sdef.org.uk ISSUE 42 | SUMMER 2015

OPEN DOOR DISABILITY NEWS AND VIEWS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE ACROSS SCOTLAND

Access Panel Network Scotland Special Welcome to the latest issue of open Door, Scottish Disability Equality Forum's (SDEF) quarterly newsletter. This newsletter brings you the latest news and information from SDEF, Access Panels and Disability Groups and Organisations across Scotland.

Access Panel Access Panel The History of Award Ceremony Network News Access Panels

INFORM POLICY ACCESS PANELS ENGAGE SUPPORT JOINT

WORK

Your Disability, Your Voice, Your Scotland SDEF is a member led organisation so we want to hear from you, our valued members!

Get in touch with us with your disability news by email at info@sdef.org.uk or by calling on 01259 272064.

Contents Page No.

2

3

4-5

6

7

8

9

10

11-18

19

20-30

31

32-33

34

35

PAGE 2

Contents

Convenor's Welcome

Inform

Staff Team

What We Do

Access Panel contribution to SDEF Business

About Access Panels

6 Ways to get involved

The History of Access Panels

Access Panel Award Ceremony

Access Panel Network

Map of Access Panels

Access Panel updates

Engage

Bills Blog

Support

Access Panel Conference 2015

Joint Work

Euan's Guide Challenge

Have Your Say on Disability

ISSUE 42 | SUMMER 2015

Convenor's Welcome Welcome to our Access Panel Network Scotland special edition of open Door

2015 has been a busy year so far for Scottish Disability Equality Forum (SDEF), with all our great work with Transport Scotland, Police Scotland and Health Facilities Scotland events all over Scotland. All events have been very well attended and a great success for everyone involved. We are currently planning further opportunities for members to engage with us, communication on our events will be sent to all members in due course.

We are looking forward to your support at our next Annual General Meeting on 24 September 2015. This is an exciting opportunity for our members to have a say in the future of SDEF. I would like to personally encourage all members to attend and find out what SDEF have been doing and how we want to improve equality for all disabled people in Scotland.

The directors and staff are always at the end of a phone call or email to help you with any questions you may have.

I look forward to seeing you over this coming year.

Jackie Maceira Convenor

PAGE 3 sdef.org.uk

Inform Staff Team Susan Grasekamp - Chief Executive

Susan works with the team to ensure that SDEF is effective in its aims to promote equality and to reduce barriers to Independent Living. Responsible for the strategic development of the organisation, Susan continues to advance the influence and impact of SDEF and its stakeholders.

Morven Brooks - Communications Manager Morven assists in the implementation of the organisation's strategy to work towards social inclusion in Scotland through the removal of barriers and the promotion of equal access for people affected by disability. Working alongside the CEO, she is responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation from an operational perspective.

Yvonne Wemyss - National Inclusion Officer Yvonne is working on the Sustainability Project, a significant piece of work which will help grow and develop Panels through a large-scale training project, as well as working with panel members and providing practical support where it's needed.

Bill Logan - Disability Access Officer As part of the Access team Bill promotes and assists in the development of an effective Access Panel Network to improved equality, access and inclusion across Scotland. As part of a vibrant, active partnership we all benefit from others experience, the sharing of skills and information and the undoubted wealth of knowledge that exists on the panels.

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Inform Staff Team Sinead Lammie - Equality Internship Support Officer

Sinead is our Equality Internship Support Officer working in partnership with SCVO and Inclusion Scotland on the Disability Equality Internship programme. Her role is to support the host employers before and during the internship for graduates with disabilities. This includes conducting an accessibility assessment of the Intern's

proposed workplace. The programme is to leave a positive legacy of more 'disability friendly' workplaces and increased employer confidence in breaking down barriers, sometimes by using a bit of creative thinking.

Maeve Bain - Senior Administrator Maeve is responsible for the administration of our finances, keeping us right on book-keeping and payments, as well as supporting in other areas such as minute-taking and regular Board related duties. Maeve's voice will usually be the one which greets you when you call us!

Katrina Watson - Access Coordinator As Access Coordinator, Katrina provides support to our Disability Access Officer and National Inclusion Officer. She also provides support with much of the IT work on our website and publications, as well as being the main point of contact for Access Panels on funding applications and Paneltown.

Vicky Innes - SDEF Administrator Vicky is the key administrator for the Equality Unit funded side of SDEF and has been invaluable in supporting the organisation through the many changes it has encountered since her appointment. Vicky is the principle administrative support to the CEO, but also works with the full team on activities such as our Access Panel Conference and AGM and other events.

