Issue 16 – Summer 07 Scottish Spina Bifida Association £2.10

The Family Conference WeekendFebruary 2008

Family conference p8Employment p6Fire safety guides p4

page 8

2 talk:BACK

|welcome|

talk:BACK is the official magazine of The Scottish Spina BifidaAssociation. Our aim is to increase public awareness andunderstanding of individuals with Spina Bifida/Hydrocephalusand allied conditions. It aims to support all those affected toidentify their needs and to empower them to make informedchoices and decisions.

Scottish Spina Bifida AssociationThe Dan Young Building6 Craighalbert Way • Cumbernauld G68 0LSTel: 01236 794 500 • Lo Call: 0845 9 11 11 12Website: www.ssba.org.uk

Family Support Service

Anne KaneAnne MetcalfeDiane Lowrie

Tel: 01236 794516email: familysupport@ssba.org.uk

Services and Development Manager

Mark LeesTel: 01236 794515

email: mark@ssba.org.uk

Andrew H D Wynd: Chief ExecutiveJulie Snaddon: Head of Administration Lorraine Wilson Bookkeeper/AdministratorCaroline Kenny: ReceptionistCheryl Bradshaw: Receptionist

email: mail@ssba.org.uk

Fundraising

Deborah Roe: Head of FundraisingClare Cogan Turner: Fundraising OfficerSandra Bauld: Fundraising Administrator

Tel: 01236 794508email: fundraising@ssba.org.uk

Scottish Charity Number SC 013328. A company limited by guarantee. Registered in Scotland, number 213050.talk:BACK is produced on behalf of SSBA by 55 North Ltd: 0141 22 22 100 / info@55north.com

Andrew H D Wynd • Chief Executive, Scottish Spina Bifida Association

Positive changesahead?With a new Prime Minister at Number 10 SSBA Chief Executive Andrew Wyndwonders whether it will mean any positive changes to the law concerningdisabled people.

Welcome to the latest issue of talk:BACK! Itseems like only yesterday that we wereworking on bringing you the last issue, butsince then there has been a few bigchanges, most notably, a new face atNumber 10.

So, in this issue a few key figures in theworld of disability give us their thoughts onwhat a new Prime Minister would mean fordisabled people and whether they thought

that we would see some positive changesto the law. Turn to page 5 to find out whatthey said.

On the path to employmentWe take a look at a new schemein Edinburgh and the surroundingarea, which has seen JobcentrePlus and the NHS join forces in abid to help disabled people get

on the path to employment(page 6).

It’s a family affairAlso in this month’sissue are details of next year’sFamily Conference Weekend,

taking place in February.The weekend is a great

opportunity to attend

presentations from consultants, lawyers andother professionals about issues affectingthose with Spina Bifida and Hydrocepalus.

If you’ve never attended the weekendthen turn to page 8 for more details.

Fundraising FocusTurn to page 13 to find out howyou can help raise some moneyfor people with Spina Bifida andHydrocepalus. There’s plenty tojoin in with and while you’ll behelping a good cause you’ll alsobe having some fun too.

Deborah RoeSpeaking of fundraising, we would like tocongratulate fundraiser Deborah Roe whohas been awarded Best Up and ComingFundraiser at this year’s National Awards.

The weekend is agreat opportunity toattend presentations

from consultants,lawyers and other

professionals. ”“

talk:BACK 3

|contents|

summer 07

News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4All the latest news and views.

Gordon Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5What does a new Prime Minister mean for disabled people.

On the path to employment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Jobcentre Plus and the NHS join forces.

Family Conference Weekend. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Your chance to attend the weekend.

Tax relief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Advice on the Tax Credit system.

Fundraising Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Fundraising events for you to get involved in.

The National Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Deborah Roe awarded Best Up and Coming Fundraiser.

Holiday Accommodation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Book now for self-catering holidays at super rates!con

ten

ts

4 talk:BACK

|news|

Fire Safety Guide launched

Adult Literacy and Numeracy in North Lanarkshire

A guide for the emergencyevacuation of disabled people frombuildings was launched on July 5 bythe Scottish Executive with thesupport of the Disability RightsCommission.

The guide provides practicaladvice on pre-planning for theevacuation of disabled people in theevent of a fire.

It highlights the types of issuesthat employers and others with firesafety responsibilities shouldconsider in their plans.

The 40 page document alsooutlines the relevant legislation – firesafety, health and safety, anddisability discrimination law.

The guide is the first bespokeguidance for evacuation of disabledpeople to be issued by the ScottishExecutive and complements aseries of sector–specific guides onnew fire safety legislation.

The Adult Literacy and NumeracyTeam has bases in several locationsthroughout North Lanarkshire andaims to help those with limited initialeducation, particularly young adults,and those with a health problem ordisability affecting learning, speechsight or hearing. Wherever possible,learners have access to IT suites inwhich they can use computers as a

tool for learning or to aquire basiccomputer literacy. Learners canmeet in a variety of locations duringthe day or evening and theprogramme of learning is centredaround their own interests and lifeexperiences working at their ownpace and to an agreed plan.

