Autism friendly film screening

Autism and learning disabilities support provider Dimensions, working with Odeon, has organised the screening of Hotel Transylvania for this Sunday 14 October, at 11.30am. 

More than 80 cinemas across the UK will show the film.

Autism friendly film screenings are designed especially for people who experience autism and learning disabilities, to provide more inclusive environments. 

The monthly screenings are mainstream films shown in a sensory friendly environment. Lights are on low, sound is turned down, trailers are omitted and people can bring their own food, make noise and move around the cinema as they feel comfortable.

For tickets call the Odeon accessibility helpline number on 0800 138 3315 or for more information see website www.dimensions-uk.org/autismfilms

Disability Strategy

Esther McVey, Minister for Disabled People

The Paralympics were a once in a lifetime opportunity to showcase the sporting talents of disabled people performing at their best. Above all though, it was about engaging with the public and changing their perceptions towards disabled people. Channel 4’s coverage allowed us to go on a journey with each of the athletes, letting us see their world, understand their obstacles and truly appreciate their resilience. We saw far beyond the sport, we saw their life.

In my new role as Minister for Disabled People I want to make sure we capitalise on this ‘attitudinal bounce’ so that there’s a legacy of lasting inclusion. That’s why I’m working with disabled people and their organisations on the development of a disability strategy. Last December we published Fulfilling Potential which invited disabled people to feed in their ideas about what should feature in our disability strategy.

Thousands of disabled people responded and one of the areas they said was important to them was the promotion of positive attitudes and behaviours towards disabled people and tackling discrimination and harassment wherever they occur.

A number of people put forward practical suggestions on how this could achieved including benchmarking attitudes to properly understand how to make changes over the long-term; producing and launching a media guide for journalists; and training for frontline Government staff to embed disability issues at the start of the policy-making process. These are all areas we are now looking at.

But we’re not stopping there. This strategy is about making a real difference and creating role models for future generations by supporting disabled people so they gain more individual control over their lives and realise their aspirations.

That’s why we have set up a new disability action alliance, so that we can deliver changes and carry forward the ideas that have been proposed so that disabled people can fulfil their potential. And as the new Minister for Disabled people, I look forward to working with disability organisations and disabled people on this new approach to bring about real change.

New spelling software for Dragon speech recognition system

A new vocabulary enhancement for Dragon Naturally Speaking speech recognition software has been launched to enable users to easily dictate and correctly spell healthcare, legal, and bioscientific and engineering words and phrases.

Launched by the Spellex Corporation Spellex Dictation is aimed at students and professionals.

Three new versions are available Spellex Dictation: Medical, Spellex Dictation: Legal and Spellex Dictation: BioScientific

For more information http://www.spellex.com/products/speech-recognition-products.htm.

Dragon speech recognition software aims to make it easier for anyone to use a computer. Users simply talk and it types. Users can use their voice to create and edit documents or e-mails, launch applications, open files, control the mouse and more. 

Deadline approaches for NHS continuing healthcare

The department of health is reminding families the deadline is approaching for NHS continuing healthcare. Anyone who believes that the NHS should have in the past carried out an assessment into paying for their or their loved one’s care due to health reasons has until Sunday 30 September to apply.

The deadline only applies to:

o those who have never received an assessment for NHS Continuing Healthcare – the package of health and social care that is arranged and funded solely by the NHS and is free to the patient; and

o those who believe they may have been eligible for periods of care which occurred between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2011.

Anyone who meets these two criteria should contact their local Primary Care Trust before Sunday 30 September – details can be found online at NHS Choices www.nhs.uk/ or in the phone book.

They do not need any legal advice to request to be considered for an assessment and they only need to notify their local Primary Care Trust  before the deadline. There is no need to present a full medical history.

Public health minister,Anna Soubry said: “In March we asked the NHS to communicate this deadline as quickly and effectively as possible to local people through whatever means necessary.

“However, if you are not aware of the deadline then please don’t worry. If you believe that you or a loved one should have been assessed for eligibility for a past period of care, then all you need to do is contact your local Primary Care Trust by this Sunday. You can find their contact details online at NHS Choices, or in the phone book.

“The deadline to register for an assessment is fast approaching and we want everyone that should have been entitled to be assessed for a past period of care to be considered as soon as possible.”

NHS Continuing Healthcare is a package of health and social care that is arranged and funded solely by the NHS, subject to the assessment of a person’s care needs – this is free to the individual.

Guidance for care workers to help reduce fire deaths

For the first time care workers are to be given new advice in a bid to cut fire deaths by helping them spot the tell tale signs of someone who is at high risk of having a fire.

Figures in a London Fire Brigade report reveal that one person receiving care is dying from fire every month in London.

According to the statistics, over the last three years, 36 out of 119 accidental fire deaths involved people who had some form of care services. All but three of the deceased smoked, half had mental health issues and 14 were known to drink alcohol.

Care workers in England will now get extra information about fire safety to support their introductory training. The aim is to give them extra potentially life-saving information on how to spot the signs of a person who is most at risk of dying or being seriously injured, should a fire occur.

Fire chiefs are asking care staff to get in touch with their local fire and rescue service if they notice any of the vital early warning signs. Care workers are often the first to see the tell tale signs like burn marks on carpets from cigarettes or a smoke alarm that has run out of battery.

The chair of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority’s Strategy Committee, councillor Crada Onuegbu, said: “This is a great example of London Fire Brigade working with other organisations to make not only London but the nation safer from fire.

“Care staff do a fantastic job of supporting people within our communities and those who have mobility issues. Sadly these people are among the most at risk from dying in a fire. Now care staff will have the skills to spot the warning signs and help prevent these terrible deaths.”

 Sharon Allen the chief executive at Skills for Care said: “This report is a timely reminder that people who use care services are often at serious risk from fire so we welcome this pro-active approach from fire brigades to tackling this problem.

“Brigades across the country have made significant progress in preventing fires so we would urge care workers and their managers to contact their local officers who can offer free expert advice to anyone they think might be at risk.”