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Inform What We Do

SDEF is involved across a wide range of work, ensuring that the many voices of disabled people are heard and listened to on a local and national level. We work to bring real change to the lives of disabled people, to inspire and to motivate others to be inclusive and informed in their attitude towards disabled people, and to bring the message of equality to all. You can read more about our outcomes from our website: http://tinyurl.com/q9ramjb

Inform We keep informed

of new developments in disability news to pass on to our

members

Engagement We speak to members so that we know what the key issues are for

disabled people in Scotland

Policy We work with

our members to influence Scottish

Government decisions and policies

Support We hold events, training and give

practical guidance on disability and access

related issues

Access Panels We support access

Panels across Scotland to enable

them to reach out to their communities

Joint work We work with many

organisations on projects and

initiatives aimed at improving equality

These are just some of the many key activities in which SDEF is involved. You can find out more about what we're doing by visiting our website at www.sdef.org.uk Better still, why not become a member, it's free! That way, you will be kept informed of disability related news through our printed publication 'Open Door', e-newsletters and consultations. More importantly you can become involved in what we do, giving us your thoughts and contributions.

SDEF work to make a difference for disabled people, promoting equality and inclusion across Scotland. Get in touch with us if you would like to know more or get involved.

PAGE 6 ISSUE 42 | SUMMER 2015

Inform Access Panel contribution to SDEF business Over the last six months SDEF have organised various consultations events with Access Panels throughout Scotland. The events were a huge success and have increased the profile of SDEF and most importantly Access Panels.

Contact Police Scotland: Have Your Say Your Way Police Scotland worked in partnership with the Scottish Disability Equality Forum to hold six regional events across Scotland. The aim was to work with communities to ensure that everyone in Scotland has fair and equal access to contact Police Scotland through their Service Centres.

Transport Scotland Accessibility Events Transport Scotland hosted and Accessibility Summit in Edinburgh on March 24 March 2015. In the lead up to the summit Transport Scotland, together with SDEF and other stakeholders, held a series of meetings which raised almost 50 issues for discussion.

Healthcare Premises Accessibility Focus Group NHS Health Facilities Scotland (HFS), which is a division of NHS National Services Scotland (NSS), was asked by the Scottish Government to host this event to discuss accessibility to healthcare premises across Scotland. The purpose of the event was to better understand how to the meet the needs of users, with a focus on removing barriers to provide inclusive access to NHS premises.

The importance of Access Panel input SDEF would like to thank the volunteers from the Access Panels who came along and contributed to the discussion at these events. Without your passion, commitment and desire to improve access in your community, these events would not happen and your voice would not be heard.

PAGE 7 sdef.org.uk

Access Panel Network Scotland About Access Panels Access Panels are groups of local volunteers, including disabled people, who come together to improve access in their local communities.

This does not just mean access to the built environment. Access Panels are increasingly concerned with 'access' in the fullest sense, including: roads; employment; education; health; transport; the countryside and leisure and recreation etc. There are Panels in nearly every local authority area across Scotland.

What Access Panels Do? Panels provide a valuable service in their communities, including: • Engaging with local authorities and other public bodies on access matters

and independent living • Examining and advising on building warrant applications and planning • Undertaking site visits

Many take on specific projects, such as: • Researching and publishing local access guides for disabled people and Tourism • Disseminating information on access and independent living • Offering advice and guidance to architects and designers

What benefits do Access Panels bring to communities? Access Panels can help their communities in many ways including: • Creating a better physical environment for all • Assisting local authorities, public bodies and designers to meet their statutory

obligations. • Promoting full social inclusion • Encouraging people to take ownership of what happens in their own communities • Keeping access and independent living issues to the fore.

PAGE 8 ISSUE 42 | SUMMER 2015

Access Panel Network Scotland

6 ways to Get Involved 1. Join your local Access Panel

www.accesspanelnetwork.org.uk/directory-panels

2. Be on our mailing list and join SDEF www.sdef.org.uk/index.php/become-a-member

3. Like our Facebook Pages Scottish Disability Equality Forum

Access Panel Network

4. Follow us on twitter SDEForum

AccessPanelNet

5. Come along to our events

6. Spread the word and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to join

PAGE 9 sdef.org.uk

The History of Access Panels

Office bearers of KilmarnockForum and Strathclyde Forum on Disability called for an all Scotland Disability Group.

The Steering Group gained support of the then Scottish Office to establish a national forum on disability. Voted

that Disability Scotland be involved to provide ongoing support.

Disability Scotland ceased to exist and it was only with the

determination, commitment and financial input of the committee

that the venture continued.

The organisation became a Company Limited by Guarantee

and SDEF was elected the umbrella body for access Panels.