Contact Family Support if you’reinterested.

The fire safety guide can beviewed online atwww.infoscotland.com/firelaw

School’s back!

We can provide training,information and leaflets on spinabifida and hydrocephalus toTeachers and Support forLearning Assistants throughoutScotland – just contact theFamily Support Service.

£1m – is it enough?

According to Capability Scotland,wheelchair services in Scotlandneed long-term fundingcommitments if they are to meetthe needs of users. The claimsfollowed the Scottish Executive’sannouncement of a £1mincrease for wheelchair andseating services, despite a reviewpublished last June thatrecommended funding shouldbe doubled from £14.2m to£30m.

Sheila Williams, head ofdisability initiatives at CapabilityScotland, welcomed thecommitment, but added:“However, we are concerned thatmoney will not go far enough toprovide a service that meets theneeds of disabled people acrossScotland.

BACKchat

The fire safetyguide’s site.

Our Edinburgh Family Groupenjoyed their summer outing at

East Links Park.

talk:BACK 5

|Gordon Brown|

As Gordon Brown takes over the reins at number 10 some of the key figures in theworld of disability shared their opinions on what it means for disabled people.

David Morris, senior policy advisorto the Mayor of London (Disability),comments: “There is great potentialfor a radical and positive change inour lives, and Gordon Brown has theopportunity to make this a reality.Under Blair’s governance we sawthe creation of the Office forDisability Issues and the publicsector duty to promote disabilityequality. The move towardsindividualised budgets for peopleusing personal assistance has alsobeen very welcome.

“However, there is no room forcomplacency. The DiscriminationLaw Review Green Paper for thenew Commission for Equality andHuman Rights looks set toalarmingly dilute the rights ofdisabled people. And worryingly,across the UK, local disabilityservices are being threatened withfurther budget cuts and closures. Inmy opinion, Gordon Brown has thechance to act on this and deliver alegacy of equality for disabled anddeaf people if he prioritises thefollowing issues:● Supporting legislative rights for

independent living and inclusiveeducation.

● Providing legal status for BritishSign Language.

● Delivering a network of Centresfor Independent Living.

● Actively engaging with disabledand deaf people to guarantee ourrights to equal citizenship andindependence.

“As a disabled person, I rightly havehigh expectations of our new PrimeMinister. By working together, wecan make sure disability equalitydoesn’t slip off the government’sagenda.”

Anne Begg, MP for AberdeenSouth, says: “If we want to knowwhat difference Gordon Brown asPrime Minister will make to the livesof disabled people then we will dowell to look at what his priorities

were as Chancellor.“He has been keen to end

poverty, both at home and abroad.Such policies will have a benefit fordisabled people because we knowthat families who have a disabledchild or adult are more likely tosuffer poverty. In the 2006 Budget,Gordon Brown set up a review intoservices for children. As a result, EdBalls MP recently announced £340mof new investment for disabledchildren for the next three years.

“Gordon himself is blind in oneeye and his son was recentlydiagnosed with cystic fibrosis; thisknowledge of disability will give hima perspective that few otherpoliticians have.”

Simone Aspis, Parliamentary andCampaigns worker, United KingdomDisabled People’s Council, adds:“Brown at the helm – business asusual! Can we expect him to identifyas a disabled person and relate tothe issues which many of us face?Can we expect policies whichensure we can equally participate inpolitical, civil and social life as hehas done throughout his life? Canwe expect that disabled people willenjoy the benefits of their paidlabour as he has done and financial

security for those unable toundertake paid work? Will disabledpeople enjoy the mainstreameducation he clearly benefitedfrom? And will disabled people beable to enjoy the same degree ofautonomy and independence he hastaken for granted? We will have towait and see. We hope so.”

Imelda Redmond, chief executiveof Carers UK, says: “During the last10 years this government hasintroduced several pieces oflegislation which have helped carersand their families, most recently theWork and Families Act. But, toomany carers still suffer ill health,poverty and discrimination. Theyfeel the contribution they make tosociety isn’t recognised. GordonBrown has an immediateopportunity to tackle this throughthe review of the National Strategyfor Carers, which is currentlyunderway. My number one requestto him is to review carers’ benefitswhich are unfair, do not supportcarers to work and leave manyliving in poverty.”

Sir Bert Massie, chairman of theDRC, comments: “Gordon Brown’sbiggest priority must be to tacklethe crisis in social care. The situationfacing disabled and older peopleand the army of women and childcarers is now desperate. It can onlybe tackled by ensuring morechoice, control and dignity fordisabled people and their families.This will have social as well aseconomic benefits by creating asociety where disabled people playtheir full part as active citizens, andby bringing considerable return tothe economy.

