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Petition Tag - disabled
I am proposing a plan to obtain disabled accessible seating in the student section of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Currently, physically disabled students must sit in the accessible seating section for non student fans, including the fans of the opposing team.
A student section at a sporting event is one of the most visible and most vocal sections of the sports crowd. The student section is the most important part of the fan base and provides a significant advantage to the home team. Excluding students from participating in the student section is detrimental to the student's social growth and well being. Similar to students of different race, religion and political beliefs, disabled students suffer significant discrimination in many forms. By not including physically disabled students with their peers, is just one more form of discrimination.
2. Making Companies and WCB Pay and Change 
It is time to stop companies from hiding behind Section 44 of the WCB act when it comes to their permanently injured employees. It's time for them to step up and pay the compensation that injured workers deserve.
We can't allow WCB to cut off workers just because they are permanently disabled or deny workers compensation just because they want to protect employers and keep rates low.
3. Change the website "God hates Goths"
"God hates Goths" may well be a joke site, but there is still some risk of someone taking it seriously and/or using those sorts of hate language when around the people whom it could offend.
There is a disclaimer about how it is a satire at one place in the site, but I think that they should really put a disclaimer of some sort on every page, ideally at the top of every page. That way, anyone who happens to get on to any of its pages will know that this is a satirical joke and they should not take it seriously.
"The greatest threat to today's society is the rise of the gothic subculture. Goth is a sinister and violent subculture obsessed with Satanism, Wicca, Vampirism, BDSM, rape, child abuse, Hitler, bondage, sick sexual perversions, serial killers, death, drugs, self mutilation and other sick practices to vile to mention. Goth's are the Devil's Children. In my opinion, Goths are more dangerous to children than pedophiles"
“So let's be straight here. Goths are the lowest form of human trash that has ever crawled upon this good clean earth. 'Garbage people' I call them, and I can assure you that is what they are. Freaks who worship the Devil, who take drugs and molest children, who have pre-marrital sex, who whore themselves, who are obsessed with Vampirism, and abuse handicapped kids, who promote cross-dressing and underaged homosexuality, who behave like wild violent animals that need to be put down, who cut themselves and try to get others to self harm, degrade themselves and attempt suicide and think it is acceptable behaviour. I rate them as detestable as those worthless cerebal palsy retarded creatures they plant at the entrance to Walmart, to welcome shoppers.” "Duuu... welllcuummm... too... wullmart... Duuuuu...". “Because let's face facts here, they are equally as pathetic and repulsive.”
“See, we are at war here. War against the Hell that Earth is becoming. Crack addicted children on the streets, the whores, vampires, Goths, the mentally handicapped, retarded demons with spina bifida and cerebal palsy, mongeloids that behave like wild animals that are prone to sexually gratifying themselves in public, pathetic excuses for humans with brains like dogs, and homosexuals. What kind of a world is this ? That fags can marry and spread their disease ridden seed ? That is why send Aids to cure their kind. Why even now God is preparing for war. Why he sent the Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and why he will send many many more atrocities upon this pathetic World. Because we have turned from him, and like a good father he will scold us for it.”
“God is angry with us. Furious that we let open Satanists walk freely among us when the Bible teaches we should be burning them, and we WILL be punished for disobeying our God. He will send calamity after calamity upon you heathens, and he will mock you when you die. Halleluja!”
“These are signs that the end is near, my friends. Just look at the state of our World, that we are over-run with satanic pieces of trash like you. But make no mistake, we will fight this evil head-on by any means at our disposal, with the direct blessing of God himself. Our God, who drowned the wicked world in the great flood, and spared but one man who was worthy. Our God, who cleansed the cities at Sodom and Gomorrah with fire from the skies, wiping out fags and adulterers and idolators. We are all ready and willing to die for our God. I find it quite pathetic that you are all so blind.”
“Goths in my opinion are more dangerous to Children than pedophiles, and need serious psychiatric help. The sooner Goths realise what they have is nothing short of mental illness, the better for everyone concerned.”
“What we can offer you here is ten year of experience in educating young people, such as yourself, about the dangers of the Gothic subculture, and the role that heavy satanic music plays in destroying lives (and brain-cells).”
