Survey For National Disability Strategy Ruled Unlawful

The High Court has ruled that a survey of disabled people used to inform the government’s new National Disability Strategy is “unlawful” and had failed to consult with people in an effective way.

The case was brought by four disabled people, the BBC reports, who argued that despite the fact that Therese Coffey, work and pensions secretary, did consult with disabled people, she then went on to provide insufficient information on the proposed strategy to allow for meaningful responses.

The UK Disability Survey itself was launched in January 2021, inviting the views of disabled people around the country on lived everyday experiences. There were 109 multiple-choice and four open-ended questions such as, “what are the top three changes that would make your life better?”.

Victoria Hon, one of the four who brought the case, said: “For too long, disabled individuals have been infantilised and our views ignored. This judgement sends a clear message that the government cannot claim to consult with disabled people if in practice we are not given the proper opportunity to share our views.”

Measures featured in the National Disability Strategy include increasing the number of accessible homes, adapting holder properties, auditing mainline railway stations for accessibility and piloting an Access to Work Adjustment Passport, intended to make it easier for disabled people to change jobs.

It received mixed responses upon its release, such as from disabled Tory peer Lord Shinkwin, who described the plans as a “damp squib”. While speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, Lord Shinkwin said the strategy was “more of a mixture of a to-do list and a should-have-done-by-now list”.

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Meet George Webster – The First CBeebies Presenter With Down’s Syndrome!

TV history was made on September 20th, when George Webster joined the Cbeebies team as the first BBC children’s presenter with Down’s syndrome.

The 21-year-old from Leeds was, according to the Guardian, originally hired to be a guest presenter on the show but he proved to be such a hit with the viewers that the network was bombarded with demands for him to be given a fulltime job!

And his very first show also proved to be very popular with viewers, with a clip of him reciting poetry, making a smoothie and busting out Saturday Night Fever dance moves getting more than 1.2 million views after it went viral on Twitter.

George himself had this to say about his pre-recorded CBeebies debut: “I just felt really positive and excited and happy to get going”. He went on to add that he hopes it inspires people watching at home to make sure they “enjoy every moment and take every opportunity as it comes”.

As well as being CBeebies’ latest asset, George is an ambassador for charity Mencap, recently recorded myth-busting videos for BBC Bitesize, is an ambassador for Parkrun and recently acted in a short called S.A.M., taking the lead as a young gay man who takes a shine to the local misfit. It’s due to be shown on Film4 in October!

The Creative Diversity Network recently released an independent review of the representation of disabled people across the TV industry in the UK as part of its Doubling Disability campaign.

It was found that disabled and transgender people, as well as those over 50 are still under-represented onscreen. However, disabled people are still the most under-represented group across the programmes being monitored.

 

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Salford Trials New App To Improve Gym Access For Disabled People

A new app is currently being trialled in Salford that makes it easier for disabled people to make use of sports centres and gyms, with the pilot being carried out by Sport England.

The WelcoMe app, developed by Neatebox, helps people to plan ahead with their trips, giving them more control over their visits and allowing them to get in touch with venues before they arrive, letting them know of any assistance or specific requirements they may have, the Manchester Evening News reports.

App users will have to give venues at least two hours’ notice of their visit so that staff members know how to provide the best level of help, as well as getting equipment ready and making necessary preparations.

Ferdy Habib – whose 20-year-old son has autism and Erb’s palsy – praised the app, saying: “It is respectful and reduces the stress that people can feel particularly if there is a queue at the leisure centre or sports venue.

“Sami just wants to get in the gym and get on with his training session rather than having to wait. To be welcomed in advance would also be a huge benefit as it would put Sami at ease and it would be good for him to know that someone knows who he is in advance. It’s important to realise that not everyone has visible disabilities.”

All you need to do to get started is download the app, set up an account and build your personalised accessibility profile. You can then browse venues and see what accessibility features they have, allowing you to plan visits and indicate the assistance you require on arrival.

 

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£30 Million In Funding For Changing Places Toilets

The government has announced that £30 million in funding will be made available to install Changing Places toilets in existing buildings around England, with these facilities providing larger accessible toilets and equipment such as curtains, hoists, space for carers and adult-sized changing benches.

The move comes after changes to statutory guidance came into effect in January making the provision of these toilets compulsory in some new buildings. This, coupled with this new wave of investment, means that thousands of people who do have complex needs will now be able to enjoy greater access to public spaces.

Local councils will be able to opt in to bid for a proportion of the funding to install such facilities in their communities, improving the geographical spread across England and making sure that more disabled people can participate in everyday activities that have the biggest impact on quality of life.

Luke Hall, regional growth minister, said: “For too long, the lack of suitable toilet facilities has meant disabled people have faced major difficulties when they shop, go out, or travel and this should not be the case. That’s why the provision of Changing Places toilets is so important for people who cannot use standard accessible toilets.”

There are thousands of people with profound and multiple disabilities, which mean they are unable to use standard accessible toilets, which do not provide changing benches or hoists. These facilities are also typically too small to accommodate more than one person, which is why Changing Places toilets are so essential.

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Why Pubs Should Introduce Better Disabled Access

Many pubs in the UK are in old buildings and therefore aren’t always the most accessible places for those who struggle with their mobility. For wheelchair users it can be incredibly challenging to find pubs they can get into and that have appropriate toilets.

Speaking to the Morning Advertiser, Fiona Jarvis, founder of Blue Badge Style, a website that reviews venues based on their accessibility, style and facilities, said that pubs that make more of an effort to appeal to disabled people will benefit from increased custom.

“The household spend for people with disabilities is worth £249 billion a year. Why would you ignore that market? It’s not just the household, it’s their friends that go out with them,” she asserted.

