PAT Guestbook & Noticeboard
Important NEW announcements, lots of messages and even jobs get posted here every day; the previous postings are a huge information resource for everything going on right now! Simply use the scroll bar on the guestbook window to scroll down. You can get all new messages automatically sent to you so that you can read them in your own browser; just click on the RSS feed button in the top right corner of the guestbook window to start the 'feedburner.' PLEASE feel free to sign our guestbook and to say hello! If you are a new PAT parent on this site then we would like to make YOU specially welcome!
Please add a comment to the PAT guestbook
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Dear Larry
EDCM knows that many families with disabled children live in poverty. Poverty wastes the talents and denies the aspirations of far too many disabled children and their families. As part of the Campaign to End Child Poverty (ECP), we want the government to keep the promise of a generation - to end child poverty by 2020 and halve it by 2010.
On Saturday 4th October 2008, ECP are holding the UK's biggest ever child poverty event, taking place in Trafalgar Square as part of the Keep the Promise campaign. We are urging all our supporters to show your support for End Child Poverty by signing up to the Keep the Promise campaign and by joining the thousands of others at the Keep the Promise event on 4th October. For more information and to sign up to Keep the Promise campaign please go to http://www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/promise
The Government has made the promise of a generation - to end child poverty. With your support we can make this happen. As always please do get in touch with any questions
All best wishes,
Pamela Shaw
Campaigns Assistant
Every Disabled Child Matters
National Children's Bureau
8 Wakley Street
London EC1V 7QE
More from EDCM
News story: Government urged to Keep the Promise
http://www.edcm.org.uk/Page.asp?originx_6070ng_51197745667637d17d_2006972153f
News story: Parliamentary meeting highlights success of AHDC programme
http://www.edcm.org.uk/Page.asp?originx_3658kz_20967607321619a64r_200857289v
News story: Mencap make disabled children matter in London
http://www.edcm.org.uk/Page.asp?originx_9163cj_22393906128448w72u_2008575227g
(Posted on 2008-05-08 19:37:00 by ) -
Social Enterprise! What are YOU doing?
Hi there
What about something on people with a learning disability being involved social enterprise? there are lots of good examples around where people have moved on from going to day centres to having some meaningful occupation that doesn't need to be paid work. You could try:-
Piccadilly gardens, Lancaster 01524 381513
Furniture matters (which includes pedal power) Lancaster 01524 426622
Pure Innovations, (which have cafes and a radio station) Stockport 0161 474 5900
Prosperity recycling, Accrington 01254 230123
SAMS (Scrap Art Metal Store), Blackburn 01254 505055
There are loads more too but this is a good start.
Thanks,
Samantha
Email: samantha.leonard@blackburn.gov.uk
(Posted on 2008-05-08 19:03:00 by ) -
Hello from www.lookupinfo.org .
We would like to announce the launch of our new forum, which is now live and online. This is an extension to the information service we offer via the website and helpline. We'd like to help people to help one another and share views on eye care and visual impairment in adults with learning disabilities. Our email forum is in 3 sections:-
1. News and information - an opportunity to post information regarding new resources, events, courses and jobs for people with learning disabilities, their carers and professional supporters.
2. Ask Look Up - please ask our experts and others if you have a problem regarding eye care and sight loss for adults with learning disabilities.
3. Discussion groups - opportunity to debate about all issues relating to eye care and visual impairment in adults with learning disabilities.
Anybody who visits the site will be able to read all current posts and threads, and to pose questions and contribute to debate will need to register at the site. The site is moderated and managed by the same people who run this email forum. To visit the forum go to :
http://forum.lookupinfo.org/ and to register and enter the debate go here:
http://forum.lookupinfo.org/register.php
We really look forward to seeing you all,
Thank you - Leigh Harris Project Lead - Pan London
Seeability Eye2Eye London 0208 555 8622 0780 9658106
www.seeability.org
www.lookupinfo.org
(Posted on 2008-05-08 19:00:00 by ) -
Dear Forum Members,
If you work with parents in any capacity, we need your help. The parenting strategy is now being updated/completed. The consultant invited to undertake this task, Julia Stoddard, has offered to meet with all relevant individuals to discuss elements of the existing strategy and to inform the development of the complete document. Two dates have been arranged and Parenting 2000 has offered their facilities for each:
Monday 12th May 3pm at Parenting 2000, Litherland (Alexandra Mount)
Tuesday 13th May 3pm at Parenting 2000, Southport (The Lodge, Mornington Road)
Should you be able to attend at such short notice, please email Anne Burman at anneburman@parenting2000.org.uk. In the event that you are unable to attend this will now be included on the agenda for the next Every Child Matters Forum meeting, 21st May, 10 â 12 pm at SING plus, Seaforth, where you will be given the opportunity to express your views.
Many thanks,
Clare Lawson
(Posted on 2008-05-08 18:55:00 by ) -
Annual Mentoring and Befriending Conference 2008: A force for social cohesion and inclusion
Join over 300 mentoring and befriending stakeholders and practitioners at the annual mentoring and befriending national conference. This event gives you the opportunity to learn and network with the community and is specifically designed to tackle current issues. It is being held on 22 May 2008 at Hilton Deansgate in Manchester.
Conference highlights include a panel discussion - Turning policy into practice, 30 interactive workshops relating to policy, research and strategy; commissioning, partnerships and funding; programme development and management. Book your place by completing the booking form online (click on this message to go there now) or calling on 0161 787 8600.
(Posted on 2008-05-08 18:49:00 by ) -
FREE Seminar - Wednesday 18th June 2008
The Together Trust Conference Centre Cheadle, Cheshire
Free policy seminar on 'Post 16 education and disabled young people', for professionals working with and for disabled young people in transition to adulthood.
Wednesday 18th June 2008 The Together Trust Conference Centre Cheadle, Cheshire 10.45am to 3pm.
The seminar includes speakers from the Learning and Skills Council, Bridge College, and Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities. Further speakers to be confirmed. For further information, please contact Victoria Wright on vwright@ncb.org.uk
(Posted on 2008-05-08 18:18:00 by ) -
Oh yes....We all want Polyclinics! Government want to bamboozle us again!
The NHS will today claim public support for a radical plan from Lord Darzi, the health minister, to amalgamate GP surgeries into "polyclinics", each offering a range of services to about 50,000 patients. The proposal - regarded by ministers as potentially the most radical reform of health services since 1948 - was designed to halve the number of patients needing hospital care by providing most routine treatment and diagnostic tests in super-surgeries run by teams of about 20 GPs.
Extract from The Guardian, 06/05/2008. Source and full article at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/may/06/nhs.health
Other links of interest
'Our NHS, our future' website http://www.ournhs.nhs.uk/
Our NHS our future: NHS next stage review - interim report summary http://snipurl.com/27gcy
(Posted on 2008-05-08 18:12:00 by ) -
Access IT awards 2008 - Your Personal Invitation
Dear Colleague,
e-ISOTIS and AbilityNet are delighted to personally invite you to attend the first ever Access IT awards ceremony at Microsoft Victoria in London on July 18 beginning at 13.00. This ceremony is a unique event, as it is the first of its kind to be hosted in the UK focussed entirely upon Technologies and people with a disability, these awards will provide a springboard for exciting new developments in 2009.
These awards will celebrate significant contributions in the field of accessible IT for people with a disability against the benchmarks produced by the EC funded e-Abilities project. These awards are being jointly organised by e-ISOTIS (Greece) and AbilityNet (UK), and is being hosted by Microsoft UK. We are delighted to announce that the European Project e-Abilities (www.eabilities-eu.org) have agreed to be the âPlatinumâ sponsor for the 2008 awards. Key speakers at the event will include;
Matt Lambert â Director of Corporate Affairs, Microsoft, UK and Francesca Martinez, the award winning comedienne and actress will be offering the keynote address. Further speakers to be confirmed in the near future. Further details of the awards can be found at www.access-it-awards.org. This event is by invitation only and places are strictly limited â please confirm your place by email to access-it-awards@e-isotis.org.
David Banes - Director of Development:AbilityNet
(Posted on 2008-05-08 17:39:00 by ) -
CSCI Quality Assurance Website
At last a really useful resource that works. I simply put in my postcode, specified the care services I wanted and limited the search to 3 stars. I got two pages of names and addresses to follow up complete with telephone numbers. I would rate this resource as excellent. Service users and their carers and advocates now have an objective tool for choosing a service provider.
