DFG changes get cautious welcome

Leading disabled campaigners have urged the government to provide a cohesive independent living support plan for more vulnerable disabled groups following a government announcement on changes to the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG).

Housing minister Baroness Andrews announced last week that the Disabled Facilities Grant given to local authorities between 2009 and 2010 will be £157 million, an £11 million increase from £146 million the previous year.

The grant supports disabled and elderly people to live independently through the provision of adaptations needed in their own homes. Under the grant disabled people can receive up to £30,000 towards adaptation costs including stair lifts, hoists and downstairs bathrooms.

Sue Bott, director of the National Centre for Independent Living, supports the increase in funding but says the government must provide a clear policy covering independent living: "There is a big problem with social housing, particularly accessible housing. The government needs a comprehensive housing policy that enables disabled people to live on their own in areas they choose. Everything up to now has been too piecemeal," she said.

Mark Goldring, chief executive of learning disability charity Mencap, said that the funding is insufficient for learning disabled adults and families with disabled children.

"Capping contributions only serves to penalise people with the most severe disabilities who often need more adaptations to their home to live independently," he added.

A local government spokesman said that local authorities do have discretionary powers to issue more than the capped £30,000 grant to those that need it.

He added: "We're working on the Choice-Based Letting Scheme which enables those wishing to live independently to view and choose potential homes online, while taking their needs into account. By 2010 we hope that 80% of people eligible to receive the grant will be able to access a much wider choice of living arrangement."

Story from Disability Now, 16th December by Cathy Reay

Majority of councils failing adults with autism

THE London borough of Merton is the only local authority in England that knows how many adults with autism are living within its boundaries.

The shock statistic is revealed in a new online table that ranks local authorities on their approach to adults with autism.

The National Autistic Society’s chief executive, Mark Lever, said:

“It is unacceptable that many local authorities have no clear picture of how many adults with autism are in their area and there remains a lack of responsibility for meeting their needs.

“Without the right support autism can have a profound and sometimes devastating effect and we will keep campaigning until we see real change at ground level.”

The results and responses from local authorities can be viewed online at www.think-differently.org.uk/campaign

The facts about autism:

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people.

It also affects how they make sense of the world around them.

It is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways.

Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support.

People with autism may also experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours.

Asperger syndrome is a form of autism. People with Asperger syndrome are often of average or above average intelligence. They have fewer problems with speech but may still have difficulties with understanding and processing language.

NAS Autism Helpline: 0845 070 4004 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday, (local rates apply).

www.autism.org.uk

Sports personality awards for Britain's Paralympians

BRITAIN’S Paralympians have been recognised for their outstanding achievements this summer by winning the main awards at their regional BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

Among the winners of the main prize is 14-year-old Ellie Simmonds, who was named BBC Midlands Sports Personality of the Year, and Anne Dunham, who was crowned BBC West Sports Personality of the Year.

Rowing gold medallist Helene Raynsford, who won the first ever Paralympic rowing gold at this summers Games, was also recognised in her region, picking up the BBC South Sportswomen of the Year Award.

Fourteen year-old Ellie Simmonds was recognised for her outstanding performance at the Beijing Paralympics, where she made history by becoming the youngest ever British Paralympian to win an individual gold medal before scooping a second gold, just days later.

In addition to picking up the main award Ellie, who is also one of three athletes shortlisted for the National BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year Award, picked up the prize for BBC Midlands Young Disabled Sportsperson of the Year.

The BBC Midlands Disabled Sportsperson Award went to nine-time Paralympic gold medallist Lee Pearson.

The Leek rider has never been beaten at a Paralympics, winning gold medals in all his events in the last three consecutive Paralympics.

Experienced equestrian Anne Dunham was also in superb form at this summer’s Paralympics, helping the team to win its fourth consecutive Para-dressage team gold before also taking individual gold and individual silver. She beat off stiff competition from Olympians Ben Ainslie, Mark Foster and Tom Daley to scoop the main award.

As well as Simmonds winning in the Midlands, it was another teenage swimming sensation that picked up the disability accolade and the junior disability prise in the East Midlands.

Seventeen year-old Sutton-in-Ashfield swimmer Sam Hynd, won gold on his Paralympic debut in the 400m freestyle to add to the bronze medal he had already won.

Several other top Paralympic athletes were also given the disability sports prize at their regional awards.

These include double-gold medal winning athlete David Weir – London’s Disabled Sportsperson 2008, swimmer turned cyclist Jody Cundy, who won in the East, two-time gold medallist David Stone, who won in Yorkshire and equestrian gold medallist, Simon Laurens was recognised by the South West.

Britain’s most successful Paralympian of the summer was cyclist Darren Kenny, who won four golds and one silver.

As well as winning the BBC South’s Disabled Sportsperson Award, the Dorset athlete was also named BBC West’s Paralympian of the Year.

