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Access Newsletter: September 2012
News desk................................................................................................................3
Access: Cafe brands wheelchair user a safety hazard.........................................3
Access: Broads access for disabled anglers on River Waveney..........................4
Access (Wales): One-in-ten admits to illegal parking in accessible parking bays 4
Alzheimer's: Care home recreates 1950s street...................................................6
Architecture (USA): Recycling the Tower in the Park for retirees.........................7
Disabled people: New disability action alliance announced to deliver strategy....8
Discrimination: A beginner’s guide to the ban on age discrimination ...................9
Discrimination (Northern Ireland): School refused to enrol boy with diabetes....11
Discrimination (USA): Bank of America settles loan discrimination charges......13
Discrimination (USA): Airline refuses service to parents with disabled son .......13
Education: Proposals to reform provision for students with SEN........................15
Equality: Chartered Institute of Housing equality and diversity charter...............16
Government: Cabinet reshuffle...........................................................................17
Inclusion: Catch up with the Paralympics vibe – stop excluding people.............18
Independence (Wales): Government plans for a Wales accessible to all...........19
Legislation (USA): So sorry, people with special needs are not profitable.........21
Lifetime homes: A third of homeowners would rather renovate than relocate....21
London 2012: RNIB attacks LOCOG and Visa over inaccessible cashpoints....22
London 2012: Legacy plan published.................................................................24
Planning: Common sense planning reform to create more homes ....................25
Research: Coming in and Going out...................................................................26
Sport: Sports clubs urged to encourage disabled people to take up sport.........27
Sport (Russia): Sochi 2014 accessibility preparations ahead of schedule.........28
Telecare: Postcode lottery in access to telecare revealed by audit....................28
Welfare reform: Bedroom tax worries parent of disabled children......................29
Publications, consultations and reports............................................................32Codes of practice: Employment, services and equal pay...................................32
Draft review: Design of accessible and adaptable general needs housing ........32
Guidance: The Design of Streets with Older People in Mind..............................33
Access Newsletter – September 20121
Guidance: Building for Life 12.............................................................................33
Guide: Myth-busting guide to buying energy-saving light bulbs launched..........34
Local Transport Note: Shared use 1 / 12............................................................34
Report: Local authorities’ work with visually impaired people.............................35
Research: Study finds 17 per cent of visually impaired people avoid shopping. 35
Review: The Coastal Access scheme................................................................36
Events...................................................................................................................38Event: Keeping safe and maintaining independence .........................................38
Conference: The NRAC Autumn Conference and TTAT launch........................38
Award: Bathroom Design for All Award..............................................................39
Conference: The Big Debate - South East Regional Equality Conference.........40
Event: Enabled by Design-athon........................................................................40
The London Conference 2012............................................................................41
Forum: Independent Living: Providing Greater Choice ......................................41
Event: The Future of Digital Communications in the Public Sector....................42
Access Newsletter – September 20122
News desk
Access: Cafe brands wheelchair user a safety hazard
A man has spoken of his disgust at being branded a health and safety hazard because
he uses a wheelchair.
Door staff refused Luke Kenshole entry to the first floor of Cafe Mambo in Torquay,
Devon earlier this month. Mr Kenshole said: ‘What's the point of being inspired by the
Paralympics if you can't go out for a drink with your mates.’ But Lifestyle Hospitality
Group which operates the venue said safety was paramount and staff had acted in an
appropriate manner.
Mr Kenshole was with a group of nine friends, including Emily Rookes, who told the
door staff they would be responsible for him and were happy to carry him up and down
the stairs. ‘They told him he was a health and safety hazard and he couldn't go
upstairs,’ Ms Rookes said.
Mr Kenshole said the door staff should have treated him with dignity. ‘They should have
taken me aside and explained it discreetly instead of shouting it in public that I was a
safety hazard,’ he said.
A spokesperson for Lifestyle Hospitality said Mr Kenshole was not refused entry, as he
was told he could be accommodated in the club's ground floor Beach Hut, which has
disabled access and facilities.
‘I really don't want this to have a negative effect on Mambo's business, because it's
supposed to be a great venue, but I would very much like them to review their policy,’
Mr Kenshole said.
For further information, visit the BBC News website
Access Newsletter – September 20123
http://tinyurl.com/9mgxpsy
Access: Broads access for disabled anglers on River Waveney
Opportunities to fish on the Broads have been improved for wheelchair users with the
installation of platforms along the River Waveney.
Costing £50,000, the 10 wooden platforms and boardwalk have improved access on an
existing 150 metre (500 foot) of reed bed at Worlingham, Suffolk.
Mark Casto, Chairman of the Broads Angling Strategy Group said: ‘This is a fantastic
resource. We're opening up the river to people who couldn't get here and fish before.’
The project has been funded by the Broads Authority and Environment Agency.
A new bank upstream has also been prioritised for angling to compensate for a
restriction on fishing from the adjacent small and busy 24-hour mooring at Worlingham.
‘I've fished the River Waveney since I was a boy,’ said Mr Casto.
‘A few years ago we had a muddy bank, but we've just had somebody down today really
pleased that although he's disabled he can fish off a safe peg (platform) and enjoy a
great day's fishing.’
For further information, visit the BBC News websitehttp://tinyurl.com/9vj2uhp
Access (Wales): One-in-ten admits to illegal parking in spaces reserved for disabled drivers
The worst offenders were found to be people aged between 45 and 55; among whom
one-in-six confessed that they invaded these reserved spaces often.
These abuses of the ‘Blue Badge’ parking system emerged in a survey of 1,009 people
conducted on behalf of the Welsh Government as part of a drive to encourage greater
Access Newsletter – September 20124
respect for the parking rights of disabled vehicle users. The initiative was also supported
by legendary Paralympic athlete, Dame Tanni Grey Thomson; herself a Blue Badge
holder.
It follows the recent introduction of new-style Blue Badges for legitimate users of Blue
Badge spaces. The badge contains additional security features to help the authorities
identify improper use and prevent forgeries and is free across Wales but not in England
and Scotland.
The Welsh Government has stated its intention to crack down on the so-called space
invaders who either park in a designated space without a Blue Badge or use a badge
fraudulently.
Abuse of the Blue Badge parking system denies spaces to legitimate users; often
causing them major inconvenience or physical pain when they are forced to park further
away from shops or other facilities.
Despite significant flouting of the rules, the results of the survey also revealed strong
public support for tougher policing of the system.
Nearly 70 per cent of respondents said it was never acceptable to park in an accessible
space without a permit, with only 6 per cent arguing that it is acceptable if someone is in
a hurry or only wants to stay a few minutes.
In addition more than a third of those questioned said illegal users of these spaces
should be clamped or towed away, with only 20 per cent saying a fine of less than £100
was appropriate.