Click on this message to go there and try it out for yourself.
http://www.csci.org.uk/registeredservicesdirectory/rsquicksearch.asp
(Posted on 2008-05-08 17:17:00 by ) -
Now it's offical - It's all my fault! My children knew this about me anyway.
Parents of autistic children are twice as likely to have had psychiatric illness, researchers have discovered. Doctors studied patient records for more than 30,000 children and found that rates of autism rose substantially if parents had suffered schizophrenia, depression or a range of other personality and psychiatric disorders.
A child's risk of autism was 70% greater if one parent was diagnosed with a mental illness, and twice as high as average if both parents had psychiatric disorders, according to a report in the Pediatrics journal. The finding suggests autism and psychiatric problems may sometimes have a common cause and genetic link.
Extract from The Guardian, 06/05/2008 - Source and full article at http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/may/06/medicalresearch.genetics
(Posted on 2008-05-08 17:09:00 by ) -
What About Us - Conference free for all delegates
30th June 2008 11am - 3pm Church House, Westminster
A Conference for family carers of adults with learning disabilities. Hosted by Advance, Hilt & Work in Progress
Conference Flyer and Booking Form http://www.choiceforum.org/familycarers.pdf
(Posted on 2008-05-08 17:02:00 by ) -
Gifted and Talented
Some of our disabled children are also academically gifted or talented, and it may be more difficult for disabled children to receive the support necessary to achieve their full potential.
The 1 day Lancashire able and talented event is taking place in Chorley on Friday 16th May. lt is open to "all those who are concerned to improve learning and teaching opportunities for more able children."
You can find out more at www.learningexcellence.net
(Posted on 2008-05-04 12:35:00 by ) -
Parents with Learning Disabilities: Rights Report from Baring Foundation
An increasing number of adults with learning difficulties are becoming parents. In about
50% of cases their children are removed from them, usually as a result of concerns for
their well-being and/or an absence of appropriate support. This study set out to map the
issues confronting parents and professionals in this area, along with strategies for
positive practice in providing parents with learning difficulties and their children with
âthe right supportâ to stay together as a family. There are no precise figures on the number of parents with learning difficulties in the population. The most recent statistics come from the first national survey of adults with learning difficulties in England, where one in 15 of the adults interviewed had children (Emerson et al, 2005). Whatever the figure, it is generally acknowledged that their number is steadily rising and that they ârepresent a sizeable population whose special needs have so far not been adequately addressed by the health and social servicesâ (Booth, 2000). Click on this message to download report now!
(Posted on 2008-05-03 22:16:00 by ) -
April 2008 Report on PAT Parent Solidarity Available Now!
Click on the PAT Solidarity page on this website to download the latest report on the PAT parent solidarity funding for families in the developing world. PAT parents sent Kiva Christmas gift certificates instead of cards and presents. The money has been invested with 'microfinance' organisations to support families in developing countries.
(Posted on 2008-05-03 21:34:00 by ) -
The Education Bulletin - FREE Download
I am absolutely delighted to announce the launch of my new not-for-profit education and special educational needs magazine, The Education Bulletin. As a parent of a child with disabilities, I have strived for many years to launch a magazine of this kind. The magazine is free to download, by clicking http://www.educationbulletin.co.uk/bulletin040408.pdf. I would be very grateful if you could forward this to all of your members and i would be delighted to receive any feedback as well as any stories that may be used in our next publication, launched on June 20th 2008. Any feedback or comments can be left by filling out the form at http://www.educationbulletin.co.uk/contact.php
Yours sincerely,
Diane Clarke - The Education Bulletin
(Posted on 2008-05-02 23:20:00 by ) -
CIEH LEVEL 2 AWARD IN HEALTH & SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE - TUESDAY 20TH MAY 2008
Places available on the above course, which will take place at Orleans House, Edmund Street, Liverpool, L3 9NG and commence at 9.00am with a 4.30pm finish. If you would like a place on this course please contact: Claire Bridson, Programme Support Officer / PA to the Executive Director on 0151 236 6608. Website: www.healthatworkcentre.org.uk
(Posted on 2008-05-02 23:14:00 by ) -
Learning Disabilities and Abuse - Learning the lessons from inquiries
Date: Friday 6 June 2008
Venue: Marino Institute of Education, Dublin, Ireland
Concerns about the care provided for people with learning disabilities have increased sharply following recent reports in the media. This conference examines the factors that can create situations in which people with learning disabilities are abused, whether in service settings, in their families or in public places and communities. The conference will provide a clear framework for defining abuse and understanding the different combination of neglect, cruelty and indifference that lie behind the statistics. It will also present findings of some recent serious case reviews in the UK so delegates can see how these situations have arisen and been allowed to persist and consider what they teach us about prevention and response. Speakers at the event include: Hilary Brown Professor of Social Care, Canterbury Christ Church University; Margaret Flynn Senior Lecturer in Mental Health and Learning disabilities, University of Sheffield; Dr Anne Good Senior Research Officer, National Disability Authority. The conference aims to address some serious questions. Aims of the conference:
What is meant by abuse and is it a helpful term?
Does it make sense to think about 'types' of abuse?
In what relationships and settings does abuse take place?
What should be done to prevent abuse?
How can lessons be learned in an Irish context?
The conference will be particularly helpful to people working to develop policies and practice that safeguard the rights of people with learning disabilities and protect them from abuse. For further information please see: http://www.pavpub.com/pavpub/conferences/showfull.asp?Conference=692
Alternatively try: http://tinyurl.com/4fkpgw
(Posted on 2008-05-02 23:10:00 by ) -
Person Centred Planning âYoung Loveâ
Skills for People have made a DVD called âYoung Loveâ which may help Person Centred Planning, email: info@skillsforpeople.org.uk
Tim Keilty
Person Centred Planning Co-ordinator Newcastle - Tel 0191 2818737
(Posted on 2008-05-02 23:00:00 by ) -
ARC Conference: 18-20 November 2008 in Southport, Lancashire.
The ARC Conference will be held this year on 18-20 November 2008 in Southport, Lancashire. The theme is 'Voyage of Discovery' and we are currently calling for workshop proposals. For full details and to download a proposal form please go to the ARC website: or contact Janet Fairley on 01246 251979.
Have you been involved with, or have heard of, any new and innovative practices in the learning disability sector? We are particularly interested to attract workshops on initiatives that give people who have a learning disability the following:
More choice and control
Better acces to good health and health care
More involvement in planning where they live
Opportunities for fulfilling days
Access to paid work
With thanks,
Maggie Udell - Information Officer, ARC
(Posted on 2008-05-02 22:57:00 by ) -
New Social Arena for Carers and Care Sector Workers
A new website and forum has been developed for Carers, whose domestic
situation can often be isolating and those who work in the Care Sector
for whom unsociable hours and stressful situations may well affect their
social life. By sharing experiences with others who understand, we hope
to lighten the load and have some fun, an ingredient often missing when
undertaking a caring role.
We would be very grateful if you could advise your staff and carers of
our new website, and if possible even display our details on your notice
board. Full Membership of our site which includes access to the forums, live
online chat, and private messaging is FREE.
For the website see: www.carersconnect.com
For the forums see: www.carersconnect.com/community
To Register Free right now: www.carersconnect.com/community/index.php?action=register
Kind regards,
Kevin Hannan - Site Administrator: kevin@carersconnect.com
Lynne Heath - Site Owner: lynne@carersconnect.com
(Posted on 2008-05-02 08:41:00 by ) -
'TALKING ABOUT MONEY'
Dear Colleagues,
We would like to introduce you to our 'TALKING ABOUT MONEY' project. This is the development of a training programme for people with a learning disability and their supporters. This is a development from the 'My Money Matters' and 'Managing My Money' training research and resources that ARC have previously developed. This new training programme has been written and is being piloted by some of the people who have worked with the 'Managing My Money' development. It is anticipated that the pilots and any re drafts will be completed in June. We are now setting up initial 'Talking About Money-Train the Trainer' events in July for all interested parties, both events to be held at ARC office, in Chesterfield. The dates are:
Wednesday 16th July; or
Tuesday 22nd July.
