My friend and colleague Doreen Woodford, who has died aged 85, was an advocate of the rights of deaf people in Britain and the developing world.

Originally posted here:
Doreen Woodford obituary

Related posts:

1. Tom Keogan obituary
2. Vic Finkelstein obituary
3. Geoffrey Brown obituary

The airline’s policies have repeatedly failed disabled people – its profit margins may come at too high a price When easyJet released its trading figures for the fourth quarter of 2011, it reported a 16.7% increase in revenue, taking pride in the fact that its confident financial performance bucked the trend of poor sales across other UK airline carriers.

See the original post:
EasyJet profits, while disabled passengers lose | Tanvi Vyas

Related posts:

1. EasyJet Taken to Task over Wheelchair Policy
2. Come fly with easyJet – unless your disability is inconvenient | Scott Jordan Harris
3. Disability benefit changes could see 1m lose out

The booking and special assistance request with Easy Jet was amazing, everything was so smooth so that instead of being ‘very irritating people’ as we tried to get through with the wheelchair we felt like proper VIPs as we were whisked through check in, security and boarding. All the airport staff were friendly and genuinely helpful.

We were boarded first and given the first 2 rows of seats which was perfect for fidgety boys and Katia who is unable to sit up unaided so she was able to stretch out across the seats. Katia has profound learning disabilities and was disorientated and grumpy but the teenagers sitting behind her sang twinkle twinkle little star to her and made faces which helped distract her. We found bringing one of her favourite musical toys very helpful as it was a familiar object. The Portuguese staffs were equally as efficient and the disembarkation went very smoothly. Finally we were through customs and there we were in arrivals looking for Hazel and her pink folder.

Hazel waved vigorously to us, there was no question of not recognising us we were not a party that could not easily be missed. We all followed Hazel out into the warm air and with just enough time to shed some of our ‘English Summer ‘ layers we loaded into the transporter and set off to Funchal Ridge with me mentally crossing off each of my worries!

It was a late arrival at the apartment but as we wearily got out of the WAV and wandered through the prettily landscaped garden I could smell the wonderful ly aromatic smell of oleander and feel the warm air around us I knew then I was on holiday and it was going to be good. We had a quick look through the apartment but were too tired to take on much except it was huge, beautifully furnished , the fridge had been stocked up with a pre ordered food shop and vitally important there were PG tips tea bags for me to make a much needed cup of tea. Hazel and Bryn had also thoughtfully set out a plate of pastries and pate which gave us something to nibble on before getting some much needed sleep. We all settled down for the night, I chose to sleep with Katia as she was still a bit disorientated and Ben took the other double bed. The twins settled in to the 3rd
twin bedded room.

The next morning I got up and tentively pulled back the curtains, bright blue sky and glorious sunshine (another anxiety regarding poor weather left my mental tick list) I tiptoed around the apartment making myself a cup of tea and taking it out on to the terrace. What a start to the holiday I could see the sea from the Terrace there was a light breeze fanning the trees and plants and it was shorts weather with no jumpers / cagoules as a back up plan.

I just had time to finish my tea and drink in the stunning views when the boys and Ben arrived. After a quick breakfast it was operation pool time. The boys unleashed 6 hours of cooped up travelling on the beautiful sparking pool. The once peaceful Funchal Ridge was punctuated by the screams and whoops of 2 hyped up boys. Ben, Katia and I made a slightly more dignified entrance and basked in the warmth of the water and the air. Getting Katia in the pool was very easy, a ramp leads down to the pool and then we could either hoist her in using the pool hoist or lift her in via the Roman steps. The sunbathing terrace is again very attractive and picks up a slight breeze to help keep you cool, however there are plenty of parasols and sun loungers with shades. The loungers come with cushions so reading is a very comfortable experience. I realised my holiday persona was now overtaking my stressed ‘working mum’ one when it got to 1pm and I hadn’t unpacked or consulted my unpacking list!

