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Welcome to this week's Independent Living newsletter
10.08.16 Contents:
Why the flip-flops on healthy eating advice?
A fresh view on accessible air travel
Accessible information standard
Disability United
Derek's View – CareZips incontinence trousers
Latest updates - adult social care; Harry Potter
1. Why the flip-flops on healthy eating advice?

Maybe one reason why we are getting fatter despite all the healthy eating advice we receive is because we wildly underestimate the calories we consume (the conclusion of a scientific study reported this week).

But we certainly haven't been helped by nutrition experts advising us to avoid fats at all costs, while blithely disregarding the ever-increasing quantity of sugar we consume. Then there's carbohydrate: is it good or is it bad? What about eggs? For years, people have feared the cholesterol content – now it seems there is no correlation between the cholesterol in food and raised levels in humans.

Mary Farmer's latest nutrition blog looks at changes in healthy eating guidance, and the murky forces operating behind-the-scenes to influence the advice we receive.

 

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2. A fresh view on accessible air travel

Last week I wrote about a new study into disabled passengers' airport experiences, which are not, I think it's fair to say, universally positive. You can read the piece here.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given how important travel is in most people's lives, the study created quite a stir on social media, and elicited a very thoughtful response from Chris Wood, pictured here with his daughter Tayla. As a father with two disabled children, both of whom use power chairs, he has years of experience at the sharp end when it comes to access problems. He thinks that the main difficulty lies not with airports, but with airlines, and the fact that there are no wheelchair places on aeroplanes... which certainly has some logic!

You can read his article here

 

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3. Accessible information standard

This month, a new Accessible Information Standard has come into force for any organisation providing NHS care or adult social care.

It means that people with sensory loss or impairments should receive better care, as they are provided with information in a form they can read, or support to help them communicate more effectively. For example, information about treatment may be provided in Braille or large print, or using a BSL (British Sign Language) interpreter.

Any information or communication needs should be highlighted on a person's NHS records, so that anyone interacting with them knows that information needs to be provided in the appropriate way.

There are more details here.

 

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4. Disability United

The people at lifestyle website, Disability Horizons, have just launched a new site, with a more campaigning and political edge.

Disability United is aiming to unite disabled people, friends, families – anyone whose lives are touched by the largely negative economic and social factors which are making life more of a challenge, and threatening to derail the progress we had been making towards equality of access and opportunities.

One of their first projects is a petition calling for an end to underfunding of Disabled Facilities Grants, which is costing taxpayers anything up to £47 billion in extra care costs. More information here.

There will be more on Disabled Facilities Grants in next week's issue! 

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5. Derek's View – CareZips

Long time site subscribers, Win Health Medical, have added to their wide range of medical equipment, home health and self-care products. The company is now the sole UK distributor for CareZips incontinence trousers from the USA. Underwear and nightwear for incontinent people are already easily available, but comfortable, attractive trousers that facilitate changing while preserving the dignity of the wearer are not commonplace.

You can read more details about CareZips here, and Win Health would also like to hear from trade readers who are interested in becoming distributors.

If you provide high quality products and services, and you would like to reach our site visitors and newsletter readers, please email derek@independentliving.co.uk

 

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6. Latest updates - adult social care; Harry Potter

A call from Leonard Cheshire Disability for feedback from anyone receiving adult care services through their local authority, who is experiencing problems. For example, cuts to the care package; having to wait for help to get up and get dressed; not having enough time for all the necessary tasks during a visit – more details here.

Like many of you, I suspect, I'm a big Harry Potter fan, so I was pleased to hear that the latest story, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, is already accessible to visually impaired readers, thanks to both Braille and giant print editions from Little, Brown working with the RNIB. An audiobook will be available shortly, and – interestingly – there is an edition planned specially for people with dyslexia coming out in the autumn. Simple large blue text with wide margins on a beige background, printed on slightly thicker paper, in case you are wondering!

As always, there are various ways you can get in touch with Independent Living: email me; visit our Facebook page and leave a message there; or if it's short and sweet, Tweet!

Previous newsletters are archived here.

If you are reading a copy of the Independent Living newsletter that has been passed on to you by a colleague or friend, why not sign up for your own free subscription – it's quick and easy, and won't lead to your inbox being bombarded with other stuff!

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Until next time, all good wishes,

Frances

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Frances Leckie
Editor

e: editor @ independentliving.co.uk
t: +44 (0) 208 133 0628
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