The idea of each day is to give you an introduction to the 'Talking About Money' training programme. The 'Talking About Money' programme is designed to be delivered to individuals with a learning disability and their supporters. the Train the trainer the day will introduce you to the 'Talking About Money' project, the training and offer additional information and advice about delivering this programme. On completion of the one day course trainers will then be equipped to deliver the 'Talking About Money' training to individuals with a learning disability and their supporters in their organisation. We will give each person attending a FREE COPY of the 'Talking About Money' training materials in return we ask for an agreement that you will deliver this training at least once within your organisation and send the evaluations from the training to us, plus a small contribution to the cost of the day (£15.00 per person). Part of our project also includes delivering 'Talking About Money' training across all 9 English regions and in Scotland and Wales in the Autumn. If you or your staff would like to attend either of these events then please send you completed form with payment to, Shirley Potter, at the ARC address below. On receipt of the forms , I will send out a confirmation letter, maps and outline of the day, (Click on this message to get a booking form and a copy of our cancellation policy for your information) or copy and paste this link into your browser http://www.choiceforum.org/tambkg.doc
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours , Shirley Potter
Training and Development Officer ARC
Marsden Street
Chesterfield S40 1JY
Telephone: 01246 555043 - Fax: 01246 555045
Email: shirley.potter@arcuk.org.uk
(Posted on 2008-05-01 11:47:00 by ) -
Vacancy: PMLD Service Manager - Place: Beech Spinney (Ironbridge)
Salary: £28K - £32K Depending on Experience Plus Attractive Benefits
CARE is seeking an individual who can draw together all facets of this cutting edge PMLD provision delivering quality, person centred services for people with profound and complex needs. Beech Spinney (Ironbridge) comprises three PMLD Services on one site. They are a registered residential home supporting 5 people, a 2 bedded respite service and a day services provision.
The PMLD Service Manager will be responsible for managing; the staff team who deliver these services, the maintenance of the quality and standard of service provision CARE supplies, the partnership relationships with the multi-disciplinary agencies, commissioners, the families and carers of the individuals we support. The ideal professional candidate will have a minimum of 2 years experience in PMLD service provision at a management level and an appropriate qualification e.g.: a Registered Nursing qualification, Dip. SW / CQSW or equivalent.
CARE is committed to providing person-centred support and ordinary life opportunities for all the individuals we serve. If you share those values, we want to hear from you. For an application pack please contact: HR Department, CARE Central Office, 9 Weir Road, Kibworth, Leicester, LE8 0LQ, Telephone: 0116 2793225. Closing Date for applications: 23rd May 2008.
(Posted on 2008-05-01 11:35:00 by ) -
Brokerage: Come and find out how Self Directed Support is working now
30th April 2008 -10.00am - 4.00pm
Harris Conference Centre, Garstang Road, Fulwood, Preston.
The venue is fully accessible with disabled parking places at the rear of the venue.
Cost: £70+VAT - Large Organisations & Local Authorities. £50+VAT - Registered Charities, Individuals & Carers. FREE places for a limited number of families/individuals - Book Now!
Catherine Titherington
Step by Step Living Network,
c/o Voice Marketing,
60 Westhead Rd, Croston, PR26 9RS
Tel: 01254 306850
Email: believe@livingnetwork.org.uk
(Posted on 2008-04-26 18:58:00 by ) -
Community Power Pack launched
Involve is proud to announce the launch of the 'Community Power Pack'; a document that Involve has developed for Communities and Local Government (CLG). The Community Power Pack has been created to help local groups to organise and facilitate discussions on the topic of empowerment. The pack contains suggestions for the format of the meeting, advice for facilitators and organisers as well as detailed information about key empowerment issues. Your feedback will be used by Communities and Local Government to inform and shape empowerment activities, including the Empowerment White Paper.
The 'Community Power Pack' contains all the information you need to run a participative event on Empowerment. It follows Communities Secretary Hazel Blearsâ announcement of a new Empowerment White Paper. It is aimed at groups who wouldn't normally take part to let their views and experiences be known; and as a result the pack has been made as practical and easy to use as possible. For more information please visit the CLG website. Alternatively please email unlockingTalent@communities.gsi.gov.uk for more information.
Involve will be updating the pack based on user feedback and we welcome any thoughts you might have on it. Please send your practical thoughts and ideas on the pack to edward@involve.org.uk.
(Posted on 2008-04-26 02:51:00 by ) -
Centre for Public Scrutiny Conference
Public Accountability and Empowerment â A New Era for Scrutiny will be the largest conference this year dedicated to issues of scrutiny and public accountability.
As part of the Centre for Public Scrutinyâs ongoing support for the implementation of LINks in partnership with NHS Centre for Involvement, specific workshops will be run for people interested in LINks. To further support this audience, the CfPS is providing a free place to one LINks member every time a LINks Host books a place.
The two workshops for people interested in LINks are:
⢠Building Relationships for Locally Accountable Health and Social Care
⢠Strategic Commissioning and Holding Commissioners to Account
For more information visit: www.cfps.org.uk/conference; or to download a flyer for this conference click on this message.
(Posted on 2008-04-26 02:47:00 by ) -
Into the Unknown, a new report from Leonard Cheshire Disability, looks at what it's like to be disabled, leave the house and go somewhere by bus, train, taxi or underground. Poor accessibility and negative attitudes still discourage many disabled people from using public transport for even the simplest journeys. Many disabled people find it difficult to get a job - it shouldn't be just as hard to get to a place of work. All providers of public transport can do three things to help remove these barriers:
Involve people with a range of disabilities and requirements in all changes to design, policies, practices and service provision.
Ensure that all staff undergo robust disability equality training, led by disabled people, as part of their induction and ongoing development.
Advise and inform disabled people of improvements to public transport services so that they're more likely to use them.
Lee Webster, Senior Campaigns Officer at Leonard Cheshire Disability said:
"Disabled people experience high levels of poverty in many areas of life, from their finances and social life, to opportunities for education or work. Disabled people should benefit from the journeys that most of us take for granted. Transport providers are making improvements under the Disability Discrimination Act but they still need to go the extra mile to make a serious improvement."
Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Part 3 requires that providers make 'reasonable adjustments' to endure that their service is accessible. For stations and transport infrastructure this includes making adjustments to the physical features of the facilities, as well as adjustments to the way in which the service is delivered. For transport vehicles it generally means adjustments to the way in which the service is provided.
Part 5 sets out accessibility guidelines that newly built transport vehicles need to meet. This has been in force for longer than Part 3 and so trains and buses are on a longer term timetable for accessibility. All trains in the UK will have to be fully compliant .
(Posted on 2008-04-24 18:36:00 by ) -
The Big Hope World Congress 4-11th June 2008
âConsidering personal integrity and public life, developing a more humane global society and the role of individualsâ
This is an invitation for you and your own colleagues to take part in The Big Hope, which is Liverpool Hope Universityâs contribution to the Capital of Culture. They, and you, can do so in two ways:
By being delegates to the main learning strands;
By attending individual events.
The Big Hope includes Keynote Lectures; Discussion Forums; the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at the Cathedrals; and the The Big Hope Big Concert, with Gerry and the Pacemakers and Joanna MacGregor, at the Philharmonic Hall.
There are no charges for attending any of the educational strands, lectures, discussions, or forums; each of which will provide excellent opportunities to meet, engage, and share learning with delegates from all over the world.
Whilst all events are free of charge, tickets and advance registration are required, and the attached leaflets give details of all the events and lectures, and the dates and times that they take place. Also, a visit to the website is recommended, at bighope@hope.ac.uk.
Do feel free to circulate this invitation as widely as you wish, but please do not contact me for bookings or further information: You can obtain these by directly contacting Bill Chambers, Director, The Big Hope www.hope.ac.uk/thebighope Tel: 0151 291 2008. I hope to see you at The Big Hope.
Regards and Best Wishes,
Ken Pye - Senior Programme Director
Common Purpose
(Posted on 2008-04-24 12:53:00 by ) -
*Breakthrough Judgement for Parents! - Legal ruling on direct payments from the NHS*
Sunderland Primary Care Trust has agreed, following a Judicial Review, to make payments directly to the parents of a severely disabled adult for the care they provide to her, and which she refuses to receive from paid care workers.
