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Sylw!The Bulletin of Wales Council for the Blind.
No. 30 - April 2006.Submit an article...You may have something you wish to publicise or know of something which may be of interest to our readers. If you do, please use our submission form at http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/sylw/sylw_submissions.htm . WCB Services.Wales Council for the Blind offers Awareness Training and Transcription Services. If you or your organisation are in need of these services please contact us on 029 20 473 954 or email nicola@wcb-ccd.org.uk or richard@wcb-ccd.org.uk respectively.. Contents.1) WCB update.New Benefits and Entitlements Booklet for Carmarthenshire.Wales Council for the Blind and Carmarthenshire Social Services Department have produced the second edition of 'Benefits and entitlements in Carmarthenshire for people with a sensory impairment'. It explains twenty-six sources of benefits or entitlements along with eligibility criteria and ways of applying. Contact Emma Non John at WCB for more information on 029 20 473 954 or email emma@wcb-ccd.org.uk . 2) Consultations and lobbying.Direct Payments.It is proposed by WAG that from November the categories of people eligible for Direct Payments be extended to include all those aged 18-64 who receive Community Care Services. In other words it is not limited to those with a disability. Some Community Care services were formally excluded, the most important being residential care. If you would like to make your views known on this latest proposed extension, contact Jenny McKinlay, Older People and Long Term Care Policy Directorate 2, WAG, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email jenny.mckinlay@wales.gsi.gov.uk . Housing related assistive technology.Is poorly designed equipment making daily living more difficult for you or a relative with sight loss? You are not alone. Thomas Pocklington Trust commissioned a short study to review how the design and use of equipment can assist daily living of people with sight loss. Bringing together users, designers, manufacturers and researchers the study looked at what is currently available, what users would really like and a “gap” analysis, followed by workshops with manufacturers and users to discuss the results and identify future potential developments such as universal controls on domestic appliances. Some projects at the research stage have the potential to simplify many of the current difficulties faced by people with sight loss and include infra red bathroom controls, window and curtain motors, keyless door locks and others. If you’d like to find out more you can download a copy of Research Findings number 4 from www.pocklington-trust.org.uk . Feedback on the study/other ideas would be welcomed. Digital Radio and Wireless for the Blind.If you use a radio supplied by Wireless for the Blind then Terry Ottewell, WCB's representative on the Wireless for the Blind board, would like your help. He is seeking the help of wireless for the blind users to gather some information about the problem areas in Wales where digital reception is poor or non-existant. Once he knows where the blind spots are he can present a case to effect a solution. If you can help, please contact Terry on 01874 610040. 3) Reports and publications.User-friendly websites for all.'PAS 78 Guide to good practice in commissioning accessible websites' is aimed at all organisations and is intended for use by those responsible for commissioning or maintaining public-facing websites and web-based services. It is available, priced £30, from the British Standards Institute via orders@bsi-global.com National Trust Access Guide 2006.The National Trust Access Guide for 2006 is now available, giving details of facilities for visitors with disabilities at its properties throughout the Wales, England and Northern Ireland. It can be ordered by ringing the Membership Department on 0870 458 4000 or by emailing enquiries@thenationaltrust.org.uk , and is also available in large print or on tape. It can also be downloaded from the website, www.thenationaltrust.co.uk . Take the 'Visits and Holidays' option from the home page, then 'days out and vists' and 'information for visitors'. The NT operates an 'Admit One' scheme, where the necessary companion of a disabled person is admitted free of charge. This should be arranged in advance by ringing the Access for All Office on 01793 817634. Soundaround Audio Magazine.Soundaround is an audio magazine for visually impaired people, available on cassette, and now through a charity website. It includes specially recorded interviews and features on travel, gardening, cookery and technology, as well as a regular soap. You can listen on-line at www.soundaround.org . To order the cassette version, contact Soundaround by phone on 0800 917 6008, or by emailing nigel@soundaround.org . Tapes are free, but annual donations of £10 are suggested. Rare Eye Conditions Directory.Contact a Family, the charity that provides information and support to all families with disabled children, has produced a directory of eye conditions, in association with Specs, the umbrella organisation for eye condition support groups. The Rare Eye Conditions Directory covers both very rare and more common conditions, and each entry is written or checked by a recognised expert in the field. As well as providing medical information, it contains details of support groups and benefits which may be available. It is hoped that the directory will prove invaluable to ophthalmology professionals and patients alike. It costs £15, and can be ordered by ringing 020 7608 8700, or by visiting the on-line shop on the website at www.cafamily.org.uk . 