1995

1996

1997

1999

2000

2001

2003

A Steering Group was formed with seven disability forums.

Disability Groups wanted to see Scottish forum established and interim committee was formed to consider the membership.

Administrative support with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) was set up Charitable status with inland revenue was granted.

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Access Panel Award Ceremony And the winner is........ The Access Panel Award Ceremony was held to celebrate the end of the Access Panel Training Programme 2014-2015, and to recognise and promote the excellent work of the Access Panels. SDEF would like to thank the Access Panels who submitted award nominations on behalf of their Panel.

Given the numbers of excellent business proposals and projects discussed at the training events, we were overwhelmed by the quality of the submissions made, the variation and complexity of the work being done and the commitment by all to improving the lives of disabled people.

The work Access Panels are involved in varies from practical improvements across Education, Transport and Planning to changing attitudes and behaviours. Whilst all of the work is valuable in its own right, the changing of attitudes and behaviours is critical if we are to achieve our collective aims and objectives.

The most successful element of the Training Programme was without doubt the opportunity for Panels to network, where they were given the opportunity to share their experiences, along with their knowledge and skills. SDEF hope relationships will continue to flourish in the coming years, and this will help the panels to further grow in strength and unity.

PAGE 11 sdef.org.uk

Access Panel Award Ceremony And so to the winners of the Awards...... The Award categories were based on some of the subject areas contained within the training programme.

Most Successful Business Outcome 1st prize: Badenoch & Strathspey Access Panel (BASAP) Raising Disability Awareness in Schools

BASAP developed a business outcome to raise the awareness of disability in schools. This outcome has become a reality as they embark on delivering sessions to 9 primary schools in their geographical area. They will deliver these sessions to over 200 pupils. They are working in partnership with other organisations and individuals to provide an understanding of all disabilities and the differing barriers, including deaf, sight and physical impairment. High school pupils, staff, Parent Councils, the local press and Bus Companies are all working in collaboration with BASAP to assist with facilitation and transport, supporting a true community ethos to deliver what has now transferred from an outcome to a project.

The desired outcome is that 'primary school pupils will increase their understanding and experience of the various types of disability that affects all age groups'.

This project will also hopefully raise the profile of the local Access Panel, engage the younger generation and increase their knowledge of disability, relating this to friends and relatives, and encouraging schools to integrate disability as a relevant subject for the curriculum.

Morag Campbell stated in the nomination "every school has enthusiastically signed up for these awareness days, that in its itself is proof of how worthwhile this project is".

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Access Panel Award Ceremony Most Successful Business Outcome Runner -up: Cumnock & Doon Access Panel Raising Disability awareness in schools

Cumnock and Doon developed a business outcome to raise awareness and understanding of disability within schools. Similar to Badenoch and Strathspey, the Panel are now in discussion with the local secondary school to deliver a project which will provide training sessions to S1 and S2 students. These sessions are being delivered in partnership with disabled people and will include sight, hearing and mobility impairment.

The desired outcome is that 'students will have increased their knowledge through hands-on experience and an increased understanding of the many disabilities people have within their community, including their school'.

The school are keen to consider these sessions as part of the student skills audit and add to the school curriculum.

As part of this outcome planning, Cumnock & Doon also have S5 & S6 students assisting with the administration of their panel, and are finding the sharing of skills and expertise is a two-way process, where the students increase their awareness of disability, and the panel benefit from the students' media skills.

Von Jackson, Cumnock & Doon Access Panel made the following statement in the Nomination "we have asked to be nominated for the most successful business outcome because it is happening, and all because we have attended your (SDEF) training sessions, and built on our strengths and confidence".

PAGE 13 sdef.org.uk

Access Panel Award Ceremony Most Innovative Project 1st Prize: Lochaber Access Panel (In association with the Highland alliance) The Planning Protocol

Lochaber Access Panel initiated the project to develop a Planning Protocol with Highland Council. This protocol enables Access Panel members to have more influence over current developments and to create a more disabled friendly environment. It provides an effective way to direct new developments towards the employment of inclusive architecture principles by 'catching' them at the pre-planning stages, and therefore the ability to influence developers, and their designers, towards founding their project on an 'access for all' basis.

This protocol has now been adopted by all eight Highland Access Panels, known as the Highland Alliance. It promotes a consistent approach and has obtained a commitment from the council to consult in an effective way.

5000 copies of the protocol have been distributed across the Highland area and guarantees that Highland Council will:

• Promote the work of the Panels and facilitate pre-application meetings with developers

• Formally consult the panels directly and ensure that decisions are taken in light of the panel’s advice.

