Welcome to the Inclusion disability news round up…..don’t forget to keep coming back for regular posts. We will also be re-vamping the general look and feel of the site soon so make sure you pop back to see the new changes (including Twitter and a hopefully more usable interface and feel to the site).

General News:

Planned restructuring at EHRC

Further changes might be afoot at the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as its Chair Trevor Phillips is allegedly looking to carry out some internal restructuring. He apparently plans to appoint a senior figure to lead each area of the EHRC’s activities, with the possibility of each one being headed up by a board- level Commissioner. This would have a substantial impact on Mr Phillips’s level of control, as each Commissioner would become the national voice on their particular issue. It is thought that the current Board of Commissioners will be overturned, and existing Commissioners will have to reapply for their jobs.

These plans are thought to be in response to criticism that the EHRC should not have merged the different strands of equality to the extent that it has. Harriet Harman, the Equalities Minister, acknowledges that the EHRC probably made some mistakes in this area: ‘We put it all into a melting pot, when in fact it needs to be distinct strands. I thought the model was not one that was likely to succeed, and it hasn’t.’

The Times Online website discusses this matter in more depth www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6790688.ece

Research into design of spaces for visually impaired people

CABE Space and the Helen Hamlyn Centre have embarked on a joint venture to explore new ways of designing public spaces, so they are more navigable for visually impaired people. Ross Atkin, an industrial design graduate from the Royal College of Art, is being sponsored by CABE Space for the Sight Line project. He will investigate potential product design solutions that aim to make wayfinding and use of space more intuitive. This will include looking into alternatives to blister paving, which many people find difficult or uncomfortable to travel over.

Sarah Gaventa, Director of CABE Space, says: ‘Eighty per cent of those designing our street are not designers – they’re from the Institute of Highways and Transportation. We need to raise the debate and try to make better use of good design brains.’

Further details can be found on the Landscape Design Trust website www.landscape.co.uk/news/705

Action for Access website

Leonard Cheshire Disability has launched a website called ‘Action for Access’, which offers users the opportunity to survey their local community in terms of accessibility. It invites everyone to find out more about the campaign, whether they are a disabled person, a service provider, an elected representative, or simply an interested individual.

Participants can download an access survey form from the website, and then rate local businesses – such as shops, pubs, sports venues, banks and restaurants – on aspects such as Blue Badge parking, step-free access, WC provision, signage and information provision. These details can then be uploaded to the website for others to see.

Visit the Action for Access website to view the surveys that have already been carried out www.actionforaccess.org

Travel Support Card for people with hidden disabilities

Transport for London (TfL) is trialling a new Travel Support Card that can be used by people with ‘hidden disabilities’ – such as autism, learning disabilities and hearing impairments – to ask for extra support when it is needed. By showing the card, passengers alert public transport staff to the fact that they would like some support or advice. It is designed to give people more confidence in asking for help, especially those who may find it more difficult to communicate.

Chris Upfold, London Underground’s Accessibility and Inclusion Manager, said: ‘This new card is designed to make life easier for people who may need extra help. For instance if a journey is disrupted for any reason, the customer can use their card to indicate to staff that they would like extra assistance or support. The card will show staff how best to help that individual customer by, for example, taking the customer to the right platform, or taking extra time to explain alternative routes.’

TfL is calling for passengers with hidden disabilities to help them trial the card. Potential volunteers should contact Kathryn Lyon at TfL on 020 7027 8340.

Visit the TfL website for further details www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/12393.aspx

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 support and advice around any DDA or Occupational Therapy issues.