Disability Action Ezine

September 2011 Contents Working for Me: An event for people with disabilities who are thinking of starting a business Hardest Hit October 2011 Campaign: Your opportunity to get involved Disability Action Fashion Show - celebrating 20 years in the North West Changes to Metro bus stops and services in Belfast City Centre Northern Ireland Views on Welfare Reform Impact are Vital: McCausland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Poots publishes details of Health and Social Care Review Equality Commission News Release: Legal Settlement for disabled taxi passenger Building Self-Confidence and Assertiveness Training Course: Understanding the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (OCN Level 2) Public Appointments Events: Irish Football Association Disability Football Clubs for Young People Keep up to date with Disability Action on Facebook and Twitter

Working for Me: An event for people with disabilities who are thinking of starting a business Are you a person with a disability who would like to start your own business? Or do you work for a disability organisation and want to know more about self-employment as an option for people with disabilities? If so, then the 'Working for Me' event, organised by Invest Northern Ireland in partnership with Disability Action, is for you. Find out about: - the experience of other disabled people who have started their own business; - what support is available from government departments; - how to manage your benefits if becoming self-employed; and

- where to get information on how to go about setting up your business. You will also have the opportunity to speak to people from organisations that can help you to set up your business and network with speakers and other people attending the event. >>Read more

Hardest Hit October 2011 Campaign: Your opportunity to get involved In May 2011, to launch the Hardest Hit Campaign thousands of disabled people, their families and friends marched on Westminster to express solidarity and anger at the cuts threatening their benefits, services, jobs and rights. Following this rally, disability organisations across the UK are working together to support further 'Hardest Hit' activity in October. This is because the Westminster Government is sticking with its cuts programme. Having promised to protect the most vulnerable, it is pressing ahead with cuts to many benefits and services vital to the lives of people with disabilities. There is a need for disabled people to have their say and for all of us to stand up for the hardest hit. Your help is needed As part of the Hardest Hit Campaign which will run week commencing 17 October across the United Kingdom, Disability Action and other organisations are organising a campaign against welfare reform and cuts in Northern Ireland. Your help is needed to make this campaign a success. There are a number of ways that you can get involved and support this campaign. >>Read more

Disability Action Fashion Show - celebrating 20 years in the North West 29 September 2011, 7-10pm City Hotel, Derry Tickets are still available for the Disability Action Fashion Show. Come along and join in Disability Action's celebrations of 20 years in the North West at a glamorous Fashion Show, supported by Debenhams Foyleside! >>Read more

Changes to Metro bus stops and services in Belfast City Centre New road traffic arrangements are being introduced to reduce general traffic levels in Belfast City Centre. As a result of these changes, some Metro bus stops, routes and services

changed on 1 September 2011. Disability Action is carrying out a survey to find out what people with disabilities think of these changes. Please take a few moments to complete this short survey and let us know what you think. >>Complete survey

Northern Ireland Views on Welfare Reform Impact are Vital: McCausland Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland, recently published for consultation, a draft Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) on the proposals for Welfare Reform in Northern Ireland. Urging interested parties to put forward their views on the draft EQIA, Minister McCausland said: I am fully aware of the vital support our welfare system provides for people across Northern Ireland, but I also recognise that it is a complex and flawed system that needs to be simplified and, most importantly, made sustainable for future generations. Welfare Reform Bill proposals include changes to the current policy for Housing Benefit, income based, Employment and Support Allowance and Job Seekers Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, the Social Fund and Child Maintenance provisions. A new benefit entitled Universal Credit will also be introduced as part of the Welfare Reform Bill proposals which will replace all existing working age benefits and tax credits. >>Read more

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Poots publishes details of Health and Social Care Review Health Minister Edwin Poots appointed five external advisers to a panel which will provide advice and independent assurance on the Review of Health and Social Care Services in Northern Ireland. The Review, announced in June, is being led by John Compton, Chief Executive of the Health and Social Care Board. The Minister has appointed the five external members to provide advice and challenge, drawing on a range of relevant expertise and skills. He has also published detailed Terms of Reference for the Review. The Minister said: "It is clear that the full range of health and social care services is unsustainable in its current form if we are to deliver the best outcomes for everyone, and if we are to maintain the highest levels of quality and safety of the services provided. It is important therefore that this Review examines the future provision of services including our acute hospital configuration; the development of primary health care services and social care; and the interfaces between the sectors." >>Read more

Equality Commission News Release: Legal Settlement for disabled taxi passenger A Belfast woman who claimed she was charged more than a non-disabled person for using an accessible taxi has agreed an out of court settlement in a disability discrimination case taken against Value Cabs. Nicola Nesbit, from South Belfast, whose case was supported by the Equality Commission, alleged that the firm charged her an 8 call out fee in addition to a fare and a half. In settling the case Value Cabs have paid Mrs. Nesbitt 2,000 without admission of liability. They have also agreed to liaise with the Equality Commission to review their policies and procedures, which they believe to be compliant with the law, and to implement such reasonable recommendations as the Commission may make as far as practicably possible. >>Read more