Malcolm Macleod, Head of Planning and building standards said in his letter of evidence "the protocol was agreed with the local access Panels to strengthen and formalise the links with the council's planning and building standards processes, in recognition of the important advice the access panels could provide in terms of disability access".

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Access Panel Award Ceremony Most Innovative Project Joint runner-up: Skye & Lochalsh Access Panel Partnership working with NHS Highland

Skye & Lochalsh Access Panel have developed an excellent working relationship with NHS Highland, initially working with them on the new Portree Dental Practice. This work led to an invitation to work together, as part of the design team, on the Broadford Health Centre. The result is a contemporary energy efficient, yet traditionally inspired building, which has gone beyond the minimum requirements of building regulations and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people.

This partnership has developed to the inclusion of the Panel on the Skye & Lochalsh Reference Group and the Skye & Lochalsh Public Participation Forum. Working with the design team also inspired one of the members of the panel - Caroline Gould, to study with Heriot-Watt University to become a successful qualified Access Auditor. Caroline is now a member of the SDEF National Access Survey Team, working in partnership with Police Scotland, the Scottish Prison Service and others to promote inclusive access within and around their buildings.

Heather Cameron, Senior Project Officer said "As the designer of the Health Centre, I found the Access Panels input invaluable in highlighting issues that an able-bodied person might never become aware of".

PAGE 15 sdef.org.uk

Access Panel Award Ceremony Most Innovative Project Joint Runner-Up: centre for Independent Living Perth & Kinross Safe Place

The centre for Independent Living Perth & Kinross (CILPK) has developed the 'Safe Place Scheme' in collaboration with the Safer Communities Team, Perth & Kinross Council (PKC) and the Housing and Community Care Team (PKC)

The project was developed when a number of focus groups organised in conjunction with the CILPK identified that disabled people sometimes have difficulty in accessing assistance or advice if they need to when in the city centre. Equally, some disabled people did not feel confident enough to visit the city centre.

The aim of the Safe Place Scheme is to provide a safer environment for disabled people within the city, and to give people more confidence to go into the city. The scheme is open to anyone who thinks they would benefit from participation and provision of a card. The individual can choose the information to be put on the card depending on their needs. The card can then be used in various venues that have signed up to the scheme, where the individual can be given help, advice, or just take a seat for 5 minutes.

The scheme has a membership of 40 individuals, with 15 shops, cafes and organisations currently displaying a Safe Place logo. Participants receive training, a welcome pack, and are invited to provide feedback on how the scheme is working. Gillian Edwards, Development Manger, CILPK, hopes this initiative will grow in terms of participating organisations and individual members. The focus group continue to work in collaboration with local businesses and promote the project to achieve this aim.

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Access Panel Award Ceremony The Highest Increase (Including Diversity)In Membership during 20141st Prize: Tweeddale Access Panel

Tweeddale Access Panel was somewhat surprised to receive this award as they had not made a submission to this award category. The panel won this prestigious award as they had demonstrated the highest growth and diversity within their membership since the beginning of 2014. Tweeddale is a relatively small Panel and this new growth is a fantastic achievement, bringing new young and older members alike to their panel in the last year.

The information that informed this award was drawn from the information collated as part of the Access Panel Training Programme evaluation process and other audit information, where SDEF were able to draw a comparison of growth, both in terms of numbers and diversity across all panels.

David Tawse, Tweeddale Access Panel who received the award on behalf of panel said "we didn't know we were getting an award, this is great".

PAGE 17 sdef.org.uk

Access Panel Award Ceremony

Thank You! SDEF would like to note the quality of all the award nominations was outstanding. It was an incredibly tough task to decide on who the winners should be. Such was the quality that a thorough scoring system had to be developed to ensure everyone was considered on an equal and fair basis. The scoring system included, by example, the quality of the application, the impact of the work, the sustainability of the work and the local evidence to support the nomination.

We would like to congratulate the winners, whilst encouraging all panels to continue on their venture providing local contribution and participation, which is having an enormous impact on the lives of disabled people and making a real difference.

Access Panels do an inordinate amount of work on a voluntary basis, much of which is not known or promoted at a national level. This award ceremony is just one way that SDEF hope to change that, and make sure that Panels receive the recognition they deserve!

Finally, SDEF would like to thank you all once again for giving up your free time to attend the training provided. The results are phenomenal, showing that everyone gained something from each of the sessions, and the vast majority saying it has made an enormous difference to the work of your panel.

