Tag: disability

Kidz to Adultz Scotland – 15 September

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Edinburgh’s Highland Hall at the Royal Highland Centre is to host Kidz to Adultz Scotland – one of the largest, free Scottish events dedicated to children and young adults up to 25 years with disabilities and additional needs, their families and the professionals who work with them in Scotland.

Approximately 120,000 children and adults in Scotland are living with a learning disability, and over one million are living with a sensory impairment.

Over 80 exhibitors will assemble at Highland Hall on Thursday 15 September to offer advice, support and information on mobility, communication, equipment and technology, education, toys and learning aids, transport, beds and seating, service, funding, sports and leisure and much more.

Organised by registered charity Disabled Living and free to attend, the event will feature a host of educational and practical seminars accredited by The CPD Certification Service for parents, guardians, carers and professionals. Essential topics such as moving and handling, sleep issues, parental experiences, continence issues, legal advice and many others will be covered, with opportunities for parents and carers to ask questions during the day.

There will be representatives from local and national organisations including Caudwell Children, Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children, Theraplay, Munro Rehab and Fast Aid Medical and Mobility Products and more.

Edinburgh Leisure will provide taster tennis sessions for all age groups including wheelchair tennis, additional support needs (ASN) tennis and cardio tennis.

Carmel Hourigan, senior manager at Disabled Living says: ‘Kidz to Adultz Scotland is a valuable opportunity for children and young adults, as well as their families, carers and professionals to find out more about the products and services available to them.

“We’ve got some fantastic organisations from Edinburgh and from around Scotland exhibiting and a great line up of speakers so all attendees will leave having learned something new. Professionals can also boost their CPD portfolios and gain credits by attending one or more of the FREE seminars taking place alongside the exhibition.  Our ‘sports area’ will offer visitors a chance to try out a variety of tennis taster sessions throughout the day and all attendees will be entered into our free prize draw to win some fantastic prizes.”

Anna Myatt, Tennis development Officer from Edinburgh Leisure, says: “Summer 2016 has been named summer of sport with the Olympics, Paralympics and Wimbledon all taking place and following Andy Murray’s success at The Championships, we’re hoping to inspire more people to take up tennis and find out more about clubs and sessions in their local areas.”

All attendees will be entered into a free prize draw with prizes from Celtic Football Club and Rangers Football Club, The Edinburgh Dungeon, The Falkirk Wheel, The Royal Yacht Britannia and lots more.

Kidz to Adultz Scotland takes place in Highland Hall, Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, EH28 8NB, on Thursday 15 September from 9.30am to 4.30pm

For more information on the event and to book your free ticket, visit http://www.disabledliving.co.uk/Kidz/Scotland

Rotten to the core!

Disabled campaigners take action across Scotland

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Disabled campaigners will be protesting at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, a disability benefits centre in Glasgow and in City Square, Dundee tomorrow as part of a UK-wide day of action against disability benefit changes.

Protests will be held at many assessment centres run by Atos and Capita, the private companies who hold contracts with the Department for Work and Pensions to test disabled people’s eligibility for the Personal Independence Payment benefit.  Continue reading Rotten to the core!

Fare play to Spartans Connections!

Central Taxis to sponsor Spartans Connections

connections

Taxi for Spartans! Edinburgh’s Central Taxis are to sponsor local community club Spartans Connections. The Connections squad are delighted with the sponsorship deal and the new partnership is a great result for the Ainslie Park footballers.  Continue reading Fare play to Spartans Connections!

Making transport more accessible

and there’s still time to share your views on making it better

DisabledAccess

Over 140 people,  including many disabled people and their representatives, took the opportunity to have their say on making transport more accessible at a summit in Edinburgh yesterday.

The Transport Accessibility Summit, hosted by Transport Scotland, brought together interested parties, including local and central government, to discuss a range of key issues raised by disabled people.

The conference also enabled transport operators across different modes to hear the personal stories behind the issues and to share best practice.

Transport Minister Derek Mackay addressed the audience of over 60 disabled people, their support, disabled groups and transport providers to highlight the need to work together in partnership to make end to end journeys better.

He said: “Transport accessibility is important for everyone but disabled people face particular barriers. Statistics suggest that a non-disabled adult is 50 per cent more likely to make any kind of journey than a disabled adult – that is something we aim to address.

“By hosting this summit, our aim is to enable everyone involved to gain a better understanding of why so many disabled people are put off making journeys and how we can work together to make end to end journeys more accessible.