“If you want to go on being lead around by your nose-rings, then ignore the message of salvation this website offers you. If you want to seek repentance and a new lease of life, that only Jesus Christ can offer you, now is your chance for recovery.” “Our own Rev RG Green estimates that 99.999% of ALL women born today are heading straight to Hell!” “The truth is that so many women are turning away from God, and ignoring important Bible teachings about how they should act, how they should dress, how they should know their places!”
“Though the fact of the matter is that while Bible teaches us MAN will be reunited with his maker. NOWHERE in the Bible does it say that women go to Heaven! In fact we do not even know if women have souls to save! While the Bible teaches God gave MAN an immortal soul, and made woman FOR him, NOWHERE in the Bible does it talk about God giving dogs, cats OR WOMEN a soul!”
“Many people write to me to complain about my Churches views on Handicapped children. They tell me I must be 'wrong in the head' to think this way. That retards are just 'people too'! Do you know that many of these worthless freaks actually believe God created these ugly limbless monsters? I find that highly insulting even to suggest such blasphemy. So I have decided to create this 'God Hates Retards' section, so that people can understand that I am merely trying to educate them into the Bible truths about these vile and repulsive dumb animals. If every filthy retard dropped down dead tomorrow Jesus would weep tears of joy! When a retard dies, God laughs!” The group who supposedly run this site - Parents Against Goth" - claim to be peaceful. I ask you, does any of this hatred sound peaceful to you?
Goths are not always evil; it's just that they have a bad name. I have met at least one of them in my life. Nighttime is not always bad. Remember, Jesus was born in the night. Anyone who has ever worked with someone who has a learning disability will know what great stuff they are capable of. The use of the word "retard" against them is both hateful and ignorant. Women DO have souls. Nowhere in the Bible does it actually say that they don't, and they are God's people, too. "He made them all, both male and female". Look at all of the great, charitable and helpful people in history that were women.
Please remember that, if God does exist (which I believe He does), He is probably a god of love, not hate. Although God may hate some actions/thoughts, such as those of homosexuals, it is not all that likely that He actually hates the people themselves.
Sources:
God Hates Goths
Wikihow
WE must abolish , forever, the demeaning Social Services System that works against most clients and grant the poor and disadvantaged citizens a G.I.A. starting at $18,000 for an individual + 30 % top up for those deemed Disabled ( either physically or psychologically ) and a Living Allowance to our Children ( from birth to Grade 12/13 ) of $3600 per year.
All medication costs above $150 per month would be covered by Gov't - Provincial & Federal 50:50.
5. Start a Shopmobility/Information Service
We are seeking help from Amber Valley residents and surrounding areas to support us in our campaign to start up a Shopmobility/Information Service for disabled/older people in the Alfreton area.
We are asking people to sign the epetition and comment below so that we can prove to potential funders that this service is needed. We
need as many signatures as we can get.
Many thanks in advance for supporting our campaign
Disability Assist
To whom it may concern,
My name is Mike Freedman. I am a husband, and a father of two girls under the age of 7. Through a series of events, I became disabled with nerve damage in my lower back and left leg. I am consequently left unable to walk a single step or stand. The intense pain I feel every minute of every day is only mildly kept down by a host of drugs, most of which are morphine based.
Due to my disability and its nature, I have been privileged to have been loaned a car under the Uk’s Motability scheme. Thanks to this my life and thus my family’s life, has been greatly improved. I am able to get to appointments, get hospital attention when I need it, see my friends, visit my family and basically – have a life.
As it is the end of the car’s lease, it has to go back. It is normal procedure, however, that towards the end of the lease you ensure that another Motability car lease is in place to enable continuity of service. We, however were told a few months ago by Motability that although they would allow me to have another car, they would not let my wife drive it due to Motability not willing to insure her. So far, despite our best efforts, we have been unable to reinstate my wife. My wife is my main carer and driver and we so desperately need her back with a car as life without this necessity is unthinkable.
We are looking for support from the community in the hope of getting Motability and their insurers RSA to revoke their decision. We are looking to get as many signatures / emails as possible. Every single offer of support is exactly what we urgently need as the car is due to go back this Friday (27/07).
Thanking you in advance,
Mike Freedman
7. Make Bullying Against Disabled People Illegal
It is disgusting to see what some people say about disabled people and I believe it should be illegal.
For example, this is a link to an image someone made.
It is unbelievable what some people say and no one has done anything to stop it. Making bullying towards disabled people illegal will show that it is wrong.