Although the new-style badges are issued by local councils, they are linked to a new UK
database of eligible users. This makes it much easier for police and parking wardens
anywhere in the country to verify whether or not a badge is being used legitimately.
For further information, visit the Information Daily website
Access Newsletter – September 20125
http://tinyurl.com/95un9cd
Alzheimer's: Care home recreates 1950s street
With its traditional local pub, quaint cafe and greengrocers, adverts on the walls and
ration books on the tables, a stroll along this street is like stepping back to the 1950s.
But this is a road that is special not merely for its nostalgia. For Memory Lane has been
carefully constructed by a care home to help its residents who have dementia and
Alzheimer’s to feel more comfortable. It is even hoped it could improve their ability to
recall their own pasts.
Architects studied photographs of 1950s streets to properly capture the era in the
design of the shops and pub. Then staff combed through scrap yards, charity shops and
auction websites to unearth the perfect objects to fill the buildings. They found original
adverts as well as an authentic phone box and post box.
Residents can read newspapers and magazines from the period, detailing the Queen’s
Coronation, or choose cakes from the greengrocers, which has weighing scales inside
and an old delivery bike propped up nearby.
In the White Hart pub, they will find tobacco tins, vintage beer mats and beer stools,
where they can sit and sup a cold beer or tea and coffee.
Manager Christopher Taylor said the company decided to build the street on land
between two homes it runs, caring for 80 residents in Winterbourne, Bristol.
He said: ‘It is really important for those with dementia who are mobile to have a
destination. They can visit the pub or the post office – this makes it a walk with a
purpose, which is so important.’
Studies have shown that talking about the past benefits the memory.
Access Newsletter – September 20126
Research in 2009 by Exeter University found that chatting with peers about the war
years caused those with dementia to experience an average of 12 per cent boost in
their ability to remember.
For further information, visit the Daily Mail websitehttp://tinyurl.com/8okujkc
Architecture (USA): Recycling the Tower in the Park for retirees
As we approach 2020, when about one-fifth of the US population will be 60 or older,
design will need to adapt to serve an aged demographic. According to the American
Association of Retired Persons, nearly 90 per cent of older people say they want to age
in place - that is, receive support services like meals and transportation help in their own
homes instead of moving into retirement communities. The question facing architects
and planners is how will cities meet the needs of these ageing boomers?
To that end, some New York architects are revisiting an ill-reputed housing type from
the city’s modernist days: the tower in the park. Beloved by Le Corbusier for dismantling
the messiness of pedestrian life and despised by Jane Jacobs for the same reason,
many of these towers are now home to a disproportionately large number of the over-60
age group, thanks to a unique set of economic circumstances.
Though they weren’t built with older people in mind, towers in the park have evolved
into something of a model for ageing in place: they have wide hallways that
accommodate wheelchairs, passenger lifts, shops close by and for long-term residents,
established social connections.
In New York State, buildings with a large population of older people - usually between
40 and 50 per cent of residents - can be designated as naturally occurring retirement
communities (NORCS) and get funding for support services such as health-care
management and social work programmes. Since the first community received US
government funding in 1994, the number in New York City alone has reached 37, part of
the state’s total of 52.
Access Newsletter – September 20127
A Guide to NORCs in NYC will be published this autumn, revealing research collated
from the last two years on these communities.
The rise of NORCs transforms the tower in the park from a design criticised as isolating
to one that helps keep the social fabric of the city intact. The evolution of NORCs
speaks to the flexibility of design, even in rigid schemes.
Georgeen Theodore, Principal of the Brooklyn architecture and planning firm Interboro
Partners said: ‘As an architect, you design housing and things change after you leave
the scene. Understanding how projects adapt and change over time should be an
important part of the design process.’
For further information, visit the Atlantic Cites websitehttp://tinyurl.com/9nzh5e3
Disabled people: New disability action alliance announced to deliver disability strategy
The Government recently announced the formation of a new disability action alliance to
help respond to the ideas put forward by disabled people and their organisations on
living fulfilling lives.
Convened by Disability Rights UK and supported by the Office for Disability Issues, the
alliance will consider thousands of suggestions put forward by disabled people earlier
this year as part of the Fulfilling Potential discussion.
Minister for Disabled People, Esther McVey said:
‘The Paralympics truly captivated the hearts of the nation and have undoubtedly helped
shift attitudes and perceptions towards disabled people. What we have now is a once-
in-a-lifetime opportunity to capitalise on this and to work with disabled people to deliver
lasting change.’
Access Newsletter – September 20128
Last December the Government invited disabled people to help shape a new cross-
government disability strategy. The Fulfilling Potential, the Discussions So Far, now
published, summarises the issues raised, and shows how actions are already being
taken across Government to address many of the issues.
The alliance will put disabled people and their organisations at the heart of creating
inclusive local communities and changing attitudes to disability.
For further information, visit the Department for Work and Pensions website
http://tinyurl.com/9rufouu
Discrimination: A beginner’s guide to the ban on age discrimination in goods and services
From 1 October, the Government will bring into force the provisions within the Equality
Act 2010 (EA 2010) which prohibit age discrimination in the field of goods and services.
This means that commercial, charitable and public sector organisations will be required
to eliminate unequal treatment on the grounds of age in respect of the provision of
goods and services.
However, there are many exceptions contained in both the EA 2010 and the draft
statutory instrument entitled the Equality Act 2010 (Age Exceptions) Order 2012 (Age
Exceptions Order). These were formulated following a detailed consultation exercise
carried out in 2011.
This change in the law is an interesting development because the ban on age
discrimination does not have the same European context as other forms of
discrimination. There is no directive currently prohibiting age discrimination in the field of
goods and services. It is however a well-established and fundamental principle of
community law that there should be equality of treatment. This is further enshrined
within article 19 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union in the context of
age.
Access Newsletter – September 20129
The principle of non-discrimination on the grounds of age in the context of service
providers is contained in sections 13, 19, 26, 27 and 29 of the EA 2010. Only those over
18 are afforded protection. As explained by the guidance, this means that organisations
can continue to operate no children hotels and holidays. However, service providers
should proceed with some caution because treating under-18s more favourably might
lead to litigation by older age groups.
Service-providers are defined as persons concerned with the provision of services,
goods or facilities to the public or a section of the public, regardless of whether or not a
payment is provided and regardless of whether or not the relevant persons are
exercising a public function. It follows that a wide range of activities will fall within the
scope of section 29 from the provision of medical treatment by the NHS to the sale of
finance products by private banks.