“The new administration must alsobe bolder in its proposals for anti-discrimination law reform. Withoutmore effective laws, entrenchedinequalities – such as theemployment gap for disabledpeople – will simply never shift inour lifetimes.”

A new face at No. 10

There are highexpectations ofGordon Brown.

Disabled people in Edinburgh andthe surrounding area can nowaccess a scheme which combinesthe expertise of NHS professionalswith the support of Jobcentre Plusstaff in order to help them into work.

Participants on the WorkingTowards Health programme, whomay have been on benefits such asIncome Support and IncapacityBenefit for many years, are givenspecialist support and advicetailored to their needs.

Working Towards Health providesbetween six and eight entirely

confidential one-to-one sessionswith NHS health professionals. Thehealth advisers, who include districtnurses and occupational therapists,are on secondment for a year fromthe NHS and have been speciallytrained by Jobcentre staff.

Anna Riva, Leith branch ofJobcentre Plus, explains:“Sometimes a person has made thedecision to move forward into workbut needs that extra bit of support.The aim of Working Towards Healthis really to give the person a betterunderstanding of their healthcondition and to try and see if theyhave tapped into the healthcarethat’s available through the NHS sothey can manage their position inemployment.”

The one-to-one sessions involvediscussions with the health adviserto ensure that the customer is takingthe right steps on the path to workand to investigate whether or notthere are any health-related barriersto achieving their future goals. Thesessions use techniques from a formof counselling known as CognitiveBehavioural Therapy in order tohelp people change their negativeways of thinking and improve thelikelihood of them becomingsuccessfully employed.

Customers going through theWorking Towards Healthprogramme can be reassured thatthey’re receiving high quality helpfrom fully trained healthcare expertswhose main aim is “to improve thecustomer’s quality of life and to try

and let the person regain controlover their lives and achieve theirambitions”.

Barrier-freeOne of the great things about theWorking Towards Healthprogramme is that it’s notmandatory – participants can dropout at any time if they feel it’s not forthem, with no effect on theirbenefits.

Anna comments: “There are norestrictions, which is great. The waywe work is very informal and wehave a fast referral process. If theperson is in the Jobcentre and ahealth adviser is available, they’llcome down and have a quick chat.”

Customers can refer themselvesto the programme or alternativelyJobcentre Plus staff might encouragethem to consider participating. AsAnna says: “We don’t want to put toomany barriers in a person’s way, wewant it to be as easy and accessibleas possible.”

Employment organisationsworking with people with long-termhealth conditions and disabilities,such as Shaw Trust and Remploy,can also refer their clients.

When it was launched in August2006, the project was open solely todisabled people and people withlong-term health conditions who areout of work. However, it has sincebeen extended to include any jobseekers who think they wouldbenefit from the advice available.Many people have health

Get specialistsupport andadvice with theWorkingTowards Healthprogramme.

6 talk:BACK

Get on the path toemploymentJobcentre Plus and the NHS in East Central Scotland have joined forces tohelp disabled people and others with long-term health conditions get on thepath to employment.

|employment|

complaints which they feel may holdthem back from being successfullyemployed, and the extension of theeligibility criteria for WorkingTowards Health is allowingJobcentres in Edinburgh, EastLothian and Midlothian to providethis useful service to as manypeople as possible.

An opportunity to find out more Potential beneficiaries had theopportunity to learn more about theWorking Towards Healthprogramme in January at an eventheld in Edinburgh. Here they couldspeak to employment adviceorganisations, disabilityorganisations such as CapabilityScotland and the RNIB, andemployers who are positive aboutemploying disabled people – thosepresent at the event included Marks& Spencer and the City ofEdinburgh Counci1. Representativesfrom Edinburgh Leisure (which runssports and leisure facilities for theCouncil) were also present, helpingto promote the benefits of goodhealth and the links betweenexercise and positive mentalwellbeing.

Lynn Ritchie, who is helping tooversee the whole programme,says: “There might be a client sittingat home unsure where they can gethelp, wondering where they shouldstart. We’re trying to bring togetherall the services that are available –sometimes there can seem to besuch a myriad of different things.”

Lisa Thomson was present at theEdinburgh event. She is arecruitment section co-ordinator atMarks & Spencer and was there tomeet unemployed people, find outtheir concerns around employmentand let them know about the Marks& Start programme. This is a workplacement scheme which givespeople from socially excludedgroups (for instance disabledpeople, lone parents and young

unemployed people) the chance tospend two or four weeks on aplacement in a store, in order toenhance their skills.

Lisa explains that Marks &Spencer is keen to take on disabledpeople. “We believe everybody isan individual and everybody hasdifferent skills. We’re looking forpeople’s strong points and we worktogether to see where we can putpeople in our organisation to benefitboth our customer and theemployee themselves, so they’re ina comfortable environment wherethey feel they can achieve their fullpotential with the company.”