ParalympicsGB Chief Executive Phil Lane he was delighted to see the success of so many of Britain ’s top Paralympians celebrated in this way.

“It’s superb to see that Ellie and Anne have scooped the main sports awards in their regions this year.

“The ParalympicsGB team had tremendous success at this summer’s Paralympic Games in Beijing and it’s quite right that they should be recognised alongside their able-bodied counterparts.”

Disabled people to gain control of spending

DISABLED people will have the right to control the support services they receive from the state.

The commitment is included in the Welfare Reform White Paper, "Raising expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future".

Strongly welcomed by national disability charity RADAR, this new right would involve disabled people being told how much they are eligible to receive in support and being given the freedom to choose how to spend it.

RADAR's joint deputy chief executive, Caroline Ellis, said: "This is a major milestone in the campaign for rights to independent living.

"We have long argued that if choice and control is to become a reality for disabled people then we must legislate for it.

"This announcement is a great leap forward. A right to control would empower those eligible for state support to take control of their own lives.

"We would anticipate significant improvements in employment and other outcomes as a result.

"To achieve the goal of one million people off incapacity benefits by 2015, the Government must go further and ensure the new active welfare system cuts through the discriminatory rules that prevent disabled people accessing vital support, moving to take up work or becoming volunteers."

The new rights will not go nationwide until the system has been piloted in 2010 to iron out teething problems.

RADAR says discriminatory rules that prevent disabled people taking up employment opportunities include:

Lack of portable support: Currently if a disabled person moves out of their local authority area then they have to give up whatever payments or services they are receiving and start again from scratch to negotiate a new package with their new local authority.

Exclusion of volunteers from Access to Work Scheme: Although voluntary work is an important route to paid employment, disabled people are not entitled to 'Access to Work' funding (for equipment; travel and support workers) to take up these opportunities.

Charging policies: Disabled people in care homes cannot take up paid work because all their earnings could be clawed back in fees, leaving them just £20 a week 'pocket money'.

Motability appoints new director

MOTABILITY, the UK’s leading car scheme for disabled people, has appointed Declan O’Mahony as its new director.

He will succeed Don Brereton who retires at the end 2008 after five years in the driving seat.

The Motability car and powered wheelchair and scooter schemes currently provide independence and new opportunities to 500,000 disabled people and their families across the UK.

Having joined Motability in April 2002, Mr Mahoney, 49, was promoted to deputy director three years later.

Prior to joining Motability, he worked for General Motors Europe as strategic business development director as well as Vauxhall Motors, in the roles of financial controller, marketing director and retail strategies director.

Chairman and co-founder of Motability, Lord Sterling said: “Don Brereton's contribution and dedication has been invaluable. The developments in the scheme over the last few years have brought tremendous benefits to disabled people.

“We are delighted that he can leave this role in experienced hands, as Declan O'Mahony has worked with us now for over six years. We know he has the essential knowledge and skills to take Motability forward.”

Blue Peter Show

Blue Peter have now transmitted the episode featuring James and Helen competing in Malta ....

But it might still be on BBC Iplayer at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00fztbp/Blue_Peter_09_12_2008/

If you don't want to watch it on Iplayer .... Through the wizardry of the internet take a look at our videos on the left. (shhhh). Along with another short clip we shot ourselves.

Congratulations to James and Helen, if you want to know the result watch the videos!

A BLUE Peter presenter spent two days at a south Essex school learning ballroom dancing with a wheelchair user.

James Ireland and Helen Skelton

Presenter Helen Skelton will dance at an international competition with James Ireland, a pupil at Kingsdown Special School, in Eastwood.

She spent two days with James, 16, learning the waltz, samba and quickstep, ahead of their performance at the Malta Open Dance Competition, on November 29 and 30.

Because of Helen’s busy work schedule, it is unlikely the pair will be able to practice together again, so James will keep up his skills with a partner at the school.

James, who was born with Spina Bifida and hydrocephalus and is paralysed from the waist down, said: “I really enjoyed training and didn’t mind the cameras being there at all.

“Helen was really nice. Learning the dances was really difficult, and I did run over her toes a couple of times.

“I’m a bit nervous about the competition, but it should be OK.
“I love ballroom dancing, it’s a real challenge and there is lots to think about.”

Sheila Beddow, assistant headteacher and co-ordinator of the school’s wheelchair dance club, Spin, said: “James has been with Spin for about four years.
“He was thrilled to be chosen to dance with Helen. We have a lot of good dancers, but he was the lucky one to be chosen.

“Helen has been lovely. They have been doing well, as she has some background in dancing. “The cameras have been filming them practising and James has been given a camera to do his own video diary.”

James is not new to dance competitions. Last Easter, he was one of eight dancers from the club who went to Holland for the wheelchair dance world championships. The four couples were novices and went for the experience, but all came back with medals.

You can find out more about Thameside Wheelchair Dancing here ...

George, Editor