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Importance of taking part in activities when you have a disability

Activities when you have a disability

The term disability covers a wide range of conditions and impairments, but it can be anything which can affect a person’s everyday living. This can include mental, physical, cognitive or developmental impairments. 

It is important that people living with a disability have access to a wide variety of activities which help to improve their everyday quality of life. 

 

Physical Wellbeing

Physical exercise can be a huge challenge for someone who is living with a disability, and this is not just restricted to those with limited mobility. Exercise can seem like a daunting task which is why inclusive sports and activities should be offered widely in the community. 

Giving Peace Of Mind That Loved Ones Are In A Safe Environment

Kinderkey safe environment

The Bearhugzzz SpaceSaver Bed provides a soft, yet strong and safe environment for sleep, play and relaxation. Suitable for vulnerable children and adults, it is designed to accommodate the needs of people with autism, Angelman syndrome, epilepsy, challenging behaviour and multiple learning difficulties.

It can help to eliminate poor sleep patterns and provide safety for those who wake during the night. A major benefit is the bed’s ability to withstand vigorous behaviour, thanks to its soft padded sides which protect the user against injury. The steel walls are covered by soft foam with a waterproof, wipe- clean, antimicrobial fabric that is available in a range of beautiful patterns and colours.

Training Provider Launches Mental Health First Aid England Training Course

Mental Health First Aid England Training Course

Statistics released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that 526,000 workers suffered from work related stress, depression or anxiety in 2016/17, with 12.5m working days lost. In response to this and the growing need for having trained Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) in the workplace, Health and Safety Training / Consultancy provider Live For Work has launched its first course centred around the mental health and well-being of workers.

The MHFA England training course is designed to teach people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide help on a first-aid basis.

NewVIc dedicated in book about battling severe dyslexia

Front cover of dyslexia book

Expert support and dedication changed Harvinder's life. In the past class teachers may have been confused by the student whose consistent underachievement seems due to what may look like carelessness or lack of effort. Harvinder enrolled at NewVIc in 2010 to the Level 2 Childcare course. He demonstrated a huge passion for working with children. During his initial interview he raised concerns about his struggles with reading and writing. Having had no previous assessments, he was assessed and diagnosed as being one of the most severely dyslexic students at NewVIc.

Majestic Bingo breaks fundraising record for children’s charity, Variety

Majestic Bingo breaks fundraising record

Dizzying abseils, skydives, log flume marathons, bike rides and raft races are just a few of the exciting activities customers of Majestic Bingo Limited indulged in to raise money for Variety, the Children’s Charity. 

The 16 bingo clubs of Majestic Bingo Limited raised a grand total of £132,063.81 over four years for Variety. The average sum of money raised per club has been over £2,000, each year, every year, for four years – the highest of any bingo organisation supporting Variety, the industry’s nominated charity.

Of this feat, Mark Jepp, Managing Director of Majestic Bingo, said: “It’s all down to our dedicated clubs and their generous customers, we can’t thank them enough. 

An accessibility guide to Arundel Castle

Arundel Castle Tulip Maze

Arundel Castle in West Sussex is both an ancient castle and a stately home. Set high on a hill, the Castle has commanded the striking landscape of the South Downs for nearly ten centuries. 

Access to the Castle 

There is Blue Badge allocated parking in the car park near the Ticket Office, which is at the bottom of the hill at the main entrance. There is level access to the Ticket Office, however a steep incline to reach the Castle. A buggy is available to take visitors up the hill and can be arranged by asking a member of staff upon arrival at the Ticket Office. 

Self-assessing back pain by app just as effective as traditional methods, study shows

man with back pain

Patients can assess their own back pain using an app on their phone or tablet as effectively as current paper methods, a new study from the University of Warwick has shown.

The study, published in the open access journal Journal of Medical Internet Research, demonstrates that digital versions of established measurements for assessing back pain are just as reliable and responsive, opening the possibility for their use by patients for routine measurements and clinical trials.

The researchers see this study as a necessary first step in the greater use of digital media in clinical settings, in light of recent calls for greater use of such technology by healthcare providers.

Older People's Charity Offers New Long-Term Health Conditions Guide

Older People's Charity Offers New Long-Term Health Conditions Guide

With 58 per cent of people over 60 living with long-term health conditions* Independent Age, the older people’s charity, has been listening to older people who have been advising on the issues they regularly deal with but find difficult to manage. Working with older people plus GPs and other health professionals the charity has developed a new advice guide to address their needs.  

OxSight extends range of smart glasses with launch of OxSight Crystal™

Family buying OxSight glasses

UK-based technology start-up OxSight has launched a new smart glasses device for people with visual impairments. The new OxSight Crystal glasses, like the existing OxSight Prism glasses, use revolutionary image interpretation technology and algorithms to enhance the remaining sight for people with peripheral vision loss and make users feel more confident in their surroundings. Both OxSight Crystal and OxSight Prism have been approved as medical devices, and are available through eye health clinicians across the UK. The OxSight Crystal glasses were officially launched at an OxSight community event in London on 24th November. 

