Holidays

Dance Dosti: Multi-lingual, dance-on-demand for people with sight loss

FUNDEDby the Vision Foundation, Dance Dosti is supporting people from a South Asian background with sight loss to be active through dance. The first phase of the project is Dance Dosti digital – a website containing over 100 dance sessions in English, Bengali, Gujarati and Hindi. All sessions are delivered by South Asian dancers, with a choice of seated and standing dance, and video and audio formats for different abilities.

Step Change Studios Founder Rashmi Becker, who was recognised with an MBE for services to disabled people in the Queen's Birthday Honours List said: “The idea for Dance Dosti came from seeing the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on people from certain demographics. People from a South Asian background and disabled people have reported greater isolation and inactivity. As an inclusive dance provider, we know the positive difference dance makes to our quality of life, irrespective of age or ability. It benefits both body and mind.

“Our free digital programme is designed as short sessions that can be fitted in to daily life. We want to support people to enjoy learning to dance, to be active at home, and to transition to creative and physical activity outside the home.”

The Dance Dosti project will promote physical activity and use the benefits of dance to bring people together and improve health and wellbeing. The project combines different elements including home and community-based dance, engaging local partners and volunteers to support participation, and providing advice for dance and fitness providers on inclusive practice.

A series of free community-based programmes will be piloted from Autumn 2021. These accessible sessions will be tailored to local communities, supporting blind and partially sighted people to learn to dance and to develop their potential.

Dance Dosti will monitor the impact of dance on a range of measures including mental and physical health, confidence, friendships, increasing independence and learning new skills. Learning from the programme will inform the development of more diverse, inclusive opportunities to be creative and active.

To take part in Dance Dosti digital visit: www.dancedosti.com

EXCEPTIONAL FULLY ACCESSIBLE PURPOSE BUILT 4 STAR SELF CATERING HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION IN BEAUTIFUL RURAL DORSET

Superbly equipped comfortable and tastefully furnished cottages, heated indoor splash pool (seasonal), recreation room and stunning views from the guest garden.

• Wet rooms • Mobile hoist • Shower chairs

For more details please call : 01258 818196 / 07751 062165 Email : admin@ellwoodcottages.co.uk. Website : www.ellwoodcottages.co.uk

The Northumberland Coast

by John Killick Boris, he said we can travel again, Yippee!!!

MY WIFEand I packed some sandwiches and a flask of coffee (well, we don’t yet feel like risking all the good done in the lockdowns by visiting the pub trade) packed the dog in the car and headed north through the Tyne tunnel. We started with a visit to Woodhorn Colliery and the Queen Elizabeth II Country Park.

The first stupidity of the day, we forgot to check opening times –Woodhorn Colliery is shut on Mondays and Tuesdays – it is Tuesday! Oh well, we will have a walk around the country park instead. As I have said before, country parks are free and, in this case, don’t even charge for parking! For all wheelchair users, this one has good hard paths, a lake of huge and beautiful proportions and is virtually flat! So, what is not to love about this country park? Well, I must admit that I didn’t spot any disabled loos! Still Sandy, our little spaniel, didn’t seem to mind about that! There was a huge lake to swim in and he could run in perfect safety off lead! Like I said, what is there not to like? Well, the poor gorilla pushing your wheelchair might not agree, right round the lake is about a twomile walk! Still, if, like my first wife, you believe you should have been named Tanni GreyThompson, it is pushable if your gorilla goes on strike! Well, that took care of the morning, where to now? Just up the coast is a castle, well three castles actually, the nearest being Warkworth. Now I appreciate that medieval castles are never going to be exactly disabled friendly, but it is a lovely day! This one at least Flat, easily pushable paths through Queens Elizabeth II has easy flat access to Country Park the Bailey but not the keep. The Bailey is flat and grassed, well mowed and will not be a problem. The site is run by English Heritage. There are parking fees, and the entry fees are high enough to put off many visitors, especially if you can’t get full access. However, if by now you are dying for a visit to the loo, the site

The lake at Queen Elizabeth II Country Park does have a very good

Inside Walkworth Castle

disabled loo in the carpark area.

We headed on up the coast with the intention of calling in at Craster. This is a small fishing harbour and is the place from which boat trips to the Farne Islands leave. It is also the home of Craster Kippers! The carpark is on your right as you approach and has adequate disabled parking. This is the nearest parking, so leave your car, cross the road and follow the pavement down a steep hill to the small harbour. This little harbour with its famous lifeboat station is extremely picturesque – don’t forget the camera! If you follow the road past the harbour and up the hill, you will find a pub and just opposite is Craster Kippers! These are world famous and I strongly recommend taking a couple home for your supper.

