New Disabled ‘Passport’ To Help Disabled Graduates Find Employment

The government has launched a new Access to Work Adjustment Passport to help disabled 

people make the transition from university into the world of work, reducing the need for 

repeated health assessments when starting a new job.

 

Part of the National Disability Strategy, the pilot scheme is being rolled out at the University 

of Wolverhampton and Manchester Metropolitan University. 

 

Students already receiving extra support while at university will be offered a passport, which 

captures information about their condition and the adjustments they’re already benefiting 

from, so that repetitive disclosures won’t have to be made when applying for grants.

 

Through the Access to Work scheme, disabled people can apply for grants of up to £62,900,

which can be used to cover the cost of specialist equipment that may be required to help them do their jobs.

 

Up to 100 students at each university will be supported through the pilot scheme and it’s 

possible that thousands more could benefit if it’s implemented nationwide.

 

This passport is just one of 100 different commitments outlined in the National Disability 

Strategy, which was published in July. It’s designed to give people the confidence to have 

conversations about their disability with potential employers, which could be challenging 

otherwise.

 

Chloe Smith, minister for disabled people, said: “Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to 

thrive at work, starting from the moment they take their first steps on the career ladder.

 

“By working with the University of Wolverhampton and Manchester Metropolitan University 

on this trial, we can find the best way for these new passports to support their students into 

employment.”

 

Earlier this year, a new advice hub was also created to help disabled people gain a deeper 

understanding of their employment rights, with other measures also being brought forward to

promote flexible working, introduce carers’ leave and explore more support for disabled 

entrepreneurs.

 

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The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Starts Today!

The long-awaited Tokyo 2020 Paralympics kicks off today (August 24th), after a pandemic-related hiatus that saw the event cancelled last year to allow the world to deal with the strange events of the covid-19 crisis.

But the 16th Paralympic Games is finally getting underway, the second time that the Japanese capital has played host to the event after first holding it back in 1964. In all, 537 events will be put on, featuring 22 different sports, with taekwondo and badminton appearing in the tournament for the first time ever.

Sad news for Welsh hopes, however, with the news just in that Matt Bush – Para Taekwondo World Champion – forced to withdraw from the Games because of an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The opening ceremony itself saw the Afghanistan flag carried in by a volunteer, after the two athletes from the country who were going to compete had to be withdrawn by the Afghanistan Paralympic Committee because of cancelled flights from Kabul.

Andrew Parsons, International Paralympic Committee president, said: “We will include the Afghanistan flag in the ceremony in a sign of solidarity. It is important to highlight that as it is a message of solidarity and peace that we send to the world. We would like to have them here, unfortunately it is not possible, but they will be here in spirit.”

The first day of the Games will see cycling, goalball, swimming table tennis, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing and wheelchair rugby all take place… which sounds like a great first day of competing to us. Which events are you most looking forward to watching?

 

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Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm Wins Inclusivity & Accessibility Awards!

It’s always welcome news to hear of businesses and attractions taking steps to become more inclusive and make their sites more accessible for disabled people.

And if you’re looking for your next fun day out, a trip to Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm could be on the agenda, as the business has just taken home the gold in this year’s Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards for accessible and inclusive tourism.

The team have been working hard behind the scenes to make the zoo accessible for all, with a Changing Places toilet recently installed, complete with a hoist and changing bed, as well as making improvements to the car park so it’s more accessible for wheelchair users.

In addition, the staff members have also been taking training courses in autism, mental health awareness and British Sign Language.

Managing director Larry Bush commented on the news, saying: “We are absolutely thrilled to have received these awards, which highlight the dedication of our talented and hard-working team. It’s a huge honour to be recognised for our progress as a green tourist attraction and an inclusive and accessible zoo.”

The site is now open seven days a week but you have to book your tickets online, unless you’re a member, in which case you don’t need to pre-book. The zoo is currently celebrating all the signs of spring, with a new trail to help you explore the various parts of the park and discover all the baby animals.

You’ll see all sorts of flora and fauna on your way round, everything from Jersey cows and donkeys to geese, llamas, Tamworth pigs, Shetland ponies and alpacas!

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Ken Ross Issues Call For Greater Inclusivity For Disabled People On Screen

Film producer Ken Ross, renowned for the likes of My Feral Heart and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit, has issued a call for more disabled people to appear on TV and film screens worldwide, having spent the last 20 years working to promote greater diversity and inclusion of people with disabilities.

In an interview with the Guardian, Mr Ross, 49, explained that an actor would never be asked to black up in order to play a role, so why should someone be asked to impersonate an individual with a disability?

The producer, who is also a real estate investor, has now been talking to producers and directors looking to cast more actors with disabilities – including none other than George Clooney, with whom he is currently in talks with about improving opportunities for people with Down syndrome.

Mr Ross’s son Max has Down syndrome and he explained that it wasn’t until the birth of his son that he “fully grasped … how excluded people with Down syndrome or other disabilities really were”.

He went on to say that creating jobs for people with Down syndrome in the film industry helps spread awareness of the condition, adding: “When statistics show that only six per cent of people with a learning disability are in paid work, it makes sense to create jobs in the film industry, where you can reach an audience of millions and encourage people to think a little bit more about how they can include others.”

If you’re keen to start a new career in film and TV, Pact Diversity has a helpful list of resources and organisations that can guide you in the right direction.

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10 New Online Workouts Launched For Disabled Children

National charity for wheelchair sport WheelPower has announced that it will be releasing ten new online workouts aimed at primary and secondary age disabled children, giving them more opportunities to keep fit and healthy at the moment.

The videos will be divided into two age groups, according to MKFM, with five aimed at primary school children and five at secondary, each one with their own unique theme to ensure that each workout is different and varied.