Sense tribute to the co-founder of the charity

The co-founder of the charity Sense, Peggy Freeman has died at the age of 94. She was one of the parents who helped to set up the National Deafblind and Rubella Association in 1955, the organisation which later became the charity Sense.

Born in Sutton Coldfield, she is survived by her four children, sons Ian and Robin, and daughters Ann, who lives in Australia, and Bunty, who is deafblind and lives a in a Sense residential home in Birmingham. Her late husband, Peter Freeman, died in April 1992. 

Peggy Freeman contracted Rubella in 1952 just before becoming pregnant with her fourth child, Bunty who was born on 29 January 1953. Doctors assured her that her baby would be alright but Bunty was born deaf, blind and with heart problems. Peggy had no one to turn to for help until a teacher of deaf children introduced her to other parents of deafblind children. 

She met another parent, Margaret Brock, whose son was similarly born with Congenital Rubella Syndrome and together they formally set up the first parents’ Rubella Group in 1955.  

The group began with ten founder families. Today Sense employs more than 3,000 staff and meets the needs of thousands of dual-sensory impaired people from babyhood to old age.

Gillian Morbey the chief executive of Sense and Sense International and president of Deafblind International said: “At a time when people thought deafblind children couldn’t be educated or live full lives Peggy battled, not only for her own daughter, but what has become the whole Sense family. She is our last great ‘trooper’ from the early days of Sense and will be sadly missed.”

Peggy Freeman received an MBE in 1967 for services to deafblind people for her role in co-founding Sense.

Motability car scheme puts 'reliablity' first

Disabled motorists can benefit from added peace of mind by choosing a car that has been hailed for its reliability in a recent WhatCar? Reliability Survey.

Eight of the top 10 most reliable city cars are available from Motability, the car scheme for disabled people, including the top three – the Suzuki Alto, Toyota Aygo and Kia Picanto – all from no Advance Payment, which means no up-front additional costs to pay. 

WhatCar? and Warranty Direct teamed up to carry out the survey and create the ‘Reliability Index’ – a way to score cars based on factors such as the number of times a car breaks down, the average repair cost and the average repair time.

Nine of the top 10 most reliable superminis are also available through Motability, again, all from no Advance Payment. The compact Vauxhall Agila, spacious Skoda Fabia and practical Honda Jazz took the top three spots in this category.

 People who receive the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance or the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement, can exchange this weekly payment to lease a new car, scooter or powered wheelchair through Motability. Insurance, maintenance, servicing and breakdown assistance are also included in the lease.

Further highlights from the survey include Motability cars suited to small families, such as the Toyota Auris, which came in third and the Mazda3.

Mike Betts the chief executive of Motability Operations said: “For many of our customers, the reliability of a vehicle is one of the main areas of consideration when looking for a new car. Research like this is very useful to both us and our customers and it’s great to see that Motability offers such a variety of those highlighted in these categories. We strive to make a wide choice of cars available to our customers to ensure that they are able to get the right vehicle for their needs.”

Full details of all cars are available on the online Car Search tool at motability.co.uk. For more information on leasing a car from Motability call 0800 093 1000.

£1.5m for personal health budget roll-out

To support the roll-out of personal health budgets £1.5 million has been earmarked to help individuals choose the most appropriate care for them.

A pilot programme involving more than 60 PCTs is underway to look at how the budgets can benefit those who need them, what the funding could be spent on and how personal budgets should be implemented.

People whose complex care needs are paid for by the NHS through the NHS Continuing Healthcare scheme, or those with a range of long-term conditions such as stroke, diabetes, neurological conditions, mental health needs and respiratory problems like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, have been involved in the pilots.

The evaluation is due to be completed in the autumn. To be ready as soon as the findings are known the department of health has now identified £1.5m to be made available to support the first stage of a potential roll-out.

The care and support minister Norman Lamb said: “We want to ensure more care is tailored around people’s individual needs and preferences. Giving those with complex health needs the control of how to spend money on their care gives them and their doctors the flexibility to try innovative new approaches to achieve better health outcomes.

“Subject to the results of the current pilot programme, our aim is to introduce a right to a personal health budget for people who would benefit from them most – the scale and pace of this will be informed by the independent evaluation.”

Vitalise video builds on Paralympic mood to salute disabled people

A charity video celebrating people with disabilities after the Paralympics has become an overnight internet hit, with more than 10,000 views in just three days.

The video was produced by disability charity Vitalise and features the disabled guests, volunteers and staff at its Southport respite holiday centre performing Queen’s feel-good anthem ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’.

It pays tribute to the inspiring achievements of Team GB’s Paralympic athletes, such as Hannah Cockroft and Jonnie Peacock, who are featured in the video.

Vitalise made the recording earlier in the year but decided to delay its release to add its own tribute to Team GB’s Paralympians.

Vitalise’s chief executive Chris Simmonds said: “Thanks to the incredible achievements we witnessed at the Paralympics, disability has never had such a high public profile. We really hope this wave of positivity and goodwill continues.

“This video is our way of saying thank you to our Paralympians, but also of celebrating the achievements of people with disabilities in all walks of life.

“Of course not all people with disabilities are Paralympians, but they all confront their own personal hurdles. In overcoming these obstacles they are performing their own quiet heroics, day in, day out. This video is our salute to that indomitable spirit.”

The video can be viewed on Vitalise’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/VitaliseOnVideo or via the link: http://youtu.be/p0a2tqYDT_4

Stelios Award opportunity for disabled entrepreneurs

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou is calling for talented disabled entrepreneurs to apply for this year’s Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs in the UK.

The award, jointly run by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation and Leonard Cheshire Disability, recognises the achievements and unique challenges faced by disabled entrepreneurs. Now in its sixth year, it offers a £50,000 cash prize to the winner.

 Applicants have until 5pm on Friday 26 October to apply and the winner will be presented with a cheque at a special ceremony in London on 3 December.

 Sir Stelios said: “I am passionate about encouraging entrepreneurship, and the previous winners of this award offer proof that there are many highly talented disabled entrepreneurs out there.

“With around 50 per cent of disabled adults out of work it is clear that there still is a long way to go. Removing the barriers disabled people face in business is essential, and I hope that the Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs goes some way to highlighting their achievements.

