Back to top"DIRECTIONS" Issue 33 Winter 2006
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A free DVD is available to anyone wanting to find out more about disability related benefits. The DVD outlines the benefit criteria for Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Carers’ Allowance and Vaccine Damage Payment. In addition to spoken commentary the DVD is presented with RNID British Sign Language and is subtitled. To request a free copy of the DVD you can:
Email : customer.relationsteam@dwp.gsi.gov.uk or
Fax: 01253 338723 or
Write to: DCS Outreach Team, Room 111, Block 1 Government buildings, Norcross Lane, Norcross, Blackpool, FY5 3TA.
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The Work and Families Act 2006 has now been passed as law and will come into force in April 2007. The two main provisions under the Act are related to maternity and flexible working.
Service users who employ personal assistants (PAs) will need to be aware of the following changes as they may need to consider alternative support arrangements whilst their PA is off work.
Maternity
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), Maternity Allowance (MA) and Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) will increase from 26 to 39 weeks for women or adopters, whose babies are due or adopted on or after 1st April 2007. Employers will have to make reasonable adjustments to allow employees to return to work after taking maternity leave.
Flexible Working
Flexible working law currently enables only parents with a child under the age of 6 or with a disabled child under the age of 18 to make a request for flexible working.
The new Act will extend the right to working carers of adults. This places a duty on employers to consider requests seriously. There are no small employers’ exemptions available regarding the new law.
If you would like more information please visit : www.workingfamilies.org.uk or telephone : 020 7253 7243. Alternatively please visit : www.acas.org.uk or telephone ACAS on 08457 474 747.
(Source: www.acas.org.uk and www.workingfamilies.org.uk)
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New laws concerning the use of child car seats came into force on 18th September 2006. This means that anybody who transports a child as a passenger in a vehicle needs to use the correct child restraint. Failure to do so could result in a financial penalty.
The following table shows the new changes. The type of restraint will depend on the age and height of the child. For this information it is important to refer to the manufacturers guide.
| Front seat | Back seat | Who is responsible | |
| Child up to age 3 | Must wear correct restraint | Must wear correct restraint | Driver |
| Child aged 3 to 12 | Must wear correct restraint | Where seat belts are fitted, correct child restraint must be used. Must use adult seat belt if correct restraint not available e.g. taxi or short unexpected journey. | Driver |
| Child aged over 12 or over 1.35 metres in height | Seat belt must be worn if available | Seat belt must be worn if available | Driver |
| Child aged over 14 | Seat belt must be worn if available | Seat belt must be worn if available | Passenger or child over 14 |
(Source: www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/campaigns/childcarseats/childcarseats.htm)
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The Mental Capacity Act received Royal Assent in April 2005 and will be implemented in 2007. It aims to protect and support people with learning Disabilities and mental health conditions. The Act will provide clear guidelines for carers and professionals, about when decisions can be made and who can make them. It also allows people to plan ahead and make arrangements for a time when they may lose mental capacity.
The Act is underpinned by five key principles:
There will also be situations when a designated decision-maker can act on behalf of someone who lacks capacity:
Lasting Power of Attorney
The new Act will allow a person, while they are still able, to appoint a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) to make decisions on their behalf for when they lose the ability to do so themselves in the future. This is similar to the current Enduring Power of Attorney but also allows the attorney to make health and welfare decisions.
Court Appointed Deputy
Where no Lasting Power of Attorney has been granted, a new Court of Protection will appoint a Deputy who will be able to make decisions on welfare, healthcare and financial matters. This will replace the current system of Receivership.
Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA)
This is a service which will provide support to vulnerable people who do not have relatives or friends to speak for them. The IMCA will represent the person’s wishes, feelings, beliefs and values and can challenge decisions made on behalf of the person lacking capacity if necessary.
(Source: www.dca.gov.uk/menincap/legis.htm and www.direct.gov.uk)
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Unfortunately we have not been able to feature any readers writes this season. This is a pity, as we have received feedback from many of our readers that they particularly enjoy reading this section. However, the team would like to take this opportunity to once again welcome all of our readers to write to us with their experiences, good or bad, about any issues relating to independent living. Topics may range from direct payments, holidays or peer support groups. We look forward to hearing from you in the new year. For now we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
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Sensing Sculpture is an interactive sculpture gallery, presented by Wolverhampton art gallery. The exhibition runs from the 23 0ctober 2006 to 31 March 2007.
The exhibition allows people to use senses such as touch, smell, and sight to explore the art works.
The exhibition also offers visitors the opportunity to further explore the works by providing detailed audio guides, Braille panels and text panels.
If you would like to visit the gallery the address is:
Wolverhampton Art Gallery Lichfield Street Wolverhampton WV1 1DU
Alternatively you can telephone : 01902 552055 or Email: info@wolverhamptonart.org.uk
(Source: www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk/wolves/exhibitions/002639.html)
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STAY WARM AND WELL THIS WINTER
The winter season is upon us once more and it is important to those who are vulnerable to the effects of the cold weather to look after their health by keeping warm.
