News

16 Jun 06

Positive About Disability in Poole

Over 90 people took part in the Positive About Disability consultation last week and had their say on the way the services they receive are designed and delivered.

The event, which took place on Friday 9 June, was organised by Poole Partnership, together with PRO Disability and the Borough of Poole and brought together disabled people and service providers to identify the barriers and what can be done to overcome them.

Among the issues raised at the event were:

  • More positive attitudes needed by service providers and the public \n

  • Increased public awareness and education about disabilities required \n

  • Improved communication needed about the services available \n

  • Better equal opportunities for all different impairments \n

  • Improved staff training for service providers \n

  • More support with emergencies such as cards in the house with details of disabilities, SOS one button, aids in cars etc \n

  • Better joined up working between service providers to ensure all services are accessible \n

  • Improved accessibility of the built environment \n

Kelvin Trevett, Acting Operational Manager of PRO-Disability said "We are pleased that so many people took advantage of this great opportunity for disabled people to promote disability issues. The feedback received and the issues raised at the event will help us ensure that Poole becomes more inclusive for disabled people."

Councillor Mary Hillman, Lead Member for People with Learning Disabilities, said: "We were delighted at the response to the event and the constructive feedback we received. It proved to be a very informative exercise and one that will undoubtedly have a positive influence on the services available to disabled people."

Richard Dimbleby, Chair of Poole Partnership link will open in new window, said: "During the day, we learnt a lot from people who experience first hand the difficulties faced in accessing services and information for disabled people. The information exchange and the opportunity to listen and understand has proved invaluable and we will be using the feedback to work on improving and enhancing the services currently available. We look forward to continuing the constructive and open dialogue with disabled people and agencies in the future."

The full outcome of the consultation process will be made public in the autumn and resulting progress will be monitored closely.

Anyone who was unable to attend the event can still have their say by completing a questionnaire which is available on the Poole Partnership website at www.poolepartnership.info. Alternatively people can invite one of the consultation organisers to their Users Group meeting.

Eileen Pinhorne

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