Making Connections - Making A Difference

Let down on eligiblity criteria

We now understand that they original decision by the Scottish Government not to include “vulnerable adults” within the new guidance on elgibility critieria and look forward to new guidance for local health and social care partnerships on measuring outcomes for people with learning disabilities to inform the planning and delivery of services has gone. COSLA was given a chance to ammend the final policy and they removed this vital protections from vulnerable adults. We are very disappointed in this.

3130 signatures for Changing Places Petition

Changing Place at the Petitions Committee

Thanks to everyone who supported the Scottish Parliament petition. You can watch the debate and discussion at the committee on Holyrood TV for the next month. Click this link and click on the Petitions Committee for the 8th of September. There was a very supportive atmosphere and a feeling that delivering Changing Places toilets would be a good thing for Scotland.

The debate was helped greatly by Jackie Baillie who attended and made some useful suggestions for taking the campaign forward. They included

Education Maintenance Allowance

The Learning Disability Alliance Scotland is currently investigating a siuation where thousands of young people with disabilities may have been missing on their entitlement to a benefit designed to support them continuing in education worth up to £30 per week.

Lots of young people are unable to access full time courses and attend a range of courses sometimes at a number of colleges. This non standard pattern of attendance with a good number of hours but less than 21 per week has often been seen by colleges as being ineligible for EMA. Since colleges manage the claims process for this benefit, many disabled people are told that they are not entitled and never make a claim.

LDAS is pursuing a case based on the following parliamentary question and answer

Celebration of BS 8300

On Wednesday 2nd September PAMIS and LDAS organised a joint celebration of the publication of BS 8300 which sets new standards for building design to cover people with disabilities. For the first time it includes provision for Changing Places toilets. A packed Committee Room at the Scottish Parliament saw Jackie Baillie MSP introduce Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health and Sport. In order to get a flavour of the event we print Shona's speech in full Jackie Baillie introduces the Minister, Shona Robison below.

Thank you to Jackie Baillie MSP for the invitation, on behalf of PAMIS and the Learning Disability Alliance Scotland, to be with you today.

I welcome the new British building Standard which includes a standard for Changing Places toilets in public buildings.

We know that toilet facilities designed for disabled people are not suitable for up to 250,000 disabled people and their carers.

We need to take steps to address this. Improving the quality of life for people by reducing the inequalities they face is central to them truly being valued as equal members of our community.

Last few days to sign the petition

Kevin hands over 217 signatures for the Changing Places Petition that he has collected from service users and staff at Quarriers Village.

THE PETITION IS NOW CLOSED

In Scotland we are campaigning for more changing places toilets that allow people with complex disabilities the dignity of changing continence pads in a safe and hygenic way. You can sign our petition to the Scottish Parliament by checking out this link:

For more information on the campaign click the button on the campaigns tag or go to www.changing-places.org

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