Wheelchair Swing Installed At Picket Twenty!

New accessible equipment in the form of a wheelchair swing has been installed on the Picket Twenty development in Andover, enabling disabled children to play alongside their peers.

The project was the result of a collaboration between local residents, housebuilder Persimmon Homes and Test ValleyBorough Council, inspired by four-year-old Ava Coole, whose mother initiated the idea, the Andover Advertiser reports.

Leanne Coole took to Facebook and the Picket Twenty community group to post a message and ask if local residents would help her raise funds for a swing that wheelchair users could enjoy.

She explained: “During lockdown, my daughter Ava missed going to the park and it was hard explaining to a four-year-old why she couldn’t use the playground.

“She was completely thrilled when our local play area reopened and it suddenly struck me that there are lots of children who every day must look at playgrounds and not be able to use them because they are not accessible. It made me really sad to think that many children can’t do something so simple and fun that the rest of us take for granted.”

Inclusive playgrounds are those that provide children, parents, carers and people of all abilities with inclusive access and the ability to move throughout the space safely and independently.

Elements to consider when planning such a project include choosing the most appropriate surfacing, positioning equipment at varying heights, creating wide enough routes throughout the space and providing flush transitions so that people with mobility aids are able to move around freely.

 

Are you looking for half height shower doors at the moment? The team here at Practical Bathing are on hand to answer any questions you might have.

Wolves Disability FC Gets First-Ever Sponsor!

Energy Angels, an ethical business that strives to ensure access to cost-effective energy supplies, has come onboard with Wolves Disability FC as the team’s first-ever sponsor!

There are now around 70 players on the Disability team, an amazing increase on the four teammates who attended the first session as Sporting Chances nine or so years ago.

Over the years, Energy Angels has taken an executive box at Molineux, engaged in pitchside advertising as a club partner, become shirt sponsors of Wolves Women – and now they can put Wolves Disability FC in their portfolio, as well!

Luke Shearing, inclusion and cohesion manager with the Wolves Foundation, said: “Last season the teams had the same training kit as the men’s and women’s first teams and this sponsorship means that can continue with that, along with opening up several other opportunities.

“It all adds to the professional feel of the club and gives the players something to be proud of, to make them feel that they are part of the One Pack ethos at Wolves. Energy Angels will be working alongside us and getting involved with community events as well and we can’t thank them enough for their support.”

As for the football team itself, it’s due to play a series of friendly fixtures over the 2021/22 season. Teams are run at under-12, under-16 and open age levels and you can find out more about training possibilities by calling Gavin Jones on (01902) 828 366.

 

Looking for half height shower doors at the moment? Get in touch with us at Practical Bathing to see how we can help.

People With Learning Disabilities To Be Prioritised In Vaccine Rollout

Care minister Helen Whately has confirmed that all those who are on a GP register for learning disabilities in England will be prioritised for a covid-19 vaccination, with the move intending to ensure that all those at higher risk of the disease are protected as soon as possible.

According to the Guardian, the decision came following updated advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

Deputy chair of the organisation professor Anthony Harnden called on GPs to extend invitations to those on the register to come forward as the rollout of the vaccine reaches group six in the priority list.

He explained that the aim is to reach people with severe or profound learning difficulties, going on to add that those with milder learning disabilities should not yet get in touch with their GPs.

“What we want to do is try and capture in whatever way we can all those with severe and profound learning disabilities, but we don’t want everybody with a relatively mild learning disability to come forward to be vaccinated now.

“That would cause problems because there are over 1.5 million of those individuals,” he said, in a speech to the Commons science and technology committee this week (February 22nd).

Executive director of communication, advocacy and activism at Mencap Jackie O’Sullivan advised people to check if they’re on the register and request to be put on it if they’re not.

Priority group six is those individuals aged 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality.

Are you looking for half height shower doors at the moment? Get in touch with Practical Bathing today to see how we can help.

Have You Heard Of The Leonard Cheshire Can Do Programme?

If you’re looking to develop your skills in the near future, you might find the Leonard Cheshire Can Do programme of particular interest, aimed at young people aged between 16 and 35 with additional needs.

The idea behind the programme is to give people the opportunity to make a difference, both to themselves and their local communities, as well as helping them meet new people, pick up some new skills and have lots of fun, all at the same time.

You can work towards achieving an SQA personal achievements ward or a City & Guilds certificate if this is something you’re interested in pursuing, with Can Do groups all over the UK so it’s likely that there will be a group near you that you can get involved with.

