Disability Equality NW news

Because of this DENW will be supporting project work in Lancashire to improve these outcomes. .

The aim of the campaign is to raise public awareness of the symptoms of bowel cancer and to encourage those with persistent symptoms to see their GP promptly. Although the great majority of those presenting with symptoms will not have bowel cancer, some will – and by catching the cancer earlier, it should be more treatable.

The national campaign started earlier this year (check it out via the link below) but DENW will be promoting awareness for the next few months and offering help and advice for those who need more information before apporaching their GP. 

The campaign is designed to:

• give simple information about bowel cancer symptoms
• provide a clear call to action to see the GP
• give a reassuring message that earlier diagnosis improves the chances of successful treatment.

The campaign is aimed at people over the age of 55, particulalry those vulnerable and or living on low incomes.

Be Clear on Cancer

From 2013, PIP will replace DLA for people of working age (between 16 and 64 years of age).

The initial proposals for the PIP assessment criteria were published in May 2011 to provide an opportunity for disabled people and their organisations to comment and help to shape the development process. Between May and August the DWP says it met with around 60 disabled people and their organisations as well as receiving 173 written submissions from both organisations and individuals as part of an informal consultation. In addition, a testing exercise across the UK between May and September was carried out using the proposed assessment involving about 1000 volunteers across the UK.

Proposed PIP assessment changes

As a result of this feedback and engagement, among the key proposed PIP assessment changes are:

• to ensure that the assessment adequately takes account of where the presence of another person is needed, the criteria now refer to supervision from another person where this is required to enable an individual to carry out an activity safely (similar to the DLA approach);
• while PIP activity descriptors continue to be considered in light of whether they apply for the “majority of the time” (the majority of days), to ensure that the impact of a fluctuating conditiom is accurately captured, where two or more descriptors in an activity apply on less than 50% of days individually but reach this threshold when combined, the descriptor which applies for the greatest proportion of time will apply;

• to ensure a broader assessment of ability to make everyday decisions, the previous “Planning and buying food and drink activity” has been replaced with the new activity ”Making financial decisions” – one of DA’s suggestions which we’re pleased to see included;

• the previous “Communicating with others” activity has been split into two new activities: “Communicating” and “Engaging socially” with the former focusing on expressive and receptive communication and accessing written information while the latter assess ability to interact with others in a contextually and appropriate manner, understand body language and establish relationships;

Down load Disability Alliance's longer review of the new PIP changes via the link below (together with lots of useful other useful stuff!).  The debate and discussion about teh new PIP benefit if still far from over.

Disability Alliance Update Dec 2011

Tags: pip, personal-independence-payment

NO COMPANY WOULD SOLICIT BUSINESS THIS WAY. THE SOFTWARE WILL CORRUPT YOUR PC/LAPTOP SECURITY.

After being told to download a programme that handed over remote control of their computer so the caller could install "fixes", the PC users were told of the £185 charge for subscription to "the preventative service". But the "fixed" computers never had any problems, and the value of the service was dubious. In previous cases, the police have been unable to obtain refunds for victims, even though it is classed as fraud.

Those who believe they have been mis-sold a product or service online should report the matter to Trading Standards (via the link below) and if consumers believe they have been a victim of crime they should report it to the police.

tradingstandards.gov.uk

The project highlights specific issues for each of these communities that restrict access to community services and resources.  The project has been both a research project and a skilling project for all the participants; partners, community researchers and interviewees. It raised community awareness of the Social Model of disability, the Equality Act with the protection it is intended to afford disabled people and the Convention on the Human Rights of People with Disabilities.

Some comments collected from focus-group participants...

• “People look down on you. They think it’s your fault you have a disabilit or your fault if a family member has a disability. Some people think it’s infectious and cover their mouth if near someone with a disability.” [GRT]

• “I used to be able to drive, but can’t drive more than a 30 mile radius. No bus comes near here which has a ramp. They only take on one wheelchair so you can’t get on with another wheelchair (e.g. my partner is also a wheelchair user)…” [BME]

• “It is difficult to forge relationships. I don’t want my potential partner to be my carer but I also have to forge a level of trust.” [LGBT]

Use the link below to acccess a copy of the executive summary.

Hidden Stories - Lancashire disabled people's lives

Tags: lgbt, grt, black-and-etnic-minorities, stories, lancashire, research

Preston and Lancashire

Here in Preston we will be celebrating at our annual Disability and Carer's Festival on 2nd December at The Minster in central Preston (see Events).  We will be presenting a "timeline" of disability and disabled people in Preston and Lancashire using resources collected from local historians, the stories of real disabled people and archive material from Lancashires Central Record office.

The UKDHM logo above is The Black Triangle.

This black triangle is worn by the men in the photo above - sewn to the left side of their shirts. Disabled people were forced to wear this symbol by the Nazis during the 'T4' Eugenics Programme; which was intended to eliminate them. Between 250,000-1 million were murdered by the Nazis' false hopes of building a 'master race'. The UKDHM Logo has taken this symbol, and in reclaiming our history we have reclaimed the symbol.

Visit UKDHM's website

The UKDHM website is the central platform to find out what events are going on around the UK and nearer you; find out the ways in which you can get involved; and access a number of exciting resources that they hope will inspire you to organize an event that is rooted in discovering our history. 

UKDHM runs from 22nd November to 22nd December 2011. This covers HIV/AIDS Day (1st December), International Day of People with Disabilities (3rd Dec.) and International Human Rights Day (8th December).

Disabled people's history - Preston and Lancashire: a timeline

UKDHM website

Tags: history, ukdhm, disabled-people's-history