• Human Rights Act to be Extended
• Access to Air Travel for Disabled People
• Independent Living Campaign
• Benefits for Older People
• Older People Urged to Claim Cash
• Lets Talk: Support for People with Learning Disabilities
• Turn 2 Us for Financial Support
• Welsh Language Policy
• Year of the Assistance Dog
• News from the RNIB
• New Magazine for People with Learning Disabilities
• Accessible Days Out
• Readers Writes
• Membership of the Rowan Organisation

Human Rights Act to be Extended

The Human Rights Act is expected to be extended to protect people who are tenants in privately run residential homes.

Older people's charities, including Age Concern and Help the Aged, have campaigned for the move after a court ruling in 2007 said that the act did not apply to privately run residential homes. This caused concern that older people in such homes would be put at risk.

The proposed changes will give greater rights to older people in private residential homes. This includes the right to family life, and the right to appeal if staff do not deal with complaints about the standard of service. The changes are hoped to ensure that the rights of older people are safeguarded. We hope to bring you more information on this when the changes occur.

Source: www.guardian.co.uk .

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Access to Air Travel for Disabled People

In July 2007 it became illegal for airlines to refuse travel to disabled people except for legitimate safety reasons. In July 2008, the rules are being tightened to provide disabled passengers greater opportunity to travel.

From July, Airports will have to provide the necessary staff and equipment to allow disabled passengers equal access to flights. This covers boarding, disembarking and transit between flights. During the flight, it will be the responsibility of the individual airline to provide any necessary assistance.

There will be no charge to disabled passengers for these services. Instead, the cost of the services will be recovered through a charge to the airlines, and will be proportional to the total number of passengers each airline has.

Staff will receive training in disability awareness and equality, to help them comply with the new rules.

More information is available from the Department for Transport: www.dft.gov.uk .

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Independent Living Campaign

Two large charities, Mind and Radar, are urging service users to get involved in supporting the campaign for independent living.

The campaign, Our Lives Our Choices, is seeking a change in health and social care systems in order to allow disabled people to have more control of their own lives and to participate fully in society.

One way people are being asked to get involved is by writing to their MPs and asking them to sign two Early Day Motions (EDMs). Early Day Motions are formal proposals submitted for debate in the House of Commons. They are used to draw attention to events or campaigns. MPs can sign an EDM to show that they support it.

MPs are being asked to sign EDMs 348 and 344. By signing EDM 348, MPs show their support for the Our Lives Our Choices campaign. EDM 344 calls for the House of Lords to debate the Independent Living Bill, which campaigns for equal rights for disabled people.

If you want to find out more, information is available from Mind and Radar:
www.mind.org.uk, telephone Mind Info Line on 0845 7660163

www.radar.org.uk, telephone 020 7250 3222.

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 Benefits for Older People

The Department of Work and Pensions has announced that they will be simplifying benefits claims for older people.

From October 2008, when someone applies over the phone for Pension Credit and, at the same time, Housing and Council Tax benefits, the Pension Service will pass the applicants details to their local authority to save them having to fill in two forms.

They have also announced that the backdating of claims for Pension Credits, Housing and Council Tax benefits will be reduced to three months. This is intended to ease the stress of applying and speed up claims.

Older people who receive Pension Credit will, from October 2008, be able to spend up to 13 weeks abroad without losing their entitlement to the benefit.

If you want to find out more information, you can visit www.thepensionservice.org.uk or phone them on 0845 6060265.

Older people are being urged to claim benefits that are rightfully theirs. Details below...

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Older People Urged to Claim Cash

Age Concern has launched a new campaign to encourage older people to claim benefits that are rightfully theirs.

The ‘More money in your pocket' campaign warns that the cost of living keeps going up, making it harder for older people to make ends meet. Despite this, they estimate that approximately £4.6 billion in benefits goes unclaimed by older people every year.

The campaign will urge older people and their carers to have a free benefits check, to find out if there is money that they are entitled to. It also provides information on the variety of benefits available and who might be eligible.

Benefits you can get help with include Pension Credit, Carer's Allowance, Attendance Allowance, and help with health costs.

For further information, contact Age Concern's National Information Line on 0800 00 99 66. Or, you can visit their website to download a free copy of their campaign booklet: www.ageconcern.org.uk .

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Lets Talk: Support for People with Learning Disabilities

A new support group has been formed for people with learning difficulties. Called Lets Talk, it is an internet forum that allows people with learning disabilities to talk online to each other in order to share stories and to receive support from other people with learning disabilities.

The different areas on the forum are divided into:

• Personal Stuff
• Success Stories
• Jokes and Fun Stuff
• Changing Things
• and What's Going On.

To access the forum, visit www.letstalkuk.net .

