf text
users urged to sign up for 999 trial
PEOPLE who are deaf, hard of hearing or
have speech difficulties are being urged to register for a UK-wide trial
that allows people to send SMS text messages from their mobile phone to
the 999 emergency services.
Guido Gybels, director of technology at the Royal National Institute for
Deaf People, said: “It means that caller ID and location information are
available to the emergency service in the same way as for voice calls from
a mobile.
“Access to 999 could literally be a matter of life and death, yet until
now many people who are deaf or hard of hearing have found themselves
unable to contact the emergency services while on the move.
“This pilot service therefore represents a major step forward and we hope
that as many people with hearing loss as possible will register and take
part. In doing so, they will help to make sure the best possible service
is developed.”
The service has already handled over 100 real emergency calls and recently
the number of registrations topped 4,000 – but RNID still need more people
to sign up to help them fully develop the service.
To register you must text the word ‘register’ to 999, then follow the
instructions.
Alternatively, you can register online
at
www.emergencysms.org.uk
The service is being supported by the
Government, emergency services, Ofcom, the telecommunications sector
(British Telecom, Cable and Wireless, Vodafone, Orange, O2, T-Mobile and
3) and RNID.
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