Deaf people could be a step closer to a much-needed modernisation of the systems that allow them to make phone calls after a minister said last week that Ofcom wanted "the introduction of additional r...
A British soldier who lost his sight in Iraq is being taught to 'see' with his tongue, using a revolutionary new device. Craig Lundberg, 24, who was blinded in a rocket-propelled grenade attack three...
Guide dogs are to be available for visually-impaired children in the UK due to the age limit being removed. The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association will now be training dogs to help blind or partiall...
Having low vitamin D levels may increase a person's risk of developing Parkinson's disease later in life, say Finnish researchers. Their study of 3,000 people, published in Archives of Neurology, fou...
One of the architects of the new sickness benefit system has warned it would be a mistake to start introducing it nationwide from the end of this month because of serious ongoing problems with the med...
Responding to the Life Opportunities Survey published by the Office of National Statistics earlier today, Guy Parckar, Acting Director of Policy and Campaigns at Leonard Cheshire Disability, said: "...
The government's own benefits advice body has delivered stinging criticism of its major reforms to disability living allowance. The social security advisory committee (SSAC) said the reforms appeared...
The fears of disabled people about the future of the Independent Living Fund (ILF) have been confirmed by the announcement that the fund is to close by 2015. The ILF, set up in 1988, provides money t...
Hydrotherapy Pool and Specialist Power-assisted Therapy Gym News update 8th February 2011 We are delighted to update you with recent developments and to let you know what we will be doing in the co...
The grandson of the speech therapist who helped King George VI deal with his stammer is backing a campaign to protect his legacy from spending cuts. Having already seen services slashed by up to 30% ...
Trevor Phillips 'sickened' by Commons 'mockery' of MP Mr Phillips said the Speaker should look into the matter Equalities chief Trevor Phillips has told the BBC he felt "physically sick" at reports ...
Elderly and vulnerable to be given personal budgets to pay for care as West Berkshire Council reacts to budget cut FIVE day centres in West Berkshire which care for elderly and vulnerable people are ...
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Campaigners have welcomed an independent review of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA, but have warned that the system for determining whether or not people are capable of being moved off benefits an...
Incapacity Benefit and Housing Benefit are to be scrapped and merged into a single ‘universal credit’ as part of a £9bn reform of the welfare system, according to reports. The Times reports that the ...
It's not the coalition government's fault that disabled people have been demonised as 'cheats' and 'scroungers' under moves to reform the welfare state, the Minister for Disabled People has said. Inst...
Almost 90 per cent of people favour an extension of the winter fuel allowance to severely disabled people under the age of 60, a survey has found. The survey was carried out by the disability charit...
The Government has once again indicated that Attendance Allowance may be rolled up into a national social care service, contributing to fears that the allowance may disappear. In its published respon...
The newly elected chair of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Work and Pensions, Anne Begg, has spoken out against recent government proposals to reform the benefit system. Speaking to Disability ...
The Independent Living Fund's (ILF's) decision to restrict new applications for financial support to disabled people who work more than 16 hours a week undermines the government's commitment to advanc...
A disabled woman has spoken out about how vulnerable she feels giving her chip and PIN credit card and number to petrol station staff because of stations’ inaccessibility. Linda Guttridge of Woodly, ...
Healthy living comes to the Ormonde Centre The Council’s Ormonde Resource Service at the Ormonde Centre on Newbury College campus, which provides a user-led reource supporting people with a wide r...
Terptree was established in September 2006 to provide local interpreting services to local people. Although terptree is primarily focused on providing interpreting services, we are a business with a ...
ROUND TABLE SUPPORT THE ORMONDE CENTRE Hungerford Round Table recently donated £1000 to FORS (Friends of Ormonde Resource Services) towards the cost of upgrading their Optimusic system. The Ormond...
Disabled travellers are often forced to pay more for an “inconsistent and inaccessible” public transport system, according to a new report. End Of The Line, conducted by Muscular Dystrophy Campaign g...
Unique 'must be there' Newbury Disability Event on 15th April 'Rising above ourselves' West Berkshire Disability Alliance is pleased to be sponsoring and promoting a free, ticket only, unique and ...
THE Government is today being urged to look again at how inheritance tax could help fund a better care system and stop older people losing their home to pay for a care home place. The call comes fro...
SINCE the start of the war in Iraq 170 young British men have been killed in combat. In that time, 6,729 young men aged 15-34 have killed themselves in Britain. At a time when suicide is one of the b...
DISABLED people – with a physical or visual impairment – are being given the chance to drive around the Silverstone circuit. Motorsport Endeavour are holding their second annual drive day at the home...