 “We want to hear from talented disabled entrepreneurs who are able to show they have got what it takes to run a successful business and meet a real need in the market.”

Helen Carter from Leonard Cheshire Disability, who leads on the award, said: “Disabled people in business experience disadvantage and discrimination everyday, largely through ignorance - this must change.

“Our partnership with Sir Stelios is helping the charity highlight the barriers disabled people face in the workplace and recognise the outstanding achievements of disabled entrepreneurs.”

Last year there were two joint winners, Rob Smith and Huw Thomas who each won £50,000 to develop their business.

Rob’s business, The Active Hands Company www.activehands.co.uk, designs, manufactures and sells gripping aids which allow disabled people with limited hand function to grip a wide variety of items.

Huw’s business, Promove UK www.promove.uk.com, designs, manufactures and supplies specialist slings used to rescue, evacuate and transfer sick, injured, disabled or incapacitated people.

To apply or to find out more about the award see www.lcdisability.org/stelios, e-mail innovation@lcdisability.org or call 0845 671 7173 (option 1).

impower survey finds GPs inflate demand for residential care

A survey has found that more than half of GPs don’t fully understand non-residential care services and 67 per cent said they receive little or no support from local councils.

The research by the local government consultancy, impower, revealed GPs inflate demand for residential care by at least 60,000 older people every year because they are not familiar with the alternatives. 

The Home Truths study based on interviews with older people, social care professionals, GPs and directors of adult social care found 82 per cent of GPs believe that a large proportion of older people could avoid or delay entry into residential care.

Jeremy Cooper the director at impower said the study shows that GPs, social workers and local authorities are “locked in a dysfunctional relationship” with lack of understanding between them generating “unnecessary demand for residential care.”

He said: “With financial pressures increasing we need a new approach to health and social care integration now.”

Richard Parry the corporate director of adults and local services at Cumbria County Council, added: “We need to ‘up our game’ when it comes to delaying entry into residential care and challenge widely held perceptions that residential care is the only option.”

impower’s report argues that current efforts to integrate health and social care should be re-focused on the individual relationships between the people who provide these services, which hold the key to reducing demand.

Jeremy Cooper, said: “Our research identifies a much bigger potential opportunity to tackle the social care funding crisis – by deflating demand. The £600m opportunity to reduce residential care bills we have identified is just the tip of the iceberg.

“If local authorities focused on integrating people and culture, rather than just structures and services, they could save billions of pounds in provision of more appropriate, targeted health and social care for older people.”

For more information http://www.impower.co.uk/

RCN urges investment in specialist nurses for children with epilepsy

Commenting on today’s first national audit of epilepsy care for children and young people, The Royal College of Nursing expressed ‘profound concern’ that fewer than half of children with epilepsy had access to a specialist nurse.

RCN chief executive and general secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said: “Epilepsy is clearly being treated very well in many parts of the country, and specialist nurses have led the way in helping children and their families to manage epilepsy. However, it is a matter of profound concern to us that this is not the case everywhere. 

“The recommendation that all children have access to a specialist nurse is there for a reason – the nurse can offer an unparalleled combination of expert clinical advice alongside practical help for children and their families. 

“Too often, without the right advice many children face needless complications which affect not just their health but their education and other activities. We would urge NHS organisations to give every child access to a specialist nurse to keep them as well as possible and to avoid unnecessary and expensive hospital admissions.”

Alzheimer’s Research UK increases funding commitment to £20m

Alzheimer’s Research UK has pledged a further £5.5m investment in new projects, increasing its current funding for research to more than £20million. 

The announcement, which coincides with World Alzheimer’s Day on 21 September includes awards for 52 new grants aimed at understanding the causes of dementia, improving diagnosis and finding new treatments and preventions.

Studies to benefit include:

• A three-year project led by Prof Patricia Salinas, at UCL in London, to study a protein that plays a key role in the destruction of the connections between brain cells, called synapses. The project will also see researchers test whether different molecules can stop synapses being destroyed – the first step towards the development of new drugs to help treat Alzheimer’s.

• A programme at the University of Manchester to investigate how a person’s genetic profile contributes to their risk of frontotemporal dementia. Researchers will screen DNA samples from 1,500 people with the disease and compare them to 1,500 healthy people, to help confirm newly-identified genes that are thought to raise the risk of the disease.

Deborah Gatesman, whose father James was diagnosed with the disease in 2003 at the age of 74 and now lives in a nursing home, said: “We had a two-year struggle to get a diagnosis for Dad, and watching his decline has been absolutely heartbreaking. His symptoms crept on slowly at first, but he gradually began to lose all concept of time and became more and more confused. He’s now in a home where he can receive the specialist care he needs, and even though it’s lovely to visit him, he no longer recognises me. We desperately need new treatments so it’s great to see new money being invested in research.”

Alzheimer’s Research UK is the UK’s leading charity specialising in finding preventions, treatments and a cure for dementia. For more information or to donate www.alzheimersresearchuk.org.

Disabled travellers still face access issues

A survey carried out by Adapted Vehicle Hire and the charity, Tourism For All UK, has revealed that 86 per cent of disabled people think the UK travel industry is still not providing sufficient information about disabled access and facilities. 

The study also found that 87 per cent of respondents had been prevented from travelling because of their disability.  

London was identified as the part of UK with the best disabled access and facilities but despite improvements made in the run up to the Paralympics, the Underground was singled out for criticism.

The UK’s airports and train stations also fared badly in the survey with respondents claiming more needed to be done to make them accessible for all.

However, more than 92 per cent of people thought that disabled access had improved overall in the past ten years – 28 per cent thought that access was ‘significantly better’.

Lorraine Farnon the managing director of Adapted Vehicle Hire, said: “The results clearly demonstrate that despite gradual progress, more needs to be done to make the travel industry more accessible for disabled people.”

Carrie-Ann Lightley, Information Officer from Tourism For All UK, said: “Tourism For All has been campaigning for the past 30 years to improve the range of travel options and facilities for disabled people. Our view is that tourism is important to everyone and we support the government’s aim of making UK tourism the most accessible in Europe.

“Access to some rural and historic sites will always present more of a challenge for disabled visitors, but places like airports have scope for significant improvement to better meet the needs of disabled travellers.”

The survey results also identified Cornwall and Devon as the most popular holiday destination, followed closely by Spain and France.

Several venues from across the UK were praised for their ease of access and suitability for disabled visitors including National Trust properties and the Eden Project in Cornwall.

'Health through warmth' npower scheme reaches milestone

The npower Health Through Warmth scheme, which helps vulnerable residents, is celebrating after hitting 75,000 referrals.

Since 2000, Health Through Warmth has worked closely with community professionals, charities and other organisations to help residents in need. It aims to help homeowners whose health is made worse by cold living conditions by helping to fund the installation of heating and insulation measures which they can’t afford themselves. 

The scheme finds funding from different organisations and to date has secured more than £1.4 million of charitable funds, as well as contributing £7.8 million from the unique npower Health Through Warmth Crisis Fund.

Elaine Midwinter, npower Health Through Warmth scheme manager, said: “We’re delighted to have reached such a major milestone.

“We hope to continue to build our relationships with community organisations to help identify people in need, so even more local residents can benefit from the scheme.”

For more information about Health Through Warmth www.healththroughwarmth.com

People to have more control in choosing their care services

The public has been told to expect to see more choice in local care and support services as local councils move a step closer to developing a wider range of services. 

The Developing Care Markets for Quality and Choice programme announced by the care minister Norman Lamb aims to improve choice, provide tailored care and focus care on the outcomes that matter to people.

 Currently some areas are not benefiting from the range of quality services available elsewhere. Local councils have been working hard to meet the needs of their community, however, more change is needed. 

Norman Lamb said: “We can’t have a one-size fits all approach. This new programme will increase choice in the care services provided.”

Exercise attachment for amputees wins award

A Preston-based group of BAE Systems apprentices has won the Make it in Great Britain Challenge – a competition launched earlier this year to find the most innovative ideas in the UK which are not yet on the market.

BedFleX, an elastic attachment for use by recovering amputees and critical care patients, raced to victory in the final part of the challenge after being on display at the Make it in Great Britain exhibition at the Science Museum.

The public were invited to vote on their favourite of five finalists, all of whom had previously been recognised as best in their category. 

BAE Systems won the public vote for its BedFleX, which allows patients to take part in bed-based exercise to aid rehabilitation. 

The business minister Michael Fallon said: “I’d like to congratulate the BedFlex team. They have put the skills they gained from their apprenticeships into creating this winning piece of technology. 

“All of the finalists should be proud of their success at making it to the exhibition. Over 40,000 people came to see their creations alongside those of some of Britain’s leading manufacturers.”

BedFlex enables patients to secure resistance tubing to a stable object, such as the bed, without the risk of the elastic slipping or coming undone – a common problem with existing physiotherapy tools which use resistance tubing.

New Alliance to deliver disability strategy

The government has announced the formation of a new disability action alliance to help respond to the ideas put forward by disabled people and their organisations on living fulfilling lives.

Convened by Disability Rights UK and supported by the Office for Disability Issues, the alliance will consider thousands of suggestions put forward by disabled people earlier this year as part of the ‘Fulfilling Potential’ discussion.

The minister for disabled people Esther McVey said: “The Paralympics truly captivated the hearts of the nation and have undoubtedly helped shift attitudes and perceptions towards disabled people. What we have now is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capitalise on this and to work with disabled people to deliver lasting change.

“I want to ensure that there is a clear focus in place across government and will be working with disabled people and their organisations on developing the new disability strategy so that this country remains a world leader in disability equality.”

Last year the dovernment invited disabled people to help shape a new cross-government disability strategy. The ‘Fulfilling Potential, the Discussions So Far’, published today, summarises the issues raised, and shows how actions are already being taken to address many of the issues.

‘Fulfilling Potential, Next Steps’ sets out the vision and principles; outlines further public sector reforms; and announces a new disability action alliance, involving organisations from across the private, public and voluntary and community sectors.

New meningitis resource to support families

A new resource that will improve the lives of thousands of young meningitis sufferers is being developed by the Meningitis Trust, as the disease heads towards its peak season at the end of September.

 The charity, which supports victims and their families after meningitis and spreads vital awareness of the disease across the UK, is working alongside a number of Royal Colleges, including the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to produce a journal for young victims. 

The Yellow Book will enable a new Quality Standard measure from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, NICE, to help to ensure that victims and their families receive information and support following the disease.

It will provide information and advice, signpost further help and reading, log follow-up appointments and give a valuable, personal record of any changes to their child’s health or wellbeing.

Dr Alistair Thomson the vice president for education and project lead for the Yellow Book Programme, at The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: “Leaving the hospital and the watchful eye of medical staff can be a daunting prospect for families, so this pioneering new resource – The Yellow Book – will provide those coming to terms with their child’s diagnosis, with much needed reassurance, support and guidance.”

It’s a first for meningitis victims in the UK. The Trust had found previously that some parents were making their own journals for their children to take to doctors’ appointments and into schools.

One Mum who did this for her son was Nicky Price who said: “When Brogan recovered from meningitis, we knew very quickly that there were some complex after-effects from the disease, but it wasn’t until Brogan was at school that we realised the true extent and how this would affect his learning. 

“We wanted to tell people about the impact that this disease had on his life, so that they understood and could give the right support – that’s when I put together his portfolio. I am delighted that the Meningitis Trust is putting together this Yellow Book journal – I wish that had been available when Brogan left hospital, it would have been so helpful to us as a family.”

New minister for disabled people

The work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith today welcomed his new ministerial team - which included the appointment of the Wirral West conservative MP Esther McVey as the new minister for disabled people.

Iain Duncan Smith said the DWP is entering a “challenging but exciting period” as it prepares to put the welfare reforms into reality.

Minister for disabled people Esther McVey said: “The DWP is delivering some of the most important reforms in government. Supporting disabled people to live fulfilling lives and restoring fairness to the welfare system is vital. I am delighted to be joining the department at such a crucial time.”

Employment minister, Mark Hoban, said he wanted to give people all the help and support they need to take up the jobs that are out there.

Challenge fund to help communities combat isolation in old age

More  than a third of people in London would like to help reduce the isolation of elderly people in their community, but over half do not have the confidence to do so, according to a survey for the innovation foundation, Nesta. 

The study comes as Nesta and the Cabinet Office encourage organisations to submit ideas to the Ageing Well challenge that bring people together in new ways to combat loneliness.

Twenty-five entries to the challenge, which is run by Nesta’s Centre for Challenge Prizes and funded by the Cabinet Office, will be shortlisted and given the support and opportunity to develop a detailed plan for their idea. 

Five concepts with the potential for sustainability and scale will then each receive up to £10,000 and professional advice to set up and test their projects. 

The idea that is proving most effective at reducing isolation, and has the potential to be even more effective in the future, will be selected in September 2013 and will be awarded £50,000.

Entry is via online application at www.nesta.org.uk/givingchallenges and the deadline is 14 September 2012.

Technical team keep Paralympians in action

The official technical service team was called on to complete 103 repairs for Paralympians from 52 countries during the first day of competition at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

As the athletes go all out in boccia, racing, tennis, fencing, rugby and basketball the sports wheelchairs face an intense endurance test. 

Working behind the scenes in a specially equipped workshop in the Paralympic Village and nine other repair centres next to the field of play at competition venues, 80 Ottobock Healthcare rose to the challenge. 

Jobs carried out included welding, puncture repairs, wheel castor alignment and leather repairs for a wide variety of wheelchairs. 

Ottobock is supporting all 4,200 competing athletes with a team of expert prosthetists, orthotists and wheelchair technicians, including 12 welders, who have all volunteered their services. The technicians come from 18 countries and speak 14 languages. 

The Ottobock technical service team has been kept busy completing repairs for Paralympians competing across a number of sports

Sarah Storey’s win celebrated with ParalympicsGB Gold Medal stamp

To celebrate ParalympicsGB’s first gold medal win at the London 2012 Paralympic Games Royal Mail has released a stamp to honour Sarah’s gold medal triumph in the Cycling: Track, Women’s C5 Pursuit.

The win makes Sarah the first member of ParalympicsGB to appear on Royal Mail’s Paralympic gold medal stamps.

It’s the first time that a set of stamps has been issued to celebrate Paralympic gold medallists from the host country.

The Paralympic gold medal stamps will be on sale within five working days in over 500 Post Offices across the UK. 

Residents of Sarah’s home town of Disley will be able to buy the stamps in the Post office in Market Street, Disley.

Customers can also buy the stamps from tomorrow at www.royalmail.com/goldmedalstamps and from Royal Mail’s customer service centre on 08457 641 641.

London Festival breaks new ground

Following last night’s spectacular Opening Ceremony for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the London 2012 Festival is today beginning an 11-day showcase of its ground-breaking commissions by disabled and deaf artists that will run throughout the Paralympics. 

The wide-ranging season at London’s Southbank Centre builds on the key themes of the ceremony, of challenging perceptions and celebrating the empowering possibilities of ideas, science and creativity, through which everyone can realise their full potential.

The 29 works featured cover dance, visual arts, music, comedy, circus and theatre. They were each commissioned for the London 2012 Festival and Cultural Olympiad Unlimited programme – the largest ever celebration of disabled and deaf artists that has been running since 2009 and highlights their work on an unprecedented scale across the UK. 

Ruth Mackenzie the director of London 2012 Festival and the Cultural Olympiad said: “The Unlimited programme is unprecedented, offering more commissioning for disabled and deaf artists than any Cultural Olympiad or festival to date. 

“We are delighted to have had the opportunity to work with world-class artists who have created brilliant work that will inspire and change perceptions when we welcome the world to London during the London 2012 Paralympic Games. I hope this will be one of our most important legacies for future Games and for disabled and deaf artists both in the UK and internationally.”

For more details on the programme, to download the London 2012 Festival official guide and to sign up for information www.london2012.com/festival

Pictured: Creating the Spectacle by artist Sue Austin - an original piece of work in which the artist ‘dances’ underwater in a specially adapted, self-propelled wheelchair, allowing her the freedom and joy to move gracefully and un-hindered. (Osprey Leisure Centre, Portland, 29 August & 1 September 2012).  A film documenting the performances will also be shown. (FREE, Southbank Centre, London, 31 August – 9 September; ICCI 360 Dome, Weymouth, 1 – 9 September)

Wide choice of vehicles available

Disabled motorists can now choose from more than 2,000 cars through the Motability car scheme, with around 400 available at no Advance Payment, meaning there’s no upfront additional cost when leasing a reliable car. There are also hundreds of automatic options, with over 40 available at no Advance Payment.

The Toyota Yaris 1.33 SR and the SEAT Ibiza 1.2TD SE are both available at no Advance Payment. For those who require more room, the Hyundai i30 1.6 Active automatic and the Suzuki SX4 1.6 SZ4 are also available to drive away at no Advance Payment.

Anyone who receives the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance or the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement can exchange the weekly payment – currently around £50 a week – to lease a new car through Motability. Insurance, servicing, RAC breakdown assistance and replacement tyres are also included in the cost of the lease.

Mike Betts the chief executive at Motability Operations said: “We always aim to offer Motability customers a wide range of vehicles to choose from to enable them to get the right car for their specific needs. Our summer price list includes many popular options including automatics, diesels and green choices – ensuring that disabled people have access to affordable motoring.”

Motability also offers a wide and affordable range of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) and drive-from wheelchair options. There are around 50 small WAVs available for under £995 Advance Payment, from a range of converters, with manual and automatic options. If required, a wide range of affordable adaptations for cars are also available, including a selection of more than 120 popular driving adaptations at no extra cost.

For more information on leasing a car from Motability visit the online Car Search tool at www.motability.co.uk or call 0800 093 1000.

Good luck to all our Paralympic athletes

The London 2012 Paralympic Games will see 4,280 athletes compete – the largest numbers ever to attend a Paralympic Games. More than 503 gold medals will be awarded over the course of 11 days of competition. 

Samsung has launched its Paralympic Bloggers scheme to provide a unique window on the games to help to bring ‘Everyone’s Games’ to life.

Fifty Paralympic athletes will share their own exclusive behind-the-scenes accounts as they take part in the London 2012 Games.

The project is part of Samsung’s ‘Sport Doesn’t Care Who You Are’ campaign which aims to challenge the public’s attitude towards Paralympic athletes and sport, and to encourage a focus on ability not disability.

Find out more on http://www.youtube.com/paralympicsporttv

Brands Hatch – the internationally-renowned motor racing circuit near Sevenoaks in Kent will host 7,500 spectators each day over four days of Paralympic Road Cycling competition

Stoke Mandeville’s special place

To celebrate Stoke Mandeville’s history in the Paralympic Games around 3,000 people attended a special ceremony at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium to watch the Torchbearers create the Flame.

German neurologist Dr Ludwig Guttman introduced sport including wheelchair polo and basketball to the rehabilitation programme for injured Second World War servicemen at Stoke Mandeville Hospital and the first archery competition for wheelchair athletes took place at Stoke Mandeville on the day of the Opening Ceremony of the London 1948 Olympic Games. 

From this time the Games were held annually. In 1952 competitors from the Netherlands took part as well and the event went on to become the International Stoke Mandeville Games.
The first Paralympic Games took place in Rome in 1960 and featured 400 athletes from 23 countries. 

The Paralympic and Olympic Games have taken place in the same city since Seoul in 1988.

When the Paralympic Flame enters the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London this evening it will have been carried by 580 Torchbearers, on its 24 hour 92 mile journey.

As the years have gone by the Paralympic Games have grown bigger and become more high profile, and in terms of size and scale they are now the second biggest world-wide sporting event after the Olympic Games.

Transformation from Olympic to Paralympic Games

After a hugely successful Olympic Games, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, LOCOG, has been involved in a massive transitional operation to make the Paralympic Games equally successful.

The venues were designed with both Games in mind but there have been a number of specific changes to undertake. 

All sites have had their look and signage refreshed, the flags of the nations have been revised and changes to field of play have been necessary, as sports in each venue are slightly different.

In five days the Olympic and Paralympic Village has taken been transformed between 16-21 August from an athlete's village that hosted over 10,000 Olympic athletes to welcome 4,280 Paralympic athletes, 3,500 team officials, 1,225 Games Officials and 22 assistance dogs.

There will be 1,800 wheelchair users in total. 14 tonnes of workshop equipment and spare parts has also arrived for Ottobock’s service provision for athletes, this includes a wheelchair repair centre.

The giant Olympic Rings in cities across the UK and in London have been switched for the Agitos, the symbol for the Paralympic Games. The Paralympic Flag features three ‘agitos’ (Latin for ‘I move’) in red, blue and green – the colours most represented in national flags around the world. 

There are also two new competition venues for the Paralympic Games:

- Eton Manor – situated in the north of the Olympic Park, features nine courts for the Wheelchair Tennis competition, all designed in a striking blue colour. During the Games, it will also house temporary training pools for Paralympic Swimming events.

- Brands Hatch – the internationally-renowned motor racing circuit near Sevenoaks in Kent will host 7,500 spectators each day over four days of Paralympic Road Cycling competition.

Some venues are now all set to be used for different sports, including:

- ExCeL for Wheelchair Fencing, Boccia, Sitting Volleyball and Powerlifting 

- Copper Box for Goalball 

- Riverbank Arena for 7-a-side football and 5-a-side football 

- North Greenwich Arena for Wheelchair Basketball 

- Royal Artillery Barracks for Shooting and Archery

Rutland Water earns award for accessability

This year’s Alan Faulkner Memorial Award has been won by Rutland Water near Oakham in Rutland. 

Created in memory of the founder president of Wheelyboat Trust this is the tenth year of the award presented annually to the game fishery that provides disabled anglers with the access, service and facilities.

The Wheelyboat Trust is a registered charity that helps fisheries, public waters, groups and organisations acquire wheelchair accessible Wheelyboats. It has supplied 153 Wheelyboats since the Trust began work in 1985. It offers four different types of Wheelyboat to suit different activities – two of these have been designed specifically for fishing.

Previous winners include Chew Valley Lake, Eyebrook Trout Fishery, Grafham Water and Lake of Menteith.

The presentation took place at Rutland Water Fishing Lodge. The main prize was a 4hp outboard motor provided by the award’s sponsors, Suzuki GB. 

Rutland Water, owned by Anglian Water, is England’s largest reservoir at 3,500 acres. It was built in the 1970’s to provide water for households and industry in the driest part of the UK. 

It is one of the country’s most popular trout fisheries and is a fly-only water stocked annually with 130,000 brown and rainbow trout.  

It has a large fleet of fishing boats and in 2008 was the first fishery to acquire the new Coulam 16 Wheelyboat, the Trust’s purpose-built fishing boat with roll-on, roll-off wheelchair access.  

Rutland Water is an important venue on the competition circuit hosting national and international disabled fly-fishing competitions.

John Seaton the head ranger at Rutland Water, receives a framed certificate from Andy Beadsley the director of the Wheelyboat Trust, and a Suzuki outboard from Steven Foy the sales manager at  Suzuki GB. Also taking part are Jake Williams (head of recreation, Anglian Water), Jon Marshall (fisheries manager, Anglian Water), Danny Peet (Trustee, Wheelyboat Trust) and his wife, Kay, and rangers from Rutland Water

Fifth national independent living awards

To celebrate businesses, voluntary groups and individuals that excel in promoting the independence of disabled people Breakthrough UK has launched the National Independent Living Awards 2012.

The awards for those who “go the extra mile” to remove barriers faced by disabled people are now officially open for entries.

Breakthrough UK’s acting chief executive Michele Scattergood said the awards “publically acknowledge the fantastic work of those commercial and voluntary organisations that consistently go the extra mile for disabled people.

“Following the success of last year’s awards, we’ve decided to host the awards online once again - saving on both the costs and carbon emissions which occur when staging such an important event.

“We now want to receive entries from all those who constantly ensure that disabled people live independent lives.”

Winning organisations will feature in a short film which will be shown on Breakthrough UK’s website on 3rd December – which is International Day of Persons with Disabilities – and receive a specially commissioned trophy.

They will also be entitled to use the Breakthrough UK 2012 National ILA logo for a year.

The closing date for entries is 15th October. For more details www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk.

Charities hold complex epilepsy event

Parents and carers of children with complex epilepsy from across the UK are invited to attend an Information Day so they can learn more about the condition.

The day-long event in the West Midlands is a joint venture between Young Epilepsy and Matthew’s Friends. It offers an opportunity to increase understanding of complex epilepsy and meet other families in a similar situation.

Young Epilepsy chief executive David Ford said it will give anyone caring for a child with complex epilepsy  the “rare chance to hear from psychologists, consultants and specialist epilepsy nurses. “

He said: “We know parents and carers find these events useful and we encourage anyone raising a child with complex epilepsy to attend.”

Emma Williams the chief executive of Matthew’s Friends said: “As a mother of a child with complex epilepsy, I know the struggles families go through every day. Practical information and support will help empower a family to work effectively with all the different professionals they will encounter during their child’s life and this information day will hopefully help to do just that; empower the family.”

The Information Day is on Saturday 13th October at St John’s Hotel, Warwick Road, Solihull. For further information see youngepilepsy.org.uk

Pioneer of disabled rights legislation, Lord Morris has died

Leading disability rights campaigner and former Manchester Wythenshawe MP, Lord Morris has died in hospital at the age of 84.

Alf Morris served as an MP from 1964 to 1997. In 1974 he became the UK’s first minister for disabled people, introducing benefits for disabled people and their carers, including a mobility allowance.

His work led to the first disability rights legislation – the 1970’s Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act.

Lord Morris was known throughout his political career for championing the rights of disabled people, including injured service personnel.

He died on Sunday 12th August following a short illness.

Spare Parts exhibition

Amputee Priscilla Sutton the founder and curator of Spare Parts, an exhibition which gives an artistic new lease of life to prosthetic limbs is staging a show in London to coincide with the Paralympic Games.

The exhibition at the Rag Factory, just off Brick Lane, from 25th August to 9th September will feature a collection of prosthetic limbs turned into artistic creations.

Priscilla Sutton, an art enthusiast based in Brisbane, Australia, is an amputee after suffering from a debilitating bone condition.

She first got the idea to transform prosthetic limbs into works of art when she came across two disused prosthetic legs when spring-cleaning her house five years ago. She didn’t want to keen hoarding them for sentimental reasons and decided to commission an artist to recreate something original – using the items as a blank canvas.

A new batch of prosthetics has been donated for the latest exhibition, only five were part of the original Brisbane show. 

To find out more see spareparts2012.com

Paralympian Karen Darke backs internet access campaign

Adventurous handcyclist Karen Darke is keen to support a new campaign aimed at helping disabled people access the internet. 

Karen, who will be competing in the handcycling time trial and road race events on September 5th and 7th, said the Go ON Gold campaign provides a vital service to people who would otherwise not know where to turn for help in getting online.

A partner project of Go ON UK, the new national charity to get everyone online supported by the BBC, Age UK and the Post Office, Go ON Gold has also been backed by 16 times medal winner Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson.

Karen who was paralysed in a rock climbing accident at 21 and whose challenges include handcycling over the Himalayas, sit skiing 600km across Greenland and sea kayaking around Corsica, says the internet is a powerful tool – all the more so for those with disabilities.

“Everywhere I go I have my laptop and my phone with me,” Karen told Go ON Gold. “Technology can offer so much, an ability to stay in touch with people, to know what’s going on, to find out information at the press of a button. I can’t imagine not using technology – but actually there are a lot of people out there who don’t use it, and it’s not part of their everyday life.

“It’s a great thing to help someone access all that information and technology.”

To find out more about the campaign www.go-on-gold.co.uk 

Backing the Go ON Gold campaign: Paralympic medal hope Karen Darke has a clutch of world cup and world championship handcycling medals and a PhD in geology

Record Paralympic ticket sales

With just three weeks to go to the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has confirmed that a record 2.1 million Paralympic tickets have already now been sold.

With more than 600,000 tickets snapped up in the last month, the total number of tickets sold has now surpassed the previous record of 1.8 million tickets sold in 2008 for the Beijing Games.

Seb Coe the chair of LOCOG said: “We are absolutely delighted with how the British public has responded so far to tickets for the Paralympic Games. The Olympic Games have shown us that the UK has taken the Games to their heart and with the tickets sold so far and more still to come I look forward to even more people getting the chance to join in and to form memories that will last a lifetime.”

Currently there is good availability for sports at ExCeL – including Wheelchair Fencing, Sitting Volleyball, Boccia and Powerlifting.  

Remaining Paralympic tickets are available at www.tickets.london2012.com and more will be available online next week.

Interactive display promotes Paralympic excellence

An exhibition has opened in the main atrium at the Westfield London Shopping Centre in Shepherd’s Bush to promote Paralympic sports and showcase the technology used by athletes

‘Passion for Paralympics’ is being staged by Ottobock Healthcare, the official technical service provider for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, and the International Paralympic Committee.

It runs until 12th August to raise awareness of the paralympic movement, sports and competing sportsmen and women at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. 

Philip Yates the managing director of Ottobock Healthcare in the UK said: “Ottobock is committed to helping people enjoy the Paralympic Games and we believe the activities at Westfield London will prove an invaluable tool to educate young audiences on the running blades in a fun and engaging way. 

“As well as encouraging greater participation, we hope to transform the perception of disabled people in society and promote greater understanding of issues around accessibility and inclusion and their importance beyond the Paralympic Games.” 

Ottobock’s interactive exhibits will provide visitors with a hands-on experience of the most exciting Paralympic sports. These include one designed to enable visitors to feel the strength required to power a carbon fibre running blade and compare themselves with the Paralympic athletes that use them.

Visitors will also have the chance to take part in a hand cycling race and add their speed to a national leader board where they can compare it with other racers around the country. 

They will also be able to get involved by pledging their support for the London 2012 Paralympic Games by sharing what they are passionate about and taking a picture to upload to a fan wall on the Passion for Paralympics website www.ottobock.com/paralympics

Campaigners warn of another Winterbourne View

Charities have received 260 reports from families concerning the abuse and neglect of people with a learning disability in institutional care – since the Winterbourne View abuse scandal was uncovered by the BBC Panorama team in June 2011. 

Mencap and the Challenging Behaviour Foundation are highlighting the risks of moving patients hundreds of miles.

Their joint report, Out of Sight details a number of serious incidences reported by families, including physical assault, sexual abuse and the overuse of restraint – both physical and in terms of overuse of medication. 

Vivien Cooper, founder of The Challenging Behaviour Foundation, said: “Many hundreds of people with a learning disability are being sent away to care institutions hundreds of miles from home, where they remain for years unnecessarily, at risk of neglect and abuse. 

“Our report details the deep concerns that families have for their safety and welfare.”

Mark Goldring, Mencap chief executive, said: “We fear that unless the government commits to a strong action plan to close large institutions and develop appropriate local services for people with a learning disability, there is a very real risk that another Winterbourne View will come to light.”

The Care Quality Commission’s inspection programme of 145 hospitals and care homes for people with a learning disability revealed that half of services failed to meet essential care and safeguarding standards.

The Out of sight report can be viewed at www.mencap.org.uk/outofsight

Paracycling athlete going for gold

Paracycling athlete Jon-Allan Butterworth is gearing up for the ride of his life as he prepares to compete in the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Originally from Sutton Coldfield and based in Manchester, Jon-Allan is due to compete in the 1km time trial 4km individual pursuit on the track, plus the road race and road time trial. 

He is one of the favourites to win gold, having broken the 1km time trial world record at the Paracycling Track World Championships in Los Angeles earlier this year, with a time of 1:07:212.

The 26-year-old joined the RAF in 2002 and served as a weapons technician in Afghanistan and Iraq. A rocket attack on Basra Air Station in Iraq in 2007 meant he was forced to undergo an above-elbow amputation on his left arm. He has been cycling professionally since 2009. 

Jon-Allan is backed in his endeavours by the independent living solutions provider AKW, and he has been working with the company, based in Droitchwich Spa, to help highlight independent living for those with specialist needs. 

Campaigns have included a ‘design a mascot’ competition with children at Regency High School in Worcester and Chadsgrove Specialist School in Bromsgrove, as well as officially opening a new cycling track at Chadsgrove Specialist School. He also helped launch a new in-house cycling proficiency course at the Bromsgrove school. 

Paul Massey the chief executive of AKW said: “We know how much this event means to Jon-Allan, and how hard he has been training for it. Local communities in Worcestershire have really got behind his Paralympic campaign and from everyone here at AKW, we wish Jon-Allan all the luck in the world.”

To find out more about AKW’s showering, daily living and kitchen solutions for inclusive living www.akw-ltd.co.uk

Wrong direction for deafness

As One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson becomes the latest in a line of young pop stars to announce he is suffering from noise-induced deafness and tinnitus, Deafness Research UK is reminding everyone that hearing conditions are no respecters of age and this latest case is part of a worrying trend of hearing loss among the young that needs to be tackled now.

Louis joins Plan B, Leona Lewis, Gary Newman, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and others in publicly admitting deafness and tinnitus symptoms as a result of excessive noise levels at live concerts.

One Direction now wear high tech earpieces to reduce the volume, so have at least taken action; but until a cure can be found, the damage can be permanent. 

Vivienne Michael the chief executive of Deafness Research UK points out that although not all of us have access to high tech gadgets, “low tech ear plugs are cheap and freely available and are a must to protect your hearing.”

The website has a wealth of information www.deafnessresearch.org.uk. Anyone can also call the Advisory Service on Freephone 0808 808 2222 or e-mail info@deafnessresearch.org.uk

Paralympic Games set to welcome thousands of athletes

More than 4,000 athletes are due to take part in the Paralympic Games later this month. 

On 28th August, the day before the Opening Ceremony, four flames from London, Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh will be united to form the Paralympic Flame. 

The flame will then be carried 87 miles by 580 torchbearers, working in teams of five, on a 24-hour relay from Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire to London.

Key events during the games include the 100m when Oscar Pistorius and Jonnie Peacock are set to battle for gold, wheelchair racing rivals David Weir, Marcel Hug and Kurt Fearnley will each be looking for Paralympic glory, and in the pool, Ellie Simmonds and Natalie du Toit hope to add to their previous medal haul. 

The London 2012 Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony,  ‘Festival of Flame’ on 9th September, will see Coldplay, perform a live concert in the Olympic Stadium, broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 750 million. 

Tickets are still available for Paralympic events, including both main ceremonies, athletics in the Olympic Stadium and swimming in the Aquatics Centre. For more details on ticket availability www.tickets.london2012.com.

Marking 50 days until the Paralympic Games the Agitos – the Paralympic symbol of the IPC – was dug into the sand in Rhossili Bay, on the Gower, by a group of volunteers and schoolchildren in association with the National Trust. Photo: LOCOG

BBC and Channel 4 investigate the work capability assessments

Two television programmes are set to take a look at the work capability assessments, WCA, introduced by the government to end what had been labelled the “sick note culture.” 

BBC Panorama and Channel 4 Dispatches on Monday 30 July will focus on the new assessments being carried out by private companies – to explore whether the system is value for money and if it is working. 

In Dispatches, ‘Britain on the sick’ – on Channel 4 at 8pm – “Using undercover filming, reporter Jackie Long investigates the shocking processes used to assess whether sickness and disability benefit claimants should be declared fit for work.”

While Panorama on BBC2 ‘Disabled or Faking It’ asks “is the system working? Or are new tests wrongly victimising those who deserve support the most?” It starts immediately after Dispatches at 8.30pm.