Inclusion North Bulletin

Issue Number 36
5th March 2013 In this bulletin you will hear about some of the work Inclusion North is doing and information about what is happening across the country.

Find Inclusion North on Facebook and Twitter

You can find out more about the all the work we are doing by following us on facebook and twitter at:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/InclusionNorth

Twitter: @InclusionNorth

Heres a reminder of some of the work we are doing next please make a note in your diaries
Making Sense for Me and Mine Understanding the Mental Capacity Act Whats it all about?
The Mental Capacity Act is an important way of protecting the rights and liberty of people who may need support around decision making in their life - this includes people with learning disabilities.

Mental Capacity Act

The Making Sense for Me and Mine sessions will help family members and family carers make sense of what the Mental Capacity Act means for them and their loved ones. These sessions are aimed at family members and family carers of people with learning disabilities. Currently we have sessions planned in North Yorkshire, Northumberland, Calderdale and Hull. Take a look at our website for more information about these events: www.inclusionnorth.org/projects/what-we-are-doingnow/understanding-the-mental-capacity-act/ Or call our office on 0113 2626409 for more information on how to book.

Two Events hosted by SeeAbility

Last few spaces available - book your place now if you want to attend!
Look Here! A free training day for self advocates about looking after your eyes What is the Look Here Event about?
Learning about eye tests Practicing cleaning glasses Hearing about eye problems Using your other senses Talking about your eyes Having fun!

The day is chaired by Scott Watkin

Who is this event for?

The day is just for people who have a learning disability who want to learn about looking after their eyes. We will give you a goodie bag with lots of information inside so you can tell other people you know about eye care.

When is it?
Thursday, 14th March in Newcastle

How to book your place?

Email Inclusion North at info@inclusionnorth.org or call 0113 2626409.

A free information day for family carers about eye care and vision
What is this event about?
People with a learning disability are 10 times more likely to have serious sight problems than others. The day will include presentations about eye tests, glasses, vision screening in schools and eye surgery. You will also have the opportunity to speak to a range of eye care professionals

Who is this event for?

The day is just for parents and carers of children, young people and adults with learning disabilities. Its an ideal day for those involved in planning for local services to contribute to discussions and take information away. This is event is happening on Friday 19th April in Leeds. To book your place please email info@inclusionnorth.org or call 0113 2626409

News and updates from Around the Country

Seeking to hear from family carers of adults with learning disabilities

Big new research is happening at Bangor University with help from Mencap and Cartrefi Cymru. Researchers from the School of Psychology at Bangor University are working with Mencap and Cymru and Cartrefi Cymru who are providers of support to people with learning disabilities and their families. They want to hear from family carers across the country who are caring for an adult (25 and over) with a learning disability in their family homes. They want to know what your experiences are like being a carer, what support you get from family and friends, professional and voluntary services and what your health is like. You can take part in an on-line survey (link below) or a postal survey: https://survey.psychology.bangor.ac.uk/carerwellbeing For paper copies of questionnaires please contact: Jillian Grey, Doctoral Researcher School of Psychology Brigantia Building Room 262 Penrallt Road Bangor University Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2AS

Tel: 01248 388255 Email: j.m.grey@bangor.ac.uk

Learning Disability Today hits the North! The national exhibition - Learning Disability Today is on in Sheffield on the 14th May 2013.
This event has been run in London for the past 13 years and attracted up to 3,000 visitors each year now they are running a regional event in Sheffield Hillsborough Stadium. Learning Disability Today is working with Sheffield City Council, and Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, to produce this new regional exhibition and conference This event is free to attend for people with a learning disability, unwaged carers, supporters, and full-time students (25 for waged). Find out all about this new event by clicking on the link below:

www.pavilion-live.co.uk/learningdisabilitytoday-events/

CHANGE are pleased to announce their new Sexual Health & Relationship resource
This resource contains over 100 photos and 500 illustrations to help you support people with learning disabilities to talk about sexual health issues. You can use this to create easy read documents using the images in the collection. The development of this resource was led by people with learning disabilities, supported by their parents, focus groups and teachers. For more information visit the CHANGE website at: www.changepeople.co.uk or call 0113 388 0011

Tell EDCM your story - help them campaign on the Children and Families Bill
The Children and Families Bill currently in Parliament will change how children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities are supported in England. Every Disabled Child Matters is campaigning to ensure that the Bill meets the needs of ALL disabled children. They would like you to share with them your experiences of struggling to access health and social care support for a child with a disability or health condition, or for yourself if you are a disabled young person. Click here to tell them your story: www.surveymonkey.com/s/TellUsYourStoryChildrenandFamilie sBill To find out more about Every Disabled Child Matters and about their campaign, visit their website at: www.edcm.org.uk/

Department of Health Consultation on Direct Payments in Health

The Department of Health are asking people what they think about Direct Payments in health services. This is about building on the Personal Health Budgets pilots. It asks about what kinds of health support people should be able to get as direct payments and which ones should be not open to people. The deadline is 26th April 2013. To read more about this consultation click on the website: www.personalhealthbudgets.dh.gov.uk/News/item/?cid=8638

Making budgets easier to understand

Being able to choose how your support is provided is really important, but people with learning disabilities currently face many barriers to access Personal Budgets and Direct Payments. On behalf of CHANGE can you could spend a few minutes answering a questionnaire, or support a person with a learning disability to do so. You can help them with making direct payments and personal budgets more accessible to people with learning disabilities. The link to the questionnaire is www.changepeople.co.uk/showContent.php?id=139 The form only has 12 questions and should not take long to complete. CHANGE need the completed form to be returned by Friday 15th March. If you have any difficulties filling out the form online CHANGE can offer support. Please contact Austin Bradshaw on austin@change-people.co.uk or telephone 0113 3880011

Local Area Coordination Winter Newsletter

Local Area Coordination is a way of working that helps people to build community-based, flexible support systems not just services See the Inclusion North website to view their latest Newsletter: www.inclusionnorth.org/projects/what-we-are-doing-now/localarea-coordination/lac-newsletters/

Changes at Inclusion North

Our Temporary Office Manager Julie is leaving us this week. We are really sad to see her go but glad we have got to work with her for 4 months Our new Office Manager starts soon. Until then Ian Margerison is going to be helping us keep things going so you might speak to Ian if you phone the office We wish Julie lots of luck.

If you would like any information on any of our meetings, training or projects you can contact the office on:

Tel: 0113 262 6409 E-mail: info@inclusionnorth.org Or you can write to us at: Inclusion North 191 Belle Vue Road Leeds LS3 1HG

You can visit our website at: www.inclusionnorth.org

Or you can contact any member of the Inclusion North team:

Samantha Clark Tel: 07823 536 603 Email: Samantha@inclusionnorth.org

Julie Batchelor Tel: 0113 262 6409 Email: info@inclusionnorth.org

Scott Cunningham Tel: 07767 776 125 Email: Scott@inclusionnorth.org

Angela Ellis Tel: 07944 185 771 Email: Angela@inclusionnorth.org

Kellie Woodley Tel: 07876 145 390 Email: Kellie@inclusionnorth.org