Increased demand upon school budgets, at the same time as less funding from central government, means many Disabled children are not getting the support they need and others are being turned down by mainstream schools because the school knows it can’t meet the young person’s education support needs. You can read more and sign the petition here:
Bristol Law Centre can support applications to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) for complex cases. We can also help professionals if they have an individual case they need advice on, please email eussadvice@bristollawcentre.org.uk. More information can be found on our website, please click here.
Bristol Law Centre also hosts a Europe Direct Information Centre (EDIC), and will be working with others in the city to ensure accurate information about the scheme and where to get help.
Worried
about your wheelchair ‘sliding’ when you’re on a bus?
One Disabled person, who has no links to the
manufacturer, is excited about a new piece of kit that effectively ‘locks’ your
wheelchair in place. Read on to find out
more.
Having been a wheelchair user for 20 years hands I’m
always very interested to see new developments in technology which aim to make
life easier for Disabled people. Recently
on a trip to Edinburgh I was thrilled to find a new piece of technology called
“Quantum” on the tour buses which ensured my wheelchair was held securely in
place.
To activate
Quantum all I had to do was position myself in the wheelchair bay so I was
centred against the backrest and press a button. By pressing the button, I set off the
automatic locking sequence. Two side
arms descended, gripping my chair’s wheels and locking me into position. The process took less than 25 seconds and
other passengers were able to board whilst the locking process was taking
place. Whilst the vehicle is in transit,
the Quantum arms constantly adjust to gain the best grip so you are held steady
for the entire journey. When you arrive
at your stop you simply press the button again to release the arms and off you
go. There is absolutely no need for the
driver to do anything. However, if the
wheelchair user cannot press the button themselves the driver can activate it
from his driving seat. It is such a
simple system to use and makes for a much safer, comfortable journey.
Quantum is designed by the company Q’Straint and
is described as the world’s first fully automatic rear facing wheelchair
securement station. As well as
wheelchairs Quantum also secures most mobility scooters and it quick and easy
to use. To find out more visit www.qstraint.com/en-gb/quantum/ or watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RSvCu6D6e8&t=101s .
I’m telling everyone about it because I think it’s great and wish it were on all busses and coaches. Despite how it might come across, I have no links to the company and get not ‘perks’ or payment for promoting it.
It is with great sadness,
but an honour, that I write this tribute to Daphne Branchflower. My first
memory of meeting Daphne was at the first open meeting of the Avon Coalition of
Disabled People 30 years ago, in which she was instrumental in setting it up
(later to become the West of England Coalition of Disabled People). She was
also involved in numerous other committees, including becoming an early Trustee
of WECIL and being an
Advisor of Bristol Disability Equality Forum (BDEF) for many years. Daphne served
alongside me as a member of the Executive when BDEF transitioned from being a
part of Bristol City Council to being fully independent.
Daphne was never
one to blow her own trumpet, but was inspirational, courageous, motivated and forceful
in all her campaigning work, including working tirelessly in
trying to save the Independent Living Fund. Only recently,
Daphne became a member of Social Work Action Network South West, including
meeting up with Managers of Social Services in Bristol to remind them of their
duties regarding Direct Payments and Prepayment cards. Daphne constantly
reminded us all about how Disabled people’s rights are moving backwards, and I
know she would want us all to remember her as a passionate campaigner and
advocate for Disabled people who may not have felt as empowered as herself.
It was a pleasure
to have known Daphne as a fellow campaigner, but also as a long-time friend.
