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Extracts
from Issue 23
Consultancy
Grant
A new grant has been launched to assist Norfolk based organisations
which are already established to expand and develop their services.
This scheme is a strand of NVS' current initiative to build the
capacity of local organisations and is funded by the European Social
Fund. More information from 01603 614474.
Dyslexia
drop-ins
The Waveney Valley Dyslexia Association now holds its regular
drop-in surgeries, open to all, on the first Saturday of each month
from 9.30 - 12.30 in Room 3 of the Norwich Building, City College
Norwich. Further information about the surgeries, dyslexia and the
WVDA from Karen Crawley on 01953 483057 or email KarenCrawley61@aol.com
Big
Tee Shirt
Big Tee Shirt have a wide range of clothing to suit people who
need clothes that are bigger than those available on the high street.
The range includes shirts, sweatshirts, t-shirts, boxer shorts,
tracksuits and trousers. Tel: 0115 989 0568 or visit www.bigteeshirt.co.uk
RAP
The Rural Advice Project (RAP) offers free, confidential advice
and information to all young people aged 11- 25 years in North Norfolk.
The advice workers are able to assist young people and their families
with issues relating to disability including benefits (DLA, housing
benefit etc) or education and employment needs.
They
also help families and young people to cope with disability through
a free and confidential counselling service run in conjunction with
"Off Centre" at the Mancroft Advice Project. The service is totally
flexible to individual needs and can offer day or evening appointments
Monday-Friday; arrange home visits or transport clients to a venue
of their choice.
RAP
is run by Harriot Ward (01692 501039/07974 962314) and Claire Honess
(07786 150842)
Office
space wanted urgently
Norwich Door to Door, the charity operating a Dial-A-Ride service
for people unable to access public transport is urgently seeking
new premises for its office base in Norwich.
Jill
Gaul has appealed for help as they have to leave their existing
office within the Vauxhall Centre. They are seeking approximately
400 square feet, which must be accessible. If you can help please
telephone 01603 466668.
Norwich
Door to Door was started 8 years ago by Vauxhall Centre members
as a self help service providing transport for people with mobility
difficulties. The charity has grown considerably since those early
days and now has over 600 people registered with the service and
a team of 7 part time staff and 10 volunteers.
The
buses can take people for shopping trips, to the doctor and other
health centre appointments, for visits to luncheon clubs and any
other daily living needs except hospital appointments.
Sharing
Good Practice
This free conference is to raise Basic Skills Awareness in the
voluntary and community sector. 7 million adults in the UK have
basic skills needs and the government has set a target to improve
literacy and numeracy skills.
In
Norfolk this will involve the Local Learning and Skills Council
and its partners in engaging, working with and assisting with their
basic skills needs, over 34,000 adults between 2001 and 2004.
The
conference aims to raise awareness within the sector of how a lack
of basic skills may affect not only clients buts also staff and
volunteers; and how organisations can be instrumental in addressing
those needs. Application forms from 01603 218855. Places must be
booked by 1st February 2002.
WordAloud
WordAloud is a computer program that assists individuals to
read independently, regardless of any kind of disability. It displays
words in large characters on the screen whilst a built-in speech
synthesiser speaks the words. Reading can be controlled via the
keyboard, joy stick, mouse or other point-and-click device. Demonstration
available at www.wordaloud.co.uk or information from 0845 458 3944.
PALS
in West Norfolk
West Norfolk Primary Care Trust is one of about 120 NHS Trusts
that has been successful in its bid to introduce a new Patient Advocacy
and Liaison Service (PALS). PALS will guide patients, family and
friends through the different services available within the Trust
and help patients sort out any concerns about their care.
Contact
PALS direct, or you may be able to get information and help from
your local surgery. PALS may be able to arrange independent advocacy.
Contact PALS, Downham Market Health Centre, Paradise Road, Downham
Market. Tel: 0800 5844132 or Email:
pals@westnorfolk-pct.nhs.uk
No.
10
The Number Ten Drop in at 10 George Street, Great Yarmouth offers
help, support and information to adults with mental health problems
and the chance for people to meet and befriend one another.
Members
are encouraged to use the drop-in to cater for their individual
needs and participate in activities which may be of use to them.
Snacks available plus full Sunday lunch. Opening hours: Wednesday
2.30-7.00pm; Friday 12 - 7.00pm; Saturday 11.00 - 4.00pm; Sunday
11.00 - 3.00pm. Tel: 01493 330977.