We now returned to the car and set off for the last of the three coastal castles! This one is still lived in and open to the public. It is also disabled friendly with parking near the gatehouse. Known locally as Mighty Bamburgh, this is a truly magnificent pile on top of its hill and well worth a visit in its own right. But it is not what we have come to see! Nor is it the Grace Darling Museum, even if it is disabledfriendly. No, we have come for something only locals know about, Bamburgh beach. Dog requires a run! Sorry but this is not accessible by wheelchair and would be difficult for the walking disabled as you have to traverse a wide strip of sand dunes to reach it. Still, please enjoy the photographs instead. From here, follow road signs to the A1 and Alnwick for the road home.

Bamburgh Castle from the beach showing severe sand dunes

Craster Harbour at low tide Ok all you people who think Brighton's pebble beach is a beach, THIS is a beach!

John Killick was the secretary of the Disabled Motorists Federation for over 20 years and was also the editor of 'The Way Ahead' magazine. He continues to be a freelance writer. He was born in Norfolk and brought up in Suffolk, married a Manx girl, and now lives in north east England.

Penguin Random House boosts RNIB library with thousands more audio books

ONE OF the world’s largest publishers, Penguin Random House has bolstered the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Talking Books Library by donating all its audio books to the charity.

The new collection currently includes around 6,000 titles and will be gradually added to RNIB’s Talking Book platform in instalments on an ongoing basis. Amongst the books to be uploaded are novels from some of the world’s best-selling authors, such as James Patterson, Lee Child and Sophie Kinsella.

Anna Tylor, Chair of RNIB and a regular RNIB Online Library user, said: “I am thrilled that Penguin Random House is boosting RNIB’s library collection. Talking Books are essential for thousands of blind and partially sighted people across the country who, like me, enjoy getting stuck into a good story.

“In the last year alone, we have provided 1.33 million Talking Books to blind and partially sighted people, so it’s fantastic that such a prestigious publishing house has gifted us its entire cache of audio books to grow our collection.”

Richard Lennon, Publisher, Penguin Random House Audio said: “At Penguin we are determined to make sure that everyone has access to books and that the joy of reading is truly accessible to all. We’re excited to be able to connect our books and authors with new audiences through the RNIB’s brilliant Talking Books service.”

RNIB produced the first audio book – or ‘Talking Book’ – in 1935. Since then, the charity has provided Talking Books in various formats to blind and partially sighted people across the UK for free, recording them in its own studios in Camden, London. Last year, RNIB launched a new online library offering people with sight loss instant access to thousands of free books in formats they can read – including audio. The library now has 33,000 Talking Books in its collection.

To become an RNIB Online Library member, please visit www.rnib.org.uk/reading-services or call the RNIB helpline on 0303 123 9999.

FOR INCLUSION AND EQUALITY

NOW is the time!

IAM SUREthat readers and subscribers to Ability Needs Magazine will agree that since March 2020, our lifestyles, health and wellbeing have been affected in many different ways by the Covid Pandemic.

During the last 16 months I have had the opportunity to be involved in numerous digital meetings with senior academic personnel all of whom are qualified in medicine, nursing or social care and two particular subjects have been raised during these discussions. Namely those of isolation and loneliness and how these can have a serious impact on physical and mental health, especially to disabled and elderly people.

Since MASIS became a Registered Charity in 2012 it has continued to focus on the importance of social inclusion and equality. The homepage of www.masis.org.uk clearly emphasises this message. MASIS has also continually attempted to network and collaborate with numerous relevant manufacturing and service providing companies and organisations. Regrettably as the subjects of social inclusion and equality do not have a medical condition or ‘visible’ disability attached to them the level of interest shown has until recently attracted minimal interest.

It was in early May 2021 that MASIS’s website took on a totally new image and more prominent search engine results arising (indirectly supported by the Google Ads Grant awarded to the charity in 2016). MASIS, (through its professional service providers and associated partnerships) can now offer business to business finance services, personal finance solutions, health and safety related expertise and products for use within home and workplace locations, adapted fashionwear for the disabled sector and specialised construction services capable of undertaking adaptations to housing or installing free-standing units allowing elderly and disabled people to live more independently.

More professional relationships are wanted, especially with companies associated with the motor trade. The government funded motoring facility for disabled people does not address the needs of all such individuals or their carers and effective personal transportation solutions can help reduce isolation and loneliness.

A NO-LOSE RESULT.

Proceeds from the purchase of products and services available from MASIS will be re-invested into supporting community-based projects for disabled people.

THANKYOU.

Peter Lyne Founder Mobility and Support Information Service (MASIS)

LOOKING FOR PARTNER, INVESTOR or MOBILITY COMPANY/MANUFACTURER

Hello, my name is Andrew Huntley.

I have recently designed a product that I feel would greatly improve the independence of power chair/electric wheelchair users who suffer from disabling hand conditions.

Prior to commencing my project I had a worldwide patent search undertaken by my patent solicitor which returned no match.