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Turn 2 Us for Financial Support

There is a new charity, called Turn2us, that aims to help people find out about charitable grants and state benefits that they might be entitled to.

Many people don't know about the financial assistance that is available to them, or where to look for it. Turn2us intends to change that, by improving access to the help that is available.

Turn2us provides information on grants and helps people get in touch with charities that might be able to help them when they need financial support. Their website also has a benefits calculator, that allows people to work out what state help they may be entitled to.

The charities that they work with vary in who they support and how. Users might find a charity that will provide them with a lump sum payment for emergency repairs. Or, for example, they might find a charity that will help them pay for furniture.

For more information on the services they offer, or to search for charities, you can visit their website: www.turn2us.org.uk or phone them on 020 7396 6690 for further information.

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Welsh Language policy

The Welsh Langauge Act 1993 was established to set up the Welsh Language Board. Its role is to promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language and to establish the principle that public bodies should deliver their services in such a way that the English and Welsh languages are treated on a basis of equality.

All local authority areas in Wales where the Rowan Organisation is contracted to provide the Direct Payments Support Service have published Welsh Language Schemes.

The Rowan Organisation has been working towards establishing its own Welsh Language Policy and is very pleased to announce that the Welsh Language Board approved our Scheme on May 1st 2008.

Although for a number of years we have produced leaflets and other information bilingually and have offered a temporary Welsh-speaking Helpline number, our commitment through this Scheme will help to ensure we can deliver all of our services to the same standard whether in English or Welsh.

The scheme is expected to be implemented over a period of up to three years. A copy of the Rowan's policy is available to view on our website or by requesting a copy from our Head Office.

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Year of the Assistance Dog

Assistance Dog: Image of an Assistance Dog2008 has been designated as the Year of the Assistance Dog by charities that provide dogs for disabled people and people with sensory impairments.

Canine Partners, Dogs for the Disabled, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Hearing Dogs and Support Dogs will work together under the name Assistance Dogs UK. They aim to promote rights of access to services for assistance dog users.

Assistance dog users will be nominating retailers, leisure facilities, parks, transport operators and other public premises for Dog Star awards, as recognition of their efforts to make their facilities accessible. The awards will be given to services that meet the needs of users, for example those who provide Braille menus, those who have induction loops for customers with a hearing impairment, wheelchair accessibility and water bowls for the dogs.

Assistance dogs are highly trained to meet the needs of the individual that they work with. Some of the tasks that dogs can perform include:

• Opening and closing doors
• Fetching the post or bringing in milk
• Raising the alarm in an emergency
• Assisting people to walk by providing a stable base and forward motion
• Retrieving dropped items

There are many more tasks that dogs can undertake in order to help their user maintain independence.

For more information, including who might be eligible for support, you can contact Assistance Dogs UK, care of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, on 01844 348100 or visit www.assistancedogs.org.uk .

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News From the RNIB

Large Print ScrabbleIn 2007, the RNIB changed its name from the Royal National Institute of the Blind to Royal National Institute for Blind People - supporting blind and partially sighted people. It is hoped that the change will allow more people in the UK to identify with the RNIB.

It has also launched five catalogues of products for blind and partially sighted people. They contain new products as well as tried and tested favourites. The catalogue categories are Everyday Living, Games, Toys and Leisure, Keeping in Touch, Clocks and Watches and Out and About.

They sell items such as talking clocks, screen magnifiers and large print board games.

RNIB's full range of products can be viewed online at www.rnib.org.uk/shop or you can order copies in other formats by contacting the Customer Services Team on 0845 702 3153.

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New Magazine for People With Learning Difficulties

In March 2008, a new magazine was launched, written by and for people with learning disabilities.

‘Our Say' magazine will be published six times a year, and contains a wide range of articles including:

• Book and film reviews
• Readers stories
• Reader letters page
• A problem page
• Changes to legislation that affects people with learning disabilities
• Puzzles
• Other articles of interest to their audience

The writers of ‘Our Say' all have learning disabilities themselves and are supported in this venture by Oakfields Publishing. The editors want to hear from their readers about the kind of things they want to read about. Readers are encouraged to write in with ideas for the magazine.

Our Say is available at a cost of £24 per year by telephoning 01394 387330, emailing oursay@btinternet.com or by writing to:

Our Say,
2 Beulah Villas,
Melton Road,
Melton,
Suffolk,
IP12 1NZ.

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Accessible Days Out

A new pocket-sized guide has been published full of ideas for days out across the UK. Accessible parking

Motability and Rough Guides have teamed up to produce Rough Guide to Accessible Britain.

The book contains 100 destinations that have been tested by researchers for their accessibility. It looks at the facilities available, from accessible toilets to places that provide hearing loops and guided tours that provide BSL interpreters. It also includes attention to small details, for example that a venue has smooth paths.