Companies like Marks & Spencerare working with EdinburghJobcentres to support the WorkingTowards Health scheme and take itto people who will really benefitfrom it.

Plenty of people have alreadybenefited from the programme: 275individuals have taken part in

Working TowardsHealth so far andsome of them arealready havinginterviews forpotential jobs.

Anna Riva says:“My customershave found it reallyworthwhile. Just

getting that extra level of supportfrom professionals means they havea better understanding of how tomanage their situation – they feelreally reassured.”

With an estimated 2.7m peopleclaiming benefits related to theirincapacity and the vast majority ofdisabled people wanting to work,innovative programmes such asWorking Towards Health are makinga big difference to the lives of many.

talk:BACK 7

Companies like Marks &Spencer are working withEdinburgh Jobcentres tosupport the Working

Towards Health schemeand take it to people whowill really benefit. ”“

|employment|

Pathways to work

The Working Towards Health programme is basedon a similar scheme known as the ConditionManagement programme, which is part of thegovernment’s Pathways to Work scheme.

Pathways to Work is running in a number of pilotareas, offering person-centred interviews to helppeople who have been on benefits for a long timeto get back on the path to employment. Thisinvolves a series of meetings between a trainedadviser and the customer, who will be supported inidentifying future life and work goals. By workingtogether, the adviser and their client will look at anybarriers which might be stopping the customerachieving their aspirations, and the adviser will helpthem to find solutions to overcome any obstacles.

Since Pathways to Work started, more than 25,000people have benefited, and the scheme now covers40% of the country. Because they are not basedwithin the Pathways to Work pilot area, Jobcentresin East Central Scotland have developed their ownscheme in the form of Working Towards Health, sothat customers in the region can take advantage ofsimilar support.

8 talk:BACK

|family conference weekend|

The Family Conference Weekendis back, giving families from allover Scotland the opportunity tomeet each other. So if you haven’tbeen before, read on to find outhow…

Our very popular FamilyConference Weekend is being heldonce again in February 2008.

This will be open to all familiesthroughout Scotland with a child of10 years and under with spina bifidaand/or hydrocephalus.

The Conference runs from Fridayuntil Sunday and is attended byparents/carers, brothers and sisters.Presentations will include medicalmanagement, education law andprovide the opportunity to speak topeople who have grown up withspina bifida and hydrocephalus.

The children are looked after byspecialised creche staff enablingparents and carers to attend thepresentations.

This event is funded by BBCChildren In Need and EdinburghSick Kids Friends Foundation. Therewill be a small charge for families.

Those who have not attended aConference in the past will be givenpriority.

If you are interested in attendingthe weekend please fill in yourdetails on the tear off slip below andreturn it to us.

Family Conference

Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________ Postcode: ________________________

Number of children: ________________________________ Ages of children: ____________________________________________

Please return to: Family Support Workers, Scottish Spina Bifida Association, The Dan Young Building,6 Craighalbert Way, Cumbernauld, G68 0LS or phone: 01236 794516.

talk:BACK 9

|family conference weekend|

Before I left school the Deputy Head ofGreenock Academy asked me if he couldenter me into the Nationwide AwardsScheme for Voluntary Endeavour for theUnder 18 Individual Award Category.

This was because of my work within theschool, and also at Yorkhill Children’sHospital in Glasgow. I am secretary ofYorkhill Youth Voices, which I dovoluntarily. Youth Voices is a group forteenagers, set up so that teenagers had asay in what was being done in the currenthospital. This includes the choice of foodon the wards, the way in which we aretreated by staff, and helping to makehospital stays easier for other teenagers.

I am also a member of the Youth Panelfor the new Children’s Hospital, which is tobe built in 2012 at the Southern GeneralHospital. The Youth Panel was set up tohelp with the planning of the newhospital and to give the views thatteenagers would like to put across, forexample, the way the hospital will lookand the name it will be given.

Also within the school I was a

Befriender to a class from the juniorsection of the school for two years and aSenior Pupil Helper for one year when Iwas in sixth year. When I was a BefrienderI would go to a junior class and help themeach week if they were having anyproblems with bullying or if they werehaving problems with their schoolwork.As a Senior Pupil Helper I went into junior

pupils classes and helped them with theirwork between my own classes.

Following my conversation with myhead of year, I made up a folder of thework that I had done as secretary ofYorkhill Youth Voices. This included areport that I wrote following a trip toAberdeen Children’s Hospital and copiesof e-mails that I had sent to everyone inthe group to organise meetings.

On Monday July 23, 2007, I was,therefore invited to an awards ceremonyby the Nationwide Building Society. Theceremony was held in a suite at theMarriott Hotel in Edinburgh. Theceremony lasted for half an hour, where Iwas presented with a medal and £50worth of dining out vouchers. I reallyenjoyed the event, as it was nice to meetthe other regional winners from the othercategories, which were quite varied.

Congratulations

Finally, all of us here at talk:BACK wouldlike to congratulate Alison on passing herdriving test.