The programme is free, with all training and expenses covered, with extra support provided if required. It could prove useful to see what other people have been doing, with activities including fundraising activities, preparing food and packages for homeless people, brightening up local communities with graffiti and mosaics, campaigning, sporting activities and so on.

All the projects focus on skills development and confidence building, with community-based and virtual sessions now on offer.

Leonard Cheshire itself has been supporting disabled people for over 70 years, working with various partners to open doors to opportunities and breaking down barriers that deny disabled people their basic rights.

It aims to ensure that disabled people feel respected, valued and safe, able to choose how and where they live, as well as participating freely in social and leisure activities.

Are you looking for half height shower doors? Get in touch with Practical Bathing today.

What Will The Homes Of The Future Look Like?

Thinking about how your needs may change over the years is certainly advisable if you’re keen to stay in your home for as long as you possibly can, living independently.

Adapting your house as time goes on can prove particularly beneficial in this regard – and it seems as though this is becoming a key consideration in building design from the outset, with the government having launched a competition to design the homes of the future, featuring low-carbon, age-friendly properties.

The finalists of the Home of 2030 competition have just been announced, in fact, all of which will be introduced to Homes England development partners to explore the possibility of housing on Homes England land. Each of the finalists have received £40,000 in funding to help them develop their plans.

Finalist Studio OPEN, for example, has submitted a project idea that promotes community and caring for people through a central garden shared between four homes, built using locally sourced materials and timber construction methods to help reduce the impact on the environment.

And Openstudio Architects has come up with a plan that includes landscape elements such as small private gardens, a communal green space, front gardens and upper level balconies and terraces, focusing on sustainable, age-friendly environments.

Helen Whately, minister for care, said: “We want everyone, regardless of their age, to lead healthy, active lives in communities that work for them. As the population of the UK ages, our housing and infrastructure must be adaptable to our changing needs.”

Reviewing your own home, bearing in mind how your needs may evolve over time, could be particularly beneficial. Perhaps focus on the bathroom first, which can pose serious health risks if the design isn’t appropriate for older people.

Do you need half height shower doors? Get in touch with Practical Bathing today to see how we can help.

South Oxfordshire District Council Increase Disabled Facilities Grant

If you or a loved one is living with a disability, it’s important that every care is taken to make sure the bathroom is easily accessible and safe to use. Whether that means creating half height shower doors or installing bath lifts, these bathroom adaptations help make everyday living as comfortable as possible.

And while we take pride in providing an affordable service, you could be entitled to even more support if you live in the South Oxfordshire area, as disabled and vulnerable residents can now apply for larger grants to make their homes safer.

South Oxfordshire District Council has increased the maximum amount payable by £20,000. While it has sat at £30,000, it has now gone up to £50,000 through its Housing Assistance Grants and Loans policy.

So what exactly is the Disabled Facilities Grant? In essence, this is government funding that supporting disabled people to live in their own homes, thereby reducing the need for hospital admissions and residential care.

The grant is for home renovations and adaptations, such as installing bath lifts or walk-in power baths, shower seating or bidet toilet seats—the extent of the renovations depends on your individual needs.

You’ll be paid either in instalments as the work on your home progresses or in full when the work is finished, and it’s completely separate to any disability benefits you already get or may be entitled to. The government website sets out further details on the Disabled Facilities Grant.

As part of the new system, there are also grants available for people living with dementia.

If you’re looking to renovate or adapt your home, we’re here to help you find the right bathroom and make the changes as easy and affordable as possible.

 

Could Coronavirus Change The Working World For Disabled People?

With self-isolation and social distancing now the new norm around the world, at least for the time being, the pandemic has proven that changes being seen where working practices are concerned could be rolled out for disabled people as well.

This is according to a new report from the World Economic Forum, which explains that for many people living with a disability there will be no going back to business as usual once the crisis is over, because self-isolation and exclusion from daily life is, in fact, the norm for them.

The report goes on to say that what has become clear as a result of the pandemic is that business can be agile, with widespread home working swiftly implemented, a “huge upswing” in the uptake of online conferencing technology and even the introduction of dedicated shopping hours for vulnerable people.

“We must ensure businesses apply the learnings from this period to improve inclusion of people with disabilities worldwide by using the same tools we’re using now to allow this community to participate fully in the workforce.