Yvonne Wemyss National Inclusion Officer Working in Partnership with SDEF

PAGE 18 ISSUE 42 | SUMMER 2015

Access Panel Network Scotland

Western Isles and ArgyllBarra Access Panel Cowal Access Panel (Dunoon) Harris Disability Access Panel Isle of Lewis Access Panel Lochaber Disability Access Panel Oban & District Disability Forum and Access Panel Uist Disability Access PanelSouth West

Cumnock and Doon Valley Access Panel Dumfries and Galloway Disability Access Panel East Renfrewshire Access Panel Kilmarnock & District Access Panel North Ayrshire Access Panel Renfrewshire Access Panel South Ayrshire Access Panel Forth Valley and Tayside

Clackmannanshire Disability Awareness Group Disabilities Fife Dundee Access Group for the Disabled Falkirk Area Disability Access Panel Perth and Kinross Access Group Stirling Area Access Panel

Highlands and Islands

Access Panel Orkney Badenoch and Strathspey Access Panel Caithness Access Panel Disability Shetland Access Panel Inverness Access Panel Nairn Access Panel Ross & Cromarty Disability Access Panel Sutherland Access Panel Skye & Lochalsh Access Panel

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Glasgow and LanarkshireEast Dunbartonshire Access Panel Glasgow Access Panel North Lanarkshire Access Panel

South Lanarkshire Access PanelWest Dunbartonshire Access Panel

North East

Aberdeenshire North Access Panel Aberdeenshire South Access Panel Angus Access Panel Bon Accord Access Panel Central Aberdeenshire Access Panel West Aberdeenshire Access Panel

Lothians and Borders

AccessAble (Central Borders Access Panel) Berwickshire Access Panel East Lothian Access Panel Edinburgh Access Panel Midlothian Access Panel Tweeddale Access Panel West Lothian Access Panel

sdef.org.uk

Access Panel Network Access Panel Updates The following pages provide an insight into the many achievements and hard work volunteers put into their local Access Panels. The following pages are just a selection of some of the Access Panels activities from around Scotland.

If you are not yet a member with your local Access Panel and would like to get involved in improving access in your local community, find your local access panel at accesspanelnetwork.org.uk

Dundee Access Panel Tel: 07922 069039 Email: dundeeaccessgroup.org@hotmail.co.uk

Our recent activities have included:

• Highlighting the existence of disability hate harassment in Dundee. We had a very informative talk with Nasreem Mohammed, Tayside police's Diversity Advisor and Mark Duncan, Tayside police's Safer Communities Inspector.

• Liaising with Dundee Council in their upgrading of the Mackinnon Centre Respite Unit.

• Being consulted on The Crescent in Whitfield, a facility bringing social work and community health services, a library, a cafe and retail units together under one roof. Trialled a 'mock-up' of the landscaping built by Dundee Colleges Horticultural Unit to test the 'shared surface'

• Being consulted on the upgrading of Dundee Station. (ongoing)

• Providing ramps for a few premises on Perth Road Dundee to enable wheelchair users to access their facilities. (ongoing)

• Making enquiries about the rights of wheelchair users on buses. (Should a person with a child in a buggy have to give up the wheelchair accessible space for a wheelchair user?)

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Access Panel Network Centre for Inclusive Living Perth and Kinross Tel: 01738 500001 Email: info@cilpk.org.uk

We are currently very busy in Perth, with many access issues being brought to our attention day to day.

Our anti-obstruction campaign is coming together now that permission from the council has been granted. This allows our members to use cards and stickers to raise awareness of the obstructions people with disabilities face everyday from wheelie bins, parked cars on pavements and roadwork’s to name a few.

The Safe Place scheme is something we are very proud to be a part of at CILPK and is attracting attention from many organisations. This scheme allows a person to carry a personalised card with information they need to seek help within any of our safe places. We now have over 30 members.

This has been a very busy month for CILPK in the community. We have audited 14 premises including the new Premier Inn which has very accessible rooms with large toilets. Gilles furniture shop which has an accessible cafe on the top floor with a very large lift and accessible toilet and the museum and art gallery who have put in a new lift.

CILPK are working with Police Scotland and have received training to become a 3rd Party Reporting Centre for Hate Crime. Disabled hate crime is a very under reported crime and we want to make people aware of what disabled people have to put up with so please come and report the issue no matter how small.

CILPK will be holding an information session in the new year to give more details about the service.

For more information or if you would like to enlist to our monthly newsletter, call 01738 500001 or email info@cilpk.org.uk

PAGE 21 sdef.org.uk

Access Panel Network Disabilities Fife Tel: 01592 203993 Email: enquiries@disabilitiesfife.org.uk

Disabilities Fife's information and advice service addresses a community need in enabling Fife's 70,000 disabled people participate more fully in local community activities and, thereby, engendering a greater sense of worth and wellbeing in being able to contribute to social groups in their areas.