Alison Cloudsley attends the Nationwide Awards Scheme

Alison Cloudsley receiving her award.

10 talk:BACK

|tax credits|

You may get a disabled childelement for each child or youngperson you are responsible for, ifyou receive Disability LivingAllowance (DLA) for them, or thechild or young person is registeredblind.

You may get a severely disabledchild element for each child oryoung person you are responsiblefor if you receive DLA (Highest RateCare Component) for them.

Supporting you in workWorking Tax Credit tops up theincomes of people who are on lowwages.

Working Tax Credit is a paymentto top up the earnings of low paidworking people (whether employedor self-employed) including thosewho do not have children.

Working Tax Credit containsseveral elements, includingadditional amounts for:● Working people with a disability● People with a severe disability ● The costs of registered or

approved childcare

You need to be aged over 25 andwork at least 30 hours per week, oraged over 16 and work at least 16hours per week if you are disabledor responsible for a child.

There are extra amounts forpeople who are disabled. If yourchild or children are in registeredchildcare, the Working Tax Credit

Taxrelief

In April 2003, the governmentintroduced Tax Credits, to top up thepay packets of families and workerson low incomes.

There is also additional supportfor workers with a disability, orfamilies where parents or theirchildren are disabled.

There are two types of Tax Credit:Child Tax Credit and Working TaxCredit.

Supporting your family Child Tax Credit is paid to familiesbased on their income, regardlessof whether or not they are working.

Families earning up to £58,000are entitled to some tax credit, and ifthey have a child under a year oldthe threshold is up to £66,000. Thisamount is paid up until the childturns 16, or up to 20 in certaincircumstances.

If your child is under one year oldor has a disability, then the amountof Child Tax Credit you can receivewill be higher.

Child Tax Credit is different toChild Benefit. It is paid directly tothe main carer for all the children inthe family, so if you are a singleparent, it will be paid to you, and ifyou are part of a couple, you willneed to tell HM Revenue & Customswhich of you is the main carer forthe children.

You can choose whether toreceive payments weekly or everyfour weeks.

Many disabled people and theirfamilies need a little extra helpwith money, so this issue providesadvice on the Tax Credits system.

talk:BACK 11

|tax credits|

will pay up to 80% of the weeklycost, up to a certain limit dependingon how many children you have.

How do I qualify?You may receive the disabledworker element of Working TaxCredit if you work at least 16 hours aweek and you have a physical ormental disability which puts you at adisadvantage in getting a job andyou satisfy either the ‘qualifyingbenefit’ test or the special ‘fast-track’rules, which are outlined below.

If you are claiming as a coupleand your partner is also working for16 hours or more a week, and isentitled to disability element, youmay receive two disability elements.

Disabilities which put someone ata disadvantage in getting a jobmight include:● Visual impairments● Hearing impairments ● Problems with communication● Difficulty getting around ● Mobility impairments ● Mental disabilities● Exhaustion and pain

To pass the ‘qualifying benefit’ test,you must be receiving one of thefollowing benefits:● Disability Living Allowance● Attendance Allowance● Industrial Injuries Disablement

Benefit (with Constant AttendanceAllowance or MobilitySupplement for you)

● War Disablement Pension (withConstant Attendance Allowance orMobility Supplement for you)

● A vehicle provided under theInvalid Vehicle Scheme

Alternatively, you must havereceived one of the followingbenefits in the last six months:● Incapacity Benefit at the short-

term higher rate or the long-termrate

● Income-based Jobseeker’sAllowance, with a DisabilityPremium or Higher PensionerPremium for you

● Income Support, with a DisabilityPremium or Higher PensionerPremium for you

● Severe Disablement Allowance● Council Tax Benefit, with a

Disability Premium or HigherPensioner Premium for you

● Housing Benefit, with a DisabilityPremium or Higher PensionerPremium for you

Full Speed AheadThe ‘fast-track’ rules help if you arefinding it hard to stay in workbecause of a disability. If yourdisability means that after a periodof sickness, you have to change towork with lower pay or reduce yourhours in your current job, you thenqualify for the disability elementearlier. The same applies if you areself-employed. To qualify for thedisability element of Working TaxCredit via the ‘fast-track’ rules, youmust have been getting one or moreof the following for 20 weeks ormore:● Statutory Sick Pay● Occupational Sick Pay● Incapacity Benefit at the short-

term lower rate● Income Support paid because of

incapacity for work● National Insurance credits

awarded because of incapacityfor work

The 20 weeks can be made up ofany time that you received thebenefits or National Insurancecredits which are separated byeight weeks or less – they don’thave to be 20 consecutive weeks.These times may be ‘linked’, that is,added together to see whether yousatisfy the 20 week condition.

You must have a disability thatputs you at a disadvantage ingetting a job. In addition, your grossearning (before tax and NationalInsurance contributions arededucted) must be at least 20% lessthan they were before you had thedisability, with a minimum reductionof £15 a week.