FIVE disability organisations are set to share in a major cash injection from Big Lottery Fund's BASIS (Building and Sustaining Infrastructure Support) programme. More than £1.8 million is to be inve...
Complaints that the children's presenter Cerrie Burnell is 'scaring children' reveal an alarming prejudice towards disability ... from adults. Nine official complaints have so far been lodged with th...
I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about Feel Good Fortnight which is an initiative being coordinated by the West Berkshire Health and Wellbeing Partnership. It aims to raise awareness...
The Corn Exchange has joined forces with the award winning charity Living Paintings to form a new group for blind and partially sighted people that will meet once a month to experience art, architectu...
Some “corporate” disability charities are perpetuating barriers to disability equality, activists have told a debate. The disability charity RADAR organised last week’s debate in London to discuss wh...
Leading disabled campaigners have urged the government to provide a cohesive independent living support plan for more vulnerable disabled groups following a government announcement on changes to the D...
The Queen’s Speech, brought forward several new pieces of legislation that will affect disabled people. The welfare reform bill will introduce far more stringent conditionality for those in receipt of...
Skills for Care we are helping to identify the training needs of personal assistants (PAs). They will look at what training is on offer already, and what is not, and what can be done to help your PA ...
Design a logo for West Berkshire Learnung Disability Partnership Follow this link for a poster and details...
Invitation to LINks Information Events Invitation to LINks Information Events...
Adult Care, Information & Advice Support Group “Talking helps” “Am I doing the best I can?” “ Who can help?” “I want to save time” “I want to find out if caring is for me” “I want to make my...
Do you care for a family member or for a friend? Would you like to hear from experts about staying healthy fit and well? Would you like to meet socialy with others to share your experiences? Do you...
The Conference is for people who use, plan or run social care services. This year the theme of the conference is Excelence In Social Care. They are hoping that people who use social care take part as ...
Disability payout for checkout discrimination A former Sky News anchor has won undisclosed damages for disability discrimination after he was discriminated against at a store checkout. Tim Arnold, 4...
Getting Ready for LINks! A new way to have your say on health and social care matters By Spring/Summer 2008, West Berkshire will have a Local Involvement Network (or LINk) which will give local peop...
Rotary has agreed to fund a disabled young person on a special project in memory of one of our Rotarians who did so much work with the Disabled RYLA. A place has been booked on the Jubilee Sailing ...
The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) has published the names of more than 60 public authorities which have failed to produce a disability equality scheme. Despite a deadline of December last year a...
Wendy Evans from Cullompton in Devon spent the last forty years struggling with single sided hearing loss until she had a life changing Baha - a bone conduction hearing implant operation this time las...
'West Berkshire Disability Alliance (WBDA) is currently looking for someone with a disability or has an interest in the issues surrounding disability to take on the role of Secterary for the charity. ...
As from 1st April Millbrook Healthcare will be the wheelchair service contractor. Their address is Millbrook Healthcare, 2 Maxted Court, Maxted Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP2 7BL. Telephone: 087...
What is the Disability Equality Duty? The Disability Equality Duty is part of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). It came into effect on December 4 this year and requires public sector organi...
Disability rules come into force Public organisations could face legal action if they fail to consider the needs of disabled people. The new Disability Equality Duty, which comes into force on Mond...
The Royal National Institute for the Blind have launched a campaign for the MP's to sign an early day motion on the 4th December to increase the DLA mobility component for visually impaired people. H...
Surveys, events and opportunitys for people to get involved and have a say about local issues or services in West Berkshire. Click here to read more on the West Berkshire Council web site....
Open Doors Project "Opening doors for Disabled Learners wishing to return to work" Is there something stopping you from taking the course you really want to do? Do you feel you need a bit ...
22nd february 2000 Subject: New British Red Cross Community Response Vehicle In Thames Valley An exciting new service that has been started in your area by the British Red Cross. British Red Cro...
More older and disabled people benefit from advice, thanks to national Helpline's new, improved telephone system. More older and disabled people are able to obtain advice from the Disabled Living Fou...
Extract from a letter sent to the Disabilty Alliance Dear Blue Badge Holder Access to Kennet Centre Multi-Storey Car Park The Council understands that the Blue Badge scheme covers a wide range of p...
Jobcentre Plus: 'We Can Help' Jobcentre Plus, the government's employment and benefits organisation that works to help people obtain and keep work, has launched a DVD to advertise its services for d...
Lives could be saved and disability reduced if stroke was always treated as a medical emergency, according to the Stroke Association. The charity is calling on the public to act FAST if they suspect a...
A tremendous district-wide effort has resulted in the funding of a talking sign system that helps visually-impaired people find their way around. REACT has been successfully installed in many city ce...