As a NHS Continuing Healthcare patient, the responsibility for funding and arranging the daughterâs care falls on the NHS, rather than the local social services department who would have been able to make direct payments to the parents as her refusal to receive care from anyone but her parents would constitute the âexceptional circumstancesâ required in order to allow direct payments to be made to close, co-resident family members. Direct Payments do not apply to PCTs. Although NHS law is theoretically wide enough to allow for equivalent payments, the PCT argued that it would be 'unlawful' to make them and to do so would open the floodgates.
The judge accepted the familyâs argument that there was no legal bar to the PCT making such payments and no reason to justify different treatment of those who are the responsibility of social services, and the health service. Payments of over £35,000 per annunm, and the familyâs legal costs will now be paid.
(Posted on 2008-04-24 09:37:00 by ) -
Managing Allegations against Adults who work with Children and Young People - Sefton Local Safeguarding Children Board
AIM
To enable participants to effectively implement the LSCB procedures for Managing Allegations against Adults who work with, or on behalf of, Children and Young People. Applicants will have already attended In-house Foundation Safeguarding training .
St Josephâs Jospice
10th June 2008
9-12.30am
St Josephâs Jospice
25th September 2008
1-4.30 pm
Formby PDC
12th November 2008
9 - 12.30 am
Sefton WDU
11th February 2009
1- 4.30 pm
PLEASE APPLY FOR ONLY ONE SESSION.
Completed booking forms to Judy Cailler
Tel: 0151 428 1007 Fax: 0151 281 2726
Email:judith.cailler@cs.sefton.gov.uk
Closing Date â 29th May 2008
(Posted on 2008-04-24 09:22:00 by ) -
BeMencap launched on April 21st ! Be involved. Be informed. Be inspired. Be Mencap.
Dear Colleague,
You are invited to sign up for free at www.mencap.org.uk/be
Mencap works to ensure the 1.5 million people with a learning disability have the same rights and control over their lives as everyone else. People with a learning disability are often discriminated against, sometimes bullied, and have fewer chances to get a job they will enjoy or buy their own home. It doesn't have to be this way. If more people have more information about learning disability, together we can change things.
Signing up to Be Mencap is a really easy way to show your support for people with a learning disability and Mencap. Be Mencap is also a great way to stay informed. We will send you our enewsletter every month, with the latest learning disability and Mencap news, featuring contributions from people with a learning disability.
Best wishes, David Crowson - Head of Systems and Research, Mencap Community Support
(Posted on 2008-04-24 09:15:00 by ) -
Parent Seminar - Dimensions are hosting transition seminars for parents: 8th May at the Novotel in Southampton
Dimensions will host itâs third seminar for parents to look at whatâs possible for their son or daughter after they leave school. The aim of the day is share good practice and knowledge about what works and what doesnât during transition for young people and families. The day will focus on the more innovative approaches to successful transition for young people with learning difficulties including person centred planning and personalised budgets. Dimensions hope that the day will prepare parents for the transition planning review and will provide information about options post school/college. It will also be a good opportunity to network with other families.
Speakers will include:
Pete Collins and Phil Orchard - Person Centred Transition Planning
Eileen Chapman & Sue Lickley - Southampton CC
Kate Jackson - Transitions Development Manager Young Personâs Perspective
For more information or to book yourself a place please visit our website www.dimensions-uk.org/transitions and follow the link to Parentâs Seminars.
(Posted on 2008-04-24 09:09:00 by ) -
Sexual Lives - 2nd July 2008, London.
A one day conference to explore the legal, policy and practice changes affecting the sexual lives of people with learning disabilities.
Chaired by Professor Hilary Brown, the conference brings together researchers and practitioners who continue to lead work across a wide range of sexual issues. Presenters are Professor Glynis Murphey (The Tizard Centre), Richard Curren, (Respond), Bryan Mellan and Seema Malhotra (CONSENT), Stars in the Sky, Claire Fanstone (FPA), Sandra Baum ( Newham PCT). For more information go to www.pavpub.com under the conferences section.
Michelle McCarthy and David Thompson recently updated the training pack Sex and the 3Rs, a sex education pack for working with people with learning disabilities, which was first published in 1992.To mark this new edition, they have also programmed this event, which will look at the changing sexual lives of people with learning disabilities and will address questions such as: Are people having better relationships and sex? Is there less abuse? What constitutes âgood supportâ and is this more readily available? New legislation, including the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the Sexual Offences Act (2003) will be considered in the context of the sexual lives of people with learning disabilities.
(Posted on 2008-04-24 09:03:00 by ) -
Hi All
Circles Network is holding a one day introductory programme (21 June) and a 5 day advanced programme (23 â 27 June) into 'Transforming the Difficult Child'. Based around 'The Nurtured Heart Approach' led by the developer of the approach Howard Glasser.
For more information please visit our website www.circlesnetwork.org.uk and download the information from the homepage. Or send an e-mail to greg.evans@circlesnetwork.org.uk
Thanks again and I look forward to hearing from you, Greg
(Posted on 2008-04-23 07:58:00 by ) -
Try the Learning Disability Specialist Library
The LD Specialist Library service should be able to signpost you to sources of the data you need. Please find below a link to the Learning Disability Specialist Library Evidence Bulletin.
http://www.library.nhs.uk/learningdisabilities/ViewResource.aspx?resID=28302 5
Click on this message to open the link. Alternatively try: http://tinyurl.com/53gl2h
You didn't say if your county was in England, Wales, NI or Scotland; I can only answer for England. Your local Council for Voluntary Service should also have access to generic population data. Your local authority, unitary authority and primary care trusts should all have the source data in the public domain which they used for the recent Joint Strategic Needs Assessment exercise; try the chief executive's office for each body and they should point you to the person who holds this information. Finally, high level aggregated information for your county should be contained in the current Local Area Agreement which your local strategic partnership board must get signed off by July this year; this will be the most recent and up-to-date information available. Other sources might include your local university geography or health faculties, the Joseph Rowntree Trust or similar non-statutory bodies who conduct research in this field. Let us know if we can help further. I'll post these messages in our Parent Forum in case anyone else can respond as well. Good luck!
(Posted on 2008-04-23 07:38:00 by ) -
I am a parent member of our County LD Partnership Board and act as 'champion' for people with PMLD at the meetings. We are currently forming a working party to move the PMLD issue up the agenda as our county has little or no understanding of the needs (or numbers) of people with PMLD. I am trying to 'guesstimate' how many people there might be within the county that could be defined as having PMLD, but data is scarce! Can anybody out there provide population data?
Many thanks
Mike Ormian
(Posted on 2008-04-23 07:23:00 by ) -
Sefton Commits to National Indicator 54 and EDCM Charter Outcomes
Dear Mr. Gardiner,
Further to my acknowledgement email dated 16 April 2008, I can now respond to the points you raise in your email in more detail. I am aware that Mr. C. Oxley met with you and other PAT representativeson Tuesday 15 April and you raised some of the issues detailed below with Mr. Oxley. However, I will comment on the issues you raise in the order that you have detailed them in your email.
1. There are 198 new National Indicators, 185 national indicators came into force on 1 April 2008. The remaining 13 indicators will be subject to further consultation in the summer before final definitions for them can be released. Included within these 13 is NI 54 Services for Disabled Children. We have signed up to the EDCM Charter and will include NI 54 as a priority in 2009/10. In the meantime, preparatory work is underway to ensure that we are well placed to deliver the Core offer as described in Aiming High for Disabled Children. This work is being led by Colin Oxley, Assistant Director Inclusion. I know that Colin is keen to involve parents in this development work and has recently hosted a very successful parents conference attended by over 80 parents of disabled children to begin to identify priority areas for development. The feedback from this event will be used to inform further participatory events during the summer months.
2. We are in the process of developing our action plan to deliver against the commitments made through signing up to the EDCM Charter. This will go through out internal committee processes in the near future.
3. We have agreed with the Sefton Equalities Partnership that we will collect data on the statutory indicators for Children's Services in relation to race, general and disability. This goes well beyond the national requirements and demonstrates our commitment to equality of opportunity for all of our children and young people.
I hope this information is of help. Let me know if I can be of further help and thank you for taking the time to write to me.