In broad terms, the EA 2010 prohibits service-providers from:
direct or indirect discrimination against a person because of age by withholding a
service or in respect of the terms on which a service is provided, the termination
of the service or subjecting that person to any other detriment
harassing a person because of age who requires the service or uses the service
victimising a person because of age by withholding the service or in respect of
the terms on which a service is provided, the termination of the service or
subjecting that person to any other detriment
The scope of indirect age discrimination in the context of age discrimination is not
altogether obvious. However, new guidance offers a useful example, suggesting that
indirect age discrimination would arise where an optician restricts eligibility to payment
by instalments to those in work, thereby placing pensioners at a disadvantage.
The EA 2010 also renders it unlawful to provide a service either in a different way or in
an inferior way because of a person’s age. An example is where a salesperson in a
computer store serves an older customer less courteously by making jokes or perhaps
offensive comments on the assumption that the customer is less knowledgeable about
technology because of his or her age.
Access Newsletter – September 201210
Importantly, where an employer organises for a third party to provide a service only to
the employer’s employees, the third party will be a service provider and the employees
will be classed as a section of the public so as to engage section 29 of the EA 2010.
The employer would not be classed as a service provider, but any discriminatory
activities might fall under part 5 of the EA 2010, which governs the employment
relationship. One common scenario caught within this section would be the provision of
IT services or occupational health services by an external organisation.
Additional examples and further explanation is given in the following link. The content of
which also covers:
European dimension
healthcare
financial products
concessions
holidays
age verification
sport
charities
schools
positive action
The Government has stressed that: ‘the vast majority of businesses and organisations
will be able to continue to operate as usual and certain areas will be exempt from the
ban altogether’. This may be the case however, there are a number of industries where
there is likely to be a significant amount of litigation and that litigation will be particularly
complex and time consuming because of the lack of clarity concerning the way in which
sections 13 and 19 should be construed in the context of goods and services.
For further information, visit the Law Gazette websitehttp://tinyurl.com/9lx4qre
Discrimination (Northern Ireland): School refused to enrol little boy with diabetes
Access Newsletter – September 201211
A school acted unlawfully by refusing to admit a four-year-old pupil who has diabetes,
the Department of Education has stated.
Bloomfield Primary School in Bangor, which had agreed to accept him and was fully
aware of his condition, did an 11th hour U-turn, according to his family.
His devastated parents, Helen and David Todd, claimed Bloomfield Primary had first
been made aware that Josh had Type 1 diabetes and was insulin-dependent in
January, following his diagnosis. Their son’s blood sugar levels have to be checked
regularly throughout the day and he receives four injections daily.
But just days before he was due to start Bloomfield Primary, and after several visits to
the school, Mr and Mrs Todd said they were informed that Josh could not be admitted
because the school did not have the provision to cater for his diabetes.
Mrs Todd said: ‘Legally we have to send our child to school, but in our opinion the
school has shown no compassion or willingness to help our son get the education that
he is entitled to.’
She added: ‘We believe our son’s school has got their union involved and they have
advised them not to volunteer to help us. We both work full-time so are not in a position
to provide this care while he is at school. As far we are concerned, this is disability
discrimination and a breach of European legislation.’
The Department of Education said: ‘Under Article 14 of the Special Educational Needs
and Disability (Northern Ireland) Order it is unlawful for the body responsible for a
school to discriminate against a disabled pupil by refusing or deliberately omitting to
admit him or her to the school. ‘
They also stated: ‘Schools must also be able to show what reasonable steps they took
towards ensuring the inclusion of the pupil at the school.’
For further information, visit the Belfast Telegraph website
http://tinyurl.com/988upxl
Access Newsletter – September 201212
Discrimination (USA): Bank of America settles loan discrimination charges
Bank of America agreed to settle claims it violated US federal law by discriminating
against disabled mortgage applicants, the Department of Justice said this month.
The USA’s second-largest bank will pay up to $5,000 (over £3,000) to borrowers who
were asked to provide a letter from a doctor verifying their social security income and
the severity of their impairment.
It is unclear how many people were affected by these practices, but the bank has
agreed to hire an outside auditor to review about 25,000 loan applications. The settle-
ment covers disabled borrowers who applied for a loan between May 2007 and April
2012.
US Justice Department officials maintain that there is no written guideline or regulation
that requires a lender to obtain a letter from a doctor.
While this is the department’s first case dealing with social security income, it has
engaged in a series of mortgage investigations in the aftermath of the housing crisis.
The department has launched 1,452 mortgage fraud cases against 2,742 defendants
since 2010 and secured 1,550 convictions.
This case is the latest in a series of allegations that Bank of America mistreated
homeowners.
For further information, visit the Washington Post websitehttp://tinyurl.com/948dpfr
Discrimination (USA): Family film the moment an airline refuses service because their son has Down's Syndrome
A family have claimed they were stopped from boarding a flight because their son has
Down's Syndrome and was not wanted in the first class section.
Access Newsletter – September 201213
Joan and Robert Vanderhorst are threatening to sue American Airlines after they say
they were victims of discrimination over their 16 year old son. The couple claim they
were told by airline staff they were not allowed to take their seats. Airline staff allegedly
told them their son was disruptive and a danger to the flight crew.
But Mrs Vanderhorst began filming her son as he waited in the departure lounge
showing him sitting silently waiting to board the flight at Newark, New Jersey. The
family, who have flown together dozens of times, insist their son was singled out on this
occasion as they had upgraded to the first class section.
American Airlines claims their son was 'excitable, running around, and not acclimated to
the environment'. 'For the safety of the young man and the safety of others, American
Airlines offered to book another flight for the family,' an American Airlines spokesman
said.
Mr Vanderhorst says the family was warned their son's behavior was a concern
because their first class seat was too close to the cockpit and a distraction to the pilot
could cause a mid-flight emergency landing.
'My son is no different from a 4 or 5 year-old as far as behaviour,' he insisted.
The Vanderhorsts claim Bede hadn't caused any trouble and instead was being
discriminated against. They said the airline was in breach of her son's civil rights and
the Americans with Disabilities Act.
'Respect each person's dignity,' Mr Vanderhorst said. 'Every one of us should be treated
with equal dignity.'
For further information, visit the Daily Mail websitehttp://tinyurl.com/9rumfs2
Access Newsletter – September 201214
Education: Proposals to reform provision for children and young people with special educational needs
Proposals to reform provision for children and young people with special educational
needs were first set out in the special educational needs (SEN) and disability green
paper Support and Aspiration, published in March 2011, and the subsequent Next
Steps document published in May 2012.
The reforms are being tested in 20 pathfinder areas, covering 31 local authorities and
their health partners.