“Many of the people attending the summit support the statement – ‘nothing about us without us’ – and I will ensure that my Transport Scotland officials strive to make that happen, as well as commending this approach to transport providers in Scotland.

“Disabled people should enjoy the same rights, choice and opportunities to use travel as everyone else. I want a Scotland where disabled people know they can travel in comfort and safety and with the confidence of knowing they will be helped to complete that journey successfully and according to their needs. Today’s summit is a small but a positive step towards that vision.”

In the lead up to the summit Transport Scotland, together with Scottish Disability Equality Forum (SDEF) and other stakeholders, held a series of meetings which raised almost 50 issues for discussion including:

  • making journeys to and from stations much better, this includes train stations, bus stations and ferry terminals;
  • providing accessible toilet facilities like changing places toilets near transport hubs;
  • challenging hate crime on public transport and make sure disabled people know about any breakdowns or changes to travel.
  • offering other accessible transport or help to finish the journey;
  • talking to disabled people about how to change attitudes of staff.

Susan Grasekamp, Chief Executive of, SDEF said: “The high level of engagement and contribution which the early events enjoyed reinforces how vital accessible transport is to improve quality of life and independent living for disabled people in Scotland.

“The summit has been a great step towards gathering the right people around the table to effect real and positive change in accessible transport, taking into account the vast differences between rural and urban area transport issues in Scotland.

“SDEF and its members are delighted to have been part of these events and we are hopeful that the Accessible Transport Summit marks the beginning of a more collaborative, open and transparent process in the planning, design and implementation of future transport services.”

Keith Lynch, Chair of People First said: “Barriers to transport can be physical, due to inaccessible provision of information or because of the attitude and approach of society towards people with an intellectual impairment.

“People First welcome the opportunity to work with local authorities, transport providers, and other organisations to improve accessible information and also to raise public awareness of the impact and the seriousness of hate incidents and crime.”

Jenny Miller, Chief Executive PAMIS said: “We are delighted to be involved in this accessible transport summit – a real partnership venture working with Transport Scotland teams and with transport providers. We really hope that this is the beginning of a new way of working that will enable all people in Scotland to be able to access transport no matter what specific needs they have or where they live.

“People with profound and multiple learning disabilities are some of the most socially excluded people in Scotland, in order for people to travel and access the community there needs to be a network of accessible Changing Places toilets, including at transport hubs.

“Transport Scotland has supported this message with transport providers and PAMIS is already seeing the difference this is making with transport advisors contacting us to find out about how they can provide the right solution.

“We are excited to be involved in the summit and look forward to continued working partnerships as we all pledge to make Scotland’s transport accessible for all.”

People with an interest in accessible transport but who could not attend the summit can still have their say via the SDEF website – go to

http://your-say-on-disability.org.uk/survey/

A report of the summit and a plan of action will be produced later this year and will be taken forward in partnership with disabled people and transport providers.

Parents and people with disabilities hardest hit by welfare reforms

‘This latest evidence shows that some of those most in need of support, namely parents and disabled people are being hardest hit. For us to be in this situation in 21st century Scotland is unacceptable.’ – Michael McMahon MSP 

ChildPoverty

Parents and people with disabilities are being hit hardest by the UK Government’s programme of welfare reform according to new research commissioned by the Scottish Parliament’s Welfare Reform Committee.

The report, published yesterday, represents the first time the impact of the UK Government’s welfare reform agenda on different household types in Scotland has been quantified.

The research for the Committee was conducted by Professors Christina Beatty and Steve Fothergill of the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University.

The new evidence shows that in Scotland, it is estimated that couples with dependent children will lose an average of more than £1,400 a year, and lone parents with dependent children stand to lose an average of around £1,800 a year from their income stream. 

In all, families with children will lose an estimated £960m a year – approaching two-thirds of the overall financial loss in Scotland.

Disabled claimants and those with health problems have also been shown to be disproportionately affected. Reductions in incapacity benefits are estimated to average £2,000 a year, and some of the same people also face big losses in Disability Living Allowance and reductions in other benefits.

Committee Convener Michael McMahon MSP said: “The Welfare Reform Committee has amassed a growing volume of evidence documenting the impact of the welfare reform agenda on Scotland’s communities. This latest evidence shows that some of those most in need of support, namely parents and disabled people are being hardest hit. For us to be in this situation in 21st century Scotland is unacceptable.”

The report also shows that almost half the reduction in benefits might be expected to fall on in-work households. 