8. Disabled bays are NOT cashpoint bays
Too many people think it is okay to use Disabled parking bays to access ATM's, then when challenged hurl abuse.
These bays are for the disabled, not cash points.
9. Remove the verb "disable" from all language dictionaries
The people listed here are those brave and heroic men and women who have achieved a lot of success in their lives despite the hindrances they have faced.
They have amazed the world with their courage, determination, strength and amazing will.
They have made a difference in the lives of a lot of people.
AMPUTEES: Heather Mills, Aimee Mullins, Bethany Hamilton.
WHEEL CHAIR USERS: Hzhak Perlman, Christopher Reeve, Stephen Hawking.
BLIND:Louis Braille, Stevie Wonder, Andrea Bocelli
HEARING IMPAIRMENT: Marlee Matlin, Hellen Keller, Foxy Brown.
CEREBRAL PALSY: Erick Gores, Christy Brown, Anne McDonald.
EPILEPSY: Sir Isaac Newton, Alexander the great, Pythagoras, Martin Luther, Richard Burton.
SPEECH DIFFERENCES AND STUTTER: Moses from the Bible, Winston Churchill, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein.
MOOD DISORDER: Abraham Lincoln, Billy Joel, Carrie Fisher.
CLEFT: Jesse Jackson, Peyton Manning, Wendy Harmes
POLIO: Donald Sutherland, Franklin Roosevelt.
The list can go on forever, but those are just a few examples.
I used the above names as examples because they are famous all over the world and most, if not all of us are familiar with them.
But, maybe in your own family, village or community, you know of a person who is trying to rise against all odds. They may not be well known as the ones listed above, but the important thing is that they are making an effort to overcome their everyday difficulties.
The sooner we get rid of the word 'disable', the better we will help them become the highest, fullest expression of themselves.
Join this movement to give them the will to go on.
World, help me shed light on this worthy course for a better tomorrow.
10. I Support Every Vote COUNT Project 2012
Kenya National Youth Association (KeNYA) is a national voluntary, nonpartisan, and membership-based empowerment organization whose mission is to “Serve the Nation and empower the in and out of school youth with skills and know-how as well as teach and engage them in creativity, innovation, volunteerism and civic education in the areas of democracy, human rights, entrepreneurship, independence, peace and non-violent conflict resolution, and to combat negative ethnicity in rural-urban Kenya’’.
Under the Kenya Democracy Project(KDP),a program Promoting Peace, Community Service, Interdependence & Non-violent Conflict Resolutions, KeNYA and partners are implementing a Civic and Voter Education Project /Every VOTE Count Project (GOTV Campaign) with an overarching and overriding goal of educating the youth about the Constitution, Voter Registration, and Voting Rights. We believe that for Kenya to avoid violence, the votes of every voter must be counted, and that the process must be free and fair.
Furthermore, the citizenry including the Kenyan Diaspora, must be fully educated about the elections, and the electoral laws and rules that will govern the Electoral Process for Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senatorial, Parliamentary, and Women/County Representative seats.
Effectively, KeNYA has embarked on the 12 Month (January 1-December 31 2012 Period) Every VOTE Count Project 2012 (GOTV Campaign), where we shall educate everyone about the electoral process, without bias, partisanship, or inclination, beginning with a Petition:
‘We, the Undersigned members of Kenya National Youth Association (KeNYA), partners, and the stakeholders, call upon the free and patriotic citizens of the Republic of Kenya, the Government, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), to conduct a FREE and FAIR Elections in 2012 General Elections, free of violence, with sufficient CIVIC EDUCATION, and where EVERY VOTE will be COUNTED, including that of the YOUTH, WOMEN, DISABLED, and most important, that of the Kenya Diaspora, in the eyes of the Civil Society, Local and International OBSERVERS’’
For partnership, membership, or volunteerism, contact:
Executive Director/Coordinator
Kenya National Youth Association (KeNYA)
P. O. Box 5956-00200, Nairobi-KENYA
Tel. + 254 722 233 234
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KenyaNationalYouthAssociation
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Kenya_1Flag
E-Mail:
Skype: Kenya_1Flag
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11. STOP discriminating against the disabled
There is too much discrimination against people with disabilities in South Africa. The latest incident is against a blind lady, Ms Sanet Gouws who was told that she had to leave the MacDonald's premises in Mayville, Pretoria because she had her registered guide dog with her. Despite showing the animal's harness, papers and special tags, Ms Gouws was requested to either leave or have her milkshake outside. The outside area provided to shading and was not comfortable.
