Disability

Department for Work and Pensions statistics indicate there are over 10 million disabled people in Britain, including those with limiting long-standing illness.

The 2001 Census determines 125,104 people in Lincolnshire or 19.3% – identifying themselves as having a limiting long term illness, with 27,719 describing themselves as permanently sick or disabled. 43.8% of people with a limiting long-term illness are of working age in the county.

Department for Work and Pensions statistics indicate there are over 10 million disabled people in Britain, including those with limiting long-standing illness. Disability in the UK is determined under the Equality Act of 2010, which defines disability as a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. The 2011 Census therefore from this definition determines that 27.1% of households in Lincolnshire have one person (or more) with a long-term disability and 16.7% of households contain someone with a long-term health problem or disability also contains dependent children. Within Lincolnshire only 9.43% were limited a lot in their daily activities, 10.94% were limited a little, while the clear majority with 79.62% were not limited at all in their daily activities due to their long term or permanent illness or disability.

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/disability/articles/disabilityinenglandandwales/2013-01-30

www.lincolnshireeastccg.nhs.uk/about-us/key-documents/equality-diversity-1/annual-equality-report-1/2014-1/appendices-1/912-appendix-1-1/file

www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/qs303ew

Better Links for carers with GPs Project Launches

After months of dedicated planning by a team of unpaid carers, the Better Links with GPs project is launching in July across Lincolnshire. The project aims to support GP practices by providing information and services for unpaid carers within their practice. There are currently around 66,000 people in Lincolnshire who spend a proportion of their life providing unpaid support to family members, a partner, a relative or a friend. “Our GP is the 1st person we contact when we need clinical expertise. They support both the patient and the carer, medically. The project provides an invaluable service that the GP can refer the Carer to, covering practical and emotional issues, respecting and valuing them in their caring role. Many carry on in isolation never knowing that support is available which makes this a project so needed by all!” Says Pauline Mountain a former carer in Lincolnshire. This project has been led by carers for carers. ‘Franks Model’ named after one pioneering volunteer, is the benchmark for practices to support carers and includes simple steps GPs surgeries can take. These include having a carers’ notice board, having a carers register, handing out carers’ information packs and recognising who is a carer within their practice. The project will go further than awareness raising of carers though to give GPs a new pathway to refer into carers support. Carers will be offered a carers assessment, the emergency response plan, specialist benefits advice, emotional support, access to employment, learning and leisure activities and much more. Carers who receive support in their caring role are much less likely to experience carer breakdown and continue to support their loved one without causing their own health to deteriorate The Carer is supported through the carers assessment to identify any additional services they would like, this could include where to find out more about the condition, how to access emotional and practical support and may include referrals being made on their behalf for the cared for, taking away many of the stresses associated with caring. If you or someone you know would like to know more about the support available for carers in Lincolnshire, please contact Aimee Holland on 01522 812 830 or 07787 240 079 or email [email protected].
Jan The Government has launched a consultation on draft guidance on matters to be taken into account in determining whether or not an employee is disabled under the Equality Act 2010.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities

The EHRC has published an important document in relation additional rights for People with Disabilities which goes beyond DDA and has additional rights to the DDA and the Single Equality Act. The UK government has signed up to it. It can be used to challenge authorities on numerous issues disabled people face. Unfortunately It is quite a lengthy document (I will endeavour to do a cheat sheet) in the mean time the Easy Read version may make it more presentable for most (also attached). The UK government has signed up to it. It can be used to challenge authorities on numerous issues disabled people face. Unfortunately it is quite a lengthy document (I will endeavour to do a cheat sheet) in the mean time the Easy Read version may make it more presentable for most (also attached). To view document in full visit Equality & Human Rights Website.

Disability Etiquette

Useful document giving the do’s and don’ts of what to say (and what not to say) when communicating with someone who is disabled or when discussing disability in general. See Download section.

Fix the Web

Fix the Web – Addressing web accessibility for disabled people Poor standards of web accessibility mean many disabled people are excluded from using big parts of the internet. The solution offered by ‘FIX THE WEB’ is to make it super easy for disabled and older people to report problems with websites. Volunteers do the work of contacting the website owners and signposting them to support. In doing this work, volunteers will understand more about e-accessibility for themselves, as well as giving crucial information to website owners. Everybody wins!