Ben arrived back from his orientation tour with Hazel bearing bags of food and some adult beverages. Hazel had very helpfully shown him where the supermarkets were and some of the local beaches. We tucked in to a lovely salad lunch and realised just how well the kitchen is equipped. I realised lugging a hand blender here was totally unnecessary, this kitchen could cater for a gourmet chef if the need required!

While the rest of the crew had a post lunch snooze I did unpack which was when I realised the term luxury self-catering really did apply to this apartment. The soft furnishings and bed linen are beautiful and they all coordinate which is a rarity in our own house. I was totally amazed by the amount of towels (again matching) and also the stack of beach / pool towels. Hazel had even taken the trouble to find star wars towels for the boys. This was not just a holiday apartment this was like a hotel. All the rooms are very spacious; you enter the apartment from the terrace into a lovely sitting room with comfy leather settees and TV area. Leading from this is a dining area which has an elegant glass topped dining table which seats 8. The focus of the dining area is a wonderful wood burning stove and fireplace. The kitchen and dining areas are separated by a high wooden counter. Leading off the kitchen / dining areas is the games room which links the 2 apartments and also acts as the laundry room.

Leading form the other side of the lounge is the master bedroom and a hallway leading to the other bedrooms and bathrooms. All doors and areas of the apartment are wide enough for easy access so no squeezing the wheelchair through tight doorways and corners. The bathrooms are beautifully appointed using the wetroom was a treat for us all it has a lovely rain shower for you to luxuriate in but also a hose type shower for sandy bits.

For me sitting by the pool taking in the peace and quiet and the wonderful outlook allowed me to completely relax. For the male members of the family the Freeview, pool table, table football and Wifi gave them things to do other than relax poolside. The boys found loads of toys and games to play which kept them busy especially when playing with Hazel and Bryn’s children. For Katia it was all about the water; having the pool heated meant she could swim 4 – 5 times a day and stay in for up to an hour. There are all sorts of pool toys for all the family but a particular hit for Katia was the
floatation jacket and water hammock which allowed her to float on the water completely safely.

Katia thrives on vivid strong stimuli and the bright colours of the sky, pool and landscaping was perfect for her. While sitting on the roman steps she loved to chase the ripples and reflections with her hands and actually learned to splash with both hands which was a great development for her. She quickly eased into her routine and we could all see her gain in strength and vocalisation as the week went on. As I’d hope this was a week of therapy for her as well as being a fantastic holiday for the rest of us.

Having the transporter was such a bonus as we could go out altogether so easily, it took a few times to master the seating but by day 2 our loading and unloading was as slick as an F1 pit stop (well almost).

There is so much to do in the area just walking up the hill to look at the amazing properties and views of the sea on one side and the mountains on the other was a pleasant, evening stroll for Katia. We visited 4 different beaches within a 20 minute drive. The nearest is Luz which is about under 10 minutes drive. Each beach has their own character so each beach visit left a different impression.

From long expanses of white sand with white crested waves and windsurfers zapping around on them to smaller coves with sandcastle making sand and crystal clear water to swim in. I had my first sea swim in 10 years. There is not a trace of high rise over development just clean friendly beaches with pleasant cafes to sip drinks and watch the world go by. The wheelchair accessibility is amazing; each beach has wooden walk ways to allow access over the sand, dedicated sunshade platforms for a chair and sand and sea buggies to allow wheelchair users to be pushed along the sand or even enter the sea. These buggies don’t come with a harness so it is best to bring your own.
The beach that was the highlight of our trip was Alvor which is situated at the end of the estuary not only did it have all the wheelchair access it had a tent to offer shade for wheelchair users and a dedicated lifeguard to help. There are paths which lead from the beach to the estuary and down to the harbour. We spent a wonderful afternoon, strolling and bird spotting combined with the usual beach stuff. For us this destination really allowed Katia to do what she likes and accommodated the needs of her brothers.

