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Popular topic: Children
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Asperger’s college opens in Wales
September 6th, 2010
Posted by Ben Jones
The first college to provide specialist support for young people with Asperger's syndrome in Wales has opened.
Aimed at 16 to 25-year-olds, Priory Coleg Wales is located in Pontypool, Torfaen and opened its doors for the first time on Wednesday (1 September).
The college was set up in partnership with Coleg Gwent and aims to meet the social, academic and emotional needs of people with Asperger's, maximising their career options and independence.
According to BBC News, it will initially cater for ten students, expanding to 50 or 60 in the future.
National co-ordinator Shirley Parsley told the news source: “We hope it will go some way towards providing much needed person-centred support for young people with Asperger syndrome locally.”
The college will provide one to three-year intensive learning and independence programmes, as well as tailored academic and vocational courses.
It was recently welcomed by National Autistic Society head of external affairs Amanda Batten, who praised the college for its focus on easing the transition between school and adult life.
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NDCS project aims to improve London’s audiology services
August 31st, 2010
Posted by Imogen Welsh
The National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) has launched a new initiative that is geared towards improving audiology services for young people.
Aimed primarily at 14-to-16-year-olds, Over to You is a one-year project that aims to improve people's experiences of services in London.
The scheme focuses on the boroughs of Newham, Hackney and Tower Hamlets and will be run in conjunction with a series of free events.
Audiology professionals will be involved in the initiative, which will include theatre, film and crafts workshops, as well as a tour of the Geffrye Museum.
Participants will be encouraged to tell the NDCS about their experiences with audiology services.
The charity is also calling on the parents of deaf children to voice their concerns and anxieties surrounding issues such as the transition between child and adult services.
“We want to make sure you have a positive experience when visiting the services, and by letting us know what you think, we can help improve them for the better,” the NDCS states.
The organisation is also currently conducting research into text relay services and how they can be developed to better support users.
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EDCM welcomes end to PCT nappy restrictions
August 20th, 2010
Posted by James Lahey
Every Disabled Child Matters (EDCM) has welcomed a move by David Cameron to stop primary care trusts (PCTs) limiting the number of nappies available to disabled children.
The prime minister wrote to the organisation and online forum Mumsnet after both campaigned to end the practice, stating that “arbitrary ceilings are inappropriate”.
Mr Cameron added that the secretary of state for health has now asked the chief executive of the NHS to tell PCTs to end limits on nappies, instead encouraging them to assess each case according to need.
Christine Lenehan, EDCM board member and director of the Council for Disabled Children, said: “We look forward to receiving further information on the intervention by the chief executive of the NHS and urge all PCT chief executives to respond by lifting any blanket restrictions on nappy provision.”
She added that some PCTs currently offer just three or four nappies per day per child.
The EDCM and Mumsnet campaign began after Mr Cameron agreed to address the restrictions during a webchat in the lead up to the general election.
EDCM is operated by Mencap, Contact A Family, the Special Educational Consortium and the Council for Disabled Children.
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EDCM calling for service cut stories
August 18th, 2010
Posted by Charlie Powell-Brett
Every Disabled Child Matters (EDCM) is appealing to supporters to submit stories about services that have been affected by recent local funding cuts.
The campaign hopes to gather information about how reduced funding has caused closures and cuts across the country and the knock-on effect this has had on service users.
It reports that this autumn will see the government allocate funding to services for disabled children and their families until 2015.
EDCM hopes to present evidence of the negative impact cuts can have before the funding allocation.
“EDCM wants to tell the government your stories and show them that cutting funding for valued disabled children's services will have a huge impact on many people's lives - and will not save them money in the long run,” the organisation states.
Supporters are being urged to fill in an online form available on the EDCM website before September 8th.
The charity campaign - which is operated by Mencap, Contact a Family, the Council for Disabled Children and the Special Education Consortium - also lobbies to improve education for disabled children, as well as housing and healthcare.
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More teenagers experience hearing loss
August 18th, 2010
Posted by James Lahey
More teenagers are damaging their hearing by listening to loud music than 20 years ago, it has been revealed.
According to researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, 20 per cent of adolescents experienced some form of hearing problem or deafness between 2005 and 2006.
This compares with a figure of 15 per cent of 12-to-19-year olds between 1988 and 1994 - a rise that could be attributed to the increasing popularity of personal music players and live concerts.
The report authors stated: “Further studies are needed to determine reasons for this increase and to identify potential modifiable risk factors to prevent the development of hearing loss.”
Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the report also noted that children living below the poverty line were more likely to be affected.
In related news, the RNID is running a scheme that hopes to identify background noise in TV programmes this week.
The charity is encouraging viewers who are hard of hearing to report which programmes are hardest to hear in order to eliminate the problem.