Yours sincerely, Councillor Peter Dowd
Cabinet Member for Children's ServicesLeader of Sefton Labour Group of Councillors
(Posted on 2008-04-22 11:47:00 by ) -
Dear Larry
Thanks again to all of you who sent your MP a postcard calling on them to show their support for ending disability poverty. By the beginning of April an amazing 238 MPs had signed EDM 637 calling on the government to make ending disability poverty a priority. We couldnât have asked for a better start to our campaign and with your help there is now more and more pressure on the Government to take action.
One of the key ways to combat disability poverty is for the government to support disabled people to find and stay in work. On Friday MPs will have the chance to discuss a Private Members Bill which would introduce new measures to support those who acquire an impairment, or whose existing condition worsens, whilst they are in work.
Leonard Cheshire Disability believes that this law would help thousands of disabled people each year. You can make a difference by writing to your MP asking them to show their support for the Bill by signing EDM 676 Support for Disabled People in Employment at: www.LCDisability.org/?lid=7223
In March we launched a report that found many disabled people arenât receiving the care and support they need to lead independent lives. Many of our supporters have written to their MP to ask them to take action. You can join them by writing to your MP at www.LCDisability.org/socialcare â it will make a real impact and only takes a few moments. It is simple measures like this that will make an effective and long lasting difference in tackling disability poverty. Thank you for your continued support,
Katie Turner, National Campaigns Officer
(Posted on 2008-04-22 10:58:00 by ) -
âQuality of Life for People with Autismâ conference on 15th May 2008 in Nottingham
Norsaca are pleased to announce that due to very generous sponsorship and in recognition of their 40th anniversary celebrations, they can now offer places for the âQuality of Life for People with Autismâ conference on 15th May 2008 in Nottingham at the fantastic price of £50 (plus VAT) per person. This price includes all materials and refreshments. To book and for more information please go to www.offshootevents.com/norsaca.html or call the Offshoot Events team on 0870 066 3627
(Posted on 2008-04-22 08:10:00 by ) -
Carers Mark the Capital of Culture Year! - âCulture of Caringâ
Liverpool Carers Centre in partnership with Liverpool City Council is holding an art and poetry competition for carers to mark the Cityâs year as European Capital of Culture in 2008. The competition to produce a piece of art or poetry based on the theme âCulture of Caringâ is open to carers in four age categories â 11 and under, 12 -17 yrs, 18 â 49 yrs and 50+. The competition is open for entries from 28th April and the closing date is 9th May 2008. The aim of the competition is to celebrate the diverse caring community in Liverpool. All entries should be submitted to:
Liverpool Carers Centre,
Local Solutions,
Mount Vernon Green,
Hall Lane, Liverpool, L7 8TF
Prizes and certificates will be awarded to the top three winners in each age category at the annual Carers Week Event at St Georgeâs Hall on 12th June 2008. The overall winning entry will be used as the design for the official Liverpool City Council Christmas Card. For further information please contact Kathy Newton on 0151 705 2390 or email knewton@localsolutions.org.uk.
(Posted on 2008-04-22 07:14:00 by ) -
Tasting the Wind
I am trying to find a publisher for my novel, which features several characters with severe learning disabilities. The novel, âTasting the Wind,â is roughly in the suspense/ thriller genre, but is set against a background of people moving from longstay hospitals in the mid nineteen-eighties. Briefly, it is about what happens when two patients witness another die as the result of his treatment by a nurse. I have set out to include the characters with learning disabilities as contributors, not just passive bystanders in the plot, and the situation is not resolved until their alternative forms of communication are understood. If anyone has information regarding publication, please contact me at allanmayer@talktalk.net. If you would like to hear or read parts of âTasting the Windâ please follow the links below. Excerpts from âTasting the windâ can be heard at: http://youtube.com/user/ralphmuppet. Further information is available at: http://thelynngrocottacademy.bravehost.com/tastingthewind.html.
(Posted on 2008-04-21 19:51:00 by ) -
New Mencap Website Launch Today
Hello Larry,
My name is Berge and I am a Mencap ambassador. Welcome to the Be Mencap enewsletter. I hope you like Mencapâs new look. I really like the colours and I am pleased that there are stories from people with a learning disability in the Be me section. Mencap has also launched a new website. I particularly like the areas for people with a learning disability (My life) and families.
As a Mencap ambassador I get to tell lots of people about Mencapâs work and help make peopleâs lives better. For example I have worked with the Changing Places campaign and there are now 4 fully accessible toilets in my area. This means people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their families can get out into the community. You can read more about the new website and the Changing Places campaign below. Thanks for showing your support for Mencap through Be.
Best wishes,
Berge
(Posted on 2008-04-21 19:08:00 by ) -
Job Advertisement: Advocate for Change
We are recruiting new team members to increase our ability to meet the continually growing demand for high quality independent advocacy services. In addition to the specific posts described in the advert (Advocate/IMCA West Sussex, Advocates Surrey and LB Richmond, Advocate for young people with learning disabilities LB Sutton and Surrey), further new post-holders will be engaged in the near future to meet the growing demand for our services. We therefore encourage applications now from people to join our teams throughout our area of operation. To view the adverts take a look at the Jobs Page on our website http://www.advocacypartners.org/jobs.html
Many Thanks,
Gail Petty
Project Manager Advocacy Partners.
Head Office: McMillan House,
54 Cheam Common Road
Worcester Park, Surrey, KT4 8RH.
Telephone: 020 8330 6644 Fax: 020 8330 6622
Email (direct): gail.petty@advocacypartners.org
Website: www.advocacypartners.org
(Posted on 2008-04-19 17:25:00 by ) -
Job advertisement 'Spokesperson and Research Assistant'
Dear all,
Mencap have asked me circulate the attached pdf file (click on this message to go there), which has information on a vacancy for a ' 'Spokesperson and Research Assistant' in the Chief Executive's office. The job would be particularly suited to someone with a learning disability, although it cannot be advertised as such. It'd be great if you'd be able to promote this at all or pass it on to people who you think might be interested - the position's been created to bring people with learning disabilities closer to the heart of what Mencap does, so it should represent a big step in terms of representation.
Best wishes,
Oliver Chantler
Campaign Support Officer
Learning Disability Coalition
c/o Mencap 123 Golden Lane
London EC1Y 0RT
Tel: +44(0) 207 696 5574
Fax: +44 (0) 207 696 6930
(Posted on 2008-04-19 16:52:00 by ) -
My life! - Full Participation and Equality - Europe in Action 2009
Tampere, Finland 25 - 27 June 2009
For further information please see http://www.kvtl.fi/mylife
Contact e-mail (in Finland): mylife@kvtl.fi
(Posted on 2008-04-18 14:08:00 by ) -
Please sign my petition about Disabled Facilities Grants
I got so cheesed off with the Government nicking VAT back off the Disabled Facilities Grants they give out that I've set up a petition on the government's petitions website. If you fancy signing it, or forwarding it on to anyone else who might want to it is at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/DFG-VAT/
(Posted on 2008-04-18 14:02:00 by ) -
Fantastic Photoshoot Opportunity for Young People
Mencap have a fantastic opportunity for 10 young people to win a full fashion photoshoot with a top creative designer, Gary Harvey (see www.garyharveycreative.com ). He has personal experience of learning disability through a member of his family and has offered this opportunity to change the way people see young people with a learning disability, including those who may also have a physical disability. The young people will also be interviewed about their hopes and dreams. Initially this will appear as a four-page section in the June Viewpoint, Mencap's monthly magazine. There will also be video clips of the event on the Young Mencap website (due to launch later this month). Due to the nature of the fashion world, there are very short deadlines. The e-mail application has to be sent with 3 photos by Friday 25th April, which means the organisations involved may have to help with this.
The winners will be told by Tuesday 29th April.
The photoshoot will be on Friday 2nd May or Saturday 3rd May.
The photoshoot will take place in a fully accessible studio in central London (venue tbc). The parents or supporters will be able to wait near by.
Any young person needing a supporter for physical or communication needs will be considered along with all the other applications.
All young people should be encouraged to apply if they - like being photographed (and could wait around for the 30 minutes or so that will take) - enjoy being the centre of attention - are available to get to central London, ideally on either of the 2 days (the shoot will take approximately 4 hours) - like dressing up in urban gear - want to win a framed photograph of themselves - are aged between 15 and 25 years.
