RUGBY DISABILITY FORUM
Chair: David Foster – Tel: 01788 544991 Secretary: John Burrell – Tel 01788 533796
on Tuesday 26th February 2008
1. David welcomed everyone and introduced Joy Hadley.
2. Joy is the Integration Co-ordinator at Rugby College and she advised that David is a consultant to the college on disability issues. The new Rugby College will be fully compliant with the DDA.
The college treats everyone equally and Joy’s role is to find out individuals needs so that the college can help. Over 500 students with 15% having some form of disability. Joy and her colleagues have helped students with mental health problems, hard of hearing, autism, hyper active disorder, dyslexia and epilepsy. If a students disability is disclosed and discussed at the outset the college can help. Joy’s colleague Debbie gave an example of how a student with poor vision obtained help to purchase magnification software in order to use a laptop and complete an I.T. course.
Q - Could MIND have contact details for group members to be able to purchase specialist I.T. equipment?
A - If students attend college via an initial meeting with Joy she can help. Joy is happy to attend a MIND group meeting to discuss specific issues.
Q - How do you advertise the service?
A - All local schools are visited and discussions with disabled students wanting further education. Also have open days.
Q - Could be an opportunity here for community tutoring
A - Accepted that this is a very good way of communicating with groups, however Government funding has been removed.
Some members of the Forum had experiences of what an excellent job Joy and her colleagues are doing at Rugby College. David thanked Joy for an interesting presentation.
3. Present
D Foster |
|
Andrew Cowan |
Committee RDF |
Derek Hillman |
Committee RDF |
Sue Hillman |
Committee RDF |
Tony |
Rugby Resident |
Peter Elliott |
Citizen |
Clem |
RSDA |
George Farthing |
Individual |
Guide Posts Carer Support |
|
Trysha Blunn |
Voluntary Sector |
Harry Mossop |
Police |
Jean Box |
Member |
Lionel |
|
Daphne Johnson |
W.I. Association |
Patsy Newsam |
W.I. Association |
Marion Hersey |
Member |
Geoff Wilde |
RDF |
John Hicks |
RDF |
Debbie Bergin |
Warwickshire College |
Joy Hadley |
Warwickshire College |
Maria Drake |
Blind Person |
Tony Waffenden |
Blind Person |
S & K S Ranu |
|
Christine Whitehouse |
Rugby Bareboards Trust |
Susanna Vandervelden |
Rent Mobility |
Pat Clarke |
|
J Burrell |
RBC |
3. Apologies Jack Lawton, Clare Montague, Desiree Lambert, Sarah Gibbons, Brian Edwards, Martin Eversfield, Joyce Jordan, Pam Jones, Chris McAthey, Joyce Carter, Gloria and Asseia Rafique.
4. Minutes Agreed
5. Reports
Committee – Alan Markland (WCC) attended the meeting to discuss walks for disabled people, particularly circular routes on rights of way/footpaths and asked for ideas for routes. Andrew advised that the Web Cam is not yet ready for people at home to participate. Icilin gave an update on the Race and Disability Group. There is to be a big do! on the 19th April at the West Indian Association, with some speakers, where the focus will be on illnesses that seem to be more prevalent in black people – why do so many black Caribbean people suffer with schizophrenia. Different groups can have stalls on the day – food available and all welcome.
Drop Kerbs – JB advised everyone that this initiative is being held up. JB wrote to Martin in November last year thanking him for all the work he has previously done on drop kerbs and asked for the return of all the data and the Forums camera and followed this up with various phone calls, however we have not received them yet! Derek has agreed to take on this initiative when we receive the information from Martin. Derek will do a plan of where we are and what we could do next. We are conscious that we need to address problems in villages. Geoff agreed to do a survey of the whole of Hillmorton Road from the Recreation Ground. Next year Bilton Road, followed by Clifton Road. If any member is aware of frequently used routes used by disabled people that could be included in the plan, please contact David or John. JB agreed to try and obtain large scale plans of the Town Centre.
Race & Disability Group – Icilin gave details of the event on 19th April. Flyers will be available near the time.
RBC Equality Impact Assessments – JB and David attended a seminar that RBC are holding for all their managers so that they can carry out assessments of all their policies/procedures. David confirmed that RBC are not just ticking boxes but carrying out the necessary work and educating their officers.
6. Any Other Business
Ribble Prints – David and the Forums lawyer met with the legal representative of WCC who agreed to carry out Equality Impact Assessments on all the humps and bumps in Warwickshire.
David yesterday attended a meeting about transport to hospitals held by NHS and WCC. There is now a bus every half hour, every weekday from Rugby to Walsgrave Hospital which takes about 40 minutes. For details telephone Ben Hobday – De Courcey Travel – 024 7630 2656. Mike De Courcey Coaches have 3 fully wheelchair accessible coaches that can be hired by disability groups for specific outings (48 wheelchair capacity). David has a meeting with the bus company to see whether he can access the bus with his small scooter. If anyone would like to accompany David then please contact him.
Blue Badge Holders – no free parking at Walsgrave – nothing happening at present. Rugby MIND have had discussions with the hospital and Gordon is to let David have details. Parking at St.Cross – will eventually have to pay, however at the moment they have no money to put the policy into practice so that at the moment it is still free parking for blue badge holders.
Sue asked whether it was possible to get someone to give a presentation about Pie Clinics. David asked Sue to obtain contact details and JB will try and arrange it.
Problems with car parking on Church Street and Clifton Road bus parking areas, making it impossible for disabled people to access the buses. George agreed to write down what is happening and highlighting problems for David to take up with RBC.
Christine Whitehouse gave a brief explanation about Rugby Bareboards Trust which gives small financial help to disabled people. For more information telephone Christine on 01788 547358.