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YoungMinds expects rise in parent callers in September
August 17th, 2010
Posted by Charlie Powell-Brett
Mental health and wellbeing charity YoungMinds expects a rise in the number of people phoning its parents helpline for support next month.
Record numbers of parents have already contacted the organisation ahead of the new school year, which begins in September.
Many callers are concerned about their children failing to adjust to a new learning environment, especially as they move to secondary school, while others cite problems with anxiety, phobias and fear of bullying.
Daphne Joseph, YoungMinds parents helpline manager, said “the change of pace” of going back to school following the summer holidays can be a shock to the system.
“Parents should try to stay calm and approach the change with a positive attitude to give their children the confidence that it will be ok,” stated Ms Joseph.
She added that it is normal to be worried about returning to school, but that children “usually settle down” quite quickly.
The YoungMinds parents helpline is confidential and free to call from both landlines and mobile phones.
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Specialist bikes support Shropshire children
August 15th, 2010
Posted by James Lahey
Specialist bikes have been delivered to disabled young people in Shropshire with a view to helping them learn to cycle.
According to BBC News, seven specially-designed bikes have been provided to eight to 16-year-olds with disabilities in the region through Shropshire Council's Short Breaks All In scheme.
Available to families free of charge, each bike offers different features tailored towards a range of disabilities.
For example, one allows a parent or carer to ride next to the biker in an additional seat.
Stored at Shrewsbury Sports Village in Sundorne, the bikes will be provided along with lessons from qualified coaches on the nearby cycle track.
Jane Mason, short breaks project leader at Shropshire Council, said: “We've invested a huge amount of money this year to enable disabled children and children with additional needs to have a huge range of choice.
“The idea is to get brothers and sisters, mums and dads involved.”
In related news, disability equipment charity Whizz Kidz is calling on disabled young people to design a piece of technology to improve their day-to-day life.
The scheme encourages children to think up technological solutions to problems presented at home, school or when out and about.
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Educational DVDs feature BSL support
August 13th, 2010
Posted by Charlie Powell-Brett
A collection of educational DVDs for children have been released with both subtitles and British Sign Language (BSL) support.
The Magic of Making is a series of short films that each focuses on how everyday items are created, following the raw materials through various processes to the end product.
According to the National Deaf Children's Society, although blockbuster children's movies are often subtitled, commercial TV programmes can be overlooked, leaving them inaccessible to deaf audiences.
The charity welcomed the release of the DVD collection of “charming little films”, stating: “The films are made in a classic style and have been extremely well received by children and adults alike.”
It adds that almost no mainstream educational or entertainment DVDs aimed at young people feature a BSL option.
Processes covered in the series include flavouring ice cream, manufacturing cutlery, pressing coins and building cars.
The films also allow the viewer to switch narration on and off.
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Doncaster man to launch nightclub event for disabled people
August 11th, 2010
Posted by James Lahey
A new nightclub event for people with learning disabilities is set to begin next month after securing support from local authorities.
Under the Stars will be launched in Doncaster on September 2nd after local Afson Viez Afarani sought financial backing for the venture from the borough council and the Learning Disability Partnership Board, the Diss Express reports.
The 24-year-old joined up with the charity of the same name with a view to creating an environment in which people with learning disability can relax and feel safe.
The first event will take place at Westways nightclub on Wood Street between 19:30 and 23:00 GMT.
Patricia Schofield, deputy mayor for Doncaster and cabinet member for adult services, told the newspaper: “This is a tremendous opportunity for Doncaster to show how the needs of people with a learning disability can be met in a different and exciting way and demonstrates a positive example of changes happening here.”
She went on to praise Mr Afarani for having the initiative to set up the event.
Tickets are priced at £5.
Under the Stars was originally founded in Sheffield in 2007.
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Muscular Dystrophy Campaign to hold national conference
August 10th, 2010
Posted by Charlie Powell-Brett
The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign will be holding its National Conference in the Midlands this September.
According to the charity, this year’s event will take place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on September 18th and tickets are available now.
The conference will feature a keynote address by Birmingham MP Jack Dromey, who has previously shown his support for the charity and the West Midlands Muscle Group.
On top of this, attendees will hear a speech from TV sports presenter and Muscular Dystrophy Campaign president Sue Barker MBE, who will offer awards to the organisation’s most committed supporters.
Later in the day, peer support programme workshops will take place, as well as talks on the Trailblazers youth campaign.
The charity labelled the event “an exciting and informative day”, adding: “The National Conference is an invaluable opportunity to find out the latest news in research, care, campaigns and fundraising.”
Tickets are priced at £15 for adults and £5 for children, while a family ticket costs £30.
Meanwhile, the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign recently held a series of music concerts called That Glorious Noise, the last of which took place at Beaulieu Abbey and featured opera singer Russell Watson.
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