Disabled Children http://www.pat.moonfruit.com Sun, 4 Nov 2007 17:36:19 GMT Re: Toy Designer needs Parents Help http://www.learningdisabilities.org.uk Thu, 5 Feb 2009 13:00:18 GMT Brian Redman http://www.pat.moonfruit.com/_comment/906800 Hi Liz,

We have three school age children between the ages of 11 and 16. Unfortunately the region we live in only enjoys very occasional snowfall...But this week we have had a few inches of powder. I previously built a sled from timber but this wasn't very safe. Most recenly we purchased a safety sled made from GRP at our local gas station which has performed very well. The safety features work well. It is possible to steer and to stop the sled. There is a quick rlease feature.

]]> Toy Designer needs Parents Help Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:05:24 GMT ehardy http://www.pat.moonfruit.com/_comment/889374 My name is Liz Hardy, and I’m an Industrial design student from Colorado. I’m in the process of designing a ride on toy that accommodates the needs of physically disabled kids, but the overall style of the toy will be so appealing, everyone on the block would want a ride! I’m very passionate about this project and creating a design to suit the needs of ALL kids is my main priority. I’m in search of true experts, all you loving parents. Anyone that would be willing to answer a few of my questions will be greatly appreciated and definitely shape this idea for the better!

-What are your kid’s ages?

-Has your child ever gone sledding? If not why?

If so:

- How did you insure their safety? (went down the hill with them, type of sled used offered lots of body support, the hills were tame, ect.)

-How often do you go sledding?

-How much assistance does your child need to go sledding?

-Would you add anything to your sled to make it safer for your child?

]]> Re: Sefton Specialist Transport Service Tue, 2 Sep 2008 13:32:51 GMT Valerie http://www.pat.moonfruit.com/_comment/617339 Mini bus turned up on time today - no fuss or arguing - it's the first time transport has started well without a hitch. Long may it continue!

]]> Re: Sefton Specialist Transport Service Sat, 15 Dec 2007 11:39:19 GMT 1cheerfulman http://www.pat.moonfruit.com/_comment/143552 I've been rersearching the transport situation and have talked to a number of people. The best way to resolve transport issues is through the Specialist Transport Helpline on 0845 155 0155. Your call is fielded first by the appropriate transport depot manager and if this doesn't get the result you want then they will escalate your request to either Barry Phillips (for a child risk assessment) or to Graham Mussell (for policy, service commissioning or service delivery issues); the budget holder for transport contracts is Paul Wade. I have also found it useful to find out which Children's Services admissions or student support officer has requested a transport provision and to get them to put pressure on if Graham cannot help you. I have found Jane Clark to be a very helpful and efficient person in student support.

Finally, it might be useful to know that Sefton finance unit are conducting a service level review and customer consultation. If you want to contribute to this or the raise a complaint then the person to get in touch with is Gerard Grealis. Email contact addresses for everyone mentioned are as follows:-

gerard.grealis@finance.sefton.gov.uk

graham.mussell@finance.sefton.gov.uk

paul.wade@finance.sefton.gov.uk

jane.clark@cs.sefton.gove.uk

]]> Re: Sefton Specialist Transport Service Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:51:19 GMT Larry Gardiner http://www.pat.moonfruit.com/_comment/119650 my only concern was the amount of supervisin on the mini buses. I had to battle but did win and secured my child one to one whilst in transport. But i think other parents should be asking themselves in the case of an emergency god forbid is there enough people on that bus to evacuate and keep a group of children with additinal needs safe on a busy road side

--- cas65 

If there is a risk then the mechanism for dealing with it is to ask the Specialist Transport Unit to carry out a risk assessment. They have a person whose job it is to do that; his name is Barry Phillips I think. There is a transport issues hotline (basically an answerphone), I'll try and get the number for you. If you can't get any sense out of Barry Phillips then talk to his boss Graham Mussell.

]]> Re: Sefton Specialist Transport Service Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:17:42 GMT cas65 http://www.pat.moonfruit.com/_comment/114757 my only concern was the amount of supervisin on the mini buses. I had to battle but did win and secured my child one to one whilst in transport. But i think other parents should be asking themselves in the case of an emergency god forbid is there enough people on that bus to evacuate and keep a group of children with additinal needs safe on a busy road side

]]> Sefton Specialist Transport Service Sun, 4 Nov 2007 17:36:19 GMT 1cheerfulman http://www.pat.moonfruit.com/_comment/100805 Two of our children use transport provided by Sefton to get them to and from school. One child uses a Taxi under contract to sefton and the other child travels with others in a special mini-bus. The process for managing tranport arrangements has caused us lots of problems over the last four years. However during this time we have finally figured out how to work the system. If you need help or information about applying for, obtaining or changing transport provision we could probably help.

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