To help you do this the Department of Health has launched their annual campaign, offering information and advice on how to keep warm and stay well this winter.
As part of their campaign the Department of Health has produced a booklet which includes information on :
If you would like to order a copy of the booklet please visit:
www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAndSocialCareTopics/
Alternatively write to: DH Publications, PO Box 777, London SE1 6XH.
(Source: www.direct.gov.uk)
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If you are looking for some inspiration to get fit in 2007 and maybe shed some of those extra pounds gained over the Christmas holiday, why not register for Disability Sports Events.
Disability Sports Events Provides opportunities for disabled people, to take part in a range of sporting activities. Those who take part include beginners and those who are more experienced. Anyone can take part, at any level, in a number of events. Events include swimming, indoor bowls, archery, wheelchair marathons and table tennis.
To take part as an individual, group or school club you will need to fill in an affiliation form. Forms are sent to you from your regional or national office.
For more information on how to apply please visit: www.disabilitysport.org.uk/events.cfm.
Alternatively telephone: 0161 953 2499 or Fax: 0161 953 2420.
Everyone’s a winner!
(Source: www.disabilitysport.org.uk/index.cfm)
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CONTACT A FAMILY: Sharing Experiences
Many families can find it difficult coping with a disabled child. In some cases parents can feel isolated, alone and that they are the only ones dealing with the issues.
Therefore it is important that there are places that parents can go to for support and advice. One of those places is Contact a Family.
Contact a Family is a UK-wide charity providing advice, information and support to the parents of disabled children.
Nick Crean, one of the Contact a Family patrons, has written and directed a short film, which features his own disabled daughter. Nick produced the film free of charge for Contact a Family in order to raise awareness of the needs of families with disabled children.
The film which is titled ‘Away with the Fairies’ can be viewed by accessing the Google search engine. Click on the link ‘more’ above the search box and you will see a list of Google services.
In that list appears the link ‘video’. This link takes you to a video page. In the search box type in ‘Contact a Family’. The film will appear in the list of results. Click on the title to play the film.
Parents can get in touch with Contact a Family by telephoning their Freephone helpline on: 0808 808 3555 Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm or by e-mail: helpline@cafamily.org.uk or you could visit their website www.cafamily.org.uk.
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The Living Paintings Trust
Is a registered charity that offers a completely free library service for visually impaired people of all ages, their families, carers and schools. They produce specialist touch and sound packs that explain a wide variety of fun, interesting and educational pictures for those who cannot see. These packs are distributed from their library via the post. They are sent to all corners of the UK and there is no charge.
To find out more, please contact the service: Tel: 01635 299 771 Email: lpt@livingpaintings.org, Web site: www.livingpaintings.org.
STEPS (Special Toys Educational Postal Service)
Is a National charity which buys and adapts toys for disabled children. They offer a long term loan service to profoundly disabled children aged 16 years and under, free of charge to anywhere in the UK.
For information please contact STEPS by: telephone : 01803 294 801 Email: stepsorg@fsmail.net or visit: www.stepscharity.org.
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There are now over 200 UK cinemas with subtitle or audio description facilities. Many new releases are now showing with subtitles at venues across the country. Look out for the following films for release in December :
Flushed away, Happy Feet, The Holiday, Night at the Museum and The Big Nothing.
If you would like full listings of the films which are being shown with subtitles please visit: www.yourlocalcinema.com.
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MEMBERSHIP OF THE ROWAN ORGANISATION
The Rowan Organisation is a registered charity and not for profit organisation. It is a user-led organisation and the majority of Board members are disabled people, as are a number of our operational staff. Membership of the Rowan Organisation is open to all service users and it's free !
Ordinary members receive a summary of the quarterly Board meetings, are entitled to attend and vote at the AGM and also have the chance to become a Board Member themselves.
Board membership offers an exciting opportunity to travel and meet up with others. Service user members who are elected on to the Board, influence the management and direction of the organisation. Board membership offers a mix of business and social elements and all reasonable travel, accommodation and other expenses are paid for by the Rowan Organisation.
If you are interested in applying for ordinary membership, with the chance of becoming a Board member, please contact the Rowan Organisation at Head Office on 01827 718972 or send an email to the Rowan Organisation's Information Service, who will provide further information.
The following further information may help you to decide to become a member:
Mission Statement
"The Rowan Organisation exists to provide disabled people with access to information and support in order that they can make informed choices and be in control of their lives".
Vision Statement
"A society that is fully inclusive in which the barriers, whether environmental, attitudinal or institutional, that prevent disabled people from having equality of opportunity have been removed."
In providing services we advocate the following Principles:
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