The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) is calling on the government to end the chaotic housing system that forces disabled people to live in unsuitable accommodation for months while they wait for suitable accommodation. Bert Massie, chair of the DRC, said “it’s a scandal that in the 21^st century many disabled people find themselves imprisoned in their homes”. Source: Disability News; News pg 5

Churches trying to adapt their buildings ahead of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) deadline of 1 October 2004, have found themselves thwarted by conservationists and planning officials. The most common problem among those trying to make adaptations (“reasonable adjustments”) is having their plans rejected for aesthetic reasons. According to the Church of England, many churches were tackling issues like getting Braille versions of service books and installing hearing loops, but they were finding it harder to make structural changes. Source: Disability News; News pg 4

Many high street shops and businesses still provide poor access for disabled people despite new anti-discrimination legislation coming into force this week, according to research published by The Guardian.

A poll by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) found that most shops, cafes, restaurants, cinemas and pubs had yet to comply with new laws to improve access for disabled people, which come into force on 1 October 2004.

Under part three of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, every business in Britain will need to become more user-friendly for the country's (estimated) 10 million disabled people. This means they must address the problems their buildings cause for disabled people, such as steps, heavy doors and bad lighting. Failure to act could result in legal action.

The report's findings included:

• Nearly a quarter of all the 88 major high street outlets surveyed were rated as poor or very poor by disabled shoppers
• One fifth of the disabled shoppers said they would not go back to the high street they visited
• Problems with getting in and around high street stores added an extra two hours to disabled people's shopping trips
• One third of public toilets were difficult or impossible to access
• Four out of five disabled people encountered serious problems with cinema access. In three locations they could not get in at all.
• Four out of five disabled people encountered problems with lack of space between tables in restaurants, cafes and pubs.

Bert Massie, chairman of the DRC, said the new legislation would mean that disabled people no longer had to put up with a second class service.

He said: "Whilst it's clear that some shops and services are getting it right for the disabled consumer there are those that have done little or nothing to prepare for the legislation. For them there will be nowhere to run and nowhere to hide as disabled people's complaints will now be backed by law." Source: The Guardian; Online News Article (29 September 2004)

So much of the world out there is inaccessible; it is difficult to be spontaneous. A friend could ring and say: 'We're going out to a club or a restaurant tonight, do you fancy coming?' So you have to call the restaurant to find out if it is accessible, if there is parking and whether there is a disabled toilet. And then what about the club? All the same questions. You have to go through all that before you even leave the house.

More than 35 per cent of GPs' surgeries in this country are inaccessible to disabled people. Disabled people are worth £50 billion to the economy every year. There are 10 million of us in the UK. That is a tremendous resource and any company would be foolish to ignore such an important section of its customers. Those who do ignore us are in danger of missing out on a lot of money.

Now, contrast this country with somewhere where they take this issue seriously. I visited San Francisco recently. Here, a mixture of the hippy movement and the need to make a city welcoming for many of the Vietnam veterans who came back from the war started a movement to make the city accessible to all. They are way ahead of us. Bars, restaurants and shops are open to all.

It is about an attitude. Once you make yourself accessible to disabled people you've made yourself accessible to all. It is about being inclusive. That way everyone wins; excerpt from statement by Julie Fernandez; Actress. Source: The Observer; Online News Article (26 September 2004)

Despite new laws requiring universities to provide equipment and support to disabled students, the higher education system remains far from accessible. A lack of sign language interpreters, minimal adapted software and furniture, few emergency evacuation procedures and inadequate student allowances – these are just some of the barriers facing disabled students at university. Almost a year since this latest addition to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) came into force, teething problems persist. According to Mike Adams of the National Disability Team, “there is still a lack of understanding about what qualifies as an additional aid or service. There will continue to be confusion until there is case law”. Under the (DDA), a “reasonable adjustment” can be made through the provision of auxiliary aids and services (AA&S), which covers everything from textphones, assistive software, height adjustable tables and tape recorders to sign language interpreters, note takers and personal care support. Source: Disability News (Education Supplement); News pg 1

The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) is asking disabled people to tell them who are the UK’s best and worst services providers in terms of meeting their needs. The (DRC) wants to find out which service providers are shutting disabled people out, by asking people to vote for the best (most accessible) and worst (least accessible) service providers on its website (www.drc.org.uk) The poll covers major supermarkets and high street stores as well as entertainment venues such as cinemas, theme parks and football clubs. Local authorities will also be included; the poll will run until the end of the year (2004). Source: Disability News; News pg 4