Building Self-Confidence and Assertiveness Clients of Disability Action's Training and Employment Service, recently completed a twoday training course in Self-Confidence and Assertiveness. This two-day training course provides practical guidance for anyone who needs to develop their assertiveness skills and build confidence for a range of workplace situations. >>Read more

Training Course: Understanding the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (OCN Level 2) The next training session will take place on 09 November 2011, 10am - 4pm, at Disability Action, Portside Business Park, 189 Airport Road West, Belfast, BT3 9ED. Training is delivered by Disability Action's Centre on Human Rights. This course is of relevance to people with disabilities or those wanting to learn more about the impact of human rights on people with disabilities including people in the community and voluntary and public sectors. No prior knowledge of human rights is necessary. Learning Objectives By the end of the course, participants will be able to: -Understand the key features, principles and standards of human rights and why we have them. -Understand the key features of the international and domestic human rights legal system

and how this is relevant to people with disabilities. -Explain how human rights are relevant in a practical way to the lives of people with disabilities within Northern Ireland. - Understand the focus of the Convention and why it is important. -Understand the historical developments leading to the Convention. -Understand the purpose of the Convention. -Understand the rights and principles in the Convention. -Understand the monitoring mechanism in the Convention and the Optional Protocol and their relevance to Northern Ireland. -Recognise how the Convention should be interpreted and can be used by individuals within Northern Ireland. >>Read more

Public Appointments Public Appointments: Board of Northern Ireland Screen The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure is seeking to appoint a number of members to the Board of Northern Ireland Screen, including a Board member with responsibility for chairing the Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund for Language and Culture Sub Committee. The closing date for applications is Friday 23 September 2011. >>Read more

Public Appointments: Board of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board DETI invites applications for membership of the Board of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB). The Department is seeking to appoint two new members with effect from 1 February 2012. Board members are expected to attend Board meetings on one day per month, and to serve on one or more Sub-Committees of the Board. In addition successful candidates will be expected to attend occasional evening engagements. The closing date for applications is Friday 30 September 2011. >>Read more Public Appointments: Board of Sport Northern Ireland (Sport NI) The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) is seeking to make a minimum of 4 appointments to the Board of Sport NI and invites applications from individuals with the relevant skills and experience who would be interested in serving on the Board as a general member.

The closing date for applications is Friday 7 October 2011. >>Read more Public Appointments: Department of the Environment The Department of the Environment is looking for new members for two of its Statutory Advisory Councils which provide advice to the Department on environmental issues. The vacancies, which will be advertised later in September, are in the Historic Monuments Council (HMC) and the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (CNCC). >>Read more

Events: Irish Football Association Disability Football Clubs for Young People The Irish Football Association invites boys and girls aged 7+ with a physical and/or learning disability to join their disability football clubs. Sessions will be taught by Irish Football Association/ Union of European Football Association qualified coaching staff and will consist of skill development, team play and small sided games. Moyle Disability Football Club Where: Cross & Passion College, Ballycastle ( Indoor Hall) Who can join: Boys & Girls aged 7-14 years old with a learning and/or physical disability. When: Weekly. Next session: Wednesday 14 September 2011, 6pm - 7pm >>Read more Coleraine Strikers Disability Football Club Where: Sports Centre, University of Ulster (Coleraine) Who can join: Boys and girls with a learning and/or physical disability When: Weekly. Next session: Wednesday 14 September 2011, 7-14 year olds: 6pm - 7pm, 15+ 7pm - 8pm >>Read more Bangor Castle Disability Football Club Where: Bangor Castle Leisure Centre (indoor hall) Who can join: Boys and girls with a learning and/or physical disability When: Weekly. Next session: Wednesday 14 September 2011, 7-14 year olds: 6pm - 7pm, 15+ 7pm - 8pm >>Read more Omagh Disability Football Club Where: Omagh Leisure Centre (main sports hall)

Who can join: Boys and girls with a learning and/or physical disability When: Weekly. Next session: Wednesday 14 September 2011, 7-14 year olds: 6pm - 7pm, 15+ 7pm - 8pm >>Read more Northern Ireland Football: Cerebral Palsy/Brain Injury/Stroke Where: Hanwood Centre, Kinross Avenue, Dundonald, Belfast Who can join: Ambulant males aged 7+ with cerebral palsy or a restriction in mobility caused by a brain injury or stroke. When: Weekly. Next session: Sunday 18 September 2011, 1.30pm - 3.30pm (meet 1.15pm) >>Read more

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