The Government has now published draft provisions to improve the support provided to
those children and young people, and to their parents. These provide for:
a new duty for joint commissioning which will require local authorities and health
bodies to take joint responsibility for providing services
a requirement on local authorities to publish a local offer of services for disabled
children and young people and those with special educational needs
new protections for young people aged 16 to 25 in further education and a
stronger focus on preparing them for adulthood.
parents and young people, for the first time, to be entitled to have a personal
budget, extending their choice and control over their support
further education colleges for the first time and all academies, including free
schools, to have the same duties as maintained schools to safeguard the
education of children and young people with SEN
Previously further education colleges had not been subject to SEN duties. The
provisions relating to academies reflect the requirements currently in the majority of
funding agreements signed since the introduction of the Academies Act 2010.
Placing these requirements on the face of the legislation will give greater clarity to
academies, parents and young people and will ensure further education colleges face
the same requirements for the first time. The draft provisions would ensure that parents,
Access Newsletter – September 201215
young people and children are on the same footing whether they attend (or wish to
attend) a maintained school, an academy, or a further education or sixth form college.
The Department of Education is sending out an invitation to disabled children and young
people and those with special educational needs (SEN) to join a Young People’s
Advisory Group (YPAG). This group will influence the policy making process by bringing
disabled young people together with Ministers and officials who are taking forward the
Government’s reforms set out in its green Paper, Support and aspiration: A new
approach to special educational needs and Disability.
For further information, visit the Department of Education websitehttp://tinyurl.com/8kgyrdg
Equality: Chartered Institute of Housing equality and diversity charter
The Chartered Institute of Housing have published a new equality and diversity charter.
It is a flexible framework that helps identify what outcomes a fair and accessible housing
service can deliver.
Housing plays a fundamental role in everyone’s life. Homes, and the communities in
which they are located, directly influence access to key social and economic
opportunities and affect wellbeing.
Equality means that the housing sector is striving for a better balance in opportunities,
resources, and decision-making processes for staff, customers and communities. Being
more aware of and proactive about the diversity of customers will ensure housing
organisations provide the right services and meet the right needs and aspirations.
The charter includes a set of commitments which are underpinned by a range of
outcomes – together, the commitments and outcomes provide a framework against
which organisations can assess where they are now and where they aspire to be.
The charter consists of two core elements:
Access Newsletter – September 201216
who we are: inclusive leadership and organisational culture
who we serve: involved and empowered customers in the communities where we
work
There are six core principles underpinning the equality and diversity charter for housing:
sign up is voluntary and based on self-assessment
it has been developed using sector expertise
it is flexible and can be tailored to suit the outcomes that matter to you and your
tenants
it is focused on outcomes, nor processes
it drives sector led improvement
it complements existing frameworks or initiatives
For further details, visit the Chartered Institute of Housing websitehttp://tinyurl.com/9r4ydye
Government: Cabinet reshuffle
The Cabinet reshuffle which took place on 4 September 2012 resulted in changes to
ministerial responsibilities for equality and human rights. Some of the changes include:
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; and Minister for Women and
Equalities – The Right Honourable (Rt Hon) Maria Miller MP (replacing the Rt
Hon Theresa May MP)
Minister for Disability – Esther McVey (Department for Work and Pensions)
Senior Minister of State (Faith and Communities) – The Rt Hon Baroness Warsi
(Department for Communities and Local Government / the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office)
Secretary of State for Justice – The Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP (replacing the Rt
Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP)
Rt Hon Lord McNally remains Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice
For further details, visit HM Government website
Access Newsletter – September 201217
http://tinyurl.com/9c4r9az
Inclusion: Catch up with the Paralympics vibe – stop excluding disabled people
The London Paralympics has not only succeeded in getting out a mass message, with
21st century skill, that disabled people can be sexy, exciting, achievers and media stars.
It has also highlighted protests that have made many more people aware of some of the
worst contradictions surrounding disability. These include the acceptance of Atos as a
Paralympics sponsor at the same time as its heavily flawed assessment procedures are
distressing thousands of disabled people and the closure of Remploy factories in the
name of inclusion, when more and more disabled people are being excluded from
mainstream employment.
Both messages may fade as the Games recedes. But the UK's changing demographics
resulting in the presence of many more disabled people of working age and beyond are
likely to have a more enduring legacy.
Currently, as can be seen with the Government’s welfare reform, the default position for
public policy seems to be to treat disabled people as a powerless group to be safely
stigmatised, segregated and wheeled on to be scapegoated at difficult times. But the
days of such attitudes are likely to be numbered, as disabled people, helped by the
Paralympics, emerge as a more assertive and self-conscious minority.
Sadly, hostility towards disabled people is not confined to politicians and press; both
can still count on at least some public support. What isn't clear is whether such populist
prejudice is rooted in perceptions of people making false claims to be disabled, or
enduring negative stereotypes of disabled people as dependent, unproductive and
parasitic. Whichever, the message reaching many disabled people is still that they might
be better off dead or not born in the first place.
Disabled people have proved that with proper support, they can live full lives.
Government must bite the bullet and invest in a sustainable system of social care. This
means developing the kind of anti-institutionalising, peer-support and user-led services
Access Newsletter – September 201218
successfully developed by disabled people and their organisations, giving thousands of
disabled people greater control over their lives.
Such user-led support services also provide a valuable source of social and economic
development and employment for disabled people.
Prejudice and discrimination against disabled people are only truly likely to be dealt
with, though, when we all grow up together. Our separation through segregated
education continues to create personal and social barriers – from bullying to hate crime.
A commitment to inclusive education which safeguards our rights and needs as
disabled and non-disabled people is probably the single most important step to enabling
us all to acknowledge and advance our abilities and potential – in true Olympic spirit.
For further information, visit the Guardian websitehttp://tinyurl.com/8c3yu8r
Independence (Wales): Welsh Government sets out plans to create a Wales accessible to all
‘We want to build an inclusive and enabling Wales where services and opportunities are
genuinely accessible to all,’ Equalities Minister Jane Hutt said when she launched a
consultation on the Welsh Government’s Framework for Action on Independent Living
for Disabled People in September.
The Framework sets out how the Welsh Government, local public services and other
partners can all take action to help disabled people in Wales to live independently and
exercise the same choices as everybody else.
The consultation has been published to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the
publication of a letter to the Guardian, on 20 September 1972, by Paul Hunt, which
sparked the beginning of the disability rights movement in the UK.
Access Newsletter – September 201219
Sara Head from Paralympics GB, bronze medal winner for table tennis at London 2012,
will join Jane Hutt.
Launching the Framework at the DEWIS Centre for Independent Living in Pontypridd,
Jane Hutt said:
‘The Welsh Government is well aware of the impacts of the welfare reform agenda on
disabled people. The fact that many are vulnerable in the current climate has
strengthened the case for this Framework. But the Framework can only address those
issues within the Welsh Government's powers.’
