ACTIVATE NEWSLETTER OF THE BRITISH COUNCIL OF DISABLED PEOPLE MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 In this edition the key issues affecting you as disabled people nationally and locally And much, much more! BCODP - FIGHTING FOR OUR HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS! BCODP – on the Campaign Trail! Free to Members. £3.00 to non Members ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Contacts &Acknowledgments Head Office - Derby Campaigns, Media & Parliamentary . . . . . . . .Simone Aspis Jared O’Mara Finance Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sheila Blair Membership & Services Manager . . . . . . . . . .Margaret Bordogna Crane Transcriptions Administrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Ross Administration Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kevin Towler Membership & Services Admin Assistant . . . .Martin Sims Address: British Council of Disabled People (BCODP) Litchurch Plaza, Litchurch Lane, Derby DE24 8AA Telephone: 01332 295551 Fax: 01332 295580 Minicom: 01332 295581 Email: general@bcodp.org.uk Officers of BCODP Chairperson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anne Pridmore Deputy Chair (Internal) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Janet Seymour Kirk Acting Deputy Chair (External) . . . . . . . . . . . .Roy Webb Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Vacant Company Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sheila Blair BCODP wishes to acknowledge “Change” Picturebank and Access2 by People First for the pictures used throughout Activate. Disclaimer: The material found within Activate is the opinion of the writers and not necessarily the opinion of BCODP. Activate is available in other formats on request from: John Ross Email: john@bcodp.org.uk MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 Inside this issue... ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Chairs Diary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Lothians Disability Service Under Threat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 BCODP's 25th Anniversary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Train . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 A letter to Ross Walker's MP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Jared O'Mara - Campaign Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 A Society Without Discrimination? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 On the Campaign Trail with Simone Aspis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Rocketing Fuel Prices - How to Reduce your Bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Foundation Courses in Dance for Disabled People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 BCODP Membership Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Chair’s Diary Things are hotting up!! Anne Pridmore Chair BCODP The year got off to a slow start but things are definitely hotting up now! Thanks to Simone we now have the opportunity to discuss the Mental Health Bill which includes representation from grass routes people working in this field. We had our first telephone conference last month and are due to repeat this during February. I have represented BCODP at the first meeting with Habinteg who have been commissioned by the Disability Rights Commission to write the guidance for the Social Housing Sector on the Disability Equality Duty and Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act. The guidance will aim to address a range of practical issues associated with meeting the needs of disabled people in housing, and will include good practice examples. Central to the guidance will also be a 10 point checklist for providers and users, and a set of Frequently Asked Questions will also be included which will form the basis of the guidance on the DRC website. The guidance will be published and disseminated in April 2006. This is a short piece of work for BCODP and will involve MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 Chair’s Diary ACTIVATE FROM BCODP three meetings in London. I am very pleased to say that Denise Canniffe is stepping in for me next time; she has a wealth of experience in this area. I attended a very interesting training day at Chesterfield Law Centre on Community Care Legislation which furthered my knowledge on assessments and duty of care. Simone and I met with Jeremy Hunt the Shadow Minister for Disabled People in London. I felt that Jeremy had a steep learning curve before he understood the discrimination disabled people still face in the UK. He informed us that he was to set up focus groups over the next 12 months which disabled people would be invited to. These would consist of looking at MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 education, employment, transport, independent living etc, however when we asked how these would be resourced so that grass route organisations may attend he said there was no money for this. Simone did a splendid job explaining why BCODP supports inclusive education but when he told us he is a governor at a special school we were not convinced our arguments did anything to persuade him. I also attended my first meeting as a board member for National Council of Voluntary Organisations. As this was an induction meeting for three new board trustees I feel I will reserve my impressions until a later date. Except to say perhaps BCODP needs to utilise their services more in future. ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Unique Lothians Disability Service Threatened With Closure The only counselling service in the United Kingdom that provides accessible counselling to disabled people by disabled counsellors is being threatened with closure. The Lothian Centre for Integrated Living (LCIL) Peer Counselling Service (PCS) provides professional, accessible counselling in Edinburgh and the Lothians. This innovative Scottish service tackles financial, attitudinal and physical barriers that still exist for disabled people who want to access counselling and counselling training. Demand for the service has steadily increased since it was established in 1993. PCS receives a steady stream of referrals from Health and Social Work professionals and voluntary organisations throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians. Last year alone the service counselled over 80 disabled people. There is always a waiting list for the service, and this is without engaging in any promotional activity. The PCS provides counselling to anyone who self defines as disabled, this includes people with a recognised impairment whether physical, sensory or cognitive. LCIL has developed a model of best practice in counselling for people with learning difficulties and has been highly influential within the counselling and disability worlds in this regard. The service is also offered to parents, carers and guardians of disabled people. After thirteen years, this unique service is facing severe funding difficulties, and may have to close its doors at the end of March. This would mark the end of a hugely successful, unique Scottish project, which has helped hundreds of disabled people throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians, and whose experience influences disability -focussed counselling and counselling training in the rest of the UK. Speaking about the threatened closure, MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Brian Magee, Chief Executive of COSCA (Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland), the professional body for counsellors in Scotland said; “LCIL’s Peer Counselling Service provides a unique counselling service for disabled people. At local level it provides a highly respected and accessible Peer Counselling Service. At national level, it acts as a model of good practice for generic counselling services. As such, it is a part of the landscape of counselling in Scotland that needs to be preserved and developed” Peer Counselling is provided by 13 disabled volunteer counsellors. The volunteers undergo a full four year professional training, leading to the award of a Diploma in Integrative Counselling. The PCS is unique in the UK, as it is the only service providing this level of disability focussed accessible professional counselling and counselling training. If you would like to support LCIL’s unique Peer Counselling Service, please contact: Hazel J Farley Manager Tel 0131 475 2350 or e-mail: hazel @lothiancil.demon.co.uk BCODP will be Celebrating our 25th Anniversary on 14th October, 2006 Time to Celebrate! At the Copthorne Tara in London The day will also include our Annual General Meeting More details will follow – if you feel you are able to help towards the cost of this event please contact Sheila Blair either by e mail: Sheilab@bdocp.org.uk or by telephone or minicom. MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP A ‘funny’ thing happened on the way to the train! by Anne Pridmore It is not unusual to find myself at least twice a week on the way to or from London. From my home town I use the Midland Mainline service. For any readers who use the train service I am sure you are very familiar with the difficulties for disabled passengers. First of all if you happen to be a wheelchair user you have to book assistance onto the train. This requires you to ring a central call line, at premium rate, where they take ages and ask you the same questions each time. I have asked why they do not log your details on their computer like my local theatre. They tell me their system doesn’t allow this! Then when you have spent twenty minutes on the phone trying to do this you get on the train and there is someone’s luggage in your space and a body in the seat booked for your Personal Assistant (PA) because they have not reserved it. You then have the embarrassment of shifting them. Last week I realised why this may be happening. This is mainly due to the invisibility for Midland Mainline of disabled wheelchair users. I arrived at the station not twenty minutes before as is their requirement (but when do we ever MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 obey rules) and asked very politely if I could board the train. The senior staff member asked the disability liaison man to phone someone else to get me boarded. His request went something like this “Can someone come and get this wheelchair on the train?” I turned to my PA and said in a very loud voice “I always thought I was a bit more than a wheelchair!” The senior staff person said “Oh he usually says wheelchair user, he just forgot”. Oh right I thought not exactly convinced. I boarded the train in the first class coach as this was where I was put. There was no cup and saucer on the table for wheelchair users (there never is) and before seeing our tickets the train manager came along and served tea to my PA. Addressing her I said “No cup and saucer – must be invisible again and MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP of course wheelchairs are not tea drinkers”. This was it I was then told that because I did not have first class tickets they were not obliged to serve me tea. So I said “As you haven’t even asked to see my ticket how do you know this? Why have you served my PA tea as she is here courtesy of my railcard and therefore has standard ticket only?” For anyone not familiar with rail travel, tea and coffee is free anyway for standard tickets travellers. It is often the custom to put me in the first class coach as it saves the liaison person walking to the end of the platform. Sometimes there’s no problem and not only am I served tea/coffee, snacks but also a glass of wine, sometimes quite welcome after a difficult meeting! Anne Pridmore (your invisible) Chair ACTIVATE FROM BCODP A letter to Ross Walkers MP Dear M.P. Proposed Changes To Incapacity Benefits: Please, Please Vote Against This. Prior to my illness I worked for 15 years as an I.T Manager / Programmer and Software Engineer, earning over £30,000 per year. I am highly skilled and experienced in a modern industry. I have suffered from a chronic condition called Psoriatic Arthritis now for the last 7 years and due to this condition I am unable to work. I have it in my feet (toes and ankles), knees, back, elbows, wrists, hands and fingers. I now also suffer from Severe Clinical Depression. At the first point of my illness, while I was still working, I sought medical advice. I was given pain relief drugs and saw specialists for over three years being constantly told there was nothing wrong with me, as my condition became worse. At this point the degenerative “visual” elements of the illness had not become apparent. Eventually I lost my job through having to take time off because of the pain and exhaustion and was eventually labelled a troublemaker by my previous doctors at my local Medical Centre (because I sought a second and third opinion there) and was told the same thing… there was nothing wrong with me. I was soon after told I would have to change surgery and kicked from the surgery list. This meant me travelling slightly further to another Doctor’s surgery. During this period I was physically exhausted having to look for work, which I managed to find but was not able to keep for very long due to the medical condition. I found myself constantly discriminated against and fired or “made redundant” due to my illness. I found 5 jobs in 18 months, some contract computer work and another permanent job. After I lost the last permanent job I was totally devastated and could not go on. I then applied for incapacity benefit as a last resort. I then developed a flu virus, which due to shear exhaustion completely wiped This is a letter to written by Ross Walker to his Member of Parliament he has asked that we share it with you: MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 me out. I suffered a full nervous breakdown and I was unable to go out of my house for six months, becoming Agoraphobic and this developed into Bipolar Disorder. Because I had no medical “diagnosis” of my arthritic illness I was examined by an Incapacity Benefits doctor at a nearby town’s Medical Centre and kicked off Incapacity Benefits after his report found “nothing” wrong with me. I can’t go on This was the worse point of my life. I had gone from being successful to being reduced to benefits and then told even that was being taken away from me. I had no way to support myself. It was the worse case of discrimination I have ever experienced. Anyone could tell I was suffering from a severe mental illness. At this point I was suicidal. I don't say that lightly. Fortunately, I found out from Wakefield Job Centre of a place called the Wakefield Resource Centre who would appeal the decision to kick me off Incapacity Benefits. I then attended my Doctor’s surgery and was almost immediately diagnosed with severe psoriatic arthritis and clinical post-viral depression. ACTIVATE FROM BCODP With the help of Wakefield Resource Centre I appealed against the decision to kick me off Incapacity Benefit and had to attend 2 tribunals, sitting before the representative for the Secretary of State (a lawyer) and the Chief Medical examiner for the West Yorkshire area. I was granted both Incapacity Benefit and Lower Rate Mobility (because I had now a diagnosis). This whole process took over 5 years to get me to the point where I am now, finally trying to get my life back into order. I am still severely ill, exhausted constantly and suffer deep bouts of depression. But I am not now diagnosed with Bipolar Disease and with the help of the benefits I receive I am able to cope and look after myself and my home. I am unsure, however, if I will ever be well enough to return to work as I would hope. It is a very uncertain time for me. Everything still seems surreal and pointless and the drugs I am taking are not helping. Indeed the side effects seem to cause other conditions I did not suffer from before. My point is this: I was discriminated against by so many professional people who made mistakes and misjudgements. I was made to feel a liar for over 5 years, while my condition grew worse and worse. Rather than being helped I was made thoroughly exhausted by this system. I saw 7 doctors who misdiagnosed me. I was fired by 5 Companies after previously being in constant employment for over 15 years. I was misdiagnosed by the Incapacity Benefits doctor and if I hadn't received continues over MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP help from Wakefield Resource Centre (a centre that I discovered only by pleading to the Job Centre that I was unfit to work) I am sure I would be DEAD. And do you know what? The system doesn't work. Because ALL the other people I know who are ill have gone through EXACTLY the same thing as me. You are physically pushed and pushed by this system until you have a nervous breakdown and are unable to return to work. And now you are threatening people like me, who are severely ill and suffer from mental illness, through constant media coverage and unspecific details that you are going to get us all back working. The very idea of me being forced back into anything like what I suffered during what I described above makes me shiver and feel like ending it all. It scares me almost to death feeling that the same so called “professionals” who made my life such a misery will have another chance to mess up any progress I have recently made. . Incentives to Doctors for example? What incentive do they need to get a diagnosis wrong? They got mine wrong for over 3 years. . Professionals returning you to work? There are three benefit advisors in Wakefield Job Centre offering people with severe depression little more prospect of employment than a menial, low paid, under-stimulating “job hand out” from the local supermarket. . Caring Employers? I was fired or made redundant by 7 Companies during my illness. None of them were prepared to accommodate a member of staff being ill or taking time off work. They did know something was wrong, however, as I received excellent “parting” references from them, stating that I was extremely hard working and did an excellent job. VOTE NO I implore you on the grounds of all things decent and human to vote against this proposed bill. Find another way to do something like this. Stop making it “the big issue” of the day. You are fighting against people who are severely ill. It is inhuman, unjust and a sad reflection of our government to go about it in such a public “were out to get people on benefits” way. Every case is different. So called “Professionals” are NOT always right (in fact in my experience quite the opposite). It is not an issue to be “Generalised”. Kind regards, Mr Ross Walker MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 Campaign Report ACTIVATE FROM BCODP By Jared O’Mara At the time of writing I have been in the job for 5 months and feel I am settling in well. Things I have been working on include: The Campaign against Lord Joffe’s Assisted Dying Bill: Legalising Euthanasia is wrong because it will no doubt lead to the needless deaths of disabled people who are seen by others (and maybe even themselves- due to peer pressure and other external forces) as a burden on their family and friends and a burden on the tax payer. A disabled life is not worth any less than a non disabled life and BCODP believes that more emphasis should be placed on palliative care (designed to help ease the symptoms of terminal illness) as the solution. MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 During the course of my work on this campaign we have become a member of the Care not Killing Alliance (the largest group in terms of membership and expertise of all those campaigning against the bill). I have also made contact with Scope, the Pro Life Alliance and Alert, who are all also campaigning against the bill, and taken advice from Jane Campbell (one of the leading individual campaigners against the bill). This campaign will be getting bigger over the next few weeks and months and we are gearing up for a big fight in order to stop the proposals from becoming law. Incapacity Benefit Reform: I am working on this with Simone Aspis. We are currently reading the newly released Green Paper and keeping a keen eye on the news. I was fortunate enough to attend a conference in London ran by the Disability Alliance where, amongst other things, disabled people could raise their concerns with Margaret Hodge MP from the Department for Work and Pensions. I raised BCODP’s concerns to her about the reforms and she dodged the issues that were at hand. I see this as proof that we have to be very vocal and work continues over ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Campaign Report hard to ensure that disabled people are not punished for not being able to work. Simone and I are encouraging members to get in touch with us who wish to help us in this campaign (we will soon be sending out an email/letter about it) and anyone who wishes to do so can get in touch with us by email to either: Jared@bcodp.org.uk or Simone@disabilityissues.freeserve.co.uk Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) Definition of Disability Questionnaire: Anne Pridmore and I are working on filling in a Questionnaire for the Disability Rights Commission on behalf of BCODP on the proposed changes to the Definition of Disability in the DDA. This involved me travelling to London for an excellent question and answer session with a panel including Caroline Gooding of the DRC and Colin Barnes, Professor of Disability Studies at Leeds University. A lot of different views were aired and BCODP was praised for it’s view on the matter which I put forward. Funding Applications: I am in the process for making several applications to charitable trusts to try and get between £4000£5000 for the Campaigns Committee Other issues: Car Parking for Blue Badge Holders I