Darlington AssociationDAD Newsletter
Break Through!
September 2011
Celebrating 25 Years of DAD!
Darlington Association on Disability (DAD) began as a charity in 1986 and this year we celebrate our 25th Anniversary.
Contents
Information in Other Formats
Welcome
Dates for your Diary
DAD news
Celebrate DAD's 25 Silver Years
Disabled Parents Group
Male Carers Group
Do you want to help DAD be more user-led?
National News
Personal Independence Payment - a quick guide
Government faces legal action
Future of social care funding
Landmark Birmingham Case
Local News
Coffee with parent carers
Proposed cuts to Darlington Adult Social Care
North East Ladies Day
Disabled people to sue Arriva
New Reablement Service
Self Advocate with the Peoples Parliament
The Hardest Hit Campaign
New Support Service
Information in Other Formats
If you need this newsletter in another format, such as audio or large print, please contact Jane Woodward, based at DAD office in Horsemarket.
Telephone 01325 489999
Fax 01325 488188
Email jane@darlingtondisability.org
If English is not your first language and you would like more information, contact our Head Office by telephone on 01325 489999.
Welcome
Darlington Association on Disability (DAD) began as a charity in 1986. Our aim was to bring disabled people together through regular meetings and social events as well as provide a personal support service using volunteers. We set out to influence planners locally and campaign for improved services. Since we started we have grown and now have ten projects. We continue to grow as all of our projects expand and evolve. We maintain our position as a focal point for services and support and our expertise is valued by the Local Authority and Health as well as by disabled people locally.
Dates for your Diary
• Peoples Parliament Self Advocacy Week - 12th to 16th September
• Hardest Hit Campaign - Saturday 22nd October, Newcastle
• DAD Stakeholder Forum - Wednesday 26th October, Dimensions
• DAD Mega Monster Bash - Saturday 29th October, Cleveland Social Club
• DAD Annual General Meeting - Thursday 17th November, Dolphin Centre
• DAD Big Band Night - Friday 25th November, Dolphin Centre
• DAD Christmas Lunch - Thursday 8th December, Dolphin Centre
DAD news
Celebrate DAD’s 25 Silver Years!
Join us to mark this memorable milestone at the following events:
Mega Monster Bash
Come and join a fun party atmosphere. Fancy dress is optional, but you could win a prize for best child and adult fancy dress!
Saturday 29th October 2011, 7.30pm to 11pm
Cleveland Social Club
Neasham Road
Darlington
Tickets £3 adults and £1.50 children.
Big Band Night
Wear or accessorise with something silver and celebrate in style with the Alf Hind Big Band.
Friday 25th November 2011, 7.30pm start to 11pm
Central Hall
Dolphin Centre
Darlington
Tickets £10 including a hot buffet.
Tickets for both events are available from the main DAD office in the marketplace, next to the Dolphin Centre. Phone 01325 489999,
text 0762 481 8780 or email info@darlingtondisability.org
Annual General Meeting
This year our AGM is on Thursday 17th November in Central Hall, Dolphin Centre. Doors open 10am for 10.30am start.
Christmas Lunch
DAD is inviting members, volunteers and staff to our Christmas lunch on Thursday 8th December 2011 in Central Hall, Dolphin Centre, Darlington. We will be meeting at 12 noon to dine at 12.30 prompt. We hope that you can join us this Christmas. For more details please contact Margaret Grange at DAD main office in the marketplace, phone 01325 489999 or email margaretg@darlingtondisability.org
Disabled Parents Group
Do you want to join a group that provides disabled parents somewhere to get together socially, support each other and get information and advice? If you are interested, or for more information, phone our DAD office at Enterprise House on 01325 360 524.
