Hi and welcome to the latest news letter from Inclusion.

You may notice quite a few differences to the site as we have given it a complete overhaul to hopefully make it easier to use. Our name, address and contact details are all new and we are also now on Twitter and Facebook so why don’t you have a look a follow us / become a fan for regular news updates….they might get updated a little more regularly than on here! We hope that you like the new site but do give us your feedback as we are always looking for ways to improve our service and site. Any suggestions for news or discussion topics will be gratefully received.

Latest News:

New older people’s housing category in 2010 Housing Design Awards

The 2010 Housing Design Awards will feature a new category to celebrate excellence in the design of housing for an ageing population. The awards are sponsored by a range of partners including Communities and Local Government, the Homes and Communities Agency, the Royal Institute of British Architects and, this year, the Department of Health.

The addition comes following the publication of the Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation (HAPPI) report published last month, which recommends that the design and build of housing for older people become an immediate national priority. The HAPPI report gathered examples from Europe, where apartment homes are a conventional part of urban culture, older people experience the benefits of greater security and less maintenance, and enjoy the conviviality of shared space. It also calls for placing homes for older people at the heart of existing places and communities.

For further information on the awards, visit the Housing Design Awards website www.hdawards.org

Authorities praise Ashford’s controversial shared surface after first year

According to official reports, the shared surface scheme in Ashford, in which signs and traffic lights were removed, has not led to any injuries. The £15.6m project, which was designed to give drivers, cyclists and pedestrians equal priority was finished in November 2008.

The scheme has attracted criticism from many groups, particularly groups representing visually impaired people. However, Ashford’s Joint Transportation Board has been told that there have been no personal injury accidents in the first year of the scheme’s operation. They also heard that vehicle speeds had been cut from 30mph to an average of 21.5mph since the scheme was introduced.
Judith Armitt of Ashford’s Future, a partnership of local councils, government agencies and others from the public and private sector, said it had exceeded all expectations. She added: ‘It has made our town centre attractive and accessible, it’s playing a vital role in unlocking the development potential of Ashford and above all it has improved road safety.’

Urban designer Ben Hamilton-Baillie, who was involved in the scheme, said other British towns and cities were now looking to introduce some form of shared space.

For the full story, visit the BBC News website http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/8427752.stm

NADS launches access audit programme with NRAC

The National Association for Disabled Supporters (NADS) is launching a new access audit programme for football clubs, which will be undertaken by a National Register of Access Consultants (NRAC)-registered consultant, following discussions with the football authorities.

The service, which is for clubs and sports stadia, will include an independent three- day audit, including a match day audit, disability awareness and DDA training and ongoing access advice and support.

For further information visit the NADS website www.nads.org.uk

Channel 4 to broadcast 2012 Paralympics

Channel 4 has secured the rights to broadcast the 2012 Paralympic Games, providing a winning bid over the BBC. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) said that Channel 4 was awarded the rights following a ‘highly competitive’ tender process, ending speculation that the Games could have been broadcast on pay-per-view, subscription television.
Channel 4 has said it will broadcast over 150 hours of television coverage, and will run its biggest ever marketing campaign to promote the Games. The deal also includes two peak time ten-part documentaries in 2011 and 2012, and coverage of the Paralympic torch relay.

Kevin Lygo, Channel 4’s Director of Television and Content, said: ‘We are genuinely thrilled to be given this opportunity to work with LOCOG to bring Paralympic sport into full public focus before, during and beyond the 2012 Games and to deliver a lasting legacy, including altering public attitudes to disability and disability sport.’

For the full story, visit the Disability Now website www.disabilitynow.org.uk/latest-news2/channel-4-to-broadcast-2012-paralympics

New series addresses access to fashion

A three-part special of Gok Wan’s television show, How to Look Good Naked airs on Channel 4 this month, which will exclusively feature disabled women. The series, which offers makeovers to women who lack confidence in their bodies, hopes to address an absence of inclusiveness within the fashion industry. Three disabled women feature in the new series, which hopes to highlight, among other things, the inadequacy of many shops’ changing provision, and which will feature a tactile book of style options.

The series airs from 19 January.

For the full story, visit the Times online website http://tinyurl.com/how-to-look-good

Equality Bill Codes of Practice consultation

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has released draft Codes of Practice for the Equality Bill for consultation. The purpose of the Codes of Practice is to explain the new statutory provisions in order to ensure that the law is applied consistently by lower courts and tribunals. This will also help make the law accessible to a wider audience, such as those who have obligations and those who have rights (or their representatives).

This public consultation is not only a statutory requirement but it is also an essential part of the drafting process of the Codes. However, as the Bill is still progressing through parliament these draft codes are incomplete in places and will be subject to revisions as the Bill itself is amended, and in response to the results from the public consultation.

There are three separate draft guides for consultation:

1. Employment
2. Equal Pay
3. Services, public functions and associations

To view the draft Codes of Practice and respond to the consultation, visit the EHRC website

http://tinyurl.com/codes-of-practice

Inclusion are based around London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex and cover the whole of the south of the UK. We also cover up to the midlands and over towards the south west of the country – please contact us for further details or for free professional support and advice around any DDA or Occupational Therapy issues.