was recently interviewed by Portsmouth’s newspaper ‘The News’ on Portsmouth City Council’s decision to charge disabled drivers a substantial fee every time they want to use the city’s disabled parking facilities. I condemned the move and this led to us establishing a good contact on Portsmouth City Council, as a disabled councillor telephoned us to thank us for our support. Book I recently contributed to a non-fiction book by an author called Rozina Breen on behalf of BCODP. The book will be called “Real Life Issues: Prejudice” and will be published by Trotman Publishing in May of this year. I answered a number of questions on disability and what it is like to be disabled (particularly young and disabled) and BCODP will be getting good publicity from the book as a result. MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 Campaign Report ACTIVATE FROM BCODP BCODP victory over ‘Sweatshop’ exploiting people with learning impairments A few months ago I was contacted by a man acting on behalf of his friend who has learning difficulties. He told me about a greetings card shop in Wales where his friend worked that had about 8 full-time employees with learning difficulties employed to make greetings cards. The card shop was only paying them £9 a week when the minimum wage (which it is illegal to pay anybody less than) is over £5 an hour! As well as this, his friend had asked to finish work 15 minutes earlier every day so that she could catch the earlier bus home rather than waiting in the cold at the bus-stop for the later one. Her employer said that was ok, but that he’d have to reduce her wages to £7 a week. I was disgusted by this and reported the shop to the authorities (including the Department for Work and Pensions and the Inland Revenue) who said they’d investigate. A few weeks ago the man emailed me and told me that his friend and her colleagues are now being paid the minimum wage as a result and they are now very happy with a lot more money in their pockets! INDEPENDENT LIVING ALTERNATIVES (ILA) promoting independent living since 1989 Need help finding Personal Assistants (PAs)? Personal Assistance Services can provide you with PAs to live independently. Why choose us? • By PA Users for PA Users• • Over 16 years experience • • Expanding register of PAs • • Share advertising costs • • Cost-effective • • You can employ or ILA can employ-you choose • • Information and advice on all aspects of PA recruitment • PERSONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES ILA, Trafalger House, Grenville Place, London NW7 3SA, Tel: 020 8906 9265 Fax: 020 8959 1910 Email: paservices@ilanet.co.uk Website: www.ilanet.co.uk Charity No. 802198 MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 15 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP A Society without Discrimination? Simon Stevens - Enable enterprises The day before Bert Massie, Chair of the Disability Rights Commission, was to give a major speech, setting out the challenge facing society today, if discrimination against disabled people is ever to be ended, Bert found himself stranded at Euston Station as staff refused to assist him board a train, even though he'd booked assistance in advance! A reminder, if one is needed, about the growing gap between Government rhetoric and the reality for disabled people in their everyday lives. As Bert pointed out in his speech, we have a welcome coming together of support for independent living in the very highest places in Government. Opposition parties are similarly committing themselves to a future vision of equality for disabled people. Yet, more disabled people are now likely to live in poverty than others, in our society, more are likely to be unemployed and more, less likely to have educational qualifications or jobs. Disabled people are widely reported as finding it more difficult to get the support they need, to manage their own lives well. Something is going wrong somewhere! Transport and accessible transport has been at the centre of much of disabled peoples campaign work over the years. Shipping is still inaccessible to most disabled people and isn't covered by the transport sections of the new Disability Discrimination Act 2005. In the United States, a disabled campaigner is taking shipping companies to court because he couldn't book accommodation on their vessels, when they were used to provide hotel space for fans attending the Super Bowl, the Cup Final of American Football. Here's his story: “Super Bowl Suggests Cruise Ships Are Like Hotels For Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA)" ‘Floating hotels' to argue they aren't so “US Supreme Court will decide if cruise ships subject to Americans with Disabilities Act” By PAUL PINKHAM The Times-Union February 6, 2005 In Jacksonville during Super Bowl week, the cruise ship industry has touted its ships as floating hotels, accommodating thousands of guests in town for America's grandest sporting event. But in Washington three weeks from now, the industry will argue to the nation's highest court that cruise ships aren't hotels at all, and certainly not American. The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments Feb.28 on a Texas man's claim that Norwegian Cruise Line violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. Douglas Spector claims he and other MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 passengers were denied access to basic amenities and equipment during a 1998 cruise. Norwegian responded