Male Carers Group
Do you care for a relative, friend or neighbour? Would you like to meet and get support from other men like you? DAD Carers’ Support Service now has a male carers’ group for you to take a break from your caring role, meeting at the William Stead on Crown Street. The group meets once a month on Wednesdays 6pm to 7pm. For more information, phone our Carers’ Support Service on 01325 357 533, text 0762 481 8780 or email carers@darlingtondisability.org
Do you want to help DAD be more user-led?
You can influence DAD to do more for disabled people and carers. We reported in the last edition that we are proposing to hold a regular Stakeholder Forum.
Unfortunately, we had to postpone the first Forum meeting in August as very few people confirmed their attendance. This Forum will work best if we know beforehand who can come.
We have rearranged the Stakeholder Forum for Wednesday 26th October 2011. 1.30pm start to approx. 4pm. Please book your place.
DAD Dimensions
West Lodge
West Crescent
Darlington
DL3 7PS.
To confirm that you can come, register your interest in being a member of the Forum, or if you have any agenda items for discussion, please contact our Chair, Gordon Pybus. Email gordon@darlingtondisability.org
phone 01325 489 999 or text 0762 481 8780.
National News
Personal Independence Payment - a quick guide
The Government has published draft regulations under the Welfare Reform Bill 2011 to replace Disability living Allowance (DLA) with Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in 2013. This will save approx. £2billion.
It is intended that there will be two components: daily living and mobility; both will be paid at one of two rates, either standard or enhanced. The assessment to decide these will be points-based, focussing on certain key activities, with a number of descriptors for each one. The activities chosen focus on those that incur extra costs faced by disabled people. They divide into five categories:
• accessing food and drink;
• managing medical conditions;
• managing personal hygiene;
• communication;
• and getting around.
Managing medical conditions will be low scoring, communication and getting around will be high scoring, with the remainder in between. It is obvious that if this version of the assessment becomes law, then significant numbers of current DLA recipients will not qualify for PIP.
The Motability scheme will continue to be supported, although no decision has been taken on the rate of the mobility component that will qualify.
The intention is that PIP will also be a means by which local authorities can identify those who may be eligible for support such as blue badges and concessionary public transport fares.
Daily living component
There may be a loss of entitlement for those who have less severe impairments, or those who have adapted well. No provision is present that gives special recognition to night time care needs.
Those who require ‘continual supervision’ and currently receive DLA middle rate care will find it difficult to qualify under the new criteria, only recognising assistance as intervention from another person.
Mobility component
Claimants with sensory impairments will find it difficult to satisfy the criteria. The recent extension of DLA higher rate mobility to those who are severely visually impaired is not in PIP.
There is a new distinction in the moving around activity between those who can walk less than 50 metres, between 50-200 metres and over 200 metres. This will be assessed with the use of a ‘manual aid’, for example crutches, sticks or prostheses. There will also be a distinction between those who need a manual aid to move 50 metres, those who need a manual wheelchair to do so and those who need an ‘assisted aid’ such as a motorised wheelchair. This strongly suggests an intention to restrict the higher rate to people who cannot use a manual wheelchair for short journeys.
The assessment process
Claimants will be ‘at the centre’ of the assessment process. There will be a redesigned form, with an emphasis on shortening it due to the central role of the new assessment in the decision-making process.
In most cases the assessment will involve a face-to-face meeting with the claimant and collection of evidence from a variety of sources.
Claimants with a terminal illness will only be fast tracked to the daily living component and will still need to pass the assessment to be entitled to the mobility component.
Duration of PIP
The intention is for the majority of PIP awards to be for a fixed term. The length of the award will be set bearing in mind the likelihood of changes in either the condition(s) or the impact on the claimant’s daily life. Short term awards of two years could be given where significant improvement could be expected within that time, whilst longer terms of five or ten years are more likely where change is less likely or the claimant’s condition may deteriorate. Ongoing awards are envisaged in a small number of cases where any change in needs is unlikely.