The book is colour coded, with easy to understand symbols for the facilities available at each site. It also includes maps to help you plan your trip.

Destinations include parks and gardens, coastal attractions, museums and much more.

It is available from www.accessibleguide.co.uk or by phoning Motability on 0845 456 4566

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Readers Writes

Dr H T of Ceredigion contributed this article about his business:

"Dr H T is a Direct Payments user in Ceredigion and took early retirement from a career in science some five years ago. Having spent more than half his life in a wheelchair due to Muscular Dystrophy, Huw is acutely aware of the needs of disabled people, and when going on holiday he was appalled at the way wheelchair users were transferred on board aircraft.

As a result of his personal experiences and valuable contributions from moving and handling advisors in nursing, Fire and Rescue and the Ambulance services, the Promove sling was developed. It can be placed under someone lying down or in a seated position and provides handles for two or four people to transfer someone safely when in a confined or outdoor space.

Having formed a business partnership with a family friend, the two are successfully promoting and selling the Promove sling. Dr H T said: "In the near future we hope to focus more on selling the sling within the airport industry. However, at present we are concentrating on the emergency and care sectors."

He adds: "We have had a great deal of interest from several active disabled individuals, who are more likely to find themselves in unpredictable situations where they need to be transferred from their wheelchairs and a hoist is not available. Also, families of disabled children are able to share the task of moving a child when a hoist is unavailable or considered inappropriate."

Thanks to its slippery material, Promove is easily placed behind and beneath an incapacitated person whether on the ground, seated in a chair or restricted in a tight corner. It provides good support, forming a bucket shaped seat, giving a sense of security for sliding or moving.

With the use of the strategically placed grasping handles to the front and rear, moving and handling immediately becomes controlled. The innovative design of the handles allows the sling to be used by two or more operatives, making moving individuals in tricky situations an easier and safer task.

In April, the Promove sling was exhibited at the International Exhibition Centre in Geneva. The sling was awarded a Bronze Medal for its multi application and versatility, as Dr T explains: "I think the judges recognised how such a simple device will enhance the lives of so many people in so many diverse situations."

For further information on the Promove sling visit www.promove.uk.com"

Disclaimer: The Rowan Organisation does not seek to promote or advertise commercial services. The above article is provided for information purposes only.

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Jenny Nash, an Independent Living Advisor from Staffordshire, has sent in a letter from a service user who prefers to remain unnamed:

"Dear Jenny,

I wanted to write and apologise for bothering you when I got panicky over the letter about my Direct Payments, but also to thank you for coming back and talking to me. So often today we are just a number in the system. You made me feel better, as I felt like a real person - so thank you.

I'm getting a bit more independent at the moment, physically I seem to not be deteriorating. Not too sure on my mind though; maybe it's an age thing! I'm still needing mum to do dinners for me as I just seem to forget to eat. Trouble is, I use mum being here as an excuse not to go out, as I feel safer at home, so I am becoming a bit of a recluse. I may see on my review if I can reduce the amount of "personal care stuff" and see if I can get another day at the gym - maybe take mum to lunch - as I do feel secure at the gym.

The Direct Payments have changed my life. I've told other people I've met with Multiple Sclerosis and they too now have payments to get out and go to they gym. That's really good for me because if I arrange to meet them I know I have to go so I don't let them down. So if anyone asks you how do you know they are worth it, you can tell them from me what a "life saver" they are."

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Marie Hilliman, an Independent Living Advisor in Staffordshire, contributed this article about the role of personal assistants:

"HELP! (I need somebody)

When was the last time you really listened to the lyrics of "Help" by the Beatles?

"When I was younger, so much younger than today
I never needed anybody's help in any way
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self
assured
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being 'round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won't you please, please help me?

And now my life has changed in oh so many ways
My independence seems to vanish in the haze
But every now and then I feel so insecure
I know that I just need you like I've never done before"

These words could have been written by many of the people supported in Staffordshire under the Direct Payment Scheme. Every day, somebody is looking for that special person to "help!"

The role of personal assistant for a disabled child or adult varies massively from person to person. It can be an incredibly rewarding role.

Sometimes the personal assistant will be involved in socialising and helping the individual to access activities and facilities that would be impossible for them without support. Things that you and I would take for granted are just a dream for some disabled people.

Sarah from Newcastle-under-Lyme wrote:

"I started working as a personal assistant for a little boy whilst I was training as a Nursery Nurse. The experience has given me a real insight into disabilities that I could never have been taught at college, I thoroughly enjoy the activities that we do, I feel as though I've had a real impact on this little boy's progress and his future."

Personal assistants can access some fantastic training opportunities within Staffordshire. This ranges from basic moving and handling, first aid up to NVQ 2, 3 & 4.