We wish you an autism friendly Christmas: helping those with autism during the festive season

autism friendly Christmas

Bright twinkling lights, carols, meeting new people, eating different foods...sound like a perfect Christmas? For people on the autistic spectrum, Christmas can be a stressful time and not the welcome break that most people enjoy. For most people these are things that make Christmas so special, however, for an individual with autism these are the very factors that make Christmas so difficult and a time to get through as quickly as possible. 

Appello launches new app, tackles social isolation

Man suffering from social isolation until introduced to the AppelloApp

Today, as part of its digital service, Smart Living Solutions, Appello launches its app, the AppelloApp​, to help older people remain safe and secure in their own homes, whilst staying connected.

The AppelloApp allows residents to video call their friends and neighbours, and manage video door entry without leaving the comfort of their armchairs – decreasing the likelihood of falls and accidents. The app will also provide a medication reminder hub, allowing residents to take ownership of their medication schedule and providing reassurance to their family and caregivers.

How A WC Is Helping One Man Get His Privacy Back

WC Closmat Asana

When electrician Kyle McAdam Whyte arranged to go out with friends four years ago, he little realised the consequences: it would involve him losing even his ability to go to the loo without help.

The car in which he was passenger was involved in an accident, which left Kyle unconscious and with life-changing injuries. High level spinal damage has left him unable to do most things for himself- even daily activities such as going to the toilet. So, he has used some of his compensation to adapt his family home, and install the latest in smart toilet technology- a Closomat Asana.

Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium launches £30,000 Changing Places fundraising campaign

Family happy about the Changing Places fundraising campaign

Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium has launched a £30,000 public appeal to fund the installation of a registered Changing Places toilet, an essential facility for many people with disabilities.

This new fundraising campaign was launched by Finn from Twyford, who has cerebral palsy, his family, and Steve Brine MP – Minister for Public Health and Primary Care.

Designed, Sealed, Delivered - The Blackwood Design Awards

The Blackwood Design Awards

THE SEARCH to find the brightest and best innovations to help people with disabilities has been launched by a leading care provider. The Blackwood Design Awards are an annual celebration of cutting edge designs and adaptations which help people with disabilities live life independently.

The Awards are open to all, with talented amateurs having as much chance of success as a seasoned pro, as both simple and high-tech designs are welcome.

It boasts a rich history of success, with previous entries including the ‘S’up Spoon’, which enables people with shaky hands to eat more easily, as well as a design for glasses which allow visually impaired runners to follow a running track.

A new twist on Beauty and the Beast at Unity Theatre this Christmas

Beauty and the Beast at Unity Theatre

Unity Theatre, Action Transport Theatre and DaDaFest look at an age-old fairy tale classic with new eyes this Christmas, from 30 November to 5 January at Unity Theatre. If you think you know Beauty and the Beast - think again! Friendship – not just love – is in the air, as our two central characters take the form of two unlikely friends who put their differences aside in this heart-warming festive production.

Recognising the early signs before you’re burned out

Recognising the early signs before you’re burned out

According to HSE, around 15.4 million working days are lost due to work related stress in 2017 with 595,000 British workers suffering from Mental Health issues such as depression and anxiety over the last 12 months with 239,000 new cases. Further research by the CIPD and SimplyHealth found presenteeism had more than tripled from 26 per cent in 2010 to 86 per cent in 2018 and was associated with rising stress levels. Following these recent statistics, Instant Offices shows what the early signs of suffering burnout and how to effectively avoid hitting rock bottom.

Chapterful launches the UK’s first personalised children’s book which includes a wheelchair option

UK’s first personalised children’s book which includes a wheelchair option

THE UK’s first personalised children’s book to include a wheelchair option has launched in the UK.

Where Next, Teddy? from Chapterful puts children at the heart of their own night-time adventure. Not only is the story personalised with the protagonist’s name featured throughout, the main character can be customised depending on the recipient’s features, including hair colour and whether they wear glasses. 

It is also includes the option to sit the child in a wheelchair – the first for a British personalised children’s book.  

Louis Porter of publishers Chapterful said: “We wanted to create a beautifully illustrated children’s book that puts the recipient right at the heart of the story.

Department of Health and Social Care to launch care worker recruitment pilot to inform a national campaign

DHSC

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is launching a month-long pilot communications programme to promote jobs in the adult social care sector. The pilot starts October 31st and is taking place in Gloucestershire and Tyne and Wear. This will test and identify the optimal marketing channels in different geographical locations to inform a national campaign in early 2019.