As a registered charity, Disabilities Fife is run by disabled people for disabled people. We work to improve access and equality of opportunity for all disabled people in Fife. Membership of Disabilities Fife is free and entitles members to regular mailings, attendance at 4 Network meetings in different parts of Fife and 4 newsletters. It also gives service users information about opportunities to join with others to have their voices heard in order to improve the services they receive for example - access to information, homecare, day care and occupational services - to make them more suitable to their needs.

Information and Advice Centre

The information and advice service helps Fife's disabled people to have an easy means to accessing different ways of support and advice through a telephone helpline, a website full of useful information and a Facebook page. It helps Fife's disabled people to be better able to know more about the services available from Fife Council, NHS Fife, Police Scotland and other public and private organisations so that they know which organisation deals with their particular needs and where to access them. In addition, it enables Disabilities Fife to act as intermediaries in providing direct support to those of Fife's disabled people who do not have the confidence to deal personally with the statutory organisations.

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Access Panel Network Caithness Disabled Access Panel Tel: 01593 721467 Email: helenbudge@aol.com

Up here in Caithness, we have been working with the Forestry Commission in the Highland Council on a project called Core-Path. We have been working to improve access in the area.

So far we have:

• Installed Radar Key locks to a lot of the gates in the area for easy access.

• Brogie Woods now has a disabled toilet in the village

• Dunnet and Sibster forest are 100% disabled friendly.

These are perfect examples for disabled people to get out and about within the community. There is outstanding wildlife and the scenery is beautiful.

You are not far from local towns to grab a cup of coffee, tea, home baking etc. All the places mentioned above are all wheelchair accessible.

PAGE 23 sdef.org.uk

Access Panel Network Disability West Lothian

Tel: 01506 774030 Email: enquiries@dwl.demon.co.uk

Disability West Lothian in Livingston has recently won the top prize in the Bank of Scotland Community Fund Vote winning £3000. The money will go towards an awareness raising video project called "Access Thru the Lens" which is aimed at identifying the barriers in the environment faced by disabled people in society and finding solutions from the people who face issues every day. The manager, Catriona Scally said "We are thrilled that we have won this prize as it will enable us to continue to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by disabled people in society today and hopefully help improve facilities for everyone". The project will be coordinated by Edinburgh University student Andrew Carroll where some of the research will form part of his Honours Degree in Community Education.

If you would like more information on how you can get involved, please get in touch. You can call us on 01506 774030 or Email: enquiries@dwl.demon.co.uk

Calling All Access Panels

Share the achievements of your Access Panel, let everyone

know the fantastic work you are doing and encourage

new members to join your panel.

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Access Panel Network North Lanarkshire Access Panel Tel: 01236 723339 email: annsneddon@virginmedia.com

This has been another busy year for the Access Panel. We have taken part in further town centre walkabouts with Council Officers in Cumbernauld and Airdrie to check on and highlight any access issues, and also one in Bellshill with a representative of the Guide Dogs Association which highlighted a number of serious issues for anyone with visual impairments.

We have examined plans for new secondary schools at Clyde Valley Campus in Wishaw and Greenfaulds High School in Cumbernauld, and also an extension to New Monklands Primary School in Airdrie and submitted comments where appropriate. We have had detailed presentations on Forgewood Community Centre in Motherwell, Muirfield Community Hub in Cumbernauld and the new Radiotherapy Centre at Monklands Hospital. We have continued to press for the introduction on Shopmobility in Cumbernauld Town Centre, and some of our members carried out a site visit to check on the problems this would meet. We continue to monitor NLC's non compliance with the national Guidelines on tactile paving at uncontrolled crossings. We have been involved in a number of issues regarding NLC's new First Stop Shops in Cumbernauld and Motherwell. We have had further involvement in the new Health Centres in Wishaw and Kilsyth and have raised a number of other issues with NHS Lanarkshire.

One matter which took up quite a lot of time was the disabled access to the toilets at the cafe at Fountains Business Centre in Coatbridge where work called for in their Building Warrant had not been carried out. At a site visit with their representatives and Building Control, a number of issues were resolved, but after considerable discussion at several subsequent Panel meetings, it was agreed that the compromise of a canopy over the external ramp in lieu of the internal platform lift called for in the Building Warrant was not acceptable to the panel.

PAGE 25 sdef.org.uk

Access Panel Network Edinburgh Access Panel Tel: 0131 667 3496 email: edinburghaccesspanel@hotmail.com

Here's a list of some of the things the Edinburgh Access Panel has been up to recently. These are in addition to our regular flow of planning applications that we assess for accessibility.

1. Mystery shopping at M&S. Assessing accessibility for those with vision, hearing or mobility impairment.

2. Access Ambassadors project at a community school in Edinburgh. Helping the pupils to identify and address access issues at the school.