Daniel from Burton wrote:

"I'd been unemployed for a while when I saw a job local to where I lived. Although I hadn't got any experience of disabilities, I quite fancied having a go. At the interview, it was clear that we could get on really well. I was offered the job part time. I just love it! I help get my employer dressed and looking cool, I support with his breakfast and then we are off. We are out most days, weather permitting. We've built up a real bond. I'm doing an NVQ which isn't costing me a penny, I'm also working a few extra hours for a second disabled person too.I would never have believed that I could get paid for doing something I really enjoy"

The rate of pay varies from person to person. In Staffordshire, it is usually well above the national minimum wage, often it is around £6.50 to £7.50 per hour. In some cases it's even more.

Current vacancies are fairly easy to find and they are often advertised in:

Jobcentre plus - www.jobcentreplus.co.uk
Staffordshire County Council - www.staffordshire.gov.uk/jobs/vacancies/search (under non council organisations)
Carematch - www.carematch.org.uk
and within local newspapers.

Could you be that special person for someone needing "help"?

Please note: Although this article mentions vacancies available in Staffordshire, most other areas will also have PA jobs in local papers, most job centres and some local authority websites.

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G T, and S E, of Staffordshire, write about their experiences of Direct Payments:

By G about S:

"MAYBE?

I'm a part-time PA to S. I've worked for him for 18 months. His other PA, C, brings a female perspective to his life. I think that is important.

I'm 68. I've had 10 years experience of providing employment to educationally and emotionally disabled young men. I'm loud and brash on the outside but I've got a soft centre.

I'm good for S, but I've got my own life to lead which, at present, involves me spending 3 months of each year in France. I keep in touch with S from the Montagne Noire by letter and phone. I would like to take him with me but it's not possible. MAYBE it will be in the future.

S's painting of a narrow boatS's overriding interests are painting and history. I'm a capable though not inspired artist so I can guide Scott's hand to produce some creditable pieces of work. He entered his painting of a narrow boat on the canal near the Dog and Doublet, Bodymoor Heath, into the Sue Ryder Care national exhibition in London. On average, S spends 4 hours a week on formal painting classes and especially values his time at the SAA class at the Carnegie Centre, Tamworth, where he and his works are appreciated. I spend, generally, one morning a week painting with him on his kitchen table. S is desperate to have his own studio at home. MAYBE this will come to fruition one day.

In recent weeks I've been accompanying S to a college evening class "Tracing Your Family History". S's antecedents are mainly Irish and we're in the process of obtaining what birth, marriage and death certificates we can. Both families have heraldic devices - a golden griffon and a red lion, rampant. MAYBE he'll find he's really an Irish clan leader, or tribal king!

One thing that has disappointed S is the apparent unwillingness of historical re-enactment groups to want him as a member. Involvement with such an activity would get S out of the house at weekends, expand his knowledge, get him thinking and widen his circle of friends - I don't know which I consider to be most valuable. Will he get involved? That's another MAYBE."

By S about G:

"I think you're a credit to me. It's the best life I've had - I've been able to express myself more than ever before. You've taught me an awful lot of a bigger world... there's a lot more things out there and you're showing me part of that bigger world, so I say ‘Thank you very much'."

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T M from Warwickshire writes of her Experiences:

"Hello my name is T I'm here to explain a little about direct payments and how they have worked for me.

Direct payments are a way of being able to choose what you want instead of someone else making that decision for you.

Having experienced this opportunity myself I recommend it to anyone that wishes to start using direct payments.

Grab the opportunity while it's around.

When I first started using direct payments I thought "Oh god what have I let myself in for?" I knew it would be quite a challenge and responsibility for me to take on board I thought lets give it a go, I've got nothing to lose.

Having experienced this great opportunity I am NOW able to go places like swimming (my favourite) bowling, town, shopping, meals out etc and live my own life.

The great opportunity is that you get to meet and talk with new people like your ILA (Independent living Advisor). I'm a shy person, I didn't think it was going to work at first and that I would be able to complete this challenge. I proved myself wrong.

I enjoyed interviewing my Personal Assistant as I had never interviewed a person before - it was always me being interviewed.

What I didn't particularly enjoy about the whole process was the waiting on finding the person to recruit as my PA and also the initial paperwork .

But don't let this put you off using Direct Payments. Yes it is hard work, but it is good hard work. It's worthwhile. Just go for it!"

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this issue of Directions.

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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 0800 783 1755 or by emailing mailto:info@therowan.org.
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:

Services offered should support disabled people to have increased choices, independence and control of their lives.

Support provided should be based on and directed by the aims, objectives and needs identified by each disabled person.

The same range of opportunities and facilities should be available to disabled people as are available to others.

Disabled people should not be excluded, segregated or discriminated against because of their impairment.

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