Former GB wheelchair basketball player Ella Beaumont has agreed to be the instructor and she also has some amazing fitness resources available to help disabled people train at home.

WheelPower head of sport Emily Weller explained that these new exercise videos are being released at a time when children are homeschooling and therefore missing regular PE classes.

“These ten workouts feature our instructor Ella, as she leads us through a series of exercises around a particular theme. Each workout is approximately 20 minutes long and they are all fully adaptable and inclusive, so all family members can join in the movements too!” she said.

WheelPower itself has been providing opportunities in sport for disabled people for more than 70 years. Each year, it supports more than 62,099 disabled people to take part in sport and activity all over the country.

It promotes participation at all levels, from first-timers to Paralympic medallists, demonstrating how playing sport can enrich lives, no matter age or ability.

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Adaptive Yoga Online Designed For The Disabled Community

Disabled people at home during the pandemic may want to sign up for online service Adaptive Yoga Live so they can stay as fit as possible, keep moving and combat stress levels at this interesting and challenging time.

The classes have been designed to make yoga more accessible for those with disabilities, limitations and injuries, and for elderly people, as well. The yoga itself is a form of the discipline that connects the mind, body and spirit through the practice of physical postures in conjunction with the breath and meditation.

It works by taking away the fear of movement, with meditation and deep breathing reducing stress and moving the nervous system from an alert state to a calm one. The gentle movements can increase muscle tone, help manage pain and improve balance.

Live online classes have now been modified to include only seated poses for those watching at home during the pandemic. There are some props required to help with alignment during poses, while providing support and stability, but other items can be used if you don’t have the necessary equipment, such as belts and books.

Louise Edwards, founder of the Adaptive Yoga Network, and Miranda McCarthy, founder of Wavelength VR, have collaborated on these free online classes designed specifically with the most vulnerable people in mind to help them during self-isolation.

There are three virtual classes each week, suitable for all ages and limitations, as well as anyone sitting at home. They will be streamed live and for free every Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, taught by expert yoga teachers Karen Russell and Paulo Concepcion.

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New Scheme To Support Disabled Overlooks Children

The government recently announced it will do more to support disabled people and break down the barriers they face.

However, The Sun newspaper has been left disappointed with the proposals, as it claims it has overlooked the needs of children with disabilities.

This comes after the tabloid launched a campaign to reinstate the £434 million that has been slashed from disabled kids’ services across the country.

Last week, Prime Minister Theresa May revealed plans to overhaul statutory sick pay, offer greater workplace support, and introduce higher accessibility standards for new housing for disabled people.

Ms May stated: “My determination to identify and tackle injustices, wherever they exist in society, remains as strong as ever.”

She added the new measures will “break down barriers faced by disabled people, whether in employment, housing or elsewhere”.

However, The Sun has argued the government failed to address the lack of support for disabled children.

This is in spite of work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd declaring: “We intend to support disabled people in all phases of their life.”

Earlier last month, the newspaper launched its Give It Back initiative to get the government to return the funding from disabled services for families, which includes money for equipment and respite care.

The campaign has had the support of thousands of readers, as well as 60 leading charities that work with disabled children and their families.

This project is especially important as the number of disabled youngsters in Britain has risen by a third over the last ten years, and there are almost one million children currently living with a disability in the UK.

One way to improve their lives is by installing shower seating, as this makes washing youngsters much easier than having to support their weight.

Big Companies Urged To Be More Inclusive

The minister for disabled people, health and work has called on big companies around the UK to reveal the numbers of disabled people they have on their payroll, with a new framework launched to encourage firms to report how many staff members have health conditions or disabilities.

Sarah Newton has confirmed that there will be 19 projects that will receive money as part of the £3.9 million Work and Health Challenge Fund to support those with disabilities and mental health conditions.

These projects are intended to enable people to stay in work by helping them to manage their conditions by themselves, while making it easier to access advice and support relating to what jobs they would be most suited to.

Ms Newton said: “Employers across the country this month have joined us in celebrating and promoting inclusive workforces as we mark Disability Confident’s anniversary – and embraced the hashtag #IAmConfident to empower people to talk openly about a disability or health condition.”

Approximately one-fifth of the working age population lives with a disability or health condition, with the latest employment figures showing that over half of disabled people are now in work – and almost one million more disabled people have joined the workplace in the last five years.

Government figures released this month (November 13^th) revealed that there are now more disabled people in work than out of it, with three-quarters of the jobs created since 2010 being full-time permanent roles in higher skilled occupations. This means that earnings are typically higher as well, all part of the government’s Industrial Strategy to create better well-paying jobs fit for the future.

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Do You Claim Carer’s Credit?

If you look after a disabled person and are providing 20 hours of care or more a week, it’s possible that you might be eligible to claim carer’s credit. This is a scheme designed to help carers build up better state pension entitlements, so you could really benefit if you research it this year.

New research from Royal London, however, has just revealed that although each year of credits would add £237 annually to a carer’s state pension, the scheme itself has failed to reach 97 per cent of its target group.

“Governments cannot simply hope that people find the information on official websites or rely on the occasional ministerial press release. It is time for proactive communications with those who are meant to benefit so that far more people get the help to which they are entitled,” director of policy Steve Webb commented.

To qualify for these credits, the disabled person you’re caring for must be in receipt of one of the following benefits: attendance allowance, constant attendance allowance, disability living allowance care component at the middle or highest rate, personal independence payment or Armed Forces independence payment.

If the person in need of care doesn’t receive any of these, a health or social care professional will have to sign the credit application and confirm the details.

You yourself have to be over the age of 16 but under state pension age, and be looking after one or more people for a minimum of 20 hours a week. You can also still get carer’s credit if you take a break from caring (up to 12 consecutive weeks).

For advice and help with shower seating and other bathroom modifications, get in touch with us today.