Inclusion North Bulletin

Issue Number 12 23rd February 2012

In this bulletin you will hear about what is happening across the country. First here is a reminder about some of the ways you can use your support from Inclusion North Support for members Members Vouchers - Is there a problem in your area we could help you solve?
As a member of Inclusion North your area gets free access to our training. You also get vouchers to use for extra training or support your area might need. Each area can ask Inclusion North to help with a piece of work or project. Some of the things our member areas have said we have helped them with are: Transport Making Changes Locally and involving people Involving People in big decisions or checking how things are working One member area said: You always follow up on the things you saying you are going to do Get in touch if there is something you want help with we can work out a plan together with you or your Partnership Board.

Do you need help or support with any of these things?

Understanding the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Sessions to help family members and carers understand the Mental Capacity Act and what it means for them. There are only a few sessions left so you need to tell us if you want one.

Being Part of all the Big Changes are you involved? Inclusion North has made easy to understand information on the big changes happening around us. We can send you that information as a pack for you to use or we can come and work with you on how your group are getting involved in the new ways of working.

Making the most out of Meetings A training session for Self Advocates who are interested in getting involved in meetings. Get in touch soon to book your session as there are only a few training sessions left.

More than words local session A training session about good communication for people who need a lot of support. To find out more about any of these pieces of work please get in touch.

The Lives Opportunities Survey

The Life Opportunities Survey is a big survey that started in June 2009. The Office for Disability Issues asked for the survey to be done. It will go on for several years to see how things change over time. The survey tells us a lot about the lives of disabled people and what needs to be done so that disabled people get full equality. The Office for Disability Issues talked to a lot of people about many issues including: Work Education Social Participation Transport Use of public services

You can find an easy read version of the findings from the survey from 2009 2011 at: http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/los/los_easy_read.pdf You can find out more details about the Life Opportunities Survey by clicking on the link below: http://odi.dwp.gov.uk/disability-statistics-and-research/lifeopportunities-survey.php The survey could help people think about and get information to help with the local Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and Big Plans.

Skills for Care Carers Week 2012 Survey

Skills for Care are carrying on supporting Carers Week which takes place from 18 - 24 June 2012. This year's theme is 'In Sickness and in Health'. In partnership with Carers UK, they are asking unpaid carers for their experiences and opinions to help shape the work of Carers Week 2012. This survey is open to every carer in the UK, so please tell other carers about it, and help to ensure that carers voices are heard loud and clear. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/carersweek2012

Perspectives on ageing with a learning disability

This paper explores what people with learning disabilities and their families have to say about getting older, their experiences and feelings, and what is most important to them in later life.

Cally Ward talked to people with learning disabilities, family members and workers to help her write the paper.

For more details click on the link below: http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/ageing-and-learning-disabilitysummary.pdf

The Olympics and the Legacy for People with Disabilities How could you get involved?
The Olympics and Paralympics games are coming to London this summer. These are 2 of the biggest sporting events in the world. Disabled people have a very important part to play in these games. The government have the chance to do something important for people with disabilities in this country. As a result they have set out to work on the following 3 big targets: Change the way people think and act towards disabled people Support the chances disabled people have to take part in sport and exercise Support local areas to make sure disabled people can take part in the places where they live You can find an easy read version of the plans by clicking on the link below: http://odi.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wor/leg/legacy-easy-read.pdf In Newcastle these are some of the things they are thinking about to be part to the legacy: An Olympic themed promotion of Project Choice to employers Active participation in Newcastle Volunteering fair Volunteering to help out with anything Olympic related Promoting websites that tell disabled people about activities and facilities Disabled go- a push on where could disabled tourists stay to help hotels and B & Bs think about how they serve disabled people If you have some ideas that to help contribute to the governments big 3 targets why not contact your local partnership board with things you can do in your area

The Big Diversion North East

The Big Diversion project is about trying to make sure that people who use mental health services and people with learning disabilities get better health support in all the different parts of the Criminal Justice System in the North East - if they are arrested, sent to a special hospital or to prison. It is a partnership between Revolving Doors Agency, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS foundation trust (NTW) and Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS foundation trust (TEWV). You can read more about the project at: http://www.revolving-doors.org.uk/partnerships-development/programmes/big-diversion-project/

The Project started in 2010 and they have done lots of work looking at good practice but now they want to know what support there is for people with learning disabilities to get involved in how services run and have their say. They have been getting in touch with advocacy or self advocacy groups in the North East but they are not sure they have found all of them.

If you or your group helps people with learning disabilities have a say about how local services run or you have done any work about making changes to how police, hospitals or prisons the project wants to hear about it. For more details contact Tina Coldham who is the Mental Health User Consultant, Trainer and Researcher on: Mobile: 07710 714748 Email: TRColdham@aol.com

Equality and Human Rights Commission Inquiry into the Harassment of Disabled People
The Equality and Human Rights commission undertook an inquiry into the Harassment of People with Disabilities. They have written a report of their findings.

You can download your copy by clicking on the link below: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/disabilityfi/ dhfi_easy_read.pdf

Mencap Death By Indifference Report

Mencap has written a report called Death by Indifference 4 years on. It says what has happened since they wrote the 1st report that was about people with learning disabilities dying in health services because they have not had good treatment. There is a long report that talks about the good and bad things to do with health services that have happened since the last report and there is an easy read summary For a copy of the report and easy read summary, click on link below:

http://www.mencap.org.uk/74deaths

If you would like any information on any of our meetings, training or sessions you can contact the office on: Tel: 0113 262 6409 Or E-mail: info@inclusionnorth.org Or you can write to us at: Inclusion North 191 Belle Vue Road Leeds LS3 1HG