An important feature of any holiday is the food and this one didn’t disappoint. Hazel’s
recommendations of the ready roasted piri piri or garlic chicken was an excellent one and other suppers included a BBQ and a mixture of ready-made Portuguese dishes form the supermarket. We ate out twice and found Lagos offered a range of eateries but we settled on harbour side restaurants which had a large Portuguese clientele. The food was simple and tasty. The Portuguese steak, sword fish and fish stew were favourites. A meal out cost between 12-16 euros a head including drinks.

We had a totally amazing holiday at Funchal Ridge Hazel and Bryn and their family make you totally welcome and are on hand to offer advice and help but allow you space to relax and enjoy family time together. They are passionate about providing a high quality holiday experience for every one but are totally tuned in to the needs of disabled clients. For us finding somewhere that ticks boxes for disabilities, active boys and stressed out parents is incredible. By the end of the holiday I was so relaxed I didn’t even make a packing list There is so much we would like to do again and so much we would like to do next time we go that it is a definite we will be back. I just can’t wait to leave the lists behind again.

Related posts:

1. A Winners Tale
2. Win a holiday in portugal
3. Accessible Beach Huts Opened

Tax avoidance group forges alliance with disability campaigners in marked strategic shift to stage day of mass civil disobedience The direct action group UK Uncut has joined disability activists to plan civil disobedience against the welfare reform bill in London this weekend, which they say will bring chaos to the centre of the capital. Saturday’s action, billed as “hugely daring and disruptive” , is a shift for UK Uncut from previous action against alleged corporate tax avoiders, such as occupying stores run by Vodafone and the Arcadia retail group. It is forming alliances with campaigners against specific spending cuts it views as being, in part, the direct consequence of reduced tax receipts

Here is the original post:
UK Uncut joins fight against welfare reform bill

Related posts:

1. How to help disabled people fight the welfare reform bill | Lisa Egan
2. Welfare reform: The fight for disabled people just got harder
3. Welfare reform win is heartening, but the fight isn’t over | Rachel Graham

As a teacher of young people with learning difficulties, I believe it’s a matter of conscience that their needs – and rights – are met Since graduating from university, I have worked in a further education college in inner London teaching students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities aged between 16 and 21.

More here:
It saddens me to see young, vulnerable people having their lives made harder | Peter Halstead

Related posts:

1. Welfare reform: The fight for disabled people just got harder
2. Transitions: Better Lives for Disabled People
3. Thank you Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, for improving the lives of disabled people

Simon Fry is the creative caravan engineer behind the concept and spoke enthusiastically with Able to explain his thinking. “The design concept is done by me.” He starts proudly, adding: “It’s based on my ideas through experience of building caravans since about 2005.” The whole notion of building an accessible caravan came from a request that got Simon thinking, as he explains: “One of our clients: Mr Brown, wanted a conversion done for his wife and nobody would listen to him and nobody would help him so he turned up and we had a cup of coffee.” After talking it over Simon began to identify just what the completed project would mean to his customer and I get the feeling that he just couldn’t resist the challenge.

This is perhaps backed up by Simon’s initial summary: “We’ve learnt that in doing bespoke it’s very difficult to make money. When you disturb something every action has a reaction, especially in a caravan because it’s so tight. You’ve got a small area and you’re trying to get a whole house in it.” Clearly it isn’t something that many caravan manufacturers, dealerships, engineers or tinkerers would take on. Simon outlines some of the basic challenges and more obvious solutions saying: “What you have to do is have a philosophy. First of all you have to have access, so you need a wider door. When you have a table at the front you need an L-shape because it’s the best way to get a wheelchair user able to sit at the table. Then you need to be able to get up and down (the length of the caravan) reasonably easily and then you want to be able to turn around at the back end and come back again.”