Flyer http://www.choiceforum.org/photoflyer.pdf
Young person application form http://www.choiceforum.org/photoapp.doc
Guidance notes http://www.choiceforum.org/photonotes.doc
Creative designer http://www.garyharveycreative.com
The flyer, application form and guidance notes are attached above giving all the details. Please circulate to all your contacts who would be interested. Should you have any queries, please contact: Corinne McCrum on 07947 999191 or Abbi Culham on 07767 306403
Corinne McCrum
Partnership Coordinator for Children & Young People Mobile 07947 999191
(Posted on 2008-04-16 22:38:00 by ) -
Letter to Councillor Dowd - Sefton MBC: Aiming Higher for Disabled Children
Dear Cllr Dowd,
As the councillor with lead responsibility for children's services in our authority, I am writing to congratulate you on signing up to the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign's Local Authority Charter and to ask you three key questions about implementation.
1. By signing up to the Charter, our authority has committed to including a target on disabled children within our Local Area Agreement (LAA). This target is National Indicator 54 (NI54) on services for disabled children, which resulted from the government's Aiming High for Disabled Children review (see www.edcm.org.uk/aiminghigh). I understand from EDCM that NI54 is not yet ready for inclusion in LAAs. I would therefore be grateful if you could reply to this email to confirm that NI54 will be included in our LAA when it is ready, as our signature to the EDCM Charter promises. I would also be grateful if you could confirm if you have chosen to make disabled children a priority in our LAA in any other way. If so, could you also tell me when you plan to start collecting data on parentâs views and how will you ensure the views of disabled children and young people inform your self-assessment?
2. I understand that we should already have a delivery plan in place for the Charter. I would be grateful if you could send me a copy of the plan or any other documentation to show how we are meeting the Charter commitments.
3. Many other indicators relating to children and young people are of particular relevance to disabled children and young people. These include:
- NI 57: Children and young peopleâs participation in high-quality PE and sport
- NI 69: Children who have experienced bullying
- NI 110: Young peopleâs participation in positive activities
- NI 114: Rate of permanent exclusions from school
- NI 116: Proportion of children in poverty
- NI 117: 16 to 18 year olds who are not in education, training or employment (NEET)
I would be grateful if you could also let me know how you will ensure disabled children and young people will be included in the measurement of these indicators. If you would like any further information about the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign, you can go to www.edcm.org.uk, call 020 7843 6318 or email info@edcm.org.uk. All the information about the EDCM Local Authority Charter is at www.edcm.org.uk/la_charter. Thanks again for your commitment to improving services and support for disabled children and families in our area. I look forward to your reply with the information I have requested.
Parent Advocates Together - Larry Gardiner (Secretary)
(Posted on 2008-04-16 15:12:00 by ) -
Sleep management workshop - Heather Mcleod (sleep counsellor for âCerebraâ)
Wednesday April 23rd
From 10-2.30 pm
Refreshments and lunch will be provided.
Are you the parent of a child with a disability or additional need? Is a good nightâs sleep just a distant memory? Heather will give a talk about sleep management issues and will answer individual questions and offer practical solutions. For more information please contact:-
Jill Bartlett - Development officer,
4 Taiâr Felin,
Y Felinheli,
Gwynedd. LL56 4JF.
Tel: 01248 670965
e-mail jill.bartlett@cafamily.org.uk
(Posted on 2008-04-11 21:00:00 by ) -
Dear Larry,
We need you to help urge as many MPs as possible to attend a Parliamentary meeting on disabled children on 6th May. The meeting will be an opportunity for your MP to quiz Andrew Adonis, the Minister responsible for disabled children and their families, on the government's plans to deliver 'Aiming High for Disabled Children'. To email your MP please go to http://www.edcm.org.uk/mp_meeting and click on the link to Take Action! Many thanks for your ongoing support for the campaign.
All best wishes,
Pamela Shaw
Campaigns Assistant
Every Disabled Child Matters
National Children's Bureau
8 Wakley Street
London EC1V 7QE
More from EDCM
News story: Government announces £190 million for places to go for young people
http://www.edcm.org.uk/Page.asp?originx_3211pb_94672121601690o63l_200843532q
News story: Short breaks funding starts to flow
http://www.edcm.org.uk/Page.asp?originx_4885rt_44598355240067q80i_2008424550q
News story: EDCM welcomes new childcare duties
http://www.edcm.org.uk/Page.asp?originx_4377qu_92250838372974k74i_20083313235w
(Posted on 2008-04-11 10:29:00 by ) -
PAT Letter to George Howarth MP
Dear George Howarth,
On behalf of Parent Advocates Together I am writing to ask you to support The Every Disabled Child Matters Campaign and, specifically, to ask you to represent our local parents with disabled children in our constituency by attending the parliamentary meeting with Andrew Adonis 'Aiming Higher for Disabled Children' scheduled for 6th May.
Parent Advocates Together (PAT) is a small, local, parent led voluntary organisation offering independent and autonomous advocacy support to families who are marginalised and excluded because of their roles as the principal carers for disabled children. PAT has already led a successful local letter writing campaign for adoption of the Every Disabled Child Matters Charter. PAT is currently campaigning for the inclusion of National Indicator 54 in the Sefton Local Area Agreement. Your solidarity and support will really be very much appreciated!
Yours sincerely,
Catherine Taylor - Treasurer
Parent Advocates Together www.parentadvocatestogether.org.uk
(Posted on 2008-04-11 10:25:00 by ) -
Dear PAT
The National Academy for Parenting Practitioners is currently revising the format and information available on the Commissioners' Toolkit to enhance its usefulness to the parenting workforce.
The Commissioners' Toolkit enables commissioners of parenting services and others in similar roles to find out about existing parenting support programmes that can be replicated for use in their area.
Major changes to the Toolkit include the introduction of quality ratings for programmes, which will help commissioners make more informed decisions about programme selection.
We would welcome any feedback you may have to help us improve the Commissionersâ Toolkit further. Find out more about the changes and how you can contribute to the Toolkit and Programme Review Process.
(Posted on 2008-04-11 09:02:00 by ) -
CSCI reviews who qualifies for care services â your help is needed
Dear Larry,
The big news this month is the review we are carrying out into how the system for deciding who qualifies for support from local councils could be improved. You can help us with this review by completing our online survey. CSCI is carrying out a major review of the eligibility criteria that councils use to decide whether or not a person receives help from the council with social care services. We aim to make recommendations on how the âFair Access to Care Servicesâ (FACS) system could be improved.
(Posted on 2008-04-08 18:04:00 by ) -
Participation Matters - FREE summer term PIP Regional Network Seminars 2008.
The summer term seminars will take place in May and June and will focus on the theme of the 'participation of disabled children and young people'.
14th May - Southampton,
5th June - Cambridge,
9th June - Dudley,
11th June - Taunton,
12th June - Leicestershire,
14th July - Kensington
Sessions run from 9.45am-2.30pm. Seminars are free but you must book your place. mailto:pip@kids.org.uk and stating which seminar you wish to attend.
(Posted on 2008-04-08 17:51:00 by ) -
Better Care, Better Lives - Workshops. 14th April - Manchester, 28th April - Newcastle, 1st May - South Central, 7th May - West Midlands, 13th May - South West, 15th May - London, 10th June - Yorkshire and Humber, 12th June - Eastern, 17th June - Derby, 19th June - South East In conjunction with local organisations, The Department of Health will be holding regional workshops to mark the beginning of the implementation phase of the palliative care strategy. The events are aimed at people who shape and direct service provision at a local level, including commissioning, planning and delivering services to children and young people. For more information contact Steph Sollosi, mailto:Steph.Sollosi@dh.gsi.gov.uk or Denise Snow, mailto:Denise.Snow@dh.gsi.gov.uk
(Posted on 2008-04-08 17:45:00 by ) -
59 local authorities and 27 Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) have now signed up to EDCM's campaign on making disabled children and their families a priority for local government and health agencies. EDCM needs your help to get the remaining local authorities and PCTs signed up, and to make sure those that have signed deliver on their commitments. A new supporter briefing, 'Making Disabled Children Matter Locally' and new actions for supporters to take have been added to the campaign website. Go to Web: http://www.edcm.org.uk/localaction
(Posted on 2008-04-08 17:34:00 by ) -
"Education that consists in learning things and not the meaning of them is feeding upon the husks and not the corn." Mark Twain
(Posted on 2008-04-08 16:03:00 by ) -
Not Stupid - Mon 14 @ 9pm on Community Channel
Not Stupid is an inspiring - and often heartbreaking - filmed account of Anna Kennedy's struggle to bring up and get an education for her two autistic sons. Don't miss this broadcast on the Community Channel on Mon 14 @ 9pm and watch out for the competition will accompany this programme. Details of further screenings can be found at 'Showing soon' http://www.communitychannel.org/content/view/2016/75
Your News is a unique programme that fulfils this need. It is a mix of recent national and international news stories as well as short films about learning disability issues. It uses less jargon and is made by people with learning difficulties. If you missed "Your News" screened on 28 March, it is still possible to view it and provide feedback at http://www.communitychannel.org/content/view/1993/140/
(Posted on 2008-04-08 15:57:00 by ) -
Families Make Futures - Leeds: 15 May 2008
Dear Network member,
Please find attached information and booking form for the Families make Futures Conference in Leeds on 15 May 2008.