She added: ‘Recognising this, the Framework puts the spotlight on what the Welsh
Government can do to move this agenda forward. It builds on specific priorities
identified by disabled people in Wales, and sets out how the barriers to equality will be
addressed in each of these areas.’
The Framework outlines a practical agenda covering:
access to transport
housing
employment
technology
public and private facilities
It also highlights how services must be designed to be accessible and welcoming to
everyone.
For further information, visit the Welsh Government websitewww.wales.gov.uk/consultations
Legislation (USA): So sorry, business world, that people with special needs are not profitable
Access Newsletter – September 201220
Earlier this month, a judge ruled that the company Netflix and other web providers that
serve the public are subject to US federal disability law. It means that television
programmes and movies streamed online may have to include captions for hearing-
impaired viewers.
Complaints were filed by deaf and disability organisations. Netflix had argued that it was
exempt from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). US District Judge, Michael
Ponsor highlighted that they were not. Netflix and similar providers would have to add
captioning and may even someday provide a soundtrack to describe what’s happening
in a programme or movie for visually impaired people.
For further information, visit the Parents websitehttp://tinyurl.com/d2jh3sj
Lifetime homes: A third of homeowners would rather renovate than relocate says Age UK
Moving home is out; renovating, adapting and improving homes is in – according to new
research from Age UK.
Defying the uncertainty in the property market, homeowners are opting to make their
homes right for their current and future life stages – rather than moving on when their
needs change – the charity has found.
The average person has lived in six properties during their life so far, and the average
time spent in each home is 12 years according to the new study. More than three
quarters (77 per cent) of UK adults are happy in their current home.
‘This research shows that people are taking a long-term view of their property and
implementing steps to ensure that homes will be suitable in years to come. Whatever
life stage people are at, home really does seem to be where the heart is and being able
to adapt a property can make a positive impact on quality of life as we grow older,’ said
Lucy Harmer, Age UK’s Head of Information and Advice.
Access Newsletter – September 201221
Rather than moving home, almost a third of homeowners (29 per cent) see their current
home as one for life, Age UK says, with households spending £23,000 on average on
home improvements over a lifetime. This could be redecorating various rooms, building
an extension or adapting a home to include items such as handrails or a stair lift.
The main reasons for UK homeowners aged 18 and over to make changes to their
homes are:
a quarter (24 per cent) have adapted their homes to help boost value
16 per cent have made the changes to help accommodate a growing family
six per cent to make it more accessible as homeowners get older
six per cent to change it once children have left home
four per cent to accommodate a disability
The research was conducted to coincide with the launch of Age UK’s new Living Your
Way campaign, which took place in September and aimed to help people stay
independent and well in their homes for longer, through information, advice, practical
services and specially designed products. Age UK is also calling on the Government to
make it compulsory for all new-build homes to be built to the Lifetime Home Standard so
that buyers can enjoy later life in their home for as long as possible.
For further information, visit the Housing Excellence websitehttp://tinyurl.com/c3auq9v
London 2012: RNIB attacks LOCOG and Visa over inaccessible Olympic cashpoints
The RNIB is offering to provide legal representation to anybody with a visual impairment
that has problems using the cash machines within the Olympic Park, in a pointed
challenge to London 2012 organising committee LOCOG and Games sponsor Visa.
Access Newsletter – September 201222
The charity has been at loggerheads with the two organisations since July, when the
RNIB discovered that the eight Visa cash machines within the Olympic Park would not
have audio functionality.
The eight machines replaced 27 existing cash machines within the Olympic sites, as
part of Visa's exclusive sponsorship of the Games. This means that spectators,
competitors and officials cannot use their Mastercard debit or credit cards to withdraw
money within the Olympic Park and other venues.
RNIB had been working with LOCOG for three years to ensure that the Olympics and
Paralympics would be fully accessible to visually-impaired people, and was
disappointed to learn just weeks before the Games opened that the new cash machines
would not meet these standards.
Even though the machines feature Braille and tactile keypads and boast a socket for
headphones, the software was not installed in time to enable these to work.
After the challenge, Visa Europe confirmed that two of the eight machines would be
adapted to feature speech enablement. Visa also committed to stationing staff by the
ATMs to provide assistance to disabled customers. However, Visa insisted that there
wasn’t enough time before the start of the Games to adapt the other six machines.
Visa Europe issued a statement to say it undertook extensive investigations into
whether the machines could be adapted in time for the Games but had to concede it
couldn’t meet the deadline. However, it also insisted that it had not breached the
Equality Act and had met all legal requirements.
For further information, visit the Civil Society websitehttp://tinyurl.com/cmlo5sl
London 2012: Legacy plan published
Access Newsletter – September 201223
The Government has published a 10 point plan for securing a lasting legacy from the
Olympic Games.
Sports Minister Hugh Robertson said momentum needed to be maintained if the
commitment to inspire a generation was to be achieved. Mr Robertson said MPs would
be updated quarterly on the delivery of the legacy plan.
Following the success of Team GB and Paralympics GB there has been discussion
about the best way to build a legacy for the Games.
Prime Minister David Cameron appointed Lord Coe, who chaired Games organiser
LOCOG, as the UK's Olympics legacy ambassador. He advises Mr Cameron on the
best ways to secure long-term benefits for the UK.
The Government has now set out a 10-point legacy plan some of which includes:
£300 million investment to turn the Olympic site into the Queen Elizabeth
Olympic Park
Sport England's £135 million Places People Play legacy programme to fund new
facilities, volunteering and participation programmes
£1 billion investment over the next five years in the Youth Sport Strategy, linking
schools with sports clubs and encouraging sporting habits for life
more done to ensure physical education in schools is available to all
£1.5 million funding to the English Federation of Disability Sport to increase
participation in sports by disabled people
The Sport and Recreation Alliance, an umbrella organisation for sports bodies,
welcomed the plan but said structured targets were needed to measure the
achievements from the different programmes.
For further information, visit the BBC News websitehttp://tinyurl.com/9mjplra
Access Newsletter – September 201224
Planning: Common sense planning reform to create more homes and boost the high street
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has approved a new measure that will increase the
number of homes in town centres and help increase footfall on high streets.
New planning rights will allow more flats to be created above shops without the need for
planning permission. Two flats will be allowed to be created in office or storage space
under new permitted development rights coming into force.
The change further streamlines the planning system, making it easier, quicker and
cheaper for people to create new homes in existing underused space. It has the
potential to help increase the amount of affordable housing and ensures better use is
made of existing developed land.
Relaxing planning restrictions on creating flats above shops can also help increase the
vitality of town centres by increasing footfall and providing a boost to high street
regeneration.
