It was no surprise to those who follow social care developments closely, that the first legal challenge to a council for failing to meet its statutory obligations under the Care Act came from someone who had previously received support from the Independent Living Fund.

Indeed, it was widely predicted when the fund closed last year, and responsibility was passed to local authorities without any ring-fencing for the money that went with it, that people would find their care packages reduced – and so it has proved to be.

Disability Rights UK have undertaken research which suggests that more than 120 English LAs have simply absorbed the ILF money into their social care budgets: and why wouldn't they, given the huge financial pressures they are under?

In Scotland and Wales, former Fund recipients have had their care protected, and many disabled people are calling for the ILF to be restored in England as well.

You can read more here

 

We are big fans of Care & Repair or Housing Improvement Agencies  (HIAs) as they are also called. The idea behind their services is that older and disabled people can be supported to continue living safely and independently in their own homes thanks to timely interventions, such as help with applying for grants, advice on heating and insulation, and handyperson services.

They have just held their annual awards ceremony at the House of Lords, to celebrate exemplary achievements by local branches. Shown here is the team from the West of England HIA, who won Service of the Year.

You can read more details here

 

Two public consultations for the price of one, this week. 

Attendance Allowance, the disability benefit for people who become disabled after the age of 65, forms part of the consultation around localisation of business rates (the government plan that local authorities will keep hold of 100% of the business rates they charge from 2020). The idea is that AA will go, and instead, local councils will be responsible for providing the services that people receiving Attendance Allowance are believed to require. The consultation goes through till 26th September, and anyone can contribute their opinions. You're welcome to email me with your views to pass on, or if you prefer, Age UK are collating feedback – they have a questionnaire to fill in, which you can download here.

And PIP assessments are getting a second independent review, led by Paul Gray CB, who was also responsible for the first review in 2014. The evidence will be reported to the new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Damian Green, and presented to Parliament before April 2017. Both individuals and organisations with experience of PIP assessments can provide feedback – you can read more details here 

 

You are definitely forgiven if 17th July passed without you realising that it was the international day dedicated to emoji. In fact, if you are anything like me, and don't know your emoticons from your emoji, you probably haven't appreciated what an extensive pictographic language it has become.

The little images used to convey meaning in digital communications include a wide range of characters, activities and emotions, but – incredibly – there was until now but a single representation of disability: a wheelchair-user sign, often employed to designate disabled toilets.

Scope has done their bit to improve the situation, by launching a set of 18 emoji depicting disabled people and Paralympic sports. Swimmer Ellie Simmonds and wheelchair tennis player Jordanne Whiley get their own symbols, alongside representations of a guide dog, sign language user, wheelchair and prosthetic users and various other depictions of disabled people. 

You can read more and download the new emoji here

Like many of my peers, I have now abandoned the bath tub for a lovely low access shower, which is easy to get in and out of, and doesn't leave me feeling worried about falling, or getting stuck.

There are times, though, when I think longingly about soaking in a bath, and, as many disabled people are being prescribed an accessible shower, rather than an assisted bath, I was interested to come across Abacus Healthcare's campaign to raise awareness amongst OTs and Disabled Facilities Grants specifiers of the advantages of bathing. Children, in particular, love to play in the bath, and it is a shame if they aren't able to do this. You can read more details of #Bathingisbetter 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

 

A new initiative to mark the 10th anniversary of the Changing Places Campaign: a free communication board to download and use to talk about Changing Places facilities. Non-verbal users can now share their feedback about the state of public toilet facilities as they go out and about. You can download the free communication board here.

Another highlight of Changing Places Awareness Day (which was yesterday) was an "Urgent Run" with Changing Places development officer Mike LeSurf and the British Toilet Association’s Raymond Martin running between facilities in the City and Westminster, highlighting the distances involved. More here

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Until next time, all good wishes,

Frances