4) Events.Sight Village.QAC Sight Village showcases all the major suppliers of technology and services for people with visual impairment. 18th-20th July inclusive. http://www.qacsightvillage.org.uk 5) Technology.WCB trials DAISY format documents.WCB's Communications Officer will be exploring the production of DAISY format documents using the EasePublisher software. The purchase of the software was made possible through a one-off grant from W.A.G. aimed at upgrading I.T. and communications in the WCB office. The DAISY format allows for the synchronisation of different media into a single distributable package. For example, audio can be synchronised with the on-screen text making documents more accessible to people with print disabilities. WCB would be keen to hear from members who use the DAISY format. For more information contact Richard Bowers at WCB on 029 20 473 954 or email richard@wcb-ccd.org.uk 6) Opportunities.Vacancies at MEWN Cymru.Minority Ethnic Women's Network (MEWN) Cymru has 3 vacancies: Female Development Worker and 2 Engagement Officers. Closing date for applications is Thursday 27th April 2006. Visit http://www.mewn-cymru.org.uk or write to Administrator, MEWN Cymru, Coal Exchange, Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff CF10 5EB. 7) Other resources.Older Persons Welfare Benefits Project.Riverside Advice and The Pension Partnership seek to promote the take-up of welfare benefits, in particular Pension Credit amongst older people and, more specifically, black and ethnic minority communities. Call Riverside Advice on 029 2019 0307. Independent Living Catalogue 2006.SW Retail's Independent Living Catalogue for 2006 is now available. It features a range of products for visually impaired people, including tactile markers, kitchen tools, magnifiers, games and glare management products. The catalogue can be obtained by ringing 01226 762513 or emailing sales@swretail.fsnet.co.uk . You can also buy on-line from the website at www.swretail.co.uk . Creative Travel - Group Holidays for the Visually Impaired.Creative Travel specialise in running holidays within the UK for groups of visually impaired people (rather than individuals). Four of the hotels that they use are run by Action for Blind People, others have been selected for their suitability for the visually impaired. All holidays are escorted by couriers who have been trained in VI awareness, and include collection from your area by executive coach, tours each day and evening entertainment. If any organisation is interested in arranging such a holiday for their members, contact Creative Travel at Kingston House, Couchs Mill, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NH, telephone 01503 220422 or email enquiries@creative-travel.co.uk . Holiday Care - Travel Information for Disabled People.Holiday Care is a national charity, supported by the UK's national tourist boards, the travel industry, and various voluntary sector organisations. Its mission is to enable disabled and older people to lead independent lives by enhancing their ability to travel. It provides information on transport, accommodation, visitor attractions, activity holidays and respite care, both in the UK and overseas. They do not organise or provide funding for holidays, although they can provide information on organisation which do this. They have an information helpline, 0845 1249991 and website, www.holidaycare.org . The email address for queries is info@holidaycare.org . SpaceKraft Sensory Products.SpaceKraft was primarily established to develop and manufacture a full range of sensory products that provide genuine solutions for carers and teachers confronting the challenges which face special needs people. Products range from tactile toys to the equipment necessary to provide a sensory theme studio for a school. For further information, and free catalogues, visit the website www.spacekraft.co.uk , email enquiries@spacekraft.co.uk , or telephone 01274 581007. Consumer Direct - Government Funded Advice Service.Consumer Direct is a government-funded telephone and on-line advisory service for consumers in the UK. It provides a wealth of information including advice on goods and services, advice on consumer issues such as unsafe and defective products, details of your rights (for example with regard to doorstep selling) and help in making a complaint. The telephone help-line is 08454 04 05 06 and is available from 08.00-18.30 Monday to Friday and 09.00-13.00 on Saturday. The website (in Welsh and English) is at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk . Eyes and Vision Specialist Library.The