Mr Pickles said: "These are common sense planning reforms that will deliver more
affordable homes in areas where there are good transport links whilst ensuring better
use of existing developed land.
"Cutting this red tape should be a shot in the arm for the high street increasing footfall
and providing a boost to regeneration."
The Government has also announced proposed measures to simplify the planning
system further by making it easier to temporarily re-use some buildings without needing
planning permission, streamlining the paper work needed for planning applications and
speeding up planning appeal decisions.
The Government has also outlined a package of measures to help high streets reclaim
their role at the heart of our communities. These include encouraging town centres to
Access Newsletter – September 201225
become Town Team partners to benefit from the support and advice available from the
Government and leading retail experts.
For further information, visit the Department for Communities and Local Government websitehttp://tinyurl.com/cgmfou2
Research: Coming in and Going out
Kingston University London is currently running an innovative research programme
entitled Coming in and Going out, which is funded by the charity Thomas Pocklington
Trust.
The project began in January 2012 to find out about the independence of visually
impaired people, and problems they may have with lighting and contrast in the
entrances and exits of domestic buildings. The aim is to assist people with visual
impairments when applying for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) or, a minor
adaptations grant to upgrade their home or make reasonable adjustments. The
research will examine all the issues of design and accessibility at exits and entrances.
The work will identify and generate a top ten checklist of interventions and practical
guidance for improving accessibility of entrances and exits, for people with visual
impairments to identify what their needs are and inform local governing bodies.
Results from the research so far show:
45.8 per cent of respondents found that approaches to the home are not well lit
55.6 per cent of responses identified problems when coming in and going out of
the building where people live in, on more than one occasion
40.8 per cent of responses found door features are difficult to see
88 per cent of people have problems with adapting to light changes
Access Newsletter – September 201226
72.4 per cent of responses stated that they were affected by glare of some kind,
with glare from lights, floors, shiny metal and glass reflections often severely
affecting people
33.3 per cent of respondents would benefit from a strong or bright colour on their
front door
For further information, contact: Hilary Dalke / Alessio Corso
Telephone: 020 8547 7430
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Postal address: Kingston University London, Design Research Centre, Knights Park
Campus, Grange Road, Kingston KT1 2QJ
Sport: Sports clubs urged to encourage Britain's disabled people to take up sport
Sports clubs around the country are being urged to link with the ten million disabled
people in the UK and encourage them to take up sport after the Paralympics has raised
awareness of just how active disabled people can be.
Andy Reed, Chair of the Sport and Recreation Alliance said: ‘The Paralympics is getting
us to a point where we all know the tremendous capabilities of our disabled athletes and
the athletic potential that many other disabled people out there hold, that is yet to be
realised. Now nobody has an excuse not to act.’
The Sport and Recreation Alliance has written to clubs saying they need to invest time
in developing skills to coach disabled people in sport and then directly approach local
disability organisations.
Reed said it was important to create a good experience when disabled people attempt
to take up sport because they often lack confidence and self-belief at first, adding: ‘We
need to make sure that more clubs create environments where people’s existing
negative perceptions or bad experiences can be turned into exceptional ones’.
For further information, visit the Telegraph website
Access Newsletter – September 201227
http://tinyurl.com/bqw68y5
Sport (Russia): Sochi 2014 accessibility preparations ahead of schedule
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak has claimed Sochi is more than two thirds
ready to receive disabled visitors for the Paralympic Winter Games in 2014.
Sochi is undergoing major renovations for both the Games, with facilities in the city
being adjusted to cater for disabled people.
Russia has more than 13 million disabled citizens. As part of Russia's efforts to change
attitudes towards disabled people, there has been a Decade of Disabled People
initiative, involving Sochi 2014 organisers, the Russian International Olympic University
and the Russian Paralympic Committee.
Under former President and current Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Russia signed a
United Nations convention on the rights of the disabled, promising to make Sochi a
model of accessibility.
Progress has been made beyond the Black Sea resort too, particularly in Moscow,
which provides special taxis for disabled travellers.
According to Kozak, who has responsibility for overseeing Games preparations, work to
make the city suitable to receive disabled visitors is ahead of schedule. He added that
Sochi's smaller size means it will not take as long to prepare for the Paralympics as it
did for London.
For further information, visit the Inside the Games websitehttp://tinyurl.com/cohmxj7
Telecare: Postcode lottery in access to telecare revealed by national audit
Access Newsletter – September 201228
Massive variations in council spending on telecare and in understanding of what
constitutes telecare, has been found by a national survey.
Access to telecare varies significantly across the country despite its potential to promote
independence for people and deliver savings for councils, the audit found.
The number of people receiving telecare in English local authorities in 2011 to 2012
ranged from 75 to 12,015 with a mean average of 2,345, while spending on the service
ranged from £623 to £4.3 million, with an average of £500,529, found the survey by the
Good Governance Institute.
While the institute said part of the variation could be explained by differences in need,
the findings also showed that some areas had failed to prioritise telecare. Councils used
different eligibility criteria for telecare, with some rationing access according to Fair
Access to Care Services (FACS) bands and others making it available as a preventive
service to people who were not FACS eligible.
The survey answered by 121 of England's 152 councils, also revealed a mixed
understanding of what constituted telecare. For example, there was disagreement
among respondents as to whether to class community alarms - which enable people to
call for help following a fall - as a form of telecare.
The institute said this reflected a lack of a clear definition of what constitutes telecare. It
called on the Department of Health to develop a commissioning support pack for
councils on telecare, including a detailed and agreed definition, and also provide
guidance on access to telecare as part of its planned development of a new social care
assessment and eligibility framework.
For further information, visit the Community Care websitehttp://tinyurl.com/9tytz4b
Welfare reform: Bedroom tax worries parent of disabled children
Access Newsletter – September 201229
A mother-of-three believes she could lose £76-a-month in benefits because of a
bedroom tax. Carrie Southcott from Plymouth, says she needs separate rooms for her
sons as two have cerebral palsy.
The Government's new social housing policy means she will be financially penalised as
it requires the boys to share a room until they are 16.
It states: ‘It's only right that we bring fairness back to the system and make better use of
the housing stock.’
Under the Welfare Reform Act, due to be brought in April 2013, each person or couple
in a household is allowed a bedroom, with children under 16 of the same gender and
children under 10, regardless of gender, expected to share.
Any household deemed to have more bedrooms than required will lose 14 per cent of
their housing benefit for one, or 25 per cent for two rooms.
Miss Southcott said she needed a fourth ground-floor room built as her four-year-old
son, who has cerebral palsy and relies on a feeding tube, was getting too heavy to carry
upstairs.
The additional room would mean the household was classed as having two spare
rooms, which will equate to £76 a month.