that because its ship is registered in the Bahamas, it isn't subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Nearly all the industry's ships are foreign-flagged. And though none of the cruise lines with ships in Jacksonville for today's big game -- Carnival, Holland America and Radisson Seven Seas -- are accused of violating the ADA, the industry is supporting Norwegian with a brief to the high court pointing out that cruise ships are subject to international requirements that sometimes conflict with U.S. disabilities law. "Regardless of whether they're docked ... or not, they're still ships that are subject to all the requirements of these international treaties," said Michael Crye, president of the International Council of Cruise Lines. "If they were predominantly moored and used as a hotel and gave up their identity as a ship, I could see where the land-based requirements of the ADA would be more applicable." The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans sided with Norwegian last year, but in a similar Florida case from 2002, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta sided with a disabled rights group. So the Supreme Court agreed this term to settle the issue. Attorney David George of Houston, who represents Spector, said Jacksonville's "innovative" use of cruise ships to provide enough luxury hotel rooms to host Super Bowl visitors will definitely be part of his argument to the MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP high court. "Our case isn't talking about on the high seas or when they're down in Mexico or the Caribbean," George said. "What we're talking about is when they're in U.S. waters or ... being used as hotels for the most quintessential American spectacle there is." George said the Americans with Disabilities Act should apply to foreign- flagged cruise ships because their cruise lines are based in the United States and sail from U.S. ports with predominantly U.S. passengers. The Super Bowl underscores how much like hotels the ships are, he said. George's interpretation is supported by the U.S. Department of Transportation, eight state attorneys general and a host of disabled rights groups, which have filed supporting documents with the Supreme Court. "This decision is not going to be just about Norwegian. It's about the entire industry," George said. The industry has countered with supporters of its own, including the Bahamian government and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Crye said ships have unique issues not faced by hotels. For example, he said, safety dictates locating special needs cabins together, where they can be easily evacuated, rather than throughout the ship, as the ADA would require. Some of those mandates are written into international treaties under which the ships operate, Crye said. He said the conflicts would be better resolved by Congress, not the courts. Or, better yet, by the industry itself. "The cruise industry has attempted to sort out many of these issues voluntarily, simply because this passenger group is so important to us and will continue to be important to us as the baby boomers become more needy," Crye said. paul.pinkhamjacksonville.com ACTIVATE FROM BCODP On the Campaign Trail with Simone Aspis BCODP’s Campaign and Parliamentary Officer Equalities Bill Mental Health Bill The Equalities Bill now has become law so we have stopped campaigning on this law. Our biggest gain is that the Disability work will continue which will be overseen by a committee of disabled people. Also, the Commission will be able to take on human rights cases when a disabled person is being treated in a discriminatory manner. The Commission will be able to take on human rights cases on behalf of disabled people - We need to know how this will work because there will be no support for individual disabled people. We do not know when the Government wants to publish this bill. Lots of different people, not just mental health system survivors have done lots of campaigning on why the Draft Mental Health Bill is bad. We can not stop and do nothing. We need to continue campaigning against a Government Bill. I have set up an Emotional Wellbeing committee which will assist BCODP with their campaign. It is great because we have got National Union of Disabled Students, Survivors Speak Out, UCAN, No Force and various local user lead organisations who are on the committee. MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 On the Campaign Trail with Simone Aspis ACTIVATE FROM BCODP BCODP’s Campaign and Parliamentary Officer We have had our first telephone conference call – some of the members have already started to do campaign work via petitions, writing to MPS and early day motion. We hope to use all these things as part of our on-going campaign. Also I spoke at the NUS’s rally and lobby against the Bill. This was really good because I had the chance to meet up with disabled students – students even though poor, but have lots of time on their hands and will be our future leaders! Antisocial Behaviour Orders The Government have published their Respect Agenda which states how MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 antisocial behaviour will be stopped. As one may expect, more punishments being dished out if a person’s behaviour is seen to be bad! The Government wants more court orders, bigger on the spot fines and to speed up the use of Antisocial Behaviour Orders. BCODP have been in touch with a disabled young man, Liam