A new idea
Simon isn’t afraid to give credit where it’s due and suggests that a tip of the hat is in order for Mr Brown. “He’d already worked it out” he chuckles. “He suggested to me that he wanted to look at a 640 Lexon which we were sitting in at the time. He said: “look, my idea is this but I need your engineering input to see whether it’s possible”. Mr Brown had done his homework and I was going “Wow!” That’s a lot of work you want us to do to achieve what we need it to do.” According to Simon, the basic principles of the design that were laid down that day have stayed with him. “It works – because it’s flexible. Everybody is slightly different.” It all sounds very easy when he puts it like that but thinking about a caravan is for a second puts his achievement in a new light; walls that are a mere inch thick, the fact that it’s on wheels and of course, the confined nature of the interior.

Simon admits: “I can only work in a certain percentage (of cases). I can’t do it for everybody. You can’t do a ‘completely’ bespoke caravan. People think that you can build a caravan from a shell. You can’t do it. It’s uneconomical, it doesn’t work and now with all of the regulations it’s a nightmare.”

Spirit of innovation
Fortunately, the original spirit behind the Axcess spirit means that Simon will venture to do all he can for his customers. “There is a window that we can work within. We can work that way and do different things with that design.” The other major caveat as Simon sees it is that he’s usually designing for couples where one partner is able. The fact is that caravanning is an activity in itself. Disabled people just need a helping hand to make it work. There are of course possibilities that may be introduced into future designs if called for, including automatic ramps and so on but current advice is that it’s too heavy for the structure and ultimately prohibitively expensive.

Even with this in mind, Simon tries to focus on what disabled people can do telling me that as we speak one of his customers is spending time alone in an Axcess caravan. “Her husband towed the caravan to the site. It’s getting it on and off the car and winding the support legs down and setting the ramp up (that are the challenges). The doorway ramp is stored inside, so if you’re a wheelchair user you can’t get in, to get it out. You have to try to adhere to the ‘KISS principle’ (Keep it simple & sensible).”

“We have a basic or standard design which we can then alter” says Simon before running through an exhausting list of options for disabled customers that include different configurations of the wet room facilities, different bed heights a new flip down basin and electric entrance lifts. “We’ve got all of that which we can tweak to the customer’s needs.” (That’s a lot of tweaking.)

Built with pride
Allowing himself a deserved moment of pride Simon summarises: “We have a great product that’s National Caravan Council approved and comes with a full manufacturer’s guarantee. It’s built by Adria – Europe’s biggest caravan and motorhome manufacturer: a top make and it’s a beautiful caravan inside.”

Simon is a great ambassador for disabled people. He genuinely takes on the challenges of disability travel and much of the time is able to turn a new idea into a solid solution. We close our conversation by again flying the flag of common sense design and innovation with Simon saying: “Once we’ve got them set up with their wet room, their facilities; they’re completely self contained and it gives them the total freedom to go anywhere in Europe. They can go and enjoy themselves.”

Caravanning can provide a different view for every weekend. From downs to dales or moors and mountains: if you can drive there, chances are that there’ll be a caravan site nearby. Hitch up and hit the road.

More: www.frys.co.uk

Related posts:

1. Adapted RVs open up a whole new world to disabled people
2. Geoffrey Brown obituary
3. Disabled Gardener Calls in Robomow ‘Hector’

Gwel an Mor is a five star luxury retreat featuring gorgeous Scandinavian style lodges that have been rated as NAS M3 assisted living standard, meaning that they can be enjoyed by anyone lucky enough to stay there. The lodges are located just a five minute drive from Portreath and are close to other Cornish towns and villages including Newquay, Redruth and Penzance.

Gwel an Mor presents the best of Cornwall’s glorious coast and has been described as, the ‘ultimate in self catering holiday lodges’. Indeed, they were awarded the Accessible Travel & Leisure ‘Best in Britain’ accolade for 2010 and in 2011 as well as gaining gold in the ‘Holiday Park and Holiday Village of the Year’. The holiday experience incorporates the kind of personal service, comfort and style usually only associated with a top hotel.

The Able Travel Club is delighted to present members with an exclusive Spring Break offer at this popular, unique resort.

