Sylw!

The Bulletin of Wales Council for the Blind

No. 6 - March 2004 - Happy St. David's Day!

If links or contacts are not available in the items below, please contact WCB on (UK) 029 20 473 954.

Removal/subscription instructions are given at the foot of this page.

This bulletin is produced without any direct funding. You can help us by making a donation. Go to http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Donations/donations.htm to find out how or go straight to to make a payment.

WCB update
Consultations and lobbying
Reports and publications
Events
Other resources
Miscellaneous
Reminders

1) WCB update

WCB National Conference 2004 - "Towards a Strategy for Health and Social Services for Visually Impaired People" - March 17th.

Make sure you place your bookings for this free event via conference@wcb-ccd.org.uk or telephone WCB on 029 20 473 954.

This is to take place on March 17th, 2004 at the Village Hotel, Cardiff. Bookings are still being accepted until March 3rd. The conference is targeted at professionals and volunteers working in the fields of Health and Social Services with a special interest in visual impairment.

Web page: http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Events/national_conference_2004.htm

Wales Disability Reference Group - Administrator sought.

For more information about this post go to http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Political/wdrg_post.htm

For an application pack (available in a range of formats on request) please contact Jim Crowe, Director, SCOVO, 5 Dock Chambers, Bute Street, Cardiff CF10 9AB. Tel: 029 20 492 443. Email: cardiff2@scovo.demon.co.uk . Closing date for applications: 24th March 2004. Interview date: 31st March.

Next StrIG Meeting

The February meeting of the Sports Strategy Implementation Group was unavoidably postponed. New date to be announced. Contact nicky@wcb-ccd.org.uk or phone him on 029 20 473 954.

Voluntary Sector Partnership Council

Next meeting is scheduled for May 6th on Culture, Language and Sport. Read more at http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Political/vspc_meetings.htm

Accessible Venues for VSPC?

The Wales Disability Reference Group has had some concerns about the Assembly's choice of venues for some meetings so in the December meeting we asked for this to be included as an agenda item for the Voluntary Sector Partnership Council. Edwina Hart, Minister for Social Justice, welcomed this and a paper was prepared by the Group, proposing a Working Party to agree a policy on accessible venues for the Assembly. This will be discussed at the meeting of the V.S.P.C. on February 26th. If the proposal is adopted, it will hopefully help the Assembly to achieve its aim of inclusiveness in the matter of public and business meetings.

Benchmarking

All local authorities will be completing questionnaires on performance data by February 27th for analysis. This will aid the production of Good Practice Guides for v.i. services in Social Services in Wales. Work by a working group on the Guides will start on March 22nd.

2) Consultations and lobbying

Health and Wellbeing Strategies

The draft strategies are now in preparation by all local authorities and local health boards and voluntary sector together. They are based on the needs assessments completed last autumn. Everyone with an interest in visual impairment should try to see a copy of their local document to check whether the needs of visually impaired people have been taken into account. As these are drafts, there is still time to make representation about your local strategy. If you represent visually impaired people in your area or if you are visually impaired yourself, contact your local County Voluntary Council for information.

3) Reports and publications

Service Users' Experience

WCB's new report can be read at http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Consultations/hsc_survey.htm

Draft Disability Discrimination Bill

This has been published. Read about it at http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Welfare_Rights/dda_update.htm

Wise

WCB holds Braille and audio tape copies of Canllaw Online's "Wise" - a guide for young people. Contact Richard Bowers on 029 20 473 954 for a copy.

Walking and Cycling Strategy

This is available on audio tape from the Welsh Assembly Government or from Richard Bowers at WCB (o20 20 473 954).

4) Events

5) Other resources

Launch of Disability Helpline

A Physical Disability and Sensory Impairment Information Helpline is available between 10am - 4pm, Monday to Wednesday. It provides information health, social care, education, housing, equipment, leisure, employment and benefits. Phone: 01492 564 852. Minicom: 01492 535 435.

Revealweb makes finding books easier

Revealweb is a comprehensive database of alternative format books and information held by around 100 organisations across the UK. http://www.revealweb.org.uk

Audio Description now on Freeview

Nebula Electronics and Netgem have manufactured a PC Card and a set-top box respectively to receive audio described broadcasts. Nebula: 01689 885 009. Netgem: 0800 015 30 92.

6) Miscellaneous

Assembly New Building

The Assembly seems now committed to a chamber with a tiered floor. This is against the advice of Disability Wales who were advisers on this project from the beginning but have now resigned. Their view is that a chamber that is not fully accessible sends out the wrong signals and so they feel that they cannot continue to be involved. As co-members of the Wales Disability Reference Group, WCB agrees that the decision to go ahead with a tiered chamber is not supportable. Although the building is admirable in its attempts to be accessible in other ways, we are unhappy that it may make it difficult for some disabled people to participate with dignity at this highest level.

7) Reminders

Rehabilitation Officers' Support Group - West Wales

More information at http://www.rehabwales.org.uk/events.html#1

Rehabilitation Officers' Seminar

Presenter: Susan Scott (Sense Cymru). Topic: Deafblindness. More information at http://www.rehabwales.org.uk/events.html#2

Representing WCB

WCB is looking for someone to represent them on Wales Council for the Deaf. There are two meetings per year and someone with experience of voluntary committees and an understanding of hearing impairment would be able to contribute on our behalf.

We are also looking for someone to represent WCB on the British Wireless Fund for the Blind. There is one meeting a year in London, expenses paid. The next meeting is this month. Papers are provided in the preferred format.

Contact WCB on 029 20 473 954 or email vanessa@wcb-ccd.org.uk

Direct Payments Scheme

Changes are proposed for the scheme and comments are being requested on the drafts. Read more at http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Welfare_Rights/direct_payments_consultation.htm

Right to Read campaign

The Right to Read campaign has been successful in getting an Early Day Motion tabled at Westminster. David Mann, campaign officer, is asking for letters to be written to MPs asking them to sign this Motion. Read more at: http://www.lookloud.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/publicwebsite/public_r2rhome.hcsp or telephone David Mann on 028 9032 9373.

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Wales Council for the Blind,
3rd Floor, Shand House,
20, Newport Road,
Cardiff CF24 0DB,
Wales UK.

Tel: 029 20 473 954
Fax: 029 20 470 777

Email: staff@wcb-ccd.org.uk
Website: www.wcb-ccd.org.uk

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