“There’s no excuse not to – we’ve seen it work for a large part of the 7.8 billion global population; now it needs to continue to work for the 1.3 billion [who live with a disability worldwide],” it was observed.

In the UK, there are over 3.7 million disabled people in work – but this demographic is more than twice as likely to be unemployed as someone without any disabilities. Overall, there are 13.9 million disabled people in this country, eight per cent of whom are children. Some 19 per cent of working age adults are disabled, while the same is true for 45 per cent of pension age adults.

For help with half height shower doors, get in touch with us today.

Brits Spend £3k A Year To Upgrade Homes

Homeowners in the UK are spending more and more money to keep their house up-to-date and functional, with recent figures showing the country spends as much as £83 million on DIY jobs a year.

The research from digital bank Zopa found that each adult affords £3,048 on home improvement jobs each 12 months to make their house comfortable, safe and presented well, according to MoneyAge.

The FeelGood Money Company also revealed that Brits are so concerned about how their homes look that they spend 108 hours every year improving it.

Many people feel inclined to renovate their houses often to keep up with appearances, as 77 per cent of Brits feel ashamed about how their property looks when unexpected guests turn up.

However, for a lot of people, making these home renovations is a necessity, as it could enable them to enjoy more independence and stay in their residence for longer.

Indeed, those with disabilities or who are beginning to suffer from restricted mobility as they get older will benefit from fitting half-height shower doors or a small walk-in bath in their bathroom suite. These changes could mean the difference between being able to live in their home for as long as possible, or having to move out and find a property with better access according to their needs.

Joan Simmons, professor of occupational therapy at Spring College in the US, advised making simple alterations to the bathroom for those becoming less mobile. These include installing bars around the bath to help getting in and out of it safely, and fitting strong lighting to always be able to see any potential hazards, Mass Appeal reported.

Passenger Assist App Launched By Network Rail

Network Rail has launched a new Passenger Assist app in partnership with four train companies – West Midlands Railway, Greater Anglia, London Northeastern Railway and South Western Railway – designed to be more accessible and inclusive.

It’s intended to help make it easier for disabled people to travel, as well as less stressful and less likely to go wrong by allowing them to book help at stations. Accessible features like different text sizes and fonts, as well as colour themes, have also been included in the app.

Commenting, regional director at the Rail Delivery Group Robert Nisbet said: “We know we’ve got to do better to improve rail’s accessibility. We want everyone who has requested assistance to get the help they need, which is why we’re investing in this pioneering technology that has the needs of our customers at its heart.

“A few taps of the app will give customers more control, help our people do their jobs better, and deliver on the commitment in our long-term plan to enable more people to benefit from travelling by train.”

Writing for the Daily Express last month (September), 29-year-old journalist Hollie-Anne Brooks told of her own experiences of rail travel as someone with a disability. She explained that all over the UK passengers are left to face unhelpful staff members, “hellish” experiences of travel and missing ramps.

Greater Anglia even used her reserved disabled space for the coffee cart after its typical coach was left out of action. Ms Brooks went on to add that rail companies need to set out manifestos for disabled passengers to ensure they’re comfortable and safe.

Need new half height shower doors? Check out our website today.

Have You Heard Of The Motability Scheme?

Those of you who’ve made the decision to renovate your home to adapt to your changing physical needs, such as by installing half height shower doors or similar, may also find that there comes a time when you need a bit of a helping hand outside the house as well.

Luckily, there’s a Motability Scheme now in operation that allows people to become more mobile by exchanging their mobility allowance for leasing a new scooter, car or powered wheelchair so they can get out and about with ease.

In order to be eligible for the scheme, you need to receive a specific mobility allowance from the Department of Work and Pensions and have at least one year’s award length remaining. The attendance allowance can’t be used to lease a car through this scheme, however.

Benefits of the initiative include the fact that you’re able to pick your choice of vehicle at a price that works for you from all the latest makes and models, as well as the fact that the deal is all-inclusive – so Motability will arrange the insurance, servicing, maintenance and breakdown assistance for you, all part of the price you pay.

More good news for those with mobility issues also recently came from the Department for Transport earlier this year, which is apparently planning to invest up to £300 million to make our travel network more disabled-friendly and more inclusive.

The plans include installing Changing Places toilets at motorway service stations, loos that are more accessible than regular disabled toilets and which boast features like adult-sized changing benches, tracking hoist systems, privacy screens and enough room for a disabled person and two carers.