Hi,

Good site

I just wanted to get some feedback from possible visitors regarding the usability / look , etc of our new DDA & Occupational Therapy website. We offer free DDA & disability advise & guidance and would welcome any opinions or feedback regarding the site:

http://www.inclusion.me.uk
www.inclusion.me.uk

Many thanks

Matthew

Joint Learning Disability Strategy Review - A Series of Consultation Events for Family Carers and People with Learning Disabilities

The Joint Learning Disability Strategy Review is about to move into a formal consultation period, which will run from June to August 2007.

During this period we plan to hold a number of meetings, workshops and other events. As our aim is to hear the views of as many family carers and people with learning difficulties as possible, several different kinds of events are being planned. There will be some “Lothian wide” meetings and some local meetings. In addition at some of the meetings we will be using methods aimed at involving people who have greater communication difficulties in a way that is meaningful to them. This will include supported use of symbol boards, one to one interviews, and using techniques such as talking mats or any other approach favoured by the individuals involved.

As part of this programme of events, the Carers’ Scrutiny Panel (formerly the Carers’ Advisory Group) and the Communication Working Group of the Strategy Review wish to hold a series of half-day workshops to be held on Saturdays starting in June. Each meeting will have a single theme that the family carers and people with learning disabilities consider to be a priority for them.

The themes we hope to cover are:

Day Services
Health
Finance
Supported Living and Supported Accommodation
In Control, Personalisation and Individualised Budgets
Respite Services and Short Breaks

The format we would like to use for the first of these formal-style meetings is outlined below:

a) Short Presentations on the theme from an “expert panel” representing each of the Local Authorities and/or the NHS.

b) Discussion Session in which participants will break up into geographically based groups (East Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian and West Lothian).

c) Feedback to the large group and then a facilitated discussion of Common Features and Differences in Approach across the Lothians.

d) Recording of Learning Points and Recommendations for Action.

In the first instance we would like to invite you (or an appropriate senior manager nominated by yourself) to be a member of the expert panel at the first two events on :

1. The Future of Day Services for People with Learning Disabilities in Lothians

To be held from 10am – 2pm on 16th June 2007 at Leith Academy

and

2. The Future of Health Services for People with Learning Disabilities in Lothian

To be held from 10am – 2pm on 21st July 2007 at Leith Academy

As mentioned above other accessible methods of consultation will be used to suit people’s needs. The dates, times and venues of these is still to be arranged.

Should you wish to discuss this matter further please contact Denis Rowley on 07868 730520 who can arrange for members of the Carers Scrutiny Panel and the Communication Working Group to brief you.

We hope very much that you and your colleagues will be able to be involved in all of the events. We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

David Barraclough

Chair, Carers’ Scrutiny Panel of the Lothians Joint Learning Disability Strategy Review

Fiona Wallace,

Chair, Communication Working Group of the Lothians Joint Learning Disability Strategy Review

New Website For Scottish-based Learning Disabled Artists - posted 07.1.2007

The Scottish Artists’ Network is a new web based directory that will be launched by Project Ability at their Art Expo conference in February 2007 (details of which can be found in our 'Training & Workshops' section). The website will list Scottish-based learning disabled artists and the visual arts organisations that support them.

Learning disabled artists make a unique contribution to Scotland’s rich cultural landscape. The site will highlight the talent and achievements of individual artists and groups. It will show the quality and quantity of work that is taking place across Scotland from the Highlands and Islands to the Scottish Borders. From the end of February, the website can be viewed at www.scottishartistsnetwork.co.uk.

For further details about the Scottish Artists’ Network contact: Elisabeth Gibson, (Artistic Director) or Kirstin Bannerman, (Development Manager)Project Ability, 18 Albion Street, Glasgow, G1 1LH. Tel: 0141 552 2822. Email: info@project-ability.co.uk. www.project-ability.co.uk.

This website was joy to look through! As a student social worker it allowed me the chance to look at all the things that are important to people with a learning difficulty and what is still needed to make life more fair and inclusive.
I especially liked Jimmy's comments on taking things more slowly in order to get it right, rather than rush just to satisfy timescales. I also enjoyed the delightful photos of those attending the West Lothian event. Well done Rob!!

1. On 12th of September 2006 I went to the Opening of the Citizenship for Everyone Strategy at the Edinburgh City Chambers. 77 people came to it.
I'm going to give you some examples of things that people said on the day. The full minutes are on the website.

2. The first thing was Housing. People said there should be more support for people in a house who want to move.
3. Second thing was Jobs and Leisure. We should tackle the barriers for funding so people have jobs with support.
4. Transport was a big issue. Wheelchair users should have priority over buggies. Day Service Transport should be better.
5. About harrassment. People said they should be more initiative between police and the council to tackle hate crime.
6. On Health issues, people said there should be more understanding about people's needs.
Finally staff should have more training on different styles of communication.
7. The UN charter of Rights for people with Autism should be adopted by all public services.

Citizenship report should be out March 2007.
Hear Jimmy's views in his own words:

September 2006

Thanks for your comments - it looks as if the Leith meeting may have to be delayed by a few weeks - watch the news page for the revised times when these have been agreed.

I just found out about your website last evening at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Action Group. It is an interesting website and I hope to be able to come to the meeting at Leith Academy on the 23rd September. As a carer and parent, I find it difficult to get info on the various voluntary assoications that are out there.

• I’ve seen all my life people changing thing too fast.
• We should break it in nice and slowly to people.
• The whole review is going too fast – we should have more time to look at the information.
• We split into groups too quickly.
• The groups don’t know enough about each other.

Jimmy McIntosh (Vice-Chair Communications group) Hear Jimmy's views in his own words:

July 2006


Jimmy speaks from the heart .....

The communications group have made a video introducing themselves: check it out: