Newsletters 2006: Issue 13 July 2006
Contents of this page: Disability Cambridgeshire – a new website for disabled and older people and carers | The Way to be Awards 2006 | Central Trains – Mobility Scooters | South Cambridgeshire Taxicard Scheme | Blue Badge Road Atlas | Combating Blue Badge theft | Driving with Arthritis | The Disabled Drivers’ Association and The Disabled Drivers’ Motor Club – Merger | Cambridge Mobility – Move | Sheltered housing residents to benefit from out of hours healthcare service | For Families with Disabled Children - Contact a Family | Disabled Workers Co-operative | Consumer Council for Water – Special Needs Register | Meals-2-You | The Cinema Exhibitor’s Association Card | Free Smoke alarm and safety check for your home | Autism Outreach Service | Hearing Loss | Tackling ‘dead’ hearing regions | CAMTAD (Campaign for Tackling Acquired Deafness) | Disability Forums
Disability Cambridgeshire – a new website for disabled and older people and carers
Directions Plus (now Disability Cambridgeshire) are proud to announce that the new Disability Cambridgeshire (DaC) website project is now live: www.disabilitycambridgeshire.org.uk
It has:
- a growing Directory of national and local groups, organisations and services,
- a growing number of Signposts (mini factsheets/pointers to information)
- some Homepages (‘first-step’ hosted websites) for small groups and organisations.
It was funded by ChangeUp and we would like to thank all those staff and volunteers across Cambs who have contributed to it so far.
The Directions Plus (now Disability Cambridgeshire) website is also undergoing a makeover www.directions-plus.org.uk. Do take a visit to the websites and let us know what you think?
The Way to be Awards 2006
are asking people to nominate the services and businesses that do most to make using their facilities easy for disabled people. Their aim is to reward the places which are most helpful rather than record the places that meet access regulations most closely. The 2006 awards ceremony will be held at the Cambridge Corn Exchange in the Autumn.
Central Trains – Mobility Scooters
Central Trains have announced that they are now able to carry a range of powered scooters. There has been a course of trials during which they identified various types of smaller lightweight scooters that can be safely carried on all of their trains.
Unfortunately, due to safety reasons, they are not able to carry every type of powered scooter. So to help passengers plan their journeys they have produced a new leaflet fully explaining their policy on powered scooters.
The new policy came into effect from Easter.
Leaflets that give full details about sizes and types of scooter they can
now carry is available from stations. Information is also available on
their website: www.centraltrains.co.uk.
Tel: 0121 654 1101
South Cambridgeshire Taxicard Scheme
This Taxicard Scheme aims to provide assistance towards the cost of taxi journeys, mainly for essential purposes, such as medical appointments or shopping. The scheme is restricted to people aged 65 or over who live in the parishes of Fulbourn, Girton, Grantchester, Histon, Impington, Oakington and Sawston, and have difficulties using conventional transport.
The scheme works by applicants completing an Application Form and buying booklets of vouchers. Each member can purchase up to 20 trip vouchers per year. A trip is a one way journey, although more than one voucher can be used per journey. Each voucher is worth £2.50, so if, for example, your taxi fare is £10.00, then you can either use 4 vouchers, or 1 voucher and pay the remaining £7.50 in cash, and so on.
For details of how to apply for the vouchers contact either:
Community Transport Officer, Cambridgeshire County Council
Tel: 01223 717755 Email: community.transport@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
or Directions Plus (now Disability Cambridgeshire) Contact us
Blue Badge Road Atlas
Vital kit for any Blue Badge holder is ‘The Gowrings Mobility UK Road Atlas: The essential parking and motoring guide for Blue Badge Holders’.
Covering all of the UK, the atlas incorporates useful information for disabled people such as parking for Blue Badge holders, accessible car parks and petrol stations, tourist information, Shopmobility locations, accessible beaches, toilets and accommodation.
To get a copy of the £12 publication please contact Gowrings on 0845 6088020
Combating Blue Badge theft
A feasibility study into the virtues or not of a national register of Blue Badge holders is being considered by the Department of Transport. The aim of the register would be to help tackle the theft and fraudulent use of Blue Badges.
Driving with Arthritis
There are different types of arthritis but some symptoms are common. They include pain, weakness and stiffness in joints, so can affect your getting in and out of a car and using its controls. You may also tire easily and have backache after sitting for a long time. The symptoms can vary from mild to severe but are unlikely to prevent you from driving.
However, you must tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) whenever your ability to drive becomes impaired, and certainly when the condition is severe enough for you to need adaptations.
For further information go to www.dvla.gov.uk or get What you need to know about Driving Licences (D100)leaflet from the post office. You must also tell your insurance company that you have arthritis. www.ricability.org.uk
The Disabled Drivers’ Association and The Disabled Drivers’ Motor Club – Merger
The merger of the DDMC and DDA took place on 31st December, 2005. The new charity is registered in the name of Mobilise Organisation. Current members of DDA & DDMC are automatically members of the new charity and as such start to benefit from the larger operation straight away. Mobilise Organisation is a working title only.
National HQ and Registered Office: Ashwellthorpe, Norwich NR16 1EX
Tel. 0870 770 3333; Email: ddahq@aol.com
Cambridge Mobility – Move
Cambridge Mobility, supplier of disability aids, have moved from Shelford to new premises in Sawston with easy parking, disabled toilets and working stairlift. They now have a much larger display/range of equipment.
Their new contact details are: Unit 11, South Cambridge Business Park, Babraham Road, Sawston, Cambridge. CB2 4JH; Tel: 01223 830084; Fax: 01223 830097; Mob: 0850 409 554
Sheltered housing residents to benefit from out of hours healthcare service
From 1 April 2006, South Cambridgeshire sheltered housing residents are set to benefit from a new out of hours service that ensures access to healthcare professionals.
Jane Crawford-White, community living manager for Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trusts said “Overall our aim is to ensure older people are able to remain in their home with appropriate care and support and avoid the distress of a hospital admission wherever possible”. Councillor Heazell added “A further improvement to the service will see the START team provide 24 hour cover during Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.
For Families with Disabled Children - Contact a Family
Across the UK, a child is diagnosed with a severe disability every 25 minutes and over 98% of disabled children are cared for at home by a parent or other family member who didn’t ‘apply for the job’ but who has quickly had to become an expert.
When parents find out that their child is disabled they feel isolated and alone because usually they don’t know anyone else facing the same problems. They want contact with another family who’ve been through a similar experience and they want information about their childs condition.
Contact a Family is the only UK wide charity providing advice, information and support to the parents of all disabled children – no matter what their health condition. They also enable parents to get in contact with other families, both on a local and a national basis. Each year they reach at least 250,000 families.
Contact a Family; Helpline 080 808 3555; www.cafamily.org.uk
Disabled Workers Co-operative
This is a registered charity that helps disabled people to help themselves. The aim is twofold – to raise the independence of disabled people (for those that want it) by enabling them to take an active role in the economy and achieve a greater sense of self-worth and also to raise awareness of the contribution that disabled people can make to society.
An on-line database of the skills, services and products disabled people have to offer. Disabled individuals and companies or organisations employing a significant number of people in meaningful employment are able to register the skills, products or services they have to offer free on the Disabled Workers Database.
The Database is free for anyone to use www.disabledworkers.org.uk
Consumer Council for Water – Special Needs Register
People with a disability or special need due to a medical condition, sight impairment, infirmity or home dialysis can register with their water company to ensure that they receive extra help with their water and sewerage service that takes account of their specific requirement. In the first quarter of 2005 there were over 660,000 gas and electricity customers on their Priority Services Registers but only 76,000 customers had registered with their water company.
If you believe you or anyone in your household have a special need or disability
ring your water company and ask to be placed on the Special Needs Register.
This comes in to its own in the event of an interruption to supply or in
an incident of flooding or any other out of the ordinary event. If the company
knows that someone at a particular address will need bottled water delivered
or assistance in dealing with a flood they will be able to provide this as
a priority to those on the register.
You could also benefit from:-
- The Vulnerable Groups tariff (if you are in receipt of a specified benefit and have a specified medical condition which requires a significant amount of water or have 3 or more children under 19 living at home)
- Special low user tariffs offered by Anglian Water (for those metered customers who use less than 75 cubic metres of water per year)
In every case it is worth ringing your water company and asking if you are eligible. If you are it could mean a reduced water bill.
Meals-2-You
This hot meals support service for vulnerable people operates from within the OWL Café, at Sawston Free Church, and is one of the projects run by the local charity Opportunities Without Limits. The scheme is for any person who has difficulty obtaining a hot meal during the day because they are sick, elderly or disabled. It is delivered weekday lunchtimes – you choose how many days per week you receive meals. Frozen meals are available for weekends or Bank Holidays for someone else to cook at those times. This may be a permanent arrangement, or short term temporary extra help in a crisis.
The cost for a main course and a sweet delivered to your home hot and ready to eat is £3.40. A similar meal in frozen form for use at weekends is £3.15 (OWL is a non-profit organisation and you can be assured that prices are kept as low as possible. The areas covered by this service are: Sawston, Pampisford, Whittlesford, Duxford, Ickleton, Hinxton, Shelford & Stapleford.
Contact Tel: 01223 835329
The Cinema Exhibitor’s Association Card
This is a national concessionary card which entitles the holder to one free ticket for a person accompanying them to the cinema. If you meet one or more of the following criteria you will need to request an application form:-
- Be in receipt of disability living allowance
- Be a registered blind person
- Be a holder of a disabled person’s rail card (national scheme)
Cards, which are valid for three years, cost £5.
Application forms may be collected from cinemas or contact Directions Plus (now Disability Cambridgeshire).
Can also be printed off from the website www.ceacard.co.uk
For further information contact: Tel: 0845 123 1295; Email: info@ceacard.co.uk
Free Smoke alarm and safety check for your home
The Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service offer you the opportunity to have a free smoke alarm and fire safety check.
To take advantage of this you will need to contact their general switchboard on 01480 444500.
Autism Outreach Service
This service is run by Cambridge Mencap Family Network Services and provides support in the home for children with a diagnosis of an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. This service is being run as a small pilot project for the first year (2006). The weekly visits that are offered will:
- Give information about ASD to help parents understand their child.
- Offer parents time to discuss the impact of having a child with ASD on their family.
- Offer practical strategies to support children’s development, particularly in the areas of communication, speech and play.
- Support parents to interact and have fun with their child with an ASD.
- Offer advice on managing challenging behaviour and work with parents to address issues particular to their child or family.
- Put parents in touch with other services and organisations.
The service is free and is currently available to children and families in Cambridge and the surrounding area.
To get in touch, please contact Laura Macleod or Tandy Harrison at Cambridge
Mencap, 2 Cambridge Road, Milton, Cambridge. CB4 6AW.
Tel: 01223 441157 or 01223 440186; Email: laura@cambridgemencap.co.uk or tandy@cambridgemencap.co.uk
Hearing Loss
Almost 9 million people in the UK, one in seven of the population, suffer from deafness or experience significant hearing difficulty. Hearing loss is the most common sensory disability in the developed world and is one of the major reasons for people to be referred to hospital.
New research shows that people who are fitted with a hearing aid early make greater use of their aid, are able to hear speech better and participate more in social activities. Deafness Research UK has produced a new free booklet to help you recognise the early signs of hearing loss, and to know what you can do about it.
The new booklet, Help for your hearing loss, is available from:-
Telephone: 020 7679 8970; Email: info@deafnessresearch.org.uk
Or Deafness Research UK, PO Box 49740, London, WC1X 8WU
Tackling ‘dead’ hearing regions
Deafness Research UK adviser on hearing aids, Professor Brian Moore, is leading a three year project that aims to improve the fitting of hearing aids by developing more accurate ways of measuring hearing loss at different frequencies. It should result in more effective hearing aids and a better quality of life for the people who are hard of hearing.
Gradual deterioration of hearing means that, for most people, hearing impairment is an unwelcome feature of later life. Half of all people over the age of 60 are affected – making it the most common disability among older people.
An estimated 270,000 people in the UK alone stand to benefit from this research, which is being carried out at the Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge.
“This research will give us access to more accurate information about individual patterns of hearing loss at different frequencies, and about the extent of dead regions, in turn enabling better fitting of hearing aids,” says Professor Moore. “For example, if two people have the same audiogram, but one has dead regions, that person’s aids will need to be programmed differently. We hope that the combination of more accurate testing with new generation hearing aids should improve speech comprehension for people with dead regions of hearing. This research will also help in the assessment of need for cochlear implants.”
CAMTAD (Campaign for Tackling Acquired Deafness)
This organisation supports people with an acquired hearing problem with information and advice about hearing aids, loop systems, telephone adaptations and other equipment. They also provide Deaf Awareness training.
Cambridge CAMTAD 8a Romsey Terrace, Cambridge CB1 3NH
Tel/Fax: 01223 416141 E-mail: sueh@camtad.freeserve.co.uk
Disability Forums
Cambridge Forum of Disabled People
Campaigning for equality of opportunity for people in Cambridge. If you are interested in joining the Cambridge Forum please contact Gerri Bird on 01223 569601; E-mail: thecfdp@yahoo.co.uk
South Cambridgeshire Forum of Disabled People
Sawston Branch
Gerri Bird has set up a forum in Sawston with the help of local residents. One of the things the forum is involved with is campaigning for better access in all areas. The forum, which meets once a month, has been running since February 05. If you have a disability, are a carer or are an older person or an organisation working with or for disabled/older people or carers and are interested in joining, please contact Gerri Bird: E-mail: gerri_directionsplus@yahoo.co.uk Contact us
Cambourne Forum of Disabled People
Coming soon: Cambourne forum – if you know an older or disabled person who may be interested – please contact Gerri. (as above)
East Cambridgeshire Access Group
The group looks at all issues to do with disability e.g. access to shops, buildings etc.They also have a sub group for plan vetting of new buildings and alterations to older buildings. If you are interested in joining or would like more information – please contact Gerri.(as above)
Gerri is looking into setting up a forum for the Chatteris/Littleport area. Anyone interested should contact her as above.