Ms Jarvis also pointed out that it’s not too expensive to make modifications that can really help disabled people. Among her recommendations are ordering a portable ramp if your venue has a step at the entrance. She estimates that this should cost under £500.

She also stressed that it’s important to make sure all of the staff in your pub are aware of equipment like portable ramps, so that they can easily find them if they need to.

Other pieces of advice include making sure that the disabled toilets aren’t used as an extra storage facility and that there’s always a clear route to reach them.

A number of train stations in the UK are set to see an improvement in disabled access to facilities. Last month the government announced it would spend £300 million to upgrade access at 73 of the country’s railway stations.

If you’re looking at ways that you can improve the bathroom in your own home, make sure you think about every part of the space when you’re making changes. As well as installing easy-access showers, you might also want to consider a seat in the shower and even bidet toilet seats.

Popular Tourist Locations ‘Not Catering For Disabled People’

The chief executive of Disability Wales has come out and said that services provided for people with disabilities at popular tourist locations around the country are not good enough, with people being excluded because of a lack of accessible facilities.

Rhian Davies noted that disabled people and their families are finding it hard to secure suitable accommodation, find places to eat or even visit locations and attractions because the services, toilets and facilities aren’t available, the BBC reports.

She was quoted by the news source as saying: “One of the basic principles of independent living is for disabled people to have choice and control over how they go about their day-to-day lives. This includes having access to cultural opportunities such as visiting tourist attractions and accessing other recreational activities. Local authorities should do more to ensure accessibility of tourist attractions and events, as should local businesses.”

As a company, it makes good business sense to cater for all people so carrying out a review to see if there are any accessibility improvements that could be made may well be wise.

This could include the installation of smaller items like grab rails in bathrooms or even bidet toilet seats and other toilet aids. These can be easily and quickly fitted to your existing toilet so would be a simple change to your bathroom but one that could really help disabled people feel more included. Powered lifters are also available that could help disabled people lower themselves or get back up when using the loo.

Driverless Cars ‘Will Improve Lives’ Of Those With Mobility Issues

People with mobility issues could benefit from the roll-out of driverless cars, with six in ten saying that they expect these connected vehicles to improve their quality of life.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) study found that six out of every ten people in the UK will see their lives transformed by these new cars, offering freedom to some of the most disadvantaged people in the UK, including those with disabilities, and both young and older people.

Features most likely to reduce stress for drivers included automatic braking and parking, as well as the vehicle’s ability to self-diagnose its own faults. Some 49 per cent of people with mobility issues said that owning this kind of car would allow them to go out more often and pursue hobbies outside of home more.

“The benefits of connected and autonomous vehicles are life-changing, offering more people greater independence, freedom to socialise, work and earn more, and access services more easily. While fully autonomous cars will be a step change for society, this report shows people are already seeing their benefits,” chief executive of the SMMT Mike Hawes said.

For example, former Indy Racing League driver Sam Schmidt – who was left paralysed from the neck down following an accident 16 years ago – was recently given the first licence for an autonomous car in the US, allowing him to drive on roads in a specially modified car that doesn’t need hands on the steering wheel or feet on the pedals, according to an Associated Press report.

If you too have mobility issues and need bidet toilet seats or similar installed, get in touch with us today.

Premier League Football Clubs ‘Failing’ Disabled Fans

Premier League football clubs around the UK don’t appear to cater adequately for disabled fans. New research from learning disability charity Mencap reveals that just seven clubs in the league have fully accessible toilets in their stadiums.

The Toilet League Table, as it has been dubbed, ranks the number of Changing Places facilities in stadiums, the date of instalment, if the toilet has been publicly registered, the number of wheelchair seating available and if a club has confirmed plans to install Changing Places toilets by August this year.

A typical Changing Places loo can be installed for £10,000 (which is apparently the equivalent of two hours of Eden Hazard’s weekly salary or 16 and a half Crystal Palace season tickets). These toilets are vital for more than a quarter of a million people with severe disabilities who need more space and equipment than you’d find in a standard disabled facility.

“It’s inexcusable for over half of the Premier League to be without fully accessible toilets for all disabled fans. Nobody wants to leave a game halfway through to go home just to use the toilet. Without a Changing Places facility the only other option is the degrading experience of being changed on what may be a dirty, unhygienic toilet floor,” Mencap activism manager Clare Lucas said.

Each Changing Places toilet comes with a non-slip floor, a waste bin for disposable pads, a central toilet with room on either side, a screen or curtain for privacy and enough space for the disabled person and up to two carers.

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UK Care Home Closure rate ‘Worrying’

The rate of care home closures in the UK has been concerning the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for quite some time, it would seem, with new research showing that in the last six years the number of homes has fallen by almost 1,500 to reach 16,600.

Furthermore, evidence from the organisation would suggest that council contracts – which provide help for tasks like dressing and washing – are being rejected by a worrying number of home care providers, the BBC reports.

Andrea Sutcliffe, social care chief inspector with the CQC, told the newspaper that these results do indicate that the long-term sustainability where high quality care is concerned in the home care sector is at risk.

“Given the impact this would have on people’s lives, it is important that we continue to monitor these trends closely. We know that the adult social care sector faces many financial pressures, which worryingly, could undermine the quality and safety of care that people receive and rely upon every day,” she went on to say.

Further research from the CQC revealed this week (October 13^th) that some services in the UK are still failing to improve their standards even though they’ve been given clear information and instructions as to where improvements are required.

It was found that 47 per cent of care providers that were re-inspected after receiving a ‘requires improvement’ rating were not able to do this. What’s more, in eight per cent of these cases, the quality of care dropped so much that a downgrade to ‘inadequate’ was made.

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