In early September I was informed by my patent solicitor that the UKIPO had completed their own worldwide patent search which also returned no match so at this stage I am very confident that a patent will be granted.

I am therefore looking for a sole partner, investor or mobility company/manufacturer to help bring my Idea to the disabled community.

If you are interested I would very much like to introduce my idea to you in the way of a professionally designed prototype with visualisation boards and would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and discuss further.

• NO MORE STRUGGLING TO REMOVE GLOVES/MITTENS TO RETRIEVE MONEY/KEYS etc • NO PA/CARER ASSISTANCE NEEDED • YOUR INDEPENDENCE TO TRAVEL ALONE RESTORED

( a simple one page non-disclosure paper to be signed prior to our meeting)

Please feel free to contact me via email andysigbuy@aol.co.uk or Tel 07726623671

Disability Awareness Day (DAD) 2021

THE organising team behind the UK’s largest voluntary led pan disability exhibition have been closely monitoring updates on guidance relating to COVID-19 Coronavirus.

Event co-ordinator Dave Thompson MBE DL said, “The health and safety of our visitors, exhibitors and our team is always our number one priority. This is particularly important given the communities that DAD involves. After consulting with Public Health and our Local Authorities Events Safety Team to ensure we can follow national and local guidance, we are pleased to confirm that our 30th annual event will go ahead on Sunday 12th September”.

The aim of this year’s event is to promote independent living through the theme “It’s what disabled people can do that matters”. #DAD2021 exhibitors will showcase solutions supporting independent living and mobility, with equipment, products, transport, employment, education, training, health and social care, leisure activities, alongside over 100 charities/support groups.

Most of this year’s exhibitors will be housed in a huge, tented village of marquees, which will be supported by a Sports Zone, a Centre Arena, a huge Performing Arts Marquee and a children’s play area.

On the day, visitors can gain an insight into the help and support that is available locally, regionally and nationally. They can “have a go” at sports activities including basketball, fencing, boccia, football, rugby league, boxing, cricket, tennis and scuba diving in the on-site pool.

For those looking for a more relaxed day we will have a fantastic line-up of talent in the Arts Marquee with some of the UK’s leading disabled artists, or they can sit alongside the Centre Arena watching dog display teams, birds of prey, bands and sports demonstrations. Children can visit the funfair rides or accessible onsite zoo, crazy golf, high ropes and pitch and putt.

Support services at #DAD2021 will include a free accessible Park and Ride service, free accessible buses from Warrington Town Centre, a free scooter and wheelchair loan service with trained enablers, British Sign Language interpreters, additional unisex wheelchair accessible toilets and over 100 trained stewards and helpers.

For any enquiries, please contact Warrington Disability Partnership on 01925 240064

CJ Conversions

- vehicle conversion specialists -

CJ CONVERSIONS are Lincolnshire's largest leading vehicle conversion specialists. With over 30 years experience, John founded the company back in 2003 and today leads a team of specialists in vehicle adaptations and conversions. Our technicians adhere to strict safety standards and all our installations and modifications are carried out in a manner consistent with the highest guidelines available in the industry.

We fit a wide range of products which can help with many different situations.

PUSH/PULL BRAKE/ACCELERATORS

The push/pull hand controls are usually operated with the fingertips while the thumb is on the wheel, allowing users to turn the vehicle and operate their acceleration and braking at the same time. Pulling operates the acceleration and Pushing operates the brake. There are options of an indicator switch on the top of hand controls, and we could also fit a Pedal Guard to ensure any pedals aren’t accidentally pressed.

SWIVEL SEATS

Swivel Seats are used for getting in and out of the vehicle by those who struggle with it. They are only available for specific vehicles, so we would need to check the specs of your vehicle for you. We would recommend 3-door cars if you are looking to have a Swivel Seat fitted, purely because the door openings are so much larger than 5-door cars!

The swivel seats are available manually (operated by a lever at the side of the seat) or Electronically (operated by remote). We also have the option of a Turny Evo which is programmed to move/swivel out of the vehicle at the optimum angles to allow for the most room. This seat actually comes out over the vehicle sill and can lower down –making it a great option for vans and 4×4’s!

LEFT FOOT ACCELERATORS

Left Foot Accelerators can be fitted to most vehicles however we will need to check their availability first. The most common system we fit is a Twin Flip Folding Left Foot Accelerator which allows you to flip a new accelerator on the left hand down, in turn flipping the old right foot accelerator back up. This allows for use of the vehicle with and without the adaptation. These are most commonly fitted for drivers who prefer to drive with their left foot, or who have little or no mobility in their right leg.

For further information please contact: C J Conversions Ltd, 2 Deacon Road, Lincoln LN2 4JB. Tel: 01522 576600 Email: info@cjconversions.co.uk