Deputy Convener, Clare Adamson MSP said: “The Scottish Government is to be commended for introducing measures to alleviate some of the worst effects of the welfare reform agenda. New powers over a range of benefits are due to be given to Holyrood in the coming years and this research will help direct those new powers to help those most in need of support.”

Until now, there has been no way to assess the impact across the various benefits on different types of households. Because of the cumulative impact of people being affected by several different benefit streams, the overall impact of welfare reforms has been hidden.

The statistics are expected to become an essential tool for government and local authorities in shaping targeted responses and service delivery.

The research follows two previous reports which measured the financial impact of welfare reform on Scotland as a whole and by local authority area, and the impact down to ward level.

The Committee expects to hear oral evidence on this report at its meeting on 10 March. 

Professor Steve Fothergill, of the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “The figures demonstrate that the welfare reforms impact very unevenly.  The very big impact on families with children, in particular, has previously been under the radar because it is the cumulative result of several individual reforms. Coalition ministers have argued that “we’re all in it together”.  The impacts of welfare reform, documented in our report, show this is far from being the case.”

PIPPed off!

Disability benefit delays: Mark Lazarowicz MP attacks Government for letting down the most vulnerable

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Mark Lazarowicz MP has attacked the Government for long delays in assessing benefits claims. The North and Leith MP was speaking during n a debate at Westminster on the introduction of the new disability benefit, the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

The Personal Independence Payment is being rolled out across the UK in stages to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and reassessments of certain categories of DLA claimants in Edinburgh began in January 2014.

The Government’s own target for completion of assessments is 16 weeks, but Mr Lazarowicz says there are long delays in even assessing claimants – a six month wait is typical and in some cases constituents the wait has been even longer.

Mark Lazarowicz said: “Claimants even with extremely serious conditions such as cancer are typically waiting at least 6 months just to be assessed and I have had constituents contact me who have waited as long as EIGHTEEN MONTHS.

“That means that people may struggle to afford the travel costs of hospital visits or be forced to sell their home as they face extreme hardship: I want to see the Government offer financial help to people in difficulty due to delays.

“And when PIP is awarded at a higher rate than previously paid under DLA, the increased payments are only backdated for a maximum of 28 days, even if the application had been submitted many months before. It is an outrage that people lose out on payments due to them simply because of delay caused by the government”.

“At the very least claims from anyone with a terminal condition must be fast tracked (even if their life expectancy is longer than six months where applications are currently fast tracked).

“Nobody trying to cope with a serious illness or disability should have to face additional worry of how to cope financially because of Government incompetence.”

Mark Lazarowicz’ speech in the debate can be found here.

Lazarowicz supports accessible transport plan

‘disabled people must have a say in how the service is designed’ – Mark Lazarowicz MP

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Mark Lazarowicz MP has responded enthusiastically to a report by the Scottish Accessible Transport Alliance (SATA) on the way ahead to make transport more accessible for disabled people. 

The Scottish Accessible Transport Alliance (SATA’s) Accessible Transport Strategy and Action Plan for Scotland is the first and most comprehensive such strategy and plan for Scotland. It covers the period 2015 to 2020 and includes all transport modes and services, the transport environment, information provision and staff training. It addresses the need to consult and involve disabled people at all levels and all stages in reviewing what is lacking and what should be done (see link to full document, below).

It’s an issue the North and Leith MP has campaigned actively on, and he said: “I warmly welcome this report which aims to make transport accessible for everyone: accessible transport must be at the heart of any new public transport development and disabled people must have a real say in how it is designed.

“Accessible transport benefits everyone: tackling problem parking which forces people out into the street to get by, audio-visual announcements on buses, access at Waverley station are all issues I have campaigned on which especially affect disabled people, but not just them.

“Making transport more accessible for disabled people is a key way to enable them to lead more independent lives but it can improve everyone else’s quality of life too.”

Mark Lazarowicz campaigned strongly against the current UK Government’s decision to axe its own advisory body on accessible transport and it was forced into a u-turn.

Last summer he introduced a Bill to devolve the power to tackle irresponsible parking, working closely with the voluntary organisations, Guide Dogs and Living Streets. It forced the Government to consult with all the interested parties and make a commitment to make the change by Executive Order.

He has also highlighted that more work needs to be done to make Waverley station properly accessible for disabled people after its closure to vehicles but there is also a problem for pedestrians and cyclists as well who have to share the pedestrian footway from Waverley Bridge.