You can read the full article: http://www.beeld.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Vrou-se-oe-is-nie-welkom-20111227
Although it is against the policies of MacDonald's or other restaurants to allow animals inside the restaurant, special circumstances allow guide animals to enter the premises according to SA legislation.
12. STOP THE PLANNED CHANGES TO THE DISABILITY LIVING ALLOWANCE
The UK Government plans to making drastic changes to the Disability Living Allowance including taking away many of the current travel concessions thus leaving many disabled UK Citizen's housebound.
Whilst we at the National Liberal Party would understand a "means" test to assist in stopping benefit fraud, we oppose the changes being put forward by the UK Government and would ask you to support us on getting these changes stopped.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dla-reform-consultation-easyread.pdf
13. Better Access for Wigan Taxis
ARE YOU LIKE ME?
My name is Shaun Fallows and I’m a disabled volunteer in Wigan. Many times I have been struggling to get adapted taxis at certain times of day and night which has affected my social life as I have had to stop going out.
I would like to start a campaign to see a greater number of accessible vehicles in Wigan Borough. No donations needed but please support my online petition. Without everyone together it won’t change.
14. Review Imminent Threat to Sheltered Housing Funding
The proposed cuts to the 'Supporting People' funding for A2Dominion Sheltered Housing sites within the borough will adversly affect the physical, mental and practical support for the elderly and vulnerable residents resulting in the loss of their Sheltered Housing officer (Warden).
The residents currently believe that their well-being, safety on site, site management (housing stock), mental and physical health are greatly cared for under scheme as it currently stands. That the Care Line system is not adequate to replace this, that the quality of support will diminish rapidly and be another faceless representation of community care.
The consultation deadline is 31 October 2011 so this is URGENT please. The council must receive our views so you can sign this petition and /or write to Representations, Supporting People Team, Third Floor Orange, Perceval House, Uxbridge Road,Ealing,London W5 2HL or by e-mail:spteam@ealing.gov.uk.
THANK YOU, we really need and value your help.
15. Help the children: expand Centennial Park Playground
A call to expand centennial park playground.
The Cooma Monaro Shire has seen a variety of families and visitors arriving in Cooma over the years creating a variety of needs. Building an extra playground attached to the current one in centennial park as well as improving on the current equipment will help the community greatly in meeting these needs.
Centennial Park is an important part of the community being a central location that all tourist and locals enjoy
Installing new equipment for the disabled community and improving the quality of the existing facilities will allow all children the ability to play and grow as equals
The entire community should be able to enjoy what we have to provide in the park.
This call to expand and improve the existing facilities in the park and for the local businesses and local shire to get involved.
16. Help us Get a Disabled "Friendly" Playground in Cooma
There are so many children in Cooma that go without being able to play with other children and people passing through this small town.
There is always a need to cater for these children, some of whom are disabled. The proof lies with local groups that help with children's therapy. In Cooma that is MEIS.
17. Support Private Alex Stringer
Private Alex Stringer who lost three limbs whilst serving in Afghanistan has been told by Thurrock Council that there is a five-year waiting list for a more suitable home.
So as asylum seekers live the life of Riley in million pound luxury mansions, Stringer, his fiancee and two daughters Millie and Harlie-Rose are dumped on the sixth floor. A flat so tiny, Stringer is unable to use his wheelchair. And some people have the nerve to say 'immigration is good for Britain'.
What an insult to our brave lads. Shame on you.
18. Allow disabled people access to all on street parking bays 24/7
Earlier this year Reading Borough Council instigated a number of changes to disabled parking bays and the times during which they can be accessed.
These changes include restricting access to the majority of the on road bays immediately surrounding the town centre so that they may only be accessed from 11am to 4pm and again after 7pm.
The roads most affected are St Mary's Butts, West Street and Friar Street
This has made it unreasonably difficult for many disabled people to access the shops and other facilities in the town.
A council representative has claimed that the the majority of people are happy with the changes, this is obviously true as the majority of people are not disabled and have little or no understanding of the real life ramifications of these changes for disabled people.