3. Disability Awareness Training for Edinburgh Council staff. Talks by Panel members about the challenges of vision, hearing and mobility impairments, and how the council can help.

4. Redesigning and rebuilding of the panel's website.

5. Hosting presentations on shared space (pedestrians/cyclists/motorists/ wheelchairs) by the Council's consultants and providing feedback.

6. Hosting presentation for traffic management proposals in central Edinburgh.

7. Assessing access issues on Edinburgh Trams

8. Providing advice to the National Museum of Scotland on design of a new exhibition for accessibility by the deaf.

PAGE 26 ISSUE 42 | SUMMER 2015

Access Panel Network Badenoch and Strathspey Disability access Panel Tel: 01540 661797 email: basapanel@gmail.com

In September 2014 Badenoch and Strathspey Access Panel began planning two Disability Awareness Days for all nine primary schools in our area which covers a forty mile radius.

The plans came to fruition on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 March 2015 with all nine schools participating, about one hundred pupils each day.

They were busy days, with five stations covering people who are deaf/blind, hearing impaired, sight impaired, people who use wheelchairs and Disability Snowsports. Trainers specialising in each gave the children in groups of ten, hands-on experience of coping with each disability.

Feedback from the teachers who accompanied the children, bus drivers and thank you letters written by the children, showed how successful and worthwhile this project has been.

Badenoch & Strathspey Access Panel covered all costs, including paying to bus all children to the venues with support of a grant from SDEF. All want it to be repeated.

Quotes taken from children's thank you letters, include:

"I know what it even feels like to have a disability"

"I hope that other people "I also realised how difficult respect those who are in it must be to be deaf

wheelchairs" and blind"

PAGE 27 sdef.org.uk

Access Panel Network Renfrewshire Access Panel Tel: 07747 036028 email: renfrewshireaccesspanel@hotmail.com

Ambulance Service

We were invited to take part in a consultation on future A&E ambulances at Falkirk Ambulance depot where we had an enjoyable morning looking at new types of vehicles for the A&E service throughout Scotland and we were asked to give them feedback on both the types on offer and the internal layout of the ambulances. It was a very successful event this concluded with us being asked to attend future events run by the Ambulance Service.

Saltire Awards

Huge congratulations to Kenneth our wonderful volunteer. Kenneth has received the top Saltire Award - The Saltire Summit.

Councillor Mcmillan, Shiona Strachan and David Leese Meeting

We were invited to a meeting with councillor Mark McMillan in which he also invited Shiona Strachan and David Leese. We initially thought that the meeting was to discuss what the panel did but realised very quickly that we were there to talk about the Integration of Health & Social Care and where we could assist to ensure that Renfrewshire remains one of the leading councils for correct implementation for both service users and the council. The meeting went well and we look forward to future meetings.

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Access Panel Network Nairn access Panel Tel: 01667 452 208 email: info@accessnairn.co.uk

Nairn Access Panel held its 7th Annual 'Access Awareness Day' on Thursday 19 March, for local primary 4 school children (ages 8-9 years) from the four local primary schools. This day is a 'hands on' experience and a fun day for children, showing them that having a disability it is possible to do most activities using aids and using different skills enabling integration and participation in daily life. It gives the children awareness and understanding of how life is having a disability.

We demonstrated and let the children participate in disability workshops including:

Visual • obstacle courses • a guide dog and handler

Hearing • showing and teaching some signing • a deaf/blind experience workshop

Wheelchairs • set course for the children • walking aids experience • and mobility aids

We have representation from Deaf Services, Inverness, Deaf/Blind Scotland, Disability Ski, Aviemore - they bring specialised equipment for the children to try.

Eight senior pupils from Nairn Academy also assisted the panel. Their help is invaluable and we presented them all with a volunteer certificate.

The panel also presented the annual Access Awareness Award 2015 at the event to Nairn Leisure. This award is given to a local business or facility which has shown good practice and improvements in access for all.

PAGE 29 sdef.org.uk

Access Panel Network Dumfries & Galloway Disability access Panel Tel: 01576 510 326 email: alex.thorburn@btinternet.com

Recent successes from Dumfries & Galloway Access Panel include undertaking an access audit of Gretna Football club facilities. Gretna FC stated that they had to undertake an access audit every 3 years, because of SFA rules.

We have also completed the access report for an audit undertaken for the Whithorn Trust in Galloway.