Families make Futures http://www.choiceforum.org/fmf.pdf
Families make Futures Booking Form http://www.choiceforum.org/fmfbooking.doc
Families Make Futures Covering Note http://www.choiceforum.org/fmfnote.pdf
Best wishes
Sammantha Cave - Project Administrator
(Posted on 2008-04-07 08:29:00 by ) -
Minister Ed Balls - "families must be at heart of 'Aiming High' delivery"
At a packed reception hosted by the Rt Hon Tom Clarke MP in the House of Commons, over 50 MPs gathered with disabled children, young people and their families, to mark the beginning of the delivery period for âAiming High for Disabled Childrenâ, the governmentâs transformation programme for disabled childrenâs services. At the reception, MPs heard from a range of speakers who reflected on their own experience of services and how âAiming High for Disabled Childrenâ can start to make a difference on the ground for families. âAiming High for Disabled Childrenâ delivers a funding package of £430 million to be spent by local authorities on services for disabled children during 2008 â 2011. The funding comes on stream on 1st April 2008, alongside ânew growth fundingâ from the Department of Health to be spent by PCTs on services for disabled children and children with palliative care needs.
PAT has begun an engagement with local MP Joe Benton - scroll down. Get in touch if you would like to join us when we meet with him soon!
(Posted on 2008-04-06 12:24:00 by ) -
Thank you for your email. I supported EDM 1126. Additionally I would be very interested in knowing more about the Seaforth organisation and perhaps you would agree to meet with me at some stage? If so can you ring Ann on 933 8432 after 14th April and she will make the necessary arrangements. Yours sincerely Joe
(Posted on 2008-04-06 10:54:00 by ) -
Transition Awareness
Hello Everyone, Jen Taylor is coming to do a talk on transition, she is a lovely lady and very knowledgeable. Transition affects us all, regardless of our childrenâs ages whether they be, young children or adults, changes are always going to happen, Jen has a lot of experience and knowledge on how transition can be made better and in empowering us to make sure this happens. Share you stories of transition, hear what you are entitled to and start planning on how we can make it better. To book your place, please call me. Tel: 0151 287 7977. Fax: 0151 222 3694.
JEN TAYLOR,
WEDNESDAY 19TH APRIL,
Paretners in Policymaking,
New Century Halls,
Heathcote Road,
Walton,
Liverpool
L4 6XB
9.30 REFRESHMENTS
10.00 START
12, 00 FINISH AND LUNCH SERVED.
(Posted on 2008-04-02 14:44:00 by ) -
Make the World a Better Place - We Are What We Do!
Who are we? We're not another charity. We're not an institution. We Are What We Do is a movement. Our aim is inspire people to use their everyday actions to change the world. Whoever they are. And wherever they are. And that includes you.
We live by the maxim small actions X lots of people = big change. Itâs not rocket science but it does work. Go to http://www.wearewhatwedo.org/about_us/ or click on this message for more....
(Posted on 2008-04-02 10:18:00 by ) -
Change the world challenge!
Every child has rights. These include the right to live, the right to learn and play, and the right to be yourself. You can find out more about your rights just click on this message. Do you want to change the world for children? Every month, we set you a challenge to help UNICEF do just that. Aprilâs challenge:-
This month, your change the world challenge is to think up a poem about childrenâs rights.
The poem doesnât have to rhyme, and it can be about all the rights, or just one right. Itâs up to you.
One lucky winner will win a cuddly toy. To enter, send us your poem by 30 April 2008. You can either email it to us at worldexplorers@unicef.org.uk or post it to this address:
The UNICEF UK Youth Team, FREEPOST NW3216, London WC2B 6BR.
(Posted on 2008-04-02 10:04:00 by ) -
How we can help people to âhave a good dayâ?
There's quite a lot of resources listed on the web-based practice guide Community-based day activities and supports for people with learning disabilities: How we can help people to âhave a good dayâ? SCIE: Knowledge Review 14 Feb 2007. It's on the SCIE website http://.www.scie.org.uk/publications/practiceguides
(Posted on 2008-04-02 09:24:00 by ) -
Hi! Iâm a producer/director with a small, award-winning production company called Walker George Films. We make high quality observational documentaries and have recently been asked by Channel 4 to research a documentary about young people with Downs Syndrome and marriage.
Does anyone on the forum know of a young couple with Downs Syndrome who are getting married later this year? We have met a couple with Downs Syndrome who are already married who we hope to feature in the documentary, but would like to contrast their experience with that of a couple who are planning their wedding. It might be that both partners have Downs Syndrome, or one has Downs Syndrome and the other a different learning difficulty â but the key factor is that they will be getting married later this year. Our intention is to make a moving, life-affirming and inspirational film showing what these couples can teach us about love and marriage.
To let you know a little more about the documentaries we make - our more recent film for Channel 4, âA Boy Called Alex,â told the story of a teenage boy with cystic fibrosis who wanted to conduct Bach's Magnificat. It was received with great acclaim. The Times described it as an "Astounding, life-affirming film... the one essential programme of the week...overwhelming", while the Daily Mail called it "gripping, inspiring, uplifting and humbling". I know the Cystic Fibrosis Trust are extremely pleased with the film and it is currently shortlisted for several awards. Other films we have made include âYoung@Heartâ about a pensioners chorus who sing rock ânâ roll and âGeorge Mellyâs Last Standâ â a film following the jazz legendâs last months.
If anyone can think of a couple that they know of who are thinking of getting married and where one, or both, partners have Downs Syndrome, I would be really grateful if you could get in touch. Any conversations at this stage would, of course, be in the strictest confidence. My telephone number is 0208 743 7733 and my email is Katie.buchanan@walkergeorgefilms.co.uk.
Many thanks,
Katie Buchanan
(Posted on 2008-04-02 09:15:00 by ) -
Here For Good? A Snapshot of the Advocacy Workforce
Action for Advocacy (A4A) have launched the findings of the advocacy workforce development survey which was completed by more than 320 advocates and advocacy managers in 2007. Click on this message to download the report which includes an details of:-
The demographic make-up of the advocacy workforce
The average pay for advocates and advocacy managers in England and Wales
The range of academic and professional backgrounds from which people come to advocacy
How long people have been working in the advocacy sector, what they find rewarding, what they find challenging and how long they expect to remain in advocacy
(Posted on 2008-04-01 16:43:00 by ) -
My Life: My Way: MacIntyre will be hosting a one day conference focussing on solutions for self-directed support.
Last few places remaining...