If you or your partner (if you areclaiming as a couple) get DisabilityLiving Allowance (Highest Rate CareComponent) or AttendanceAllowance (Higher Rate), you canget the severe disability element.You do not have to be working toqualify for the severe disabilityelement as long as your partnerdoes. If you both qualify, you will gettwo severe disability elements.

Paying for childcareYou may be able to get moreWorking Tax Credit to help with thecost of registered or approvedchildcare. This is the childcareelement of Working Tax Credit. Thechildcare element can help with upto 80% of your childcare costs up toa maximum cost of £175 a week forone child and £300 a week for twoor more children. This means thatthe childcare element is worth up toan extra £140.00 a week (£175 x80%) for families with one child, and£240.00 a week (£300 x 80% forfamilies with two or more children.

To claim Tax Credits or for moreinformation, telephone 0845 3003900 or visit your local HMRCEnquiry Centre or Jobcentre Plus.

Moving house? Getting married? Changing your contact details?

Scottish Spina Bifida Association, The Dan Young Building, 6 Craighalbert Way,Cumbernauld G68 0LS. Tel: 01236 794 516 • Email: familysupport@ssba.org.uk

If your contact details have changed, make sure you let us know. Not only will you be ableto continue receiving talk:BACK free of charge, you’ll also stay on our database to let us keep

in touch with you in the future. Let us have your new details by post, email or phone.

You may be able to getmore Working Tax Creditto help with the cost ofregistered or approved

childcare. This is thechildcare element ofWorking Tax Credit. ”“

SDS is the governing and co-ordinating body of all sports forall people of all ages and abilities with a physical, sensory orlearning disability in Scotland, with the vision of leading thedevelopment of sport and physical recreation. SDS recentlylaunched its new national strategy which will lead the work ofthe association through to the Olyimpics in London in 2012.SDS considers among its major partners ssssppppoooorrrrttttssssccccoooottttllllaaaannnndddd,Scottish governing bodies of sport and Scotland’s LocalAuthorities.

SDS has 16 branches that cover the whole of Scotlandranging from the Highlands to the Scottish Borders. SDS has asmall team of dedicated staff but prides itself on the numberof volunteers and athlete members who play a major part inthe running of the Association.

SDS members have featured prominently in GB teams thathave been highly successful at the past five Paralympic Gamesincluding the most recent in Torino in March 2006 whenScottish curlers as part of the GB wheelchair curling team returned home with the silver medal. Scottish athletesand teams also enjoy considerable success on the international stage. Scotland’s cerebral palsy football teamrecently competed in the European Championships in Ireland and Scottish swimmers at the IPC World SwimmingChampionships in South Africa returned home with 9 medals. SDS organises a national events programme in

bowls, athletics, football, swimming, archery,boccia, wheelchair curling, cross country, etc. Thereis also a parallel programme of squad training andfestivals geared to promoting new sports anddeveloping the full potential of individualmembers, in particular children and young people.

SDS is committed to widening physical activityopportunities for individuals with a disability,particularly juniors. Participation at Paralympiclevel is the goal of many Scots sports people with adisability and SDS is there to offer support andadvice when appropriate.

Anyone wishing to find out more about sport forpeople with a disability in Scotland should contactthe SDS office on 0131 3171130 or alternatively,view the SDS website atwww.scottishdisabilitysport.com.

SCOTTISHDISABILITY

SPORT

SCOTTISHDISABILITY

SPORT

Advertisement Feature

Fundraising focus

26th November 2007 – GordonRamsay’s St Andrews Day GalaBall at Stirling CastleThis is a unique opportunity to beone of only 250 people toexperience the magic of this SaintAndrew’s Evening. Venue: StirlingCastle. Tickets are £500 per person.

Win 2 tickets to Gordon’s GalaDinner at Stirling Castle(including accommodation andtravel)To enter text GORDON to 86633.You could be 1 of only 250 peopleat Gordon Ramsay’s Saint Andrew’sDay Gala Dinner.

Texts cost £1.50 per text plusnetwork charges. Entrants must be18 years of age. 84p from each textgoes directly to the Scottish SpinaBifida Association.

For full terms and conditions andmore information on the competitiongo to www.ssba.org.uk/competition

Xmas Raffle DrawThe SSBA are hoping to make this arecord breaking year for raffle ticketsales so please contact Clare orDeborah today on 01236 794508 fortickets.

Christmas CardsSSBA has a fantastic range ofChristmas Cards for sale this year.Please call 01236 794508 or emailfundraising@ssba.org.uk for ourcard information.

30th November 2007 – SaintAndrews Day Dinner & Ceilidh

Hosted by Cumbernauld College.Award winning French Patisseriechef and his students combine withCumbernauld’s finest cateringstudents for a great evening of foodand dance. Venue: CumbernauldCollege. Tickets are £25 per person.

