ADP Newsletter Membership Matters You will know that the ADP became a charitable company limited by guarantee on 1st January 2008. As a result of the changes, the ADP has now had to open a new bank account. Subscriptions for 2008 were collected into the old account, but you need to take action now to retain your membership, as the old account is closing and next year's subscriptions will not be collected under the previous standing order mandate. I would therefore appreciate it if you could take the time to fill in the attached Standing Order Mandate and return it to me as soon as possible, in order that we are able to continue to collect subscriptions from 1st January 2009 onwards. Additionally, for those members who usually pay by cheque and have not already done so for this year, please could you arrange to make payment as soon as possible. The Resource Guide Pack for Disabled Entrepreneurs and Advisors The Resource Guide Pack written by the ADP as part of the CREATE + programme has been a huge success! "Setting up in business? A Resource Guide for disabled people and their advisors" has been welcomed by disabled people and business advisors around the UK and indeed, was very well received by our German partners in the CREATE programme, Go! Unlimited. Over 1500 copies of the Guide Pack, which includes a Quick Reference Guide, the Resource Guide itself and a Directory of Support have been distributed to disabled people and business advisors. Additionally, we have been able to deliver several workshops for disabled entrepreneurs and pilot sessions of Disability Equality Training for Advisors, to business advisors in different areas of London, as well as in the Cambridgeshire area and in the North West. The ADP is now working very closely with Business Link London, who have paid for Disability Equality Training specifically relating to the provision of advice to disabled entrepreneurs. We are also in the process of reviewing practices and literature within the organisation, as well as supporting them in the delivery of workshops aimed at raising awareness of self employment as a viable route off benefits. Business Link London have also sponsored the printing of 150 copies of the Guide Pack that we are able to distribute for the cost of postage and packaging. We are able to distribute the pack in the following formats: * Standard Print * Large Print * Audio CD * Easy Read (words with pictures) * Electronic Format (either in Adobe Acrobat "pdf" format or as a text only document) If anyone knows of a disabled person who would like the Guide Pack, please ask them to state their preferred format and to send either stamps to the value of £2.00, or alternatively a cheque made payable to "Association of Disabled Professionals" to: Kath Sutherland Development Officer - ADP c/o 21 Shrewsbury Road Heaton BOLTON Lancashire BL1 4NW The Impact of the Disability Discrimination Act According to recent research, using data from the Disability Module of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Omnibus Survey between 1996 and 2006, public knowledge of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) increased significantly between 1996 and 2006, and disabled people have improved access "across the board - from their access to public transport to shopping at their local grocer". The research uses data which looked at awareness of the Act, access to goods and services, access to transport (2005, 2006) and renting or buying a home. It shows that over 70% of people are now aware of the Act by name, compared to only 40% in 1996; a year after DDA was first introduced. However, although awareness has increased, disabled people have a lower awareness of the DDA (68 per cent) than non disabled people (75 per cent). Other key findings of the research are: * 77% of disabled people reported that they did not have any problems using public transport. * 79% of disabled people in paid work said they had no trouble accessing goods and services compared to 59% of those not in paid work. * 80% of disabled people had no difficulties when shopping. * Less than 1% said they had been refused the sale or rental of a property because they were disabled. * Awareness of the Act was higher among the wider population than among disabled people. * Those over 65 years old were less likely to know about the Act. I understand that between 1500 and 2000 adults over the age of sixteen were involved in this and other Omnibus Surveys. I'm sure that many of us will be in the percentage of disabled people that does still have trouble accessing goods and services, experiences difficulties when shopping and have given up on public transport as a viable option! The Disability Discrimination Act report is available from The Office for Disability Issues either as a full report or in summary version: * On the website at www.officefordisability.gov.uk/docs/dda-report.pdf * by email at office-for-disability-issues@dwp.gsi.gov.uk * Or by a request in writing to: Office for Disability Issues, 2nd Floor, The Adelphi, 1-11 John Adam Street, London, WC2N 6HT Research Participant Request We have received a request with regard to participation in a research project focussing on disabled parents, or more specifically, disabled women who are mothers. The flyer for the project is attached. If you would like me to contact Claudia on your behalf, I am happy to do so. It would also be appreciated if you could distribute this amongst your networks. Do you live in the South West? If you live in the South West of England, you may be interested in a new free webzine for disabled people. More information can be found at www.disabledsouthwest.co.uk Work Placements in Work-based Learning One of our members, Ann Stead, is carrying out some research for Foundation Degree Forward trying to find out how inclusive Foundation Degrees are for disabled people. However, she is finding it very difficult to track down disabled students who are doing foundation degrees so she has decided to widen the search to any students having work-based learning experiences as it is assumed that the issues will be similar. Ultimately, guidelines of good practice will be produced. She is interested in the three parties involved in each student's experience: student, the employer and the university or college. Foundation degrees integrate academic and work-based learning, and are designed in partnership with employers. They equip individuals with the knowledge, understanding and skills relevant to their employment. Foundation Degree Forward (fdf) was launched in 2003. Its primary objective is to support the development of high quality Foundation degrees. More information about Foundation Degree Forward is available at www.fdf.ac.uk This is a plea for anyone who is either an employer who has experience of disabled students carrying out work-placements or for disabled students undertaking any form of study that includes an element of work experience within the course to contact Ann Stead on 01865 891174 or to email Anne at annstead@talktalk.net initially for a chat. A request to complete a questionnaire may follow. Would you like to showcase your profession or business? If so, then Steve Aze from Careersoft would like to hear from you. Steve is looking for disabled people who would be interested in being filmed at work, either in their employment or self employment. The videos will then be used as career videos for young people considering your particular profession. More information about Careersoft is available at www.careersoft.co.uk If you are interested in being involved, please contact the ADP office either on 01204 431638 (answerphone only) or by email at adp.admin@ntlworld.com Association of Disabled Professionals (ADP) BCM ADP, London WC1N 3XX Tel/Fax: 01204 431638 Email: adp.admin@ntlworld.com Registered in England and Wales as a charitable company limited by guarantee. Company Number: 6390586 Charity Number: 1121706 Registered Address: 16 Aintree Drive, Cowplain, Hampshire, PO7 8NG