Inclusion North Bulletin

Issue Number 35
19th February 2013 In this bulletin you will hear about some of the work Inclusion North is doing and information about what is happening across the country.

Find Inclusion North on Facebook and Twitter

You can find out more about the all the work we are doing by following us on facebook and twitter at:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/InclusionNorth

Twitter: @InclusionNorth

Heres a reminder of some of the work we are doing next please make a note in your diaries
Digital Inclusion in Newcastle
Newcastle has been exploring how to provide advice and support to support workers and PAs so they can help people connect, use and enjoy social media. Across the world many people access and benefit from social media communities such as facebook and twitter. People can find virtual connections, friendships and communities to contribute to and benefit from.

However, people who are unable to read, write or operate technology independently could feel excluded from digital communities. We would like you to share with us any work you have done around this, or ideas that we could explore. Please contact Kellie Woodley at: kellie@inclusionnorth.org or call 07876 145 390

Support Planning Training in Leeds

Whats it mean to me and mine Whats it all about?
This interactive training will provide a solid introduction to support planning and will cover: A reminder about personalisation and where it came from What support planning is and what it means for people and families. The training will be delivered by Tricia Nicoll on behalf of Inclusion North. There will be representation from Leeds City Council and is being hosted by Beeston Action for Families.

Who should come along?

This training is aimed at family members and family carers of people with learning disabilities/autism living in Leeds This is happening on Tuesday 26th February in Leeds To book your place please email info@inclusionnorth.org or call Julie on 0113 2626409

Two Events hosted by SeeAbility

Look Here! A free training day for self advocates about looking after your eyes
What is the Look Here Event about?
Learning about eye tests Practicing cleaning glasses Hearing about eye problems Using your other senses Talking about your eyes Doing a quiz and having fun!

Who is this event for?

This is just for people who have a learning disability who want to learn about looking after their eyes. This is event is happening on Thursday 14th March in Newcastle. To book your place please email info@inclusionnorth.org or call Julie on 0113 2626409.

A free information day for family carers about eye care and vision
What is this event about?
People with a learning disability are 10 times more likely to have serious sight problems than others. The day will include presentations about eye tests, glasses, vision screening in schools and eye surgery. You will also have the opportunity to speak to a range of eye care professionals

Who is this event for?

The day is just for parents and carers of children, young people and adults with learning disabilities. Its an ideal day for those involved in planning for local services to contribute to discussions and take information away. This is event is happening on Friday 19th April in Leeds.

To book your place please email info@inclusionnorth.org or call Julie on 0113 2626409

News and updates from Around the Country

A better deal on public transport for people with learning disabilities

On 6th February people from the Brandon Trust attended the House of Commons to support a group of people with learning disabilities present their report 100 Voices on Transport to politicians and representatives from the travel industry. Click here to read more about Brandon Trust and the 100 Voices on Transport and the report in The Guardian. www.brandontrust.org/Data/Sites/1/downloads/100voices_tran sport_report.pdf www.guardian.co.uk/social-care-network/2013/feb/06/publictransport-learning-disabilities

Resources to help recognise domestic abuse

Bristol NHS has prepared some resources to help people with learning disabilities recognise and get help to deal with domestic abuse. There are some films and other resources to help in training the films helps people identify what domestic abuse is, gives advice on what to do if it happens and will stimulate valuable discussion. The teaching pack has well researched advice and exercises. Both are available at http://www.bava.org.uk/types-ofabuse/domestic-violence-and-abuse/#pageBottom

This page links to Bristol Against Violence and Abuse

Mencap are looking for a number of best practice examples

Mencap are looking to have a collection of best practice examples by end of February and would be grateful for any contributions. Please forward your comments/ examples to beatrice.barleon@mencap.org.uk These are some of the areas they are looking at: SHA/ PCT providing good learning disability and mental capacity training programme for NHS staff Meaningful involvement of people with a learning disability and their family and carers in planning health services SHA/ PCT which used contracting to ensure reasonable adjustments are made throughout NHS services in their area A local authority/area which has managed to work and commission well cross-departmentally involving health, education, social services and employment services producing great results for people with a learning disability.

