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Welcome to this week's Independent Living newsletter
01.06.16 Contents:
Help for hidden disabilities
Crowdfunding for wheelchair lift
Why Solihull is almost as good as Edinburgh?
The EU and disability
Derek's View – stand up for productivity
Latest – How to win a PIP appeal; Carers Week coming
1. Help for hidden disabilities

Hidden disabilities are very prevalent – the rather lazy depiction of a wheelchair or guide dog to summarise people with additional access requirements does a disservice to the many more who are not easily visible, but still require consideration from service providers.

Gatwick Airport has recently introduced a scheme whereby travellers can request a lanyard to wear around their neck, signalling to staff that they have a hidden disability and may need extra help. The scheme has also been accompanied by an increase in training and disability awareness for staff, and judging by comments made in the Independent Living Facebook Group, I would say that the training gets more of a thumbs-up than the lanyard!  You can read more here 

 

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2. Crowdfunding for wheelchair lift

You probably won't be surprised to know that we get a lot of emails from people who are struggling to finance equipment they need to manage their disability.

There are some excellent aids available to help with limited mobility, for example, but they come at a price.

As local authority budgets are under a great deal of pressure, it has become more difficult to access grants to pay for major adaptations to the home. People are therefore thrown on their own resources to a greater extent, and an increasingly popular way of financing equipment is crowdfunding.

One success story is that of the Thorne family, who now have a shiny new wheelchair lift for daughter Zoe, with some additional help from Terry Liftsyou can read their account here

 

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3. Why Solihull is almost as good as Edinburgh?

Solihull now has its second Clos-o-Mat Changing Places fully accessible toilet – possibly one reason why it has recently been rated the best place to live in England? For the very best place in Britain, you need to head further north, to Edinburgh! 

The town council has completely refurbished what was the Central Library and Arts Centre to form a multipurpose community building, known as The Core. Very appropriate that a development intended to serve all the residents of Solihull should have toilet facilities that can be accessed by everyone.

More details here

 

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4. EU and disability

If you can bear to read any more about the EU referendum, I promise not to join in the absurd claims and personal abuse into which many of the politicians have descended.

This is the last newsletter before registration for voting closes, on 7th June, and whichever way you are inclined, Remainer or Brexiter, there is no doubt in my mind that this is one of the most important questions we have ever been asked to vote on, so don't waste the opportunity. If you aren't registered already, click here to sign up.

The EU has definitely benefited people with disabilities, with the introduction of key pieces of legislation to prevent discrimination, such as the Employment Equality Directive and Charter of Fundamental Rights. On the other hand, you can argue that Britain has a better record than other member states on treatment of disabled citizens, so leaving might not be detrimental...

The Papworth Trust has produced a report, The EU and Disabled People, to inform debate and move the issues that affect some 12 million people in Britain further up the referendum agenda.

 

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5. Derek's View – stand up for productivity!

I often find that I am more comfortable standing up – the accumulated aches and pains of 83 years seem to manifest themselves most when I'm sitting or even lying down! So I wasn't entirely surprised to read about a new study which has found that people are more productive at work if they have sit to stand desks, such as the Transition Standing Desks shown here, that enable them to spend some of the working day standing up.

The research was carried out over a six-month period amongst call centre staff in the United States, and you can read more about the results here

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 - successful PIP appeals; Carers Week coming

I have come across a really helpful guide for anyone who needs to appeal against a PIP decision. Appeals are very often successful, so it is worth going through the procedure – and there is no doubt that you are a lot more likely to achieve a good outcome if you are well prepared. "How to Win a PIP Appeal" is one of several guides produced by AdviceNow, a service provided by the legal education charity Law for Life. It is very straightforward, easy to understand, and full of tips which you would only get from professionals who are completely immersed in the subject. You can download the guide here

 

Next week is Carers Week, and boy, do we have a powerful article in the Carer's Voice series. Spoiler alert: carers are full-time, not just for a week...

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.

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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
Skype: francesleckie
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