Supermarket chain Asda has won three out of the four Baywatch 2004 awards, recently held in London. The scheme designed to deter non-disabled people ‘abusing’ parking bays allocated to those with disabilities, applies to environments showing the prominent Baywatch signs and is supported nationally by the RAC. Source: Disability News; News pg 8

Only one in five top UK supermarkets has a website that is accessible to disabled people, according to a survey undertaken by the disability charity AbilityNet. The charity said the other sites were excluding millions of potential customers. AbilityNet confirms that the findings reflected previous research findings on websites for airlines, national newspapers and banks. Source: DN Extra (July); News pg 2

Fewer than 1 in 20 visually impaired people (VIP) ever receive letters from their GPs in their preferred format, such as Braille or large print. The results of the report by The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (GDBA) were used to launch the Access for All: NHS Services campaign last month. Tom Pey, (GDBA’s) director of policy, said “the message which comes loud and clear from (VIP’s) is that education, awareness and training are key”. Source: Disability Now; Health News pg 12

The Joint Committee on the Draft Disability Discrimination Bill which calls on the government to “go further” to protect disabled people from discrimination, has suggested a 2017 deadline for all trains to be accessible, provisions to stop landlords refusing permission for disabled people to adapt homes and (proposed) a change in name to the  anti-discrimination bill. Source: Disability Now; News pg 5

The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) has accused councils of “burying their heads in the sand” and taking little notice of their duties under Part Three of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), which comes into force in October. The (DRC) confirmed that one third of councils don’t know how many of their services will be accessible by autumn. Source: Disability Now; News pg 5

There are a “record number” of disabled people in Britain’s jails, with many living in inaccessible buildings and denied equal access to basic activities. The Prison Reform Trust huge rise in the number of reported claims prompted it to produce the first ever information booklet for disabled prisoners, which will be distributed by the Prison Service. Amongst reported claims from prisoners, are a lack of information in accessible formats, lack of access to prison activities, and in some cases poor treatment and discrimination. Source: Disability Now; News pg 1

Disabled people still have limited access to showers and bath aids when they are in hospital, according to a recent survey published by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. With notable improvements, including new alarm systems, the implementation of ‘almost universal’ bath hoists and “easy to use taps”. Despite government investment of £68 million (since 2000) both Dr. Andy Monro and Dr. Graham Mulley, confirm that there are still many challenges to address. Recommendations included better access to showers for wheelchair users. More accessible mirrors and taps, and improved privacy and cleanliness. They also called for new access guidelines that would become a “key factor” in (determining) a hospitals star rating.  Source: Disability Now; Health News pg 14

The first “smart home” for people with dementia opens this month in East London, providing new technology to enable people to live more independently. The pioneering flat, designed by Bath Institute of Medical Engineering (BIME), features a cooker which warns people when their food is overheating; lights which come on if they get up to use the toilet; a bath which warns of it is getting full; and prompts to go back to bed if people wander during the night. If the scheme proves a success Housing 21 (the association involved in the project), is expected to extend the technology to other sheltered housing schemes. Source: Disability Now; News pg 12

Campaigners have wholeheartedly embraced the provisions of new planning laws which appear to highlight the importance of accessible design practices. Previously a daunting proposal, the Compulsory Purchase Act, as defined by central government, includes ‘a legal duty for developers to include access statements within their respective planning applications. Although the Act was given Royal Assent last month, Conservative opposition, has claimed that the government “failed to act in the interests of disabled people” by not backing its amendment to set up a register of accessible housing through the (amended) Housing Bill. Source: Disability Now; News pg 4

Recent reports disclosed to MP’s reveal that children attending residential schools should be monitored by the appropriate child protection boards, according to experts from the National Working Group on Child Protection and Disability. However the proposed Children’s bill failed to address the specific issues disabled children have and continue to face. Source: Disability Now; News pg 3

Nelson Mandela has joined political leaders in backing a high profile new campaign to end discrimination against disabled people and fight the blight of disablism. Scope's Time to Get Equal campaign, has secured support from Mr. Mandela, South Africa's first black president, as well as the leaders of the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Plaid Cymru parties. Source: Disability Now; News, pg 1

Campaigners have raised fears that access improvements to London's Underground system could be set back "by decades", after the government suspended work on a multi-million pound project at King's Cross station. Transport Minister Kim Howells, has hinted that the project to build a new northern ticket hall at the station could be shelved after proposed costs doubled to £250 million. But the London Transport Users Committee (LTUC) has written to the government, calling for work to be restarted "without further delay". Suzanne May, chair of LTUC said, "to abandon this project would set back London Underground's accessibility programme by decades, at a time when it is Government policy to promote an inclusive society." - Source: DN Extra; April 2004; pg3