 A local area that has done well in commissioning local services for people with a learning disability including good local housing solutions etc, showing an integrated approach. A local area/SHA/PCT which has really showcased a good understanding of their local learning disability population (including how they got there) and developed learning disability services based on this evidence A SHA/ PCT that has done good work to eradicate any health inequalities with regards to people with a learning disability and what they have done to achieve this. SHA/PCT with a learning disabilities lead who did good work A SHA/ PCT that has commissioned good local services for people whose behaviour challenges

Fulfilling potential Working together to empower disabled people

On 13 February 2013 the Government sent out a report Fulfilling Potential. It is about what disabled people have told them is important The purpose is: to provide current information on disability in the UK to help the development of the next stage of work on Fulfilling Potential the development of actions, outcomes and indicators to inform the public and encourage debate about disability and the issues faced by disabled people to raise awareness, drive a change in attitudes and support an increase in commitment to improving the lives of disabled people in the UK today You can see the report at: www.odi.dwp.gov.uk/docs/fulfilling-potential/buildingunderstanding-easy-read.pdf

Disability Rights UK Applying to further education

Here is a useful link which has information for students who have learning disabilities and their families/supporters about applying for Further Education courses - please see the link below. www.disabilityrightsuk.org/skillappfe.pdf For further information, the Disabled Students Helpline contact details are: Tel: 0800 328 5050 Textphone: 18001 0800 328 5050 (Type Talk) Email: students@disabilityrightsuk.org Open: Tues 11.30 am - 1.30 pm and Thurs 1.30 pm - 3.30 pm

DPULOs Making A Difference Series

The series will tell people about practical case studies which show how Disabled Peoples User Led Organisations (DPULOs) are making a difference in their local communities. The first series is DPULOs Making A Difference: disability hate crime and can be downloaded from the follow link: www.odi.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dpulo/disability-hate-crime-easyread.pdf Vision Sense from the North East are mentioned in this report and Susie told us: When disabled people are attacked, sometimes we live with it and just call it bullying. But if it happens because of how we look or who we are, we have rights to get help.

People are more likely to be attacked if they live in institutions, hospitals and care homes than if they live in the community, so we will keep working for independent living. This project showed us what works to get your life back after an attack. Self-advocates helped us to set the rules for the groups of Survivors and taught us how to speak up to the Police and services for us. If you need help, contact Stop Hate UK, Rape Crisis or your local group of disabled people together we will stop hate crime against disabled people!

Better representation of disabled people in our councils and Parliament can help solve challenges faced by Government
With the May 2013 Local Authority elections approaching, The Access to Elected Office Fund has been put in place by Government to help more disabled people be politicians at local and national levels. The Fund provides grants of between 250 and 20, 000 to help disabled candidates who want to stand for election. The grants help meet the additional support needs that a disabled person has that are associated with their disability. You can contact a member of the team by emailing: enquiries@access-to-elected-office-fund.org.uk or by phone on 0845 864 5340. You can find more details about the fund at: www.access-to-elected-office-fund.org.uk/ Easy Read guide: www.access-to-elected-office-fund.org.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2012/06/Easy-read-information_FINAL070113.pdf

Rooots, in partnership with Peter Pang and other Asian trainers, are holding two training sessions
Your Heart Matters on Wednesday March 13th, 10 am. 12.30 pm, A healthy heart will make you feel happier and stronger. You are invited to a fun mixture of accessible information, practical exercises, and individual and group planning delivered by trainers who have learning disabilities themselves, and which is aimed at people with learning disabilities and their supporters. What is a Disability Hate Crime? on Wednesday February 27th, 10 am to 12.30 pm Any crime, including abuse and harassment, motivated by hostility towards someone with a disability is actually a disability hate crime. This training covers awareness of disability hate crime and stopping hate crime. Rooots are African Caribbean people with learning disabilities. and is an independent, not for profit, social firm. They run training up and down the country. The training costs 40 and there are a limited number of places for people with learning disabilities at a reduced rate of 25. To book, please contact Rooots on: Email info@rooots.org.uk See their website for more details: www.rooots.org.uk

If you would like any information on any of our meetings, training or projects you can contact the office on: Tel: 0113 262 6409 E-mail: info@inclusionnorth.org Or you can write to us at: Inclusion North 191 Belle Vue Road Leeds LS3 1HG You can visit our website at: www.inclusionnorth.org Or you can contact any member of the Inclusion North team: Samantha Clark Tel: 07823 536 603 Email: Samantha@inclusionnorth.org Julie Batchelor Tel: 0113 262 6409 Email: info@inclusionnorth.org

Scott Cunningham Tel: 07767 776 125 Email: Scott@inclusionnorth.org Angela Ellis Tel: 07944 185 771 Email: Angela@inclusionnorth.org Kellie Woodley Tel: 07876 145 390 Email: Kellie@inclusionnorth.org