ADD/ADHD
The Riversdale Centre at Thetford is considering facilitating
the creation of an Attention Deficit Disorder support group for
Thetford/Breckland, as the nearest ones are at Gt. Yarmouth and
Norwich.
Would
anyone interested please contact Keith Roost at the Riversdale Centre
on 01842 764647. Learning Disability Helpline A grant from the Department
of Health with match-funding from Mencap has enabled the launch
of a Learning Disability Helpline.
Run
by Mencap, it will provide a 'one stop shop' information and advice
service on a wide range of issues - including benefits, support,
health, housing, education and employment. It will be available
on a freephone line from 10.00am - 4.00pm Mondays to Fridays, with
a round the clock answering service. Tel: 0808 808 1111.
Befriending
Build's Befriends project for people with learning disabilities
in the Norwich area is expanding its befriending scheme into North
Norfolk and will cover the North Walsham, Cromer and Sheringham
areas. More information from Build on 01603 618029.
LEGAL
ISSUES
Disability Discrimination Act The new Code of Practice on serving
disabled customers sets out service providers' current legal requirements
and informs them of new duties that will come in force in October
2004.
Since
October 1999 service providers have had a duty to make reasonable
adjustments to the way they provide services to the public. Under
the final phase of the rights in the DDA Part III from 1 October
2004, in addition to existing duties, a service provider may have
to remove, alter or avoid physical features that make access to
the service impossible or unreasonably difficult for a disabled
person.
Disability
Bill Lord Ashley of Stoke has introduced a Disability Discrimination
(Amendment) Bill into the House of Lords, which will be debated
on January 23rd when it gets its second reading.
The
Bill expands the definition of disability to include people with
HIV from the point of diagnosis and those with cancer from when
it is likely to require substantial treatment. It would give powers
to the Disability Rights Commission to enforce cases affecting disabled
people under the Human Rights Act; remove the exemptions for small
employers and particular occupations; extend the powers of tribunals;
and extend the DDA to Transport and public bodies.
Disability
Rights Commission
The DRC has helped in more than 2000 cases of discrimination in
its first year - 10 times more than expected. Mental Health Rights
A Court of Appeal decision has aided those fighting to reduce compulsory
powers to treat people with psychiatric conditions.
The
Court found that under the Human Rights Act, a 67 year old man could
only be forcibly injected with anti-psychotic drugs if his doctor
could prove such treatment was a medical necessity. Forcibly treating
him could be 'inhuman or degrading treatment' that violated the
European Convention on Human Rights. If the doctors want to inject
him again, they will have to argue their case in the High Court.
Personal
information
A new guide to inform people of their additional rights to access
personal information held on them by different organisations has
been published. Recent research found that 96% of individuals rate
their rights to personal privacy as important or very important
and consumers are concerned about their personal privacy. The guide
sets out clearly data protection rights and how to go about exercising
them.Visit
the website on
www.consumer councils. org.uk/pubs
Conciliation
service
The Disability Conciliation Service is an independent service funded
by the Disability Rights Commission, and operated by Mediation UK.
The service is for complaints under the provision of goods and services
under Part III of the DDA. It is available to any disabled person
who thinks he or she may have been discriminated against in relation
to the access to goods, facilities, services and premises provisions
in Part III.
The
claimant must meet the Act's definition of 'disabled', and the dispute
must relate to less favourable treatment of a disabled person or
failure to make reasonable adjustment to allow for access to the
service. It is free to both complainants and providers. Contact
the DRC Helpline on 08457 622633.
High
court ruling
A high court ruling says that a man will not be forced to sell his
house to pay for his father's nursing care. A Mr. Beeson gave his
house to his son when the son's marriage ended. The father continued
living at the property but after a fall two years later realised
he could no longer live independently.
He
applied to Dorset Council for funding to move to a home, but was
rejected on the grounds that by giving his son the house he had
"deprived himself of an asset with which he could have funded his
residential care placement". He challenged the decision and was
turned down under the council's internal complaints procedure and
by an independent panel. When the case went to court, its was argued
that when he gave the house to his son, it had never occurred to
him that he may need council funding.
The
Judge ruled that the council's complaints procedures failed under
the European Convention of Human Rights as Beeson had not been given
a hearing by an "independent and impartial tribunal". Dorset Council
has been ordered to pay costs.
Access
audits
Norfolk Deaf Association's Access Project has funding to carry
out access audits, install basic induction loops and provide Disability
Awareness Training free of charge to charities and voluntary organisations.
All trainers and auditors have been trained by NORDAT. Contact Liz
Nobbs or Louisa Young on 01603 404440.
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