Eyes and Vision Specialist Library ( www.library.nhs.uk/eyes ) is an on-line library, which aims to find, organise and facilitate access to the best available evidence on eye health in order to support and inform clinical care in the NHS. The library is based at the Moorfields Eye Hospital. Whilst it is primarily intended for health care professionals, it may also be of use to patients and users of health services. Extended Hours for Disability Helpline.Contact a Family, a charity which provides help and support to families with disabled children, is extending its helpline opening hours. The helpline, 0808 808 3555, is now open every Monday evening from 5.30pm - 7.30pm as well as the usual 10am-4pm, Monday-Friday. The intention is to make the service more accessible to working parents. If you are looking for information on your child's condition; want to know where your local parent support group is; if you're not sure what benefits or tax credits to claim; or just want someone to talk to, now you can ring the helpline in the evening. The helpline also has access to interpreters in over 100 languages via Language Line. Community Legal Service Telephone Advice Line.The Community Legal Service, in partnership with Ammanford & District Citizen's Advice Bureaux, have funded an advice line to provide a free and confidential service to clients living in Wales with debt, employment, benefit and housing problems. The number is 0845 345 4 345, it is open 5 days per week from 9am to 5pm, and calls are charged at local rate. Another organisation based in England provides advice on education, and can be accessed on the same number. 8) Miscellaneous.Capital rules to change from April 2006.More people will qualify for income related benefits from April 2006. For Income Support, Job-Seekers Allowance and Incapacity Benefit the upper capital limit will increase to £16,000 from £8,000. This will bring them in line with Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. The lower capital limit will increase to £6,000 from £3,000. Tariff income of £1 for every £250 of capital between £6,000 and £16,000 will continue to apply (£500 for HB/CTB customers aged over 60). For permanent residents of care homes and children the capital rules remain the same. Pounds for Parents Campaign.Families of disabled children may not be getting all the benefits they are entitled to because of unwieldy forms and a benefits system that is difficult to understand. To address this, disability charity Contact a Family is launching a three-year campaign, Pounds for Parents, to help parents to claim what is theirs. Contact a Family can be reached on 0808 808 3555 or at www.cafamily.org.uk . Payroll Giving.The Inland Revenue are running a campaign to promote greater take up of payroll giving - which is a tax efficient way for individuals to donate regularly to a charity of their choice. Some of our voluntary organisation members may be interested in this and further information is available on either of the following web sites. www.revenueshare.org.uk and www.hmrc.gov.uk/payrollgiving The Cardiff Dual Sensory Loss Project.Early identification of deafblind people makes it easier to support their independent living and offer appropriate services, but the nature of their condition makes such identification difficult. Cardiff County Council is funding a project to identify and raise awareness of deafblind people in Cardiff, and RNIB is implementing it. The project provides specialised one to one support tailored to the individual needs of deafblind people. If you know someone who may have dual sensory impairment, please contact the Deafblind Project Development Worker, Leon Lloyd, who will send a questionnaire. Contact details are: Telephone 029 2052 1855; fax 029 2052 9634; email leon.lloyd@rnib.org.uk or write to Leon Lloyd at Heol Don Resource Centre, Heol Don, Cardiff, CF14 2XG. Action for Blind People Holidays.A new brochure for holidays at the Cliffden Hotel in Teighnmouth, South Devon, is now available. This includes the hotel tariff, plus details of special offers and theme weeks during 2006. The hotel is run by Action for Blind People, and is aimed at meeting the needs of visually impaired guests and their friends and families. The hotel can be contacted by phone (01626 770052), fax (01626 770594) or email cliffden_hotel@afbp.org . The brochure is available in audio cassette, braille, on disk, or via the website www.afbp.org . Century Hotel.The Century Hotel is a specialist hotel for visually impaired and disabled people, situated on Blackpool Promenade. They offer a range of special breaks throughout the year, including an Easter Spectacular, 'Come to the cabaret', 'Summer Nights', and 'Turkey and Tinsel'. For further information, contact the hotel on 01253 354598, visit the website www.centuryhotel.co.uk , or send an email to info@centuryhotel.co.uk . 9) Reminders.Database updating.Please help us to keep our contact details up-to-date. Contact deb@wcb-ccd.org.uk or telephone 029 20 473 954 to make any changes to the information we hold about your organisation on our database.
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