Over 65s and Children
PIP will initially only apply to working age claimants. Those entitled to PIP when they reach pension age will continue to receive it as long as their needs do not change. The age limit is likely to rise to 66 years in line with reforms to the retirement age. A separate assessment for children will be developed before introducing PIP for those under 16 years.
Source: DIAL UK guidance note sourced from CPAG Welfare Right Bulletin June 2011
Government faces legal action
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) may face legal action over proposals to cut DLA support for disabled people. Unity Law have issued a ‘letter of claim’ on behalf of Disability Alliance (DA)* over concerns that current plans will disproportionately disadvantage disabled people and their families. Changes will not provide an equivalent level of support for 652,000 disabled people currently receiving low rate care DLA. Disability Alliance (DA) said ministers have not properly assessed the negative impact of the changes.
Since plans were announced in June 2010, over 5,500 organisations and people responded to the Government consultation on DLA reform. Concerns have gone unanswered and the Government has made no changes to plans to reflect the level of anxiety amongst disabled people and organisations. Legal action may be taken if DWP is unable to demonstrate that the impact of proposals has been properly analysed. DWP has a duty to promote equality of opportunity for disabled people. Disability Alliance believes this duty is being ignored. DWP is also failing to take into account the need to impact assess the potential costs of ending support for some disabled people and their families, such as increased costs to the NHS and local authority services.
*Disability Alliance is a national registered charity which works to relieve the poverty and improve the living standards of disabled people.
Source: DA website July 2011 www.disabilityalliance.org
Future of social care funding
The Commission on Funding of Care and Support has released its report (known as the Dilnot report) into the future funding of Adult Social Care in England. It recommends capping costs and increasing the means testing threshold. Under the current system, individuals pay all their care costs unless they have assets or savings of less than £23,250. The report suggests that those with high care costs should only pay up to a set amount and after that care costs would be paid for by the State. The report also concluded that DLA and the proposed Personal Independence Payment (PIP) should continue to be available to those with lower support needs.
Disabled People’s Organisations have welcomed most of the report’s basic principles. Sue Bott, Director of the National Centre for Independent Living (NCIL), said the recommendations were “light years better than the present system. The current system is just so unfair to career-minded disabled people. It is sickening because it doesn’t matter what you do, there is no point in saving up for anything because you are just going to have it taken away.”
Source: www.dilnotcommission.dh.gov.uk
Landmark Birmingham Case
A landmark legal victory for four disabled people could open the door for other disabled people across the country to challenge their local authorities over cuts to care services.
The court case was brought by the families of four disabled people who had been told by Birmingham City Council in April 2011 that any of their care needs that were not “critical” would no longer be funded.
Handing down his full judgement in the case, Mr Justice Walker said the setting of the council’s budget and its decision to tighten its eligibility policy from “substantial” to “critical” were unlawful because they failed to have due regard to promoting disability equality. He also found that the council’s attempts at a consultation over its plans had been flawed and “had not involved any attempt to look at the practical detail of what the move to ‘critical only’ would entail” The council had failed to consider what other “alternative resources in the community would be available for those with substantial needs” or identify any other steps to “mitigate the impact on disabled people”.
The judge also concluded that the consultation process had not been clear about who would be affected by the cuts and what their options would be if they had their care packages removed.
Polly Sweeney, a solicitor with the firm Irwin Mitchell, which represented one of the four claimants, said it was a “hugely important victory” for the thousands of disabled people affected by the proposed cuts across Birmingham.
She added: “Birmingham City Council is the UK’s largest local authority and it’s very likely that this outcome will set a precedent for other cases in other parts of the UK where councils may be targeting vulnerable groups through cost-cutting drives.”
Birmingham Council said it would now re-run the consultation and “make decisions about adult social care consistent with the need to analyse the potential impact on disabled people and our compliance with the equality principles set out in law”. In the meantime, people will continue to receive services to meet needs that have been assessed as substantial and critical.”