The panel have been assisting a large number of parents in Dumfries & Galloway who are fighting a Council decision to remove Learning Support Assistants from schools across the region over the next 3 years - which will of course impact heavily on the development of disabled children in the area. We failed by a small number of votes to have the policy overturned at a full Council meeting held in March but the fight goes on. I have contacted the Children and Young People's Commissioner and they have held a meeting with Officers. The Commissioner has now asked the Council to undertake a Children's Rights Impact Assessment and to do regular updates.

As Dumfries & Galloway Disability Access Panel not only deals with access to buildings and open spaces but also access to services, we have been involved in a number of Equality Impact Assessments relating to services for disabled people over the past 6 months.

We have made contact with Dumfries & Galloway LGBT Plus - a new organisation which provides support to older LGBT people in the region - to discuss the services that they can provide for disabled LGBT people.

Alex Thorburn, Chairman has been selected for interview for a new Scottish Government position - Independent Prison Monitor. If successful, he will be working with all prisoners, evaluating the level of support provided and facilities available for disabled prisoners.

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Engage Bills Blog

Bill Logan our Disability Access Officer started working with Scottish Disability Equality Forum in May 2015.

As part of the Access team Bill promotes and assists in the development of an effective Access Panel Network to improved equality, access and inclusion across Scotland.

Bill has been busy meeting Access Panel members and arranging more dates in his diary, so many of our Access Panels will have the opportunity to meet Bill very soon. In the meantime, Bill is writing regular blogs about the meetings he is attending and sharing his thoughts and learning with the wider Access Panel Network.

As part of a vibrant, active partnership we all benefit from others experience, the sharing of skills and information and the undoubted wealth of knowledge that exists on the panels. Therefore 'Bill's Blog' is a fantastic way to share his knowledge. You can read Bill's Blog on the Access Panel Network website - accesspanelnetwork.org.uk/category/bill/

It's been a busy couple of days

Yesterday I visited Borthwick Castle which was really interesting. The owners are developing it into a top class hotel and events venue, but as you can imagine when the castle was built disability was not high on the agenda, more shooting arrows, throwing spears and pouring hot oil on people. However they are doing everything they can to make the castle as accessible as possible and as you can imagine they face huge challenges, we will keep you informed on their progress.

read more...accesspanelnetwork.org.uk/category/bill/

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Support Access Panel conference 2015

Every year SDEF hosts a conference that is an invaluable networking and learning opportunity for all the Access Panels.

This year's conference was held at the Stirling Court Hotel on 29 May 2015. The theme was Engagement and Connections. Among our speakers were:

• Gareth Allan, Third Sector Interface, Equality Unit, Scottish Government

• Brian Taggart, ABT Safety Ltd

• Margaret Simpson, Scottish Borders Social Enterprise Chamber

• Morag Campbell, Badenoch and Strathspey Access Panel

All presentations are available to view, listen or download from the Access Panel Network website accesspanelnetwork.org.uk/conferences

Delegates Delegate asking question

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Support Thank you to everyone from the many Access Panels, and of course our SDEF Members, who came along on the day.

Morag Campbell Margaret Simpson

Brian Taggart Gareth Allen

Top table Delegates

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Joint work Euan's Guide challenge

The Euan's Guide challenge helps disabled people visiting your area for the first time. Complete 12 reviews of places from the following different categories: Food and Drink, Leisure and Fun and Everyday Essentials.

Go to www.euansGuide.com/challenge

Suggestions and examples are provided on the website.

You can complete the form on the website - alternatively, please download one of the versions for you to print and complete.

Good Luck!

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Have Your Say on Disability

Make Your Voice Heard!

We would like to know what you think about what has changed for you as a disabled person and what needs to change to make life better.

By completing a short national survey, you can add your voice to help shape the future of a fairer and more inclusive Scotland.

Visit the website below to make your voice heard!

www.your-say-on-disability.org.uk

www.your-say-on-disability.org.uk Other formats are available from the website or by emailing info@your-say-on-disability.org.uk

PAGE 35 sdef.org.uk

Our Sponsors...

Scottish Disability Equality Forum is grateful for the generosity of its sponsors and their ongoing support as we work together toward achieving the goals of the organisation.

If you are interested in sponsoring our magazine OPEN DOOR, please complete our online registration form - www.sdef.org.uk/index.php/our-sponsors Alternatively, please contact Morven Brooks, Communications Manager for further information on morven.brooks@sdef.org.uk

OPEN DOOR is published by

Scottish Disability Equality Forum Office 1/7, The e-Centre Cooperage Way Alloa FK10 3LP

Tel: 01259 272064 Fax: 01259 272065

SDEF is Registered in Scotland as a Company Limited by Guarantee with Charitable Status

Charity Number SC031893, Company Number SC243392

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sdef.org.uk Facebook: Scottish Disability Equality Forum Twitter: @SDEForum