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Accessible Transport Strategy Action Plan Scotland

Five broad principles are adopted in SATA’s strategy:

  • Working in partnership with public, private, community and statutory transport providers to improve transport services, making them easier to use and understand so that people’s confidence about using them is increased;
  • Being proactive in our efforts to identify and remove barriers that prevent people with disabilities accessing the transport system and to ensure that further barriers are not created;
  • Implementing best practice by making sure that we keep up-to-date with best practice and reflect this when developing policies and implementation plans;
  • Good consultation, working openly and in partnership with people who provide transport services and facilities and those who use them. Strive to maintain good communication with people with disabilities to listen to their views and exchange information;
  • Value for money in targeting available resources towards initiatives that are affordable, sustainable and that maximise the benefits for people with disabilities.

The Plan sets out seven strategic objectives:

  1. Ensure that disabled people have an effective say in the planning, design and operation of transport services, facilities and operations.

  2. Ensure that the Equality Act requirements are met and affordable adjustments are made so that accessibility for disabled people is a condition of public money being spent on all new public transport investment;

  3. Develop an integrated and fully accessible public transport system in partnership with key stakeholders which will enable disabled people to travel in safety and in comfort and be able to move easily between modes;

  4. Enable disabled people to travel using cars and other means of private transport;

  5. Address a lack of awareness and understanding that prevents or discourages disabled people from using transport services and facilities that are available to them;

  6. Ensure that information in a range of formats is available for all public transport services to enable disabled people to plan and make these journeys easily; and

  7. Provide help with travel costs and offer practical assistance to enable disabled people to use the transport services available to them.

Consultation on the strategy and plan closed on Friday (16 January).

You can find the North & Leith MP’s formal response here

Citizens Advice Scotland calls for halt to benefit changes

Hardest-Hit-march-007

Citizens Advice Scotland’s Chief Executive Margaret Lynch has written to the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Work and Pensions calling for a halt to the introduction of the new Personal Independence Payments (PIP) to claimants in Scotland, as PIP is a benefit that will be devolved to the Scottish Government.

Speaking days before the draft legislation based on Smith Commission is due to be published, Margaret Lynch said: “PIP is the replacement benefit for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and is an area that will be devolved to the Scottish Government following the Smith Commission recommendations. However it will take to October 2017 to be fully rolled out to all DLA claimants – and that is if there are no further delays to its introduction.

“As we know that the Scottish Government will be developing and introducing its own PIP equivalent, we don’t want to see disabled claimants having to go through changes in their payments, how they are paid, and how much they are paid, twice in a short period of time. I think this will be of major detriment to claimants and is unnecessary and possibly very distressing. In addition it seems a waste of resources to pay for the assessments of tens of thousands of disabled people to transfer them onto a system that they will not be staying on.

“Therefore I’m calling on the DWP to halt the migration of all existing DLA claimants to PIP and I hope this will be backed by the Scotland Office and the Scottish Government.

“CAS has already detailed the massive delays that new claimants are seeing in getting a PIP assessment and then having a decision made. Whilst these delays continue, sick and disabled clients are facing severe hardship, unable to meet the costs of living, and getting into debt.

“The DWP should concentrate on getting the process right for these new claimants and let current DLA claimants stay on their current award until such times as new Scottish system is in place.

“I had very much hoped that issues like these, and the halt to Universal Credit that has also been called for, could be raised and discussed with relevant stakeholders before draft legislation is published but it has been a disappointing process. The very short time scales we have been hampered by has led to a short sightedness of being able to look at all the complex and inter-related issues that need discussed and debated.

“This is not the first time I’ve pointed to process and timescales hampering the need for full and frank discussion and debate. This has to be taken seriously. All parties and stakeholders must have time and forums to bring out issues such as these and look for a way forward. The migration of DLA claimants to PIP is just one example of an area we would like to influence on behalf of the 330,000 clients we deal with every year.

“Whilst I recognise that the Scotland Office has tried to bring people together, it’s clear that we need to have all UK government departments playing their part in the processes that are required following the Smith Commission.”

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However the Department for Work and Pensions says a delay in implementing PIP north of the border would ‘disadvantage’ disabled people in Scotland.

A DWP spokesman said: “Under the Personal Independence Payment, claimants receive a face-to-face assessment and regular reviews to ensure support is directed according to need.

“Latest figures show just that, with over 22% of people getting the highest level of support under PIP, compared to 16% under the outgoing DLA system. To halt this progress now would be to disadvantage disabled people across Scotland.”