Sylw!

The Bulletin of Wales Council for the Blind

No. 1 - October 2003

Welcome to the first of WCB's e-bulletins "Sylw!". We hope you will find it useful. Most of the items have weblinks to additional material because our aim is to keep the bulletin as short as possible. We welcome comments as this is all new to us.

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.

Thank you.

WCB update
Consultations
Reports and publications
Events
Other resources
AOB

1) WCB update

Wales Council for the Blind AGM

Tuesday 21st October, 2003 at Coleg Powys, Newtown. More info at http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Events/WCB_agm_2003.htm

WCB launches new rehab website

WCB's Rehabilitation Project has launched a support site for rehab workers in Wales: http://www.rehabwales.org.uk

Rehab Seminar in Wales

Supporting Service Users with Learning Difficulties and Visual Disability. 4th November, Coleg Powys, Newtown. Read more at http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/rehabwales/events.html

Changes to the VI Pathway: do they apply to Wales?

Photo-dynamic Therapy

NICE guidance sets recommendations on photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration. Read more here: http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/rehabwales/news.html

2) Consultations

Participation in Research

Are you a carer for a person who is visually impaired? If so, the University of Bangor would like to hear from you. More info at http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Consultations/carers_strategy.htm

Ministry for Environment, Planning and the Countryside.

The Agriculture and Rural affairs Ministry has now become the Ministry for Environment, Planning and the Countryside. Within that, the Environment and Planning Division are holding meetings on Equality and Diversity with the aim of achieving standards of quality and diversity within their own department. But their aim is also to encourage people from minority sections of the population to become involved on issues of interest to them as individuals. As issues come up for consultation we will publicise them to our contacts and on http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk . Read about the Voluntary Sector Partnership Council's meetings with this Minister at http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Political/MfEPC.htm .

Open 4 All Campaign

The Disability Rights Commission needs to hear about your experiences of inaccessible venues and public places. Contact Jemima Broadbridge, Press Officer, DRC 020 7211 4113. Email open4all@drc-gb.org (Related information: 'The Arts in Wales and Visual Impairment' at http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/artsconf/conf2002-survey.htm)

Diversity Database

BBC Cymru Wales has created a 'diversity database' as a source of potential contributors for their programmes. The aim is to reflect the full diversity of Welsh society by introducing a wide range of names and faces including those from disadvantaged groups. Contributors must be willing to take part in programmes to talk about their expertise, areas of interest, events or life experiences - not necessarily about issues relating to disability. Contact: Alun O. Ellis on 01248 374 974.

3) Reports and publications

Planning for Caring

Guidance published March 2003 to assist local authorities and partner organisations in Wales in proper 'people management' and efficient use of the workforce in the Social Care sector. Print and other formats are available from SSIW at the National Assembly or go to http://www.wales.gov.uk/subisocialpolicysocialservices/toc-e.htm#guid - where it is available in Acrobat .pdf format.

National Occupational Standards for Social Workers.

This provides a benchmark of best practice in social work across the UK and was produced after consultation with employers, employees and service users. Visual impairment focus groups were organised by WCB to contribute to it. It is now available at www.ccwales.org.uk . Hard copy and CDROM versions are available from the Care Council for Wales: phone Jac Williams on 029 20 780 637.

Access for Action guide

The 'Action for Access Guide' provides performing and visual arts organisations with practical information on how to make their venues, services and products more accessible. Available in updateable, loose-leaf file format as well as CDROM. £20 pounds sterling, plus p&p. Contact Bernard Martin at TEAM on 0151 709 6881.

Signposts Two - Putting Public and Patient Involvement into Practice.

This document moves beyond Signposts One in providing a guide to the NHS organisations developing public and patient involvement. This is an increasingly important priority for the NHS in Wales because of the duty placed on it by the Health and Social Care Act 2001 and by the recent Wanless Report. Read it in Acrobat format via http://www.wales.gov.uk/subihealth/toc-e.htm#Report or contact: National Assembly - David Boyland 029 20 825 537.

Services for Disabled Children

The Audit Commission has produced a report which aims to reflect the experiences of disabled children, their parents and siblings and the impace this has on their daily lives. It recommends better management of services, the mainstreaming of good practice and making the social exclusion of disabled children unacceptable. (Available on audio tape). Contact: Audit Commission 0800 50 20 30. http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk

GWLAD

If you operate in a rural area, you may be interested in this magazine produced by the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Department of the National Assembly for Wales. It contains articles and information of interest to those working in agriculture. A tape version is available on request. Phone 029 20 825 111. It's online at http://www.gwlad.wales.gov.uk/.

4) Events

Changing the Scene

Extant is launching ‘Changing the Scene’, a report on improving access to the performing arts for visually impaired performers and audiences at Terrace Café, The Royal National Theatre, South Bank, London, SE1 9PX on Wednesday 12 November from 1 pm to 4 pm. Please RSVP by 17 October 2003, to the production management team at admin@turtlekeyarts.org.uk .Tel: 020 8964 5060. See also www.extant.org.uk .

Disability Wales Conference

27th November 2003 at Celtic Manor, Gwent, Wales. Contact: info@dwac.demon.co.uk

London Transport Museum

LTM's project and exhibition, Artworks for All, includes tactile versions of original paintings and audio descriptions. More info at the website www.ltmuseum.co.uk or from the Resource Desk on 0207 379 6344 .

WCVA Training.

WCVA's Training and Events brochure for October 2003 - March 2003 is available. Visit www.wcva.org.uk/training for more information and on-line booking and payment.

5) Other resources

Disabled Student Allowance

Information on the Disabled Student Allowance (what it is; how to apply; eligibility criteria etc.) is available at http://www.dfes.gov.uk . Another useful link is http://www.skill.org.uk (Bureau for Students with Disabilities).

BBC's In Touch programme.

The message board and factsheets for this Radio 4 programme are available at www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/intouch.shtml along with the RealAudio version of the show.

Safer Recruitment.

Any voluntary organisations in Wales who need to carry out disclosure checks for volunters or paid staff can register with the new Criminal Records Unit (CRU) which is the registered umbrella body run by WCVA. Registration is free and so are disclosure checks for volunteers. The unit will be operational from 6th October 2003. For more details on how to register and use the service visit the WCVA Web site at www.wcva.org.uk

Community Network website

http://www.community-network.org is Community Networks new website. Community Networks is "the voluntary sector telephone conference call service provider and pioneer of social telephony". One of its aims is "to develop and promote innovative services using telephone discussion groups and associated ‘accessible’ technology, so that we can offer, social, educational, health or therapy benefits to those for whom communication is otherwise constrained". Related: WCB's guidelines on Telephone Conferencing at http://www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/English/Accessible_Media/telephone_conferencing.htm

Information Technology

www.inclusive.co.uk offers a touch-type programme for IT users.

6) AOB

Guide Ponies

Read more about this interesting development: http://www.guidehorse.com .

END

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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