who has got an ASBO. We were hoping to see a Government Bill – this may not happen. However, we will be looking at how to campaign on ASBOs because we think more and more disabled people will get them in the future. Incapacity Benefit Reform This is one thing we are sure about – the Government will be changing the benefit system for disabled people – not for the better! The long and waited Green continues over ACTIVATE FROM BCODP On the Campaign Trail with Simone Aspis BCODP’s Campaign and Parliamentary Officer Paper has been published. The Green Paper will ask us what we think about Government’s thinking about the changing the Disability Benefits system. Giving evidence to the Education and Skills Select Committee on the Inquiry into the education of disabled Children LOGO’S MISSING Alliance for Inclusive educution + disability equality education This Committee of MP’s are looking into what is and should happen on disabled children’s schooling. The committee will report to Government. BCODP alongside Disability Equality in Education and the Alliance for Inclusive Education. We had to speak up very loudly that all these groups must be invited to answer MP’s questions on what, we disabled people think is best for disabled children. Other work We have had three campaigns committee meetings which is great which includes two outside London. We are having a fourth meeting in a week’s time. It is great that the Council have given the Campaigns Committee’s rules thumbs up (good). We will be starting to support members’ campaigns once the information pack has been written and okay by the Campaigns Committee. MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 On the Campaign Trail with Simone Aspis ACTIVATE FROM BCODP BCODP’s Campaign and Parliamentary Officer The press calls have increased really since the BCODP’s website has been done. We are making a great impression! BCODP have been in the Guardian, Daily Star and I did an interview on the Jeremy Vine programme on the Wagg’s story (father who killed his disabled child through distress). I have started to react more quickly on stories which are making the headline like the ones related to parents killing their disabled children, Respect agenda and Incapacity Benefit reforms. I hope that the press releases will keep BCODP’s name in the reporters’ minds. I have been asked to look at getting more money in for the BCODP’s campaigns Committee. I am looking at how we can get money for an up-to-date easy guide to the Disability law. There have been so many new laws and changes in law that it would be great for a book to be written by us stating the good and the bad things. I am writing regular briefings for the Disability Parliamentary All-Party members. • Simone Aspis • MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Rocketing fuel Prices Find out how you can reduce your bills Rocketing fuel prices and freezing conditions have hit pockets hard this year. Some people have been left with a choice between eating or heating! 1.2 million people live in fuel poverty which means they pay 10% or more of their income on gas/electricity). This figure is set to rise to a shocking 2.75 million this year. Britain has more excess winter deaths than Siberia. Some of those deaths are the result of living in cold, damp homes. Energywatch (the gas and electricity watchdog) has set up a Priority Consumer Team to make sure consumers are not missing out on BCODP will be Celebrating our 25th Anniversary on 14th October, 2006 Time to Celebrate! At the Copthorne Tara in London The day will also include our Annual General Meeting More details will follow – if you feel you are able to help towards the cost of this event please contact Sheila Blair either by e mail: Sheilab@bdocp.org.uk or by telephone or minicom. MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 money and support they are entitled to. Working in partnership with other agencies we provide free, clear advice on what is available and how to access it. This information and support will undoubtedly help reduce your fuel bills and help to keep you warm this winter. No one in this country should be living in a cold home. What You May Be Missing Out On • Free Services from your energy supplier – password protection, bills in accessible formats and gas safety checks • Information on changing supplies to reduce costs. Some people have saved up to £100 + per year. • Free, clear and accurate information on who is the cheapest supplier based on your postcode. • Help claiming the many grants available for insulation and new heating systems. • Advice on benefits • Support in sorting out high bills and metering problems with suppliers. Millions of pounds go unclaimed every year because consumers do not know what grants and benefits are available MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP to them. Consumers end up with huge debts because suppliers send bills that are estimated then issue bill based on actual reading. This could result in you owing the supplier hundreds of pounds! We can help you avoid this problem. Many of the consumers we meet are shocked to discover how much they are entitled to and not receiving. The bottom line is that money is just sitting there and yet people are still living in cold homes, receiving high fuel bills and missing out on money and services that would greatly improve the quality of their lives. Carlene Golightly - Priority Consumer Manager-energywatch said "We would strongly urge people to contact energywatch to find out what they are entitled to and we will ensure you get it with the least hassle". Give us a call on 0845 906 0708 Quote PCT or email rosie.serdiville@energywatch.org.uk; or visit our website at www.energywatch.org.uk. Don't miss out act now! ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Foundation Course in Dance for Disabled People Academic Year 2006/07 Are you a disabled student looking to enter into full-time professional dance training to launch your career? Are you looking for a course which is specifically tailored to your individual needs & ability? A course that provides you with support, strategies & confidence to enable you to achieve your potential and obtain your goals? If so, the CandoCo Foundation Course in Dance may be for you. Background Launched in 2004 and the first of it’s kind in Europe, the CandoCo Foundation Course aims to be a progressive route into vocational dance training, encouraging students to advance into specialist higher training provided under the Dance and Drama Award Scheme. The professional running and nature of this course is set at a very high standard, as students are inspired and trained by professional choreographers, dancers and teachers. It is essential that students possess a high level of personal motivation and commitment to successfully complete the required criteria. Course Content • Technique & improvisation • Choreography & performances • Fitness, health & safety including individual fitness & training programmes • Movement analysis • Contextual studies • Choreographic residencies with CandoCo Dance Company members and other professional choreographers and guest artists. MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 The course is based in London at CandoCo’s purpose built dance studio and performance space, and students have free access to pool, fitness and IT equipment. Course Fees Due to the unique nature and funding of this programme, the course is FREE to those students living in the UK. Students are also eligible for maintenance support and Disabled Students Allowance. Application Procedure For further information and application packs, please contact Elinor Baker, Administrative and Access Officer: Phone: 020 7704 6845. Email: foundationcourse@candoco.co.uk You can also visit our website: www.candoco.co.uk Taster Day: 1st April 2006 Please contact us for details should you be interested to attend. Auditions: 21st April and 30th May 2006 We will notify all successful applicants MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP with more information and details about the audition day. The deadline for completed applications for the 2006/07 academic year is 16 May 2006. Please return your application to CandoCo Dance Company, 2T Leroy House, 436 Essex Road, London N1 3QP. BCODP will be Celebrating our 25th Anniversary on 14th October, 2006 Time to Celebrate! At the Copthorne Tara in London The day will also include our Annual General Meeting More details will follow – if you feel you are able to help towards the cost of this event please contact Sheila Blair either by e mail: Sheilab@bdocp.org.uk or by telephone or minicom. ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Join BCODP MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM If you are interested in joining BCODP fill in and send the form to Margaret at BCODP. Name Contact address (including postcode) Telephone number Fax number Minicom number Email Internet address Class of Membership: (See membership Guidelines) How Would You Like Information Sent To You? Tape Large Print what font:________ Braille Picture Format Standard Print Other Format Please tell us:______________ MEMBERSHIP GUIDELINES Fees per year Fees Individual Disabled Person Waged £15 per year Unwaged Free (or donation) Individual Supporting £25.00 Full member groups £50 - £150 (depending on income) Not sure which category you are then contact: BCODP - Membership Litchurch Plaza Litchurch Lane DERBY DE24 8AA Telephone: 01332 295551 Fax: 01332 295580 Minicom: 01332 295581 Email Margaret@bcodp.org.uk Or our website: www.bcodp.org.uk MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE • BCODP produce a quarterly newsletter ‘Activate’. • Access to information. • Opportunity to be involved in the Disabled People’s Movement. • Promoting the full equality and inclusion of ALL Disabled People. Any donations are always welcome and support the human and civil rights of disabled people in Britain. MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Advertise in Activate? At low low cost.... Quarter Page £90 Half Page £140 Full Page £280 Less 10% for 2 issue bookings Contact: Rebecca Walker on: 0845 045 1014 ACTIVATE for more information Well that is it for this Edition of Activate if you have any articles, news or letters please send them to the British Council of Disabled People’s office in Derby by post, fax or e mail! ACTIVATE MARCH 2006 - ISSUE 58 Activate is available in a range of alternate formats on request. Please let us know what format you require by telephone 01332 295551, fax 01332 295580, Minicom 01332 295581 or email to: john@bcodp.org.uk ACTIVATE © Copyright The British Council of Disabled People 2003 No items in this newsletter may be copied or reproduced without written permission from BCODP. BCODP, Litchurch Plaza, Litchurch Lane, Derby DE24 8AA Telephone 01332 295551, Fax 01332 295580, Minicom 01332 295581 Email general@bcodp.org.uk www.bcodp.org.uk