Source: Disability News Service 19th May 2011 www.disabilitynewsservice.com
Local News
Coffee with parent carers
Carers for Disabled Children in Darlington (CDCD) is run by parents, for parents. Come along to CDCD coffee mornings every Monday in term time
(starts 26th September) between 9am to 11am at Haughton Sure Start.
CDCD wants parent carers of disabled children and young people aged 0-25 years to give opinions about Health, Education and Social Care services and how they feel any of these services are succeeding, lacking or failing you and your children. DAD Information Service will also be at the coffee mornings to give information and advice.
If you are interested in giving your views but are unable to come to the coffee mornings, fill in a comments form online at www.cdcd.org.uk email info@cdcd.org.uk, write to: CDCD c/o DAD 20-22 Horsemarket Darlington DL1 5PT, phone 01325 489999 or call into DAD main office in the marketplace.
Proposed cuts to Darlington Adult Social Care
In June, Darlington Borough Council held a series of Equality Disability Impact Assessment evidence gathering meetings to explore how the proposed changes to the Eligibility of Social Care criteria and the Severe Disablement Premium disregard would impact on disabled people and carers.Darlington Association on Disability staff attended the meetings to support the Council, disabled people and carers to identify negative and positive impacts and to make sure that the Council carried out this part of the impact assessment process thoroughly. DAD has since sent in a report highlighting why these proposals should not go ahead and strongly recommending that the proposals be scrapped. The proposals are due to go to Cabinet for decision.
North East Ladies Day
NELD was established to raise funds for charitable work in the North East region. Many charities have been highlighted and supported since the first event in 1981. This year, Darlington Association on Disability’s Children and Young People’s Service (ChYPS) has been chosen as one of the beneficiaries. DAD has tickets available for the Ladies Lunch on Wednesday 5th October 2011, reception 11am for 12 noon at Ramside Hall, Carrville, Durham.
Tickets are £45.00. The event includes bubbly reception, four course lunch, Grand Draw and guest speaker the Rt. Hon. Ann Widdecombe. To apply for a ticket, please contact Lauren at DAD, phone 01325 489 999 or email lauren@darlingtondisability.org
Disabled people to sue Arriva
Arriva is facing a law suit following its ongoing discriminatory treatment of disabled passengers across the North East.
Darlington Association on Disability has supported a number of disabled people to complain after being regularly discriminated against by Arriva drivers on a number of bus routes across Darlington. Unfair treatment varies from refusing access to wheelchair users because pushchairs are already onboard to humiliating wheelchair users when trying to board and alight from the bus.
Ann Dodsworth of Darlington is one such person that has been unfairly treated by Arriva’s staff. Ann has Multiple Sclerosis and is a wheelchair user. There have been a number of incidents where she has had to argue just to be able to board the bus. When a bus does stop to let her on, as opposed to just driving straight past, she has been told to lower the ramp herself to enable access because the driver was unwilling to get out of his seat. On one occasion she was told that she was too heavy to board the bus and shouldn’t be allowed on.
DAD has asked Unity Law, a specialist firm in disability discrimination cases, to prepare a group legal challenge and is appealing for people to come forward who have been similarly mistreated by Arriva. We are keen to discover exactly how wide spread this problem is, to understand how best to tackle it. Is it one or two rogue drivers, or is this an issue which goes to the heart of training and policy within Arriva?
Arriva has a legal duty not to treat disabled people less favourably than other passengers. Discrimination is not just against wheelchair users. It extends to other disabled people and also to those that travel with them, such as carers or friends.
If you are a disabled person or care for a disabled person and have experienced similar problems, please contact Jane at DAD main office in the marketplace, phone 01325 489999, text 0762 481 8780 or email equalaccess@darlingtondisability.org
New Reablement Service
This offers free short term support for up to six weeks to help you back to independence following a stay in hospital. You can learn (or re-learn) tasks needed for everyday life. The service is for people aged 18 and over living in Darlington, who are at significant risk of losing their independence.