23 February 2008 – Fire & IceEventIt’s back even bigger and betterthan last year. This year you canwalk on fire or glass or both andwith sponsorship from the ScottishRound Table Area 51, every pennyraised by you goes directly to thecharity. This is an inspirational andmotivational event and one not to bemissed.

The evening includes superbmotivational training followed by theexhilerating walk across fire and/orglass.

Venue: SSBA Centre inCumbernauld. Apply today!

25th May 2008Edinburgh Marathon SSBA have a limited number ofguaranteed places for this event.Don’t miss out on one of the topmarathons in the uk. Please contactClare in Fundraising for moreinformation and application forms

Thank YouThe Scottish Spina Bifida Associationwould like to say a big thank you toall those who have taken part in orhave held events for them over thepast few months.Your support isvery much appreciated.

How to take part –contact FundraisingTo take part in any of these activitiesplease emailfundraising@ssba.org.uk or call01236 794500 and they will be ableto give you further information orsend you application andsponsorship forms.

Don’t have time to collect –Justgiving.comIf you don’t have the time to getpeople to sponsor you and collectsponsorship money later, we haveteamed up with justgiving.com, awebsite which allows our runners &event participants to raise moneyquickly and easily online with theirown personalised web pages.

Friends and family will be able todonate online with a credit or debitcard – so no more running aroundwith paper sponsorship forms, orchasing cheques and cash afteryour event. To set up your pagetoday, please visit the website at:www.justgiving.com/ssba/raisemoney

Everyclick.comThe search engine with a heart,Everyclick.com donates half of itsrevenue to charities. So forgetGoogle – make www.everyclick.comyour homepage. By choosingScottish Spina Bifida Association asyour chosen charity, the Associationwill receive a donation fromEveryclick every time you do asearch for anything! There is nocatch, you don’t pay anything – it’sjust an easy way for you to supportus. Donating has never been thiseasy. The more people that join thebetter, so spread the word!

GordonRamsay’s StAndrews DayGala Ball takesplace at StirlingCastle.

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❏ Activities for Fine Motor Development

❏ Adults with Hydrocephalus

❏ Anal Plug

❏ Anencephaly

❏ Antegrade Colonic Enema

❏ Baby with Spina Bifida(Book)

❏ Bladder Augmentation & Incontinence Surgery

❏ Choosing a Car

❏ Clean Intermittent Catheterisation

❏ Constipation and Diet

❏ Early Positioning, Stimulation & Exercises for Babies& Pre-School Children with Hydrocephalus

❏ Genetic Counselling

❏ Hydrocephalus – What is?

❏ Hydrocephalus and/or Spina Bifida(Guidelines for the Classroom Assistant)

❏ Hydrocephalus & Behaviour(for Parents)

❏ Hydrocephalus & Behaviour(for Teachers)

❏ Hydrocephalus & Literacy & Thinking Skills(for Parents)

❏ Hydrocephalus & Mathematics(for Teachers)

❏ Hydrocephalus & Numeracy(for Parents)

❏ Hydrocephalus & Physical Abilities(Motor skills & co-ordination) for Teachers

❏ Latex Allergy

❏ Learning Difficulties

❏ Living with a Shunt

❏ Mitrofanoff Stoma

❏ Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

❏ Orthopaedic Aspects

❏ Precocious (or early) Puberty

❏ Pregnancy & Spina Bifida

❏ Pressure Area Care

❏ Scoliosis in Spina Bifida

❏ Shunt Alert Card

❏ Shunt Malfunction(A guide to symptoms & suggested action foremployers)

❏ Shunt Malfunction(A guide to symptoms & suggested action for schools)

❏ Signs & Symptoms of a Blocked Shunt

❏ Slit Ventricle Syndrome

❏ Spina Bifida – What is?

❏ Spina Bifida Occulta

❏ Stoma Care

❏ Toilet Training & Spina Bifida

❏ Urinary Investigations

❏ Vitamin Supplementation in the Prevention of NeuralTube Defect

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Leaflet ListPlease tick ❏ for leaflet(s) required.

If you have any questions or would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Family Support Workers at:Scottish SPINA BIFIDA Association • Family Support Service The Dan Young Building 6 Craighalbert Way Cumbernauld

G68 0LS • Tel: 0141 5867111 • Fax: 01415867222 • LO-CALL 0845911 11 12E-mail: familysupport@ssba.org.uk • Web: www.ssba.org.uk

This fact sheet is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace or be relied on as medical or professional advice. Contactus if you require this publication in any other format or language. Sponsored by The Scottish Outdoor Advertising Group.

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Swimming a problem? No need to worry…we have the solutionHi Line Ltd manufacture a fantastic range of Continence swimwear for both childrenand adults without the need for pads.