Eight days – from £135 per person*
Choose a departure between 01 January to 31 May 2012

Seven Nights Accommodation in an Assisted Living Lodge, sleeping up to six people
Champagne & Canapés on arrival
£50 of Gwel an Mor vouchers ( to spend in the bar & restaurant, spa or wildlife facility)
Full use of heated indoor swimming pool with pool hoist

*Three night breaks are also available. Please ask for details*

The M3 assisted living holiday lodges at Gwel an Mor offer the very highest standard in disability friendly holiday accommodation. The same level of painstaking attention to the needs of disabled people or those with limited mobility has been applied in the design of the accommodation.

Relax in style
They holiday lodges have wheelchair access throughout the ground floor, where guests will find a stylish and contemporary twin bedroom with electric bed, a wet room style bathroom, a living/dining area and a wonderfully equipped kitchen.

Upstairs, there’s a kingsize master bedroom with en suite bathroom, a further bathroom and a twin bedroom, making these holiday lodges perfect for disabled people who are travelling with other family members.

The furniture is adjustable, making it as comfortable as possible and since the main living area is all on ground level, the lodges are also perfect for people that might otherwise struggle with stairs. All of the holiday lodges have great facilities, including flat screen TV, Freeview channels and broadband access (WiFi and wired).

Choice
Gwel an Mor makes a great choice for disabled holiday accommodation. Not only are the luxury holiday lodges designed to make every day easy and pleasurable, the rest of the five star resort is also of course, wheelchair accessible.

If you prefer a night without self catering you could treat yourself to an evening at the terrace restaurant. The spectacular views over the Atlantic Ocean make it a sublime setting for a leisurely lunch, an afternoon cream tea or a superb evening meal.

Wildlife is also part of the holiday experience in the grounds of (onsite) Feadon Farm. It’s an amazing place where both children and adults can see wildlife as diverse as reindeer, foxes, owls and badgers. Cornwall has always been a wildlife wonderland so it’s a great place to discover more about nature and the environment.

The Gwel an Mor corner of Cornwall makes an ideal holiday or short break destination for people with limited mobility. Cornwall has a terrific choice of attractions that are wheelchair accessible and you’ll find that a stay in one of our M3 assisted living lodges is the best way to enjoy self catering. Cornwall is waiting to welcome you. So what are you waiting for?

Tel: 0141 427 3139
Web: www.ablemagazine.co.uk/traveller

Prices quoted are per person, based on four adults sharing an assisted living lodge, subject to availability. The price includes the lodge sleeping up to 6 adults on a self catering basis. *based on a holiday stay between 17 February to 29 March 2012. A choice of stays is available and they are between 01 January to 31 May 2012.
Terms and conditions:
Lines are open 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday. Prices are per person, based on four sharing and subject to availability. Operated by Travelability Ltd trading as Accessible Travel & Leisure. All monies paid by you for the products shown are protected by the Travel Trust Association. A certificate of guarantee will be issued at the time of booking. For more information visit: www.traveltrust.co.uk. Optional insurance available at a supplement. When you respond to offers we may use your information to contact you with offers/services that we believe will be of interest. Please give email details if you wish to receive offers by email. We will not give your data to other companies without your permission; please let us know if you are happy for us to do so. Prices are correct at the time of publishing. Please call or email for details.

Related posts:

1. TRAVEL CLUB: The Gem Of Lanzarote
2. Join The Free Able Travel Club
3. TRAVEL CLUB: Los Cristianos beach has just got even more accessible.

Lords to debate controversial cuts to disability living allowance payments (DLA) 10.46am: Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson , the former paralympian, is leading the charge in the Lords to mitigate proposals to replace DLA with Personal Independence Payments (PIP). Lady Grey-Thompson is calling for a trial of the new PIP assessment scheme before it is introduced. She told the Guardian , it “made sense” to pilot the scheme before it went ahead

More:
Welfare reform bill: disability benefit cuts – Lords live discussion

Related posts:

1. Welfare reform bill – Lords debate and live discussion
2. Welfare reform bill – live discussion
3. Live discussion of Welfare reform bill

Freelance writer Lucy Glennon, 26, has made one of the more impressive journeys from Rotherham in South Yorkshire to Kings Cross, Central London, where she settled in 2008 and has since lived what she calls the best years of her life.