To find out more, contact Darlington Borough Council’s Adult Social Care,
phone 01325 346 200.
Self Advocate with the Peoples Parliament
Darlington’s Peoples Parliament is a group of people with learning difficulties who meet roughly twice a month (on a Monday) to discuss important issues like health and social care, jobs, housing, anti social behaviour (bullying and bad behaviour), training and other day to day issues. Our members talk about living life and what makes things easy or hard to deal with.
The aim of the Peoples Parliament is to give a strong voice to people with a learning difficulty in the Darlington area. Using this voice, the group can tell people and organisations what they really think and feel about local and national issues. The group supports itself with help from Darlington Association on Disability. The Peoples Parliament is hosting a week of events in September for people with learning difficulties in Darlington to promote Self Advocacy as follows:
Monday 12th September
Introduction to Self Advocacy
The Links 9.30am to 11.30am
Tuesday 13th September
Public Transport in Darlington
Members of the group will visit local service providers to collect views and opinions from people with a learning difficulty about public transport in Darlington.
Wednesday 14th September
What is the community doing for you?
2pm to 3pm. Guest speakers include Mark Humble and Councillor Copeland from Darlington Borough Council.
Potens
Springfield Centre
Salters Lane South
Thursday 15th September
Hate Crime and bullying in Darlington 2.30pm to 4.30pm
Christine O'Brien, the Police Community Cohesion Officer, will discuss hate crime and bullying within Darlington and the steps being taken to tackle this. There will also be a DVD to watch from “your voice counts” and the chance to find out about Mencap’s hate crime campaign.
DAD meeting room
Enterprise House
Valley Street
Friday 16th September
Taking Self Advocacy Forward in Darlington
The Gateway Club 6.30pm to 8pm
To find out more about these events or to book a place, you can phone Kate, Beth or Martin on 01325 360 524 or email kate@darlingtondisability.org
You can also write to us at:
The Peoples Parliament
c/o Darlington Association on Disability
Enterprise House
Valley Street North
Darlington
DL1 1GY.
The Hardest Hit Campaign
The Hardest Hit rally, march and lobby on 11th May 2011 was an outstanding success. But further action is needed. The Campaign is having a national day of action Saturday 22nd October 2011 to oppose the welfare and benefit cuts affecting disabled people. There will be an event in each region of the UK. The North East event will be in Newcastle, assembling at 10:30am in the Bigg Market (pedestrianised area) for an 11am march to the Monument. This will be followed by a rally at 11.30am lasting approximately one hour.
These events will get disabled people, their families and other campaign supporters together again, to send a clear message: stop these cuts.
We want the Government to ensure that:
• There are no cuts to services vital to disabled people
• Changes to DLA do not make disabled people worse off
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) works
• The welfare system supports disabled people with extra costs of living.
Despite having promised to protect the most vulnerable, the Government is pressing ahead with cuts to benefits and services vital to the lives of disabled people. The Welfare Reform Bill will deeply cut disability benefits. The Bill will be in the House of Lords in October 2011 and it is important that we continue to engage with MPs who need to understand the strength of opposition to the Government’s unfair cuts agenda.
To find out more and get involved, please phone 0191 234 5409, email northeast@hardesthit.org.uk or visit www.thehardesthit.org.uk
• You can also keep in touch at www.facebook.com/thehardesthit
New Support Service
The Prevention and Supported Hospital Discharge Scheme aims to prevent an admission to hospital by offering support and practical help to people at home. It is a partnership between the British Red Cross, Darlington Borough Council and County Durham and Darlington NHS. Trained Red Cross volunteers will make regular visits and phone calls, do basic shopping, prepare light snacks, collect prescriptions or simply provide company and someone to talk to. The service is available to anyone over the age of 18 living in Darlington.
To find out more, phone 07921 872416 or email HSCNorthEast_Cumbria@redcross.org.uk