All styles of our Continence Swimwear range have a unique waterproof integratedpant, which has a polyurethane nylon coating that is rustle free and

completely impermeable to water. Our construction combines a snug fitaround the legs and waist, along with a silicone seal to the waistband.This combination offers the best protection and containmentavailable for you or your child, without the use of a moderndisposable nappy.

Our swimwear is fully washable, lightweight, and in a rangeof fabulous colours and patterns. The range included Bikinis,Tankini, Swimsuits and Trunks.

We can also offer a bespoke service – this is ideal for users that donot fall into the universal sizing chart. Therefore if measurements aresubmitted to us then we will make a bespoke swimsuit – at an extra cost.

If you need any further information on our Special Swimwear, please callour Customer Care Team on 0845 6018341

You can view the entire range on www.ostomartstore.co.uk

Swimming a problem? No need to worry…we have the solution

Scottish Spina Bifida FundraiserDeborah Roe has been awardedthe Best Up and ComingFundraiser Award at the Instituteof Fundraising National Awards2007 – designed for Fundraisers byFundraisers. Hosted by BBCBreakfast’s Chris Hollins at theHilton London Metropole onMonday 9 July 2007, the Awardswere presented by a selectioninfluential people in fundraising.

The National Awards celebratethe achievements of professionaland volunteer fundraisers, winnershave been drawn from across thevoluntary sector, representing awide variety of campaigns andcauses. Each category is reviewedagainst the best practice standardsfor UK fundraisers; the Codes ofFundraising Practice.

Deborah Roe was recognised asshowing aptitude, ability andsuccess beyond her experience.

Lindsay Boswell, chief executiveof the Institute of Fundraising, said:“This winning individual joined hercurrent organisation with noprevious fundraising experience,and almost immediately found heroverall target doubled to £500,000.

“In less than three years she hashelped build the relationship witha celebrity Patron, designed herOrganisation’s website andsecured bill board space acrossScotland, to name just threeachievements.”

Deborah Roe, head offundraising at the Scottish SpinaBifida Association, said:“Fundraising can be extremelychallenging and I am delighted tohave my efforts recognised by theInstitute of Fundraising. Winningthis award demonstrates thatsmaller Scottish charities can berecognised for their achievementsat a national level”. Deborah Roe and her fundraising award.

Scottish Spina Bifida Fundraiser wins NationalAward for best up and coming Fundraiser

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Top of our holiday accommodationlist is a week’s stay at theAssociation’s own fully adaptedCottage in Carnoustie.

Please phone now on 01236 794500 and book your holiday bycredit/debit card. It’s that simple!

Alternatively you can takeadvantage of our new deal incaravan accommodation. Inpartnership with British Holidays weare now able to offer greatlyreduced rates on any of theircaravans featured in the latest BritishHolidays Brochure.You can order abrochure now by phoning 08702425500 or visit www.british-holidays.co.uk.

Our sponsored pricing structureis based on the actual cost to theAssociation and therefore is variablethroughout the season with the mostexpensive generally being duringpublic holiday and school holidaytimes. In order to compensate forthis we have introduced a highersubsidy for families with a childunder 16.

All wheelchair accessiblecaravans comfortably sleep 5.

Book now for self catering holidayaccommodation at super rates!

Rebecca Cottage, Carnoustie (nearDundee), is a four bedroomdetached cottage set on the seafront of the Angus coast with aporch looking out to sea.

Direct Payments for children – the way forwardDirect Payments are a way of getting services that allows youmore choice and control over how your child’s needs are met.However, many parents in Scotland are confused about whatDirect Payments are and how they work in practice.

What is a Direct Payment? A Direct Payment is money from your local council, allowing youto buy care for your child instead of having that care organisedby the Social Work department.

You can use a Direct Payment to buy services from a privatecare agency, a voluntary organisation, another local authority orif you prefer you can make arrangements to employ someoneyourself.

How can I get a Direct Payment?You can ask for a Direct Payment if you are already gettingservices from Social Work.

If you don’t get services already then you will first need to askthe Social Work Department for an assessment of your child’scare needs.

How much will I get as a Direct Payment? You must be given a payment that is sufficient to allow you tobuy in the amount of care that your child has been assessed asneeding.

If your council charges for children’s services, they are likely todeduct from your Direct Payment the same amount as wouldhave been charged if they had organised the care package.

Are there any restrictions on using a Direct Payment?A Direct Payment cannot simply be spent on whatever youchoose. Instead it must be used to buy services that meet yourchild’s assessed needs.

In addition it is not currently possible to use a Direct Paymentto pay a close relative who lives in the same household as thechild.

In exceptional circumstances your local council may agree toallow you to pay a close relative who lives elsewhere or to paysomeone who shares your house who is not a close relative.

If you have any specific questions about Direct Paymentsplease telephone Family Support.

Three stages to success!

●Check brochure and decide on the holiday youare interested in.

●Phone us on 01236 794 500 to check availabilityof sponsored price.

●Have your credit/debit card ready to securebooking.