She said: "Essentially it's discrimination because we have children with disabilities. We
have no choice over the matter. We can't up and leave, we can't move out, we're going
to have to find the money from somewhere.’
She added: ‘We would like [the Government] to rethink and possibly add a clause into
the new legislation which prevents the families of disabled children from being penalised
for having extra bedrooms that they need.’
Access Newsletter – September 201230
According to the National Housing Federation, 30,000 households in the south west, or
28 per cent of those living in social housing in the region, would be affected by the
legislation.
For further information, visit the BBC News website
http://tinyurl.com/96fjedp
Access Newsletter – September 201231
Publications, consultations and reports
Codes of practice: Employment, services and equal pay
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has published its Codes of
Practice on employment, services and equal pay. The main purpose of the Codes of
Practice is to provide detailed explanations of the provisions in the Equality Act 2010
and to apply legal concepts in the Act to everyday situations.
The Codes set out clearly and precisely what the legislation means. They draw on
precedent and case law and explain the implications of every clause in technical terms.
For further information, visit the EHRC websitehttp://tinyurl.com/2fo5v3p
Draft review: Design of accessible and adaptable general needs housing – Code of practice BS 9266
The British Standards Institute have launched a draft review of the Code of practice,
Design of accessible and adaptable general needs housing, BS9266.
This British Standard gives recommendations for the design of accessible and
adaptable general needs housing, whether in the form of flats or individual houses. It
covers car parking, external access routes to blocks of flats or individual houses,
common circulation areas in blocks of flats, circulation areas within dwellings, and the
provision of key rooms and facilities.
The standard is intended for the design of new buildings and the recommendations can
also be used for assessing the accessibility and adaptability of existing buildings and,
where practicable, as a basis for their improvement. The extent to which the
Access Newsletter – September 201232
recommendations apply to renovations, refurbishments and conversions (including
listed and historic buildings) is determined on a case-by-case basis.
This British Standard does not provide comprehensive advice on the external
environment.
Comments are welcome up until 31 October 2012.
For further information, visit the British Standards Institute websitehttp://tinyurl.com/97flfw2
Guidance: The Design of Streets with Older People in Mind
Inclusive Design for Getting Outdoors (IDGO) has published a new series of guides.
The Design of Streets with Older People in Mind is a 13-part toolkit which addresses
different environmental features of streets and neighbourhoods.
Subjects covered in the series include:
widths of footways and footpaths
changes in level of footways and footpaths
pedestrian crossings
signage
bus stops and shelters
seating
street greenery
public toilets
For further information, visit the IDGO websitehttp://tinyurl.com/8f69gsj
Guidance: Building for Life 12
Access Newsletter – September 201233
Building for Life promotes design excellence and best practice in the house-building
industry.
It is produced in partnership by Design Council Cabe, the Home Builders Federation
and Design for Homes and reflects changes in the planning environment.
For further information, visit the Design Council websitehttp://tinyurl.com/9ojl2dd
Guide: Myth-busting guide to buying energy-saving light bulbs launched
This month the traditional, incandescent light bulbs were withdrawn from sale and
everyone will now have to buy energy saving light bulbs, but many people have been
deterred from changing to the new bulbs as early versions were slow to warm up and
gave off a blue / white light that some people didn't like.
The Thomas Pocklington Trust together with independent consumer research charity,
Ricability (Research Institute for Consumer Affairs), have published an essential guide
to buying energy saving light bulbs.
Getting the right lighting is crucial for older people and especially those with visual
impairments. The new guide, Choosing Energy Saving Light Bulbs For Your Home,
dispels some common myths and shows that the new bulbs can be just as bright,
effective and easily controlled as the old ones.
The guide shows that a bigger, better range is available and explains which bulb works
best for specific needs
For further information, visit the Ricability website
http://www.ricability.org.uk
Local Transport Note: Shared use 1 / 12
Access Newsletter – September 201234
Shared use routes are designed to accommodate the movement of pedestrians and
cyclists. Shared use schemes require careful consideration and this Local Transport
Note provides advice on their planning, design and provision.
It suggests a scheme development process to help in deciding if shared use is
appropriate for any given situation and stresses the importance of high quality inclusive
design that addresses the needs of all users. It places particular emphasis on involving
users, residents, and other stakeholders in the design process.
For further information, visit the Department for Transport website
http://tinyurl.com/8f84m2u
Report: Local authorities’ work with visually impaired people
In June 2012, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and the Office for
Public Management published Quick wins… and missed opportunities. How local
authorities can work with blind and partially sighted people to build a better future.
The report sets out some practical and cost effective things authorities can do to make a
meaningful difference to the lives of disabled people.
For further information, visit the RNIB websitehttp://tinyurl.com/9lvpgjc
Research: New study finds 17 per cent of visually impaired people avoid shopping
A new study has found that up to 17 per cent of visually impaired people do not engage
in any form of shopping due to the stress caused by failures to accommodate their
needs.
The study's findings are reflected in recent criticism of Visa for failing to provide cash
machines accessible to visually impaired people at the London 2012 Olympic Games
venues.
Access Newsletter – September 201235
The report by Cass Business School in association with the Royal National Institute of
Blind People (RNIB) concluded that shopping is one of the most stressful activities for
visually impaired consumers.
Globally the number of visually impaired people is around 314 million and this figure is
likely to double by 2030. These figures support the researchers’ calls for more
assistance from consumer bodies and public policy makers in accommodating the
needs of the visually impaired.
Cass Professor of Consumer Marketing, Vincent-Wayne Mitchell said: ‘It is important
that public policy and consumer bodies recognise the people who are excluded from the
shopping experience. The fact that many companies have failed to accommodate
visually impaired people at London 2012 is a prime example of the difficulties they face
in day-to-day living.’
In addition, the study examined the effect of activities like shopping on the wellbeing. It
found that visually impaired people with quality support networks and coping
mechanisms were more likely to shop and that this led to a greater feeling of wellbeing.
Professor Ian Bruce, Vice President of RNIB explained: ‘A high degree of good quality
social support through friends, family and social services makes a person feel better
and makes them more eager to engage in activities such as shopping.’
For further information, visit the Retail Bulletin websitehttp://tinyurl.com/9ex577f
Review: The Coastal Access scheme
Natural England is working to create the England Coast Path. Our Coastal Access
Scheme sets out our approach to doing this.
Access Newsletter – September 201236
We have a duty under the Coastal Access legislation to review the scheme in the light
of our first three years’ experience of implementing it on the ground. This is a review of
the scheme only, not the legislation itself.
Natural England have invited organisations and individuals who have already had direct
experience - either nationally or locally - of the scheme to feed into the review. They are
also interested to hear wider comments, for example on the design and language of the
scheme, including ways to make it even easier to navigate or understand.