Aim of the Conference: To support people to think through how they will develop their roles and practices in line with the current personalisation agenda
Who is it for? Commissioners, Care Managers, Social Workers, Service Providers
Date: Monday 21 April 2008
More information:
Visit our website: http://www.macintyrecharity.org/our_services/conferences.html
Phone: 01706 362279
Email: conference@macintyrecharity.org
Claire Kennedy
Business Services Manager - MacIntyre
t: 01908 230100 m: 07810 631305
e: claire.kennedy@macintyrecharity.org
w: www.macintyrecharity.org
(Posted on 2008-03-31 16:29:00 by ) -
'Supporting children/young people with neurological conditions'
An overview of Autism, Tourette's Syndrome, ADHD, Dyspraxia, Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy, Obsessive Compulsive Behaviours, Acquired Brain Injury and Down's Syndrome
Thursday 18th September 2008 9am - 4.45pm
The Three Swans Hotel,
High Street,
Market Harborough,
Leicestershire LE16 7NJ
Telephone 01858 466644
Conference Flyer http://www.choiceforum.org/flyersept.doc
Plan of the day http://www.choiceforum.org/dayplan3.doc
Enrolment Form http://www.choiceforum.org/enrolment3.doc
(Posted on 2008-03-31 16:17:00 by ) -
Free Fun Filled Day for Parents of Disabled Children
The Princess Royal Trust - Cheshire Carers Centre would like to invite you to their annual Disabled Children's Database Parent Carer Day on Monday 28th April 2008, 10.00 a.m. until 2.30 p.m. at the Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa, Championship Course, Tarporley
Please join us in luxurious surroundings at the brand new Portal hotel & country club for a
chance to get away from it all. This year we will start the day with a choice of workshops
followed by a fabulous lunch, plus the chance to chat to other parents in similar caring
situations. There are more workshops to try in the afternoon and those who wish to can
finish the day with a swim in the indoor pool. For instance you could pamper yourself with a mini-facial, let off steam in the karate and self defence class, try your hand at flower arranging, or even golf. Places must be booked in advance. See the booking form for full details. For more information and a booking form please contact: The Disabled Children's Database Office on
01270 25733 or write to:-
Cheshire Carers Centre
c/o Storage Boost, The Weston Centre,
Weston Road, Crewe CW1 6FL
Telephone: 01270 257331
(Posted on 2008-03-31 16:12:00 by ) -
Looking to the Future...Individual Budgets and Children, Young People, Families and Carers
London, 8th April 2008
A groundbreaking conference showcasing real and ongoing work to introduce individual budgets, self-directed support and the wider personalisation agenda for children and young people. Speakers and Workshops will introduce their work; national regional and local applications of personalisation and individual budgets for children and young people; involving Budget Holding Lead professionals and their role in supporting families, alternative plans for short breaks for disabled children and young people, adapting a school curriculum to support students in learning useful skills for their self-directed futureâ¦.
This conference is not to be missedâ¦if you want to know what personalisation and individual budgets mean then people will be introducing the ideas and practice here. Speakers include Philippa Russell (Chair of the Carers Commission), Geraldine Sands, (CSIP Yorkshire and Humber ), Ellen Atkinson (Asst Director for Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities at the Learning and Skills Council), James Heffernan, Lynn James-Jenkinson, Nic Crosby, Chris Sands (Head of Children and Young People Gloucestershire). Workshops will give those attending hands-on learning abou8t how people are beginning to work with children and young people using their services. Visit www.paradigm-uk.org or mail Jen at jenniferm@offshootevents.com
(Posted on 2008-03-30 23:30:00 by ) -
Family Matters Toolkit
Circles Network are currently producing a toolkit called Family Matters which is for professionals who work with disabled parents. The toolkit is in the final stages of completion and will be available later this year. For more information see the Circles Network website - www.circlesnetwork.org.uk.
Many thanks - Wendy Buchanan
(Posted on 2008-03-29 14:32:00 by ) -
TRAIN 2000 - FREE Training for Women + expenses for childcare or carers too
GROW YOUR CONFIDENCE AND SOW THE SEEDS OF SELF-ESTEEM
The course is facilitated by Pat Shea-Halson who has over 20 years of teaching personal and professional development courses.
This two-day workshop is to inspire you to become aware of and appreciate the fullness of who you are. This course is designed to help you develop your confidence and self-esteem enabling you to feel good about yourself. The intention is to provide you with the tools, knowledge and information to help you develop a positive self-image. The friendly, informal workshop style and mix of fun, stimulating and highly interactive activities will help you explore ways to:-
· The 10 Simple Principles For Success
· Strategies For Turning Adversity Around
· Becoming Quietly Effective
· Communicating Effectively
· Teaching People How To Treat You
· Declaring Yourself As A Confident, Assertive Women
Who should attend this course?
This course has been designed for women who want to improve the quality of their lives by learning how to look, feel and behave in a confident manner. Course participants will receive course notes and access to additional course material to further enhance their confidence and self-esteem.
Date: Wednesday 9th & 16th April, 10am-3pm
Venue: The Strand, Wellington Buildings, Liverpool, City Centre
The course is FREE and supported with expenses for travel and childcare/carers.
To book a place or find out more about Train 2000âs services call FREEPHONE 0800 587 0383 or 0151 236 6601
(Posted on 2008-03-29 14:10:00 by ) -
Hi all,
Thought you might be interested in this online service I have recently discovered. Essentially, you can feed it a website or any type of text file (like a .doc or .pdf) and it will spit out an mp3 (audio) of the text being read aloud. It's not specifically aimed at people with disabilities but could be used quite effectively for people who cannot or have trouble reading.
It's called Read the Words: http://readthewords.com/
Justin
(Posted on 2008-03-29 13:58:00 by ) -
Dear Larry,
Thanks to our supporters 59 local authorities and 27 PCTs have now signed up to our campaign Charters. We now need your help to get the remaining local authorities and PCTs signed up, and to make sure those that have signed deliver on their commitments. To help you get involved, we have produced a new supporter briefing - 'Making Disabled Children Matter Locally'. There are also new actions for supporters to take for those local authorities and PCTs who have signed the Charters. So to download the briefing and to take part in the actions please go to
http://www.edcm.org.uk/localaction and help make disabled children a priority in your area. Please get involved! Thanks for your continuing support for EDCM.
All best wishes
Pam
(Posted on 2008-03-27 22:01:00 by ) -
Extract from BBC News, 17 March 2008 £10.4bn skills agency scrapped
The government's £10.4bn skills agency, the Learning and Skills Council, is to be closed down - with most of the funds to be transferred to local authorities. The plans have been announced by the government in a White Paper setting out the funding mechanism for the raising of the school leaving age to 18. Local authorities will now be responsible for commissioning courses and training for older teenagers. Source and full article at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/7300852.stm
To view consultation documents please see http://www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/conDetails.cfm?consultationId=1520 Alternatively try: http://snipurl.com/22pjl
(Posted on 2008-03-27 10:32:00 by ) -
âModel District Serviceâ for Children and Adults in the 21st Century
Wellington Park, Leyland, on Wednesday 23rd April 2008.
The principles stated in the âModel District Serviceâ are:-
1. Services should be local and comprehensive
2. The principle of normalisation â an ordinary life!
3. Services should be designed to meet the needs of each person
4. Representation in service planning e.g. by service users, parents or guardians.
5. Planners must consider alternative patterns of service
It is now time for the North West to restate these principles and to create principles for
commissioning in the North West. The day is for you if you â Live or work in the North West and
⢠Use or may be entitled to access social care/health support
⢠You are a family member of someone who uses or may be entitled to access social care/health support
⢠A Commissioner of Health or Social Care
⢠An Elected Member with portfolio lead for social care
Closing date for applications to this event is Wednesday 16th April 2008. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. If your application has been successful - you will receive a confirmation letter along with a map within 2 weeks of your application. Please return booking form to:
Catherine Titherington, NWTDT, c/o Voice Marketing, 60 Westhead Road,
Croston, PR26 9RS. Tel: 01254 306850 Email: events@nwtdt.com
(Posted on 2008-03-26 13:50:00 by ) -
Write to your MP - Support Early Day Motion 1242
The Government is currently looking at ways to reform the social care system. Leonard Cheshire Disability is calling on the Government to make sure that the social care system is fair and equal, so that no one misses out on the care and support they need because they cannot afford to pay.
How can you help?
Write to your MP asking him or her to sign EDM 1242: Future Funding of Social Care and write to Ivan Lewis MP, Minister for Care Services, raising the issue of what happens to disabled people who canât afford to pay for the care they need and calling on him to make sure that, in future, the social care system is fair and equal.
Thank you for your support,
Katie
(Katie Turner, National Campaigns Officer)
(Posted on 2008-03-26 10:28:00 by ) -
Joking Aside Health and Humour Conference
On Monday 2nd June 2008The Comedy Trust are hosting the fourth international conference exploring current research surrounding humour, health and learning. It will be held at the LACE Conference Centre, Sefton Park, Liverpool. To book a place you can download a booking form online at www.liverpoolcomedyfestival.co.uk or contact Jo Crewe at jo.crewe@seftoncvs.org.uk.
(Posted on 2008-03-25 15:57:00 by ) -
The Department of Health Guide
The D