News

UCan2’s Jenni Meredith on the legacy of disability activist Professor Mike Oliver, and the future of disability rights in the UK under new Disabilities Minister Justin Tomlinson as Brexit looms...

In March this year, Professor Mike Oliver, a fiery disabled activist and the man who changed mainstream attitudes with his social model of disability, sadly died.
He was the person largely responsible for forcing the UK Government to adopt anti-discrimination legislation in the form of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), yet was disappointed with the Act when it finally appeared on the statue books.

An exciting new funding partnership will see dedicated investment of £270,000 ring-fenced specifically to help children with disabilities across the UK.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children have joined forces to offer talented post- doctorial researchers the opportunity to compete for a pioneering three- year fellowship award.

The partnership, launched earlier this week at RCPCH’s annual conference in Birmingham, will enable the chosen recipient to have a real impact on the lives and health of children with disabilities across the UK.

Blenheim is working with an Oxfordshire-based farming charity to host working visits for people with learning disabilities and autism.

A team of co-farmers from FarmAbility will be making regular visits to the Blenheim Estate to assist in a variety of hands-on animal and land-based activities.

The initiative is part of a series of community-based charitable programmes supported by Blenheim as part of its goal to double its charitable contributions within a decade.

FarmAbility is a farm-based programme for co-farmers, who are people over the age of 16 with learning disabilities and often also with autistic spectrum disorder.

WheelPower, the national charity for wheelchair sport, recently welcomed 136newly paralysed men and women representing 15 spinal injury units from across the United Kingdom and Ireland to the 32nd Inter Spinal Unit Games at Stoke Mandeville Stadium from 9-11 April 2019.

Some had never played sports before, and each person had a different story to share as to how they became paralysed, yet all were willing to give the 26 different sports and physical activity sessions a try, before entering competition sports between the Spinal Unit teams. The flagship event finally culminated in a gala dinner and awards ceremony for all the participants, sports leaders and supporters of the event to celebrate the achievements and effort of all the participants and winners. 

Becoming a foster parent is something that has the power to change a child’s life - particularly if that child is living with a disability.

Although becoming a foster parent may seem daunting, it is also a hugely rewarding experience, and there is plenty of support available to help you on your way. 

Scope’s fostering service specialises in pairing up disabled children and young people with foster families, and find a solution that works for you.

Although fostering is a step that will have a long-lasting effect on your day-to-day life, it is also an opportunity to transform a child’s life, to give them a chance to experience a safe, comfortable, and loving upbringing.

Two outstanding people from Group SRS (Scottish Recruitment Solutions) have been shortlisted for a Care at Home & Housing Support Award from Scottish Care. Jill Summers and Gail Millar are finalists for the prestigious awards which recognises individuals and teams from around the country for delivering exceptional care.

A CARE home resident has rekindled her love of singing after joining a choir dedicated to raising awareness of Parkinsons disease.

Barbara Millican thought she would never sing in a choir again after moving into Hazelgrove Court Care Home, in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, in October 2017.

However, the home’s activities coordinator, Sharon Lewis, found the Tremeloes Parkinson’s Choir, which both she and Barbara have since joined.

The choir, named after the tremors those with Parkinson’s experience, recently performed at Saltburn Community Centre as part of Parkinson’s Awareness Week.

Barbara said: “I like being part of a choir, just like before I lived at Hazelgrove. It’s lovely to be able to perform again as well.”

A teenage girl with a condition that makes it hard for her to communicate can now express her wants and needs thanks to the intervention of a social worker who supported an application for a specialist communication aid through Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children.

PATH TO SUCCESS SPONSORED WHEELCHAIR TENNIS CHAMPIONS, JORDANNE WHILEY AND LUCY SHUKER, CELEBRATE DOUBLE TITLE SUCCESS AT BUSAN OPEN

British athletes, Jordanne Whiley and Lucy Shuker are celebrating double title success after sweeping the board in the women’s singles and doubles at the ITF 2 Busan Open over the weekend. The pair won the doubles title before Jordanne clinched the singles title in the first of three elite tournaments in Korea this month.