They will complete their review by March 2013, and publish a report shortly afterwards.
There will then be a full public consultation on the changes we propose to make to the
Scheme as a result of our findings. This will happen ahead of us submitting the revised
version of the Scheme for approval by the Secretary of State.
The deadline for comments is 31 October 2012
For further information, visit the Natural England website
http://tinyurl.com/8w5c5y6
Access Newsletter – September 201237
Events
Event: Keeping safe and maintaining independence: older people and sight lossWhen: 11 October 2012
Where: Bristol
The Thomas Pocklington Trust has commissioned three events in partnership with KT-
EQUAL, Thomas Pocklington Trust and the Royal National Institute of Blind People.
The first event is being held on 11 October 2012 which is World Sight Day; a global day
of awareness of the causes of blindness and vision impairment.
The programme will appeal to older people and their advocates; practitioners from
health, housing, social care and the voluntary and community sector - for example,
occupational therapists, physiotherapists, rehabilitation support officers; researchers
from a variety of disciplines and anyone with an interest in supporting older people with
sight loss.
This event is free to attend for all delegates.
For further information, telephone Surinder Bangar on 0114 222 2997 or Ann Clark on
0114 222 4305
Alternatively, email Surinder Bangar on [email protected] or visit the KT EQUAL websitewww.kt-equal.org.uk
Conference: The National Register of Access Consultants Autumn Conference with Training Tools for Accessible Towns When: 17 October 2012
Where: London
This one-day conference will cover the national planning policy framework and housing
design standards. As housing standards vary, this conference aims to present a
Access Newsletter – September 201238
practical guide to what the key standards are and what may be applicable to individual
projects.
Training Tools for Accessible Towns (TTAT) will also be launched at this conference.
TTAT is an online teaching resource for architects and students wishing to know more
about inclusive design in the public realm.
The tool has been funded by the European Commission and produced by five European
partners:
ARVHA, a research and training organisation in France (project leader)
BBM-Grup, an agency for architecture, Romania
Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE), an authority and resource on
inclusive design and access to the built environment, UK
Omada 80, an architectural firm from Greece
Roma Tre University, Department of Architecture and Design, Italy
For further information, visit the CAE websitehttp://www.cae.org.uk/news.html
Award: Bathroom Design for All Award
The ZVSHK Bathroom Design for All Product Award 2013 has been launched by the
German Sanitation, Heating and Air Conditioning Association (ZVSHK).
With an increasingly ageing society, the removal of barriers in the home is vitally
important and especially for sanitary facilities and bathrooms. The bathroom is a key
room in the home, making it possible for older people to retain their independence for
longer. A safe and comfortable environment will also help to reduce accidents.
ZVSHK have launched this award to demonstrate its commitment to proactively
responding to the consequences of demographic change.
Products will be judged on the following criteria:
user-friendly by everyone
flexible and adaptable
aesthetic qualities
user-oriented design and development process Access Newsletter – September 2012
39
innovation and marketability
The deadline for submissions is 31 October 2012
For further information or the enter the competition, visit the ZVSHK websitehttp://www.zvshk-award.com/en/home.html
Conference: The Big Debate - South East Regional Equality Conference When: 2 November 2012
Where: Essex
The Big Debate South East Regional Equality Conference invites experts involved in the
equality arena and key agencies involved in setting national policies to engage in a
debate on the key issues facing organisations and communities. A range of practitioners
will also give a critical perspective on equality from the view point of those delivering the
agenda.
This conference will provide the opportunity to explore issues relating to vital topics,
create understanding and the evidence required to build equality, diversity and human
rights into the workplace and across the place shaping role of local authorities and
partners.
For further information, visit the Equality and Diversity Forum websitehttp://www.edf.org.uk/blog/?p=20657
Event: Enabled by Design-athon When: 2 and 3 November 2012
Where: London
This event is aimed at 3D modellers, facilitators, sketchers, designers, engineers,
people interested in health and / or social care, retailers and manufacturers and people
willing to share their experiences and views on independent living.
For further information, visit the Enabled by Design website
Access Newsletter – September 201240
http://tinyurl.com/9j4lby4
The London Conference 2012 When: 27 November 2012
Where: London
The theme for this conference is Jobs, Growth and Urban Renewal in London after the
Games.
2012 has been a phenomenal year for London; the city was centre stage for the
Queen’s Jubilee and the city has been host to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. But
how can the 2012 buzz be turned into long-term momentum?
The programme includes:
London's Housing Challenge
Housing London's Future: Where, What and How to Build?
How to Pay for London's Future Transport and Where Should We Invest?
London's Diversity - Benefits, Pitfalls and How to Manage It
Revitalising London's Spaces - What Can We Learn from New York?
Making Better Places: Developments in London's Public Realm, with architects
and critics
For further information, visit the London Policy Conference websitehttp://www.londonpolicyconference.com/
Forum: Independent Living: Providing Greater Choice, Control and OpportunityWhen: 13 November 2012
Where: London
With Government looking for funding to be devolved to local government following the
closure of the Independent Living Fund, developing an independent living strategy
within the statutory system through personalised budgets will be critical.
Access Newsletter – September 201241
Charities supporting disabled people and those in later life in achieving the same level
of choice, control and freedom in living will be affected. With this in mind, Inside
Government is holding an interactive forum with lead experts from disabled care, older
people’s welfare and independent living.
Topics for discussion include:
providing more choice and greater independence for disabled people
strategies for achieving equality for disabled people
accessing funds for independent living
working with changes to the Independent Living Fund
innovation in technology to support independent living
For further information, visit the Inside Government websitehttp://tinyurl.com/cg4drkd
Event: The Future of Digital Communications in the Public Sector When: 27 November 2012
Where: London
With the help of digital communication, government services now have the opportunity
to increase workforce flexibility, improve employee performance and make savings of
up to £1.3 billion across the board.
The Future of Digital Communications in the Public Sector forum will help attendees to
understand how to make the transition to implementing digital communications and how
you can really get the most out of these tools. The event will also looks at how to ensure
access features are considered and incorporated.
For further information, email: [email protected]
Alternatively, telephone: 0845 666 0664
Access Newsletter – September 201242
Newsletter compiled by Geraldine McNamara
Centre for Accessible Environments, Fourth Floor, Holyer House, 20–21 Red Lion
Court, London EC4A 3EB
Telephone 020 7822 8232 • email [email protected]
Alternative formats are available on request
Contact details for NRAC
NRAC, Fourth Floor, Holyer House, 20–21 Red Lion Court, London EC4A 3EB
Telephone 020 7822 8282 • email [email protected]
Access Newsletter – September 201243