Original post:
The cuts in London : where will Lucy live?

Related posts:

1. The cuts in London : where will Lucy live?
2. Disabled people to march in London against cuts to benefits and services
3. Lucy Mangan: We’re in a right state

Freelance writer Lucy Glennon, 26, has made one of the more impressive journeys from Rotherham in South Yorkshire to Kings Cross, Central London, where she settled in 2008 and has since lived what she calls the best years of her life. It’s been a life of achievement and independence, led since birth in the constant company of an incurable inherited genetic condition called epidermolysis bullosa – EB for short – whose most explicit symptom is pain all over the body – pain that rarely leaves the sufferer alone. The briefest bit of research reveals EB as a brute of a disorder , causing the skin to blister and break as a result of almost any kind of friction or bump.

Read more here:
The cuts in London : where will Lucy live?

Related posts:

1. The cuts in London : where will Lucy live?
2. Disabled people to march in London against cuts to benefits and services
3. Lucy Mangan: We’re in a right state

Families need to learn to sign for the sake of their deaf children – yet they are often denied the chance In the last few weeks, a video of a deaf mother and her two year-old daughter Ava having a dinner conversation in British Sign Language (BSL) has gone viral.

Read more here:
Enabling communication is vital in families of deaf children | Charlie Swinbourne

Related posts:

1. Not all deaf people want to be ‘fixed’ | Charlie Swinbourne
2. Cinemas are letting deaf people down | Charlie Swinbourne
3. Academies expansion is worrying for deaf pupils | Charlie Swinbourne

Read the original post:
Carers need a break, too | Jane Renton

Related posts:

1. BTCV Gives Young Carers a Break
2. Financial Help for GPs to Identify Carers
3. Carers Miss Out on Millions

Mayor of London says Disability Living Allowance proposals could push disadvantaged group into deeper poverty The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has placed himself at loggerheads with the government over benefit changes after he formally objected to controversial cuts to disability payments. Johnson’s response to a consultation on changes to the Disability Living Allowance is critical of planned changes that will see hundreds of thousands of disabled people potentially lose benefits of up to £70 a week for care and mobility expenses. Johnson is concerned that the changes could lead to financial hardship and social isolation, and push an already disadvantaged group into deeper poverty.

See the original post here:
Boris Johnson attacks planned cuts to disability payments

Related posts:

1. Punitive cuts to disability payments
2. Disability benefit cuts ‘could breach law’
3. London disabled man jailed for sex attacks

The law on assisted suicide is incoherent for both those with a terminal illness and their loved ones The Commission on Assisted Dying, which I chair, on Thursday identifies a possible legal framework for the issue . It is a very British approach to legal change – limited, and subject to stringent safeguards – but a significant step that we believe would make the process of dying more humane, both for people who want some degree of control in their final illness, and their loved ones who are left behind. Our framework proposes that a person who has an illness from which two doctors consider he or she will die within 12 months, could receive assistance from their doctor to end their life if certain stringent safeguards were met, without the assister committing a crime

See the article here:
Assisted dying: we need a more humane law | Charles Falconer

Related posts:

1. Assisted dying poll shows support for change in law
2. US State of Washington releases 2010 assisted dying figures
3. Good News for Assisted Workshop Facilities

Figures show older people pay up to £7,000 a year for home care as the government is accused of underfunding services The social care system has been branded “not fit for purpose” after figures revealed elderly people are paying up to £7,000 a year for home care services.

Read the original:
Elderly people face rising cost of council services

Related posts:

1. New photography exhibition brings visitors face-to-face with rare, incurable condition
2. Letters: Disabled people face even tougher future
3. Disabled people ‘face additional debt difficulties’