Newsletter - December 2009 - Issue 14
Welcome to Disability Backup's Newsletter; please scroll down to see all the notices.
In this issue:
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities 3rd December 2009
* Haringey Disability First Consortium Launch
* Office for Disability Issues Annual Event - Street Scene and Mobility Team update
- Feedback from meetings
- Hackney Museum needs YOU!
- Hackney Homes Disability Forum
- Join us on Facebook
1. International Day of Persons with Disabilities Events
This year Disability Backup is getting involved with a few different events happening on 3rd December. Please take a look and choose something you would like to go to.
-
What? Haringey Disability First Consortium
Haringey are launching their disability forum and would like representatives from Disability Backup to attend.
Come along and celebrate the launch of this Forum and share some of your knowledge with this new group.
Would you be interested in giving a brief (under 5 minutes) talk to this group about Disability Backup and what we have learnt in our first year?
When? 3rd December 11am-3pm
Where? Bernie Grants Art Centre, Town Hall Approach Rd, London, N15 4RX
Buses
149, 259, 243, 476, 230, 123, 41, 341
Trains
Seven Sisters, Tottenham Hale.
Contact Catherine to confirm attendance and for any transport needs.
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What? The Office for Disability Issues (ODI) would like to invite you to
their Annual Event.
The event will offer an opportunity for disabled people, their organisations and public sector workers, to hear about the Government's work to make equality a reality for disabled people.
The event will feature several speakers including
Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People, Tessa Jowell, Minister for the Olympics and Tim Cooper, the new Director of ODI.
When? 3rd December 10am
Where? London Emirates Stadium, 75 Drayton Park, N7 7AJ
PLACES ARE LIMITED- TO BOOK A PLACE PLEASE CALL 020 8481 3337
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Hackney Ark, Hackney's integrated Child Development and Disability
Service
are holding their official launch event for parents/carers and
their disabled children on December 3rd.
Places are limited - contact the Ark on 020 7014 7000 for more information.
Hackney Museum
In July/August 2010, Hackney Museum will have an exhibit to look at 3 of our senses, touch, sight and hearing.
Disability Backup members are working with the museum to make this exhibit.
We need you
Volunteers
Do you have a sensory impairment?
Could you spare some time to work directly with Hackney Museum to help them set up this exhibit?
We are looking for people with a sensory impairment who can guide museum staff by testing exhibit designs and ideas.
Contact Catherine by email, post or phone.
Case Studies
We need Forum Members to give us some case studies and examples how we all perceive things differently.
Please complete this form (click here for Word format or click here for PDF) or call Catherine to give your case study.
All of the case studies will be used in the exhibit at the Museum.
Are you a Hackney Council resident?
Hackney Homes would like to set up a Disability Forum so that they can provide the best possible service to residents who need more specific support.
If you would like to get involved in the Disability Forum call Mariarosa Frasca on 020 8356 6133 or email mariarosa.frasca@hackneyhomes.org.uk
Access News
Disability Backup received some good news this month.
We met with Inga Hutton from the Streetscene section, She is the Streetscene Strategy Manager.
Streetscene are the department, amongst many other things, who design and implement schemes on streets, for example the Ridley Road Market Improvement scheme and Church Street improvements.
Streetscene have not specifically consulted with disabled people about these developments but are committed to working with Disability Backup when any new scheme is being designed.
If you have a comment, question or problem with any developments to do with public spaces, contact Catherine and she can pass these directly on to her colleagues in Streetscene.
We look forward to working closely with this team and Inga will attend a future Forum Meeting to discuss more.
Mobility Team
Due to the high number of complaints we have received about the Mobility Team, Disability Backup has written a letter to the Council stating our concerns. We will keep you informed of these developments.
Feedback from previous meetings
Forum Meeting: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) talked about Disability Hate Crime and the importance of reporting crimes. More information in the next newsletter.
Please complete the crime questionnaire (click for Word format or click for PDF) to give the CPS a better idea of disabled people's views on Crime in Hackney.
Focus Groups:
Hackney Museum - 8 Forum Members met with Hackney Museum to discuss the development of the Sensory Exhibit. The group will meet again in the New Year, but we are recruiting some volunteers to work hands on with the museum staff.
Service First Centre - This group will meet on Tuesday 24th November to discuss the progress of this new building. More info in the next letter.
Hot off the press!
Hackney have announced they are proposing to Implement a disabled bay in front of the museum as well as a loading bay.
There are plans to implement 6 disabled bays along Hillman Street and additional disabled bays at the side of the Hackney Empire.
The lining works for the changes in Zone Dc will be commencing next week and should take approximately 3 weeks to complete weather permitting.
Disability Backup joins Facebook!
For those who use the internet, you can join us on Facebook!
Our page has dates and information about next meetings.
Find us on www.facebook.com and search for Disability Backup Group.
Hackney LINk
Next steering group is on: 14th December 6-8pm
At LINk's office, 1-9 Sidworth Street, Hackney E8 3SD
This meeting will be spent mainly prioritising the issues that the LINk will take forward, more information on this next month.
Comedy Night
Abnormally Funny People is a group of gifted stand-up comedians strutting their funny stuff. All but one of them is disabled. They are all very, very, very funny people.
When? December 11th 2009, January 8th 2010 8pm
Where? Soho Theatre, 21 Dene Street, London, W1D 3NE
BSL or palantypist supported.
www.sohotheatre.com
Tel: 020 7478 0100
Merry Christmas!
This will be the last newsletter for 2009. The next will be early January 2010.
I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and see you in the New Year!
Catherine
Polite reminder for Professionals: Please note that the Forum Meetings and Focus groups are for disabled people to air their views. Those representing organisations are asked not to attend the Forum unless disabled themselves or having been invited first. Please contact Catherine to give your views on any topic raised.
All outcomes of the Forums will be made available on the website and newsletter! Many thanks!
Contact us
Disability Backup
Hackney Family Backup
The Print House
18 Ashwin Street
London
E8 3DL
Phone: 020 7275 0088
Fax: 020 7241 0088
Text: 07593 508 288
Text Phone: 18001 020 7275 0088
Email: catherine@hfbu.org.uk
Registered Charity No: 1017015 - Company Registration No: 2422896