Examples of things that are now virtually impossible for many disabled people to do include:
A drink out with work friends/ family after work,
A meal before seeing a show at the local theatre
Early morning shopping to beat the crowds
Staying in town after shopping to eat out
Getting to one of the opticians who has served the community for many years
Getting to a number of well known high street shops
The current proposals to resolve the access issues appears to be to force all blue badge holders into wheelchairs of some form (Shop mobility) regardless of their individual needs and to expect the local shops/traders to cover the cost.
With economic downturn comes cuts, and the proposals leave disabled people reliant upon the funding of retailers/traders and upon charities. If they decide to remove the funding in the future, disabled people will be yet again unable to use the town and its facilities
The only long term way to ensure access to the town for disabled people during the same periods as able bodied people is to provide appropriately placed kerbside parking that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
19. UK Disabled Community Against Welfare & Benefit Cuts
The UK Disabled Community needs to send a clear and unequivocal message in one unified voice to call on the Coalition Government to see us all as equal members of society and not treat us as a tool to steal our disability benefits and services to bail out the Country in this time of Financial Crisis.
Can we set a precedence to get 1 million signatures so that the Coalition Government will have no option but to take note of us and not just ignore or deflect our arguments & comments and to stop building this climate of hate against disabled people.
Please leave a question for your Local MP to pose to the Coalition Government, which we will add to the Petition when we deliver it to No.10.
20. PharmaCare and Consumer Loyalty Points
Beginning in July, a new Pharmacy Services Agreement will come into effect and loyalty programs will be allowed but only on the portion of the prescription paid for by the patient. Details as follows:
On July 7, 2010, the Province of BC concluded an agreement (the Pharmacy Services Agreement) with the BC Pharmacy Association and the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores. This agreement sets out significant changes to the Pharmacy Participation Agreement that defines the Province’s relationship with pharmacies that submit claims to the PharmaCare program.
In recognition of these changes, the Province developed the PharmaCare Enrolment Agreement to replace existing Pharmacy Participation Agreements.
The Agreement disallows pharmacies from offering inducements to secure prescription orders, or in relation to the provision of a drug, medical supply, or service on the portion of the cost of that drug, supply or service paid for or reimbursed by the Province through PharmaCare.
The Agreement defines “inducement” as: “consideration including, but not limited to, cash, points, loyalty points, coupons, discounts, goods, rewards and similar schemes which can be redeemed for a gift or other benefit.”
Inducements to secure prescription orders were previously prohibited under the former Pharmacy Participation Agreement that defined the Province’s relationship with pharmacies that submit claims to the PharmaCare program. The Pharmacy Participation Agreement stated: “No goods or considerations beyond those approved in negotiations between the Government of British Columbia and the British Columbia Pharmacy Association shall be offered by any party to any other party as an inducement to secure prescription orders.” Notwithstanding this prohibition, pharmacies introduced various forms of inducement programs.
In response to correspondence and complaints from pharmacies and the public, the Minister of Health directed the Pharmaceutical Services Division to take action to ensure pharmacies abide by the terms set out in the Pharmacy Participation Agreement.
Under the terms of the Agreement, effective July 4, 2011, loyalty programs will be restricted to the portion of the prescription cost that is borne by the patient.
The Province’s interest is in the inequity that government funded benefits are being provided to patients and not being made available to other taxpayers, and more specifically the perception that this is occurring (i.e., government paying for a large proportion of a patient’s drug costs and the patient accumulating loyalty points as a result and receiving a free gift).
Facebook Group - We are all British Columbians - if the BC Government cannot help us let us help each other - please join to share your story http://www.facebook.com/groups/224146337610345?ap=1
The folks at Occupy Vancouver are working together creating a fair system of sharing the wealth. Please join us at The Vancouver Art Gallery.
21. Manufacture the Galileo Stair Climbing Go anywhere Wheelchair
Technology is being developed that will reinvent the wheel literally! This technology is already
used by the US ARMY, US SPECIAL FORCES, NAVY SEALS ETC, in the form of remote controlled robots in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars that can go anywhere and climb just about anything and everything even stairs YES THAT'S RIGHT:- STAIRS! And just about any type of STAIRS!
Click each link to see this amazing chair in action!
Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
Link 4
Link 5
But what is even more exciting is that this same company has an engineering concept model to produce a wheelchair with this technology that will be able to go anywhere, the beach and climb anything, even STAIRS. I have emailed the company to find out when this wheelchair will be produced. They said in the future because of finances! The future, When? 3 months? Next year, or in 2050, when?