This month has seen the official launch of the London Plan, a blueprint for the future of London's development, produced by Ken Livingstone (and his Greater London Authority, GLA). The following objectives are disclosed within the summary report:

• to accommodate London's growth within its boundaries without encroaching on open spaces
• to make London a better city for people to live and work in
• to make London a more prosperous city with strong and diverse economic growth
• to promote social inclusion and tackle deprivation and discrimination
• to improve London's accessibilty
• to make London a more attractive, well designed and green city

In full recognition of the London Plan, Ken has also expresed intentions to sue the landlord of their own headquarters because of it's failure to allow disabled people easier access to the front entrance, particularly those that arrive by car - Source; In-House Communications  Team, Accessable Advice, London

London's Mayor told the Disability Captial conference he was "incredibly shocked" by the scale of physical and verbal assaults suffered by disabled Londoner's. Ken Livingstone said an interim report from his capital wide survey of disabled Londoner's had "presented a very stark picture of discrimination in this city" and the levels of physical and verbal abuse were, "completely and utterly unacceptable". The survey will be used to develop an agenda to "deliver equality" and "move towards an accessible and inclusive city", he said - Source; Disability Now, Conference Report; pg 8

The right to help with (property) adaptations in the home may be lost under a government review of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG). In response to a Lords question, the government said it would decide later this year on whether the grant, which is already discretionary in Scotland, should remain mandatory in the rest of the country. Government minister, Lord Rooker said: "It is a fairly fundamental principle. It is the last of the mandatory housing grants; everything else is now discretionary." Source; Disability Now, News; pg 7 

Accessable Advice (Chartered Surveyors) have re-launched their website. The London based firm, have renewed their focus on the need for service providers and society at large to take a last look at the environments in which they reside and offer socio-sensitive and inclusive solutions, to those within our disabled community. With increasing dialogue on the need for businesses to uphold their corporate social responsibilites, it is without doubt that the imminent arrival of the 1 October 2004 deadline, will precipitate a reactive adherance to obligations soon to be imposed on service providers. As a matter of extreme urgency, it is hoped that the (DDA) forthwith be considered and actively addressed at board levels throughout the UK - Source, In-house Communications Team; Accessable Advice, London

Is your museum fully accessible?
Seminar Department, Museums Association, 24 Calvin Street, London E1 6NW, tel 020 7426 6940, fax 020 7426 6961, 23 February 2004

The National Housing  Federation is inviting disabled tenants (Contact 020 8352 0253) to contribute ideas to the Disabled Tenants Charter, which will be adopted by all English Registered Social Landords (RSL), and seek to help (RSL's) imrpove their homes and services for disabled tenants - Source; Disability Now, In Brief; page 8

The government has been urged to act now to help thousands of people imprisoned in unsuitable homes. A letter has been devlivered to 10 Downing Street by disabled campaigners, including Labour MP Anne Begg and Baroness Howarth (President of John Grooms Housing Association), calling for action. Concludes that one in five physically disabled people said it was difficult to move around or get in and out of their homes - Source; Disability Now, News; page 8

The governments planning bill is failing disabled people and will leave them excluded from education, employment and leisure activities. The DRC, Habinteg and RADAR want the bill amended to include laws to ensure that developers submit an access statement with their planning application(s). Otherwise, thay say, some developers will disregard it, as has been the case with Part M - Source; Disability Now, News; page 6

The Minister for Disabled People has told Disability Now DN that measures in the governments draft Disability Bill would deliver a "massive improvement" to disabled peoples rights. The draft bill was broadly welcomed by disability organisations. Bert Massie , Chairman of  the Disability Rights Commission (DRC), said a duty on public sector organisations to promote disability equality would have "seismic implications" - Source; Disability Now, News; page 5

The Department of Health (DH) has issued a new report entitled Independence Matters: an overview of the performance of social care services for physically and sensory disabled people. The report uses evidence from both inspections and the annual delivery and improvement statements completed by councils - Source; NRAC Bulletin; by email

The Department for Transport (DfT) has stated that the Blue Badge Scheme does not apply to off-street car parks and enforcement of accessible parking bays is therefore a matter for the individual owner or operator concerned - Source; NRAC Bulletin; by email

The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) are to stage a conference entitled Are you Open 4 All? Welcoming disabled customers and implementing the new law at Centre Point London on 19 February 2004.The conference is aimed at senior managers in the retail and/or leisure sectors. For further information contact the DRC Helpline, tel 0845 7622 633, textphone 08457 622 644, fax 08457 778 778, email conference@drc-gb.org - Source; NRAC Bulletin; by email