22. Save the Elmstead Rehabilitation Unit
The Elmstead Rehabilitation Unit is an inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation unit at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup. It has over 400 patients, mainly from Bexley, and provides rehabilitation to people with Multiple Sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, Guillain Barre Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Ataxias and Muscular Dystrophy.
The unit provides vital services. The specialist rehabilitation provided there:
• helps people recover more quickly from a relapse or illness
• helps people maintain their mobility, allowing them to continue working, volunteering and socialising
• allows people to exercise independently in a supportive environment, helping them take control over their condition
• prevents hospital admissions
• enables those that are admitted to leave hospital earlier and in better condition
• provides a place for people to socialise Right now Bexley Care Trust is reviewing the future of the Elmstead Unit.
The Elmstead Unit Campaign Group has formed in response to concern that, in the context of large changes to local health services and financial pressures, the trust will stop or reduce funding for the unit, forcing it to close or reduce its service.
Help us protect the unit and ensure that people with MS and other conditions in Bexley have access to specialist inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. Sign our petition now and show Bexley Care Trust how important the unit is.
23. Save the Dundee University Disability Access Centre
The University of Dundee senior management is currently carrying out a review of the Disability Services which the University provides, including the Access Centre. They have already indicated in meetings with staff and their union representatives that they are going to consider closing the Access Centre completely, or instead reducing it to a smaller facility available only to Dundee students.
The Access Centre provides assessments for disabled students so that they can apply for funding from the government to help them study; without it disabled students at Dundee would have to travel to either busy Edinburgh or distant Motherwell for these assessments.
Moreover the Access centre actually generates revenue for disability services, as it provides disability assessments for students all across the east coast of Scotland in many different institutes; the Scottish government pays it to do this.
The profit generated by providing this service is used to fund additional front-line services to disabled students at Dundee University, which are amongst the best in the world. If this funding was to cease then all disabled services at the University would be badly hit, and many would have to be cut altogether.
Therefore if the Access Centre was to be closed or badly reduced then not only would disabled students at the University have to make difficult trips elsewhere for assessments but also the disabled services at the University would be severely hit as well. This could easily decimate the number of talented disabled students at the University, and would be both foolish from a business perspective as well as morally repugnant.
Thus this petition calls upon the University of Dundee senior management to keep the Access Centre fully open in its current format, and to recognise the link between the funding the Access Centre provides and the capabilities of disabled services at the University. Please sign and leave a message, perhaps telling the University how the closure would affect you, your views on the matter or a message of support. Thank you.
24. Help those with disabilities Shop more Freely
Wal-Mart in Carrollton Georgia has increasingly made it difficult for those with disabilities to shop in comfort. They began providing the powered carts for shopping, however, some people are unable to make into or out of the store without such device.
In the beginning they did not argue about the customer going to their vehicle with the device, in fact, they would offer to help (as do many other companies with said devices) Some are unable to utilize the use of a "regular" wheel chair and have no funds / plans to provide their own.
25. Save Derbyshire Unemployed Workers' Centres (DUWCs)
Derbyshire Unemployed Workers' Centres (DUWCs) is an organisation established in the former coalfields area of North and East Derbyshire in the early 1980s as part of a TUC initiative to support people becoming unemployed.
The Centres opened offices throughout North Derbyshire as the excellent reputation of the organisation spread. In the current recessionary times the free, independent welfare rights advice provided is needed as much as ever.
Hampshire County Council is proposing to make cuts in the services they provide for people with learning disabilities.
Part of these cuts include the closure of Meadowcroft.
Meadowcroft is the only facility of its kind in the Rushmoor and Hart area and provides a life line to parents and carers knowing their dependant is happy in a safe familiar environment.
It is proposed to close Meadowcroft in August 2011 but it is hoped that a new facility will be built in 2015.
27. Keep our pet shop Animal Tracks open
Do do a very stupid rule Animal Tracks are to be evicted from their shop on North Seaton Industrial Estate, Ashington, Northumberland, United Kinkgdom.
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/home.php?sk=group_116973955031835&ap=1
Animal Tracks is a wonderful business with very friendly and helpful staff and parking is free, plentiful and close to the shop. It is perfect for customers particularly the elderly, infirm and disabled. I myself am still recovering from cancer treatment and have to buy bulky items for my pets. Particularly sand and filter equipment for the turtles (see the picture section of the group), I like to buy in bulk because of cost savings but would not be able to if the parking was not so convenient.
There is also a nice bakery on the estate which means going to the pet shop is a little outing followed by a picnic lunch.
The variety of animals on view at Animal Tracks is amazing and make it a pleasure to visit. If it was stuck on a high street with limited or no parking this would no longer be the case.
I believe from talking to the owners that they received money in grants from Wansbeck Council and Go Wansbeck. What a waste of public money if they are force to move (or close) especially in this economic climate.
Surely all planning consents etc were passed BEFORE any grants were awarded, and if they were given in error then the council should just bit the bullet and learn from experience rather than damage a successful small business.
The rates etc are much higher in the area the council want to move them so to survive Animal Tracks would have to lose staff and even then the move could put them out of business.
This is a very important shop, many a pet store has fallen under economic strain over the years - DO NO LET US LOSE THIS ONE. PLEASE JOIN and SUPPORT US.
Membership lists will be used as a protest to the council.
Many Thanks.
28. Stop the cut in mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
Removing the Mobility Element of Disability Living Allowance for people in Care Homes.
This will have a huge and regressive impact on the independence of thousands of disabled people. Disabled people in means-tested residential care are already forced to manage on incredibly low incomes, often receiving just £22 a week in the form of a Personal Allowance to meet all of their personal costs.
DLA mobility component provides absolutely vital support for people to remain independent and to meet some of the additional costs of getting out. The average payment per person the government plans to cut is £33.40, although actual payments to each individual are either on the lower level of £18.95 per week or the higher level of £49.85
Removing DLA mobility component from people in residential care will have a devastating impact. People will not have the money to meet additional mobility costs such as a powered wheelchair, accessible taxis or a Motability car and this will seriously impact on their independence.
Whilst in some cases limited transport provision is included in residential care fees, this covers only communal or very limited independent transport. It does not provide the freedom offered by mobility DLA. This will result in people being trapped in Residential Care Homes.
We estimate that over 74,000 people will be affected by this cut
29. Stop Derbyshire County Council's Attacks On Social Care
Derbyshire County Council (DCC) has announced plans to drastically change social care provision for vulnerable residents, particularly elderly and disabled people.
The planned changes include closing two thirds of all care homes in the county, making all service users pay up to £200 a week for care which has always been free at the point of delivery, changing the criteria for qualifying for care so that only those subjectively judged to have substantial or critical needs may access services, making those with stairlifts pay a further £122 a year for a 'warranty' and to remove the automatic top-up grants necessary to enable anyone who needs major home alterations to access district council funds.
DCC announced these changes before Central Government's Comprehensive Spending Review and despite the Council's wealth, as it has in excess of £85 Million in resources. Taking these two facts together, it seems clear that DCC's attack on these vital services is motivated more by elitist ideology and a desire for privitisation by the back door than it could be by necessity. DCC claims that "no decisions have been made yet", but their 'consultation' appears not to have been very widely advertised and ends at 5 p.m. on 5th November 2010, comments can be made via the online form at http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/carechanges
Blindcraft, based in Edinburgh, is a valuable and reputable company who provide employment opportunities particularly for those who are disabled or have visual impairment. It currently employs around 70 people, of which 2/3rds have visual problems or disabilities.
In 2008 the company won a contract with John Lewis that helped some way to the company making a total of 2 million pounds that year. The company's profits fell due to the recession in 2009/10, to £1.58 million. However, the council are using this as an easy target for cuts. Cutting jobs for more vulnerable members of society should not be an option - this is an easy way out for the council.
Blindcraft makes quality beds and has been in operation since 1793- it is an absolute travesty that the council can consider cutting this! Especially given the way they have wasted so much money in other areas in Edinburgh. Please see last Friday's news about these proposals here.
We made representations to the full Council meeting, alongside Unite, UNISON and Community and Blindcraft employees. The SNP/Lib dem coalition council have decided to have 30 days to consider 2 proposals- either all jobs to go or a 'training programme' put in place. This would also result in job loss of vulnerable disabled workers.
We are asking for all these jobs to be saved, for the council to be morally obliged to set up a sensible and workable business structure for this organisation, not to pull the plug on funding before this is done.
This campaign is about more than just saving jobs. It's about the moral consequences of not saving them.
Thanks for your support,
Hannah and Janis