THE GROUP FOR SOLICITORS
WITH DISABILITIES

This edition of The Bridge is also available in Adobe Acrobat  (PDF) format: The Bridge Winter 2007

 

The Bridge Winter 2007

Online edition

Introduction

Hello and welcome to the Winter 2007 edition of The Bridge, the magazine for members of the Group for Solicitors with Disabilities (GSD)

This edition continues themes in our last issue on the use of language in the workplace, highlighting a recent piece of research on the subject and we have another member of our executive, our Treasurer Michael Njoku introducing himself to you. Matters of transport are also a very strong theme, with articles on the latest “Baywatch” survey, European Union laws on air travel, and access to Hackney Carriages outside London, featuring a groundbreaking scheme from one Local Authority in Yorkshire.

We have also included our Chair’s response to the Government’s “Framework for Fairness” Green Paper on behalf of the GSD and, on a lighter note, our quest for the ultimate workplace diversity board game!

Finally, you will no doubt have noticed the stunning advertisement on the left hand side of this page – our Disability Equality Duty Conference “Doing your Duty: Effective Involvement in Disability Equality Scheme Development” on 22nd and 23rd February will be a groundbreaking event for legal and related professional bodies, allowing people with impairments to be fully integrated into the process of consultation and involvement, and highlighting examples of best practice which will be featured in a set of Conference Proceedings available next Spring. To apply to attend, please contact the GSD main office on 01924 232498 or email gsd@equalability.com

We are also keen to ensure that the articles we produce in “The Bridge” are thought-provoking and inspire you to make comments which we will investigate and, with your permission, publish in subsequent issues. If you feel that any of the articles in our magazine warrant a response, then please feel free to email our editor, Daniel Park, with your comments at: daniel.park@equalability.com

Sue Maynard Campbell

 

Getting to know you

Continuing our series introducing members of the GSD Executive committee, we reach our esteemed Treasurer Michael Njoku.

Michael had been a regular at GSD meetings for some time when he agreed to step in as Treasurer.  This is his second year keeping us to budget.  He is on the first rung of his career waiting to start a training contract in a high street practice.  Steep stairs with no lift mean the firm has to gain landlord approval for adjustments, hopefully a platform lift.  Michael studied Law at the University of Wales, then an LLM in Commercial and Corporate Law at University College London, and his LPC at PPP Law School in London.  In his spare time he is an Arsenal fan, enjoys photography and travel to places as diverse as New York and West Africa.

Hate Crime

In the last year, five groups of “so called” friends of disabled people were jailed for their murder or manslaughter in this country. In each case, the victims of these sustained crimes were treated as sub humans, tortured in the most sickening manner and robbed in unprovoked and sustained attacks- read the full article here

Dyslexia article Part 2

A personal view from a solicitor- read the full article here

Changing places campaign

The Changing Places Consortium has recently launched a campaign on behalf of the thousands of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their carers, and the many other disabled people who cannot use standard accessible toilets.- read the full article here

Centre for public scrutiny

The Centre for Public Scrutiny was set up to promote the value of scrutiny in modern and effective government - not only to hold executives to account but also to create a constructive dialogue between the public and its elected representatives - to improve the quality of public services. - read the full article here

Submissions…

The closing date for submissions to the next edition of the Bridge is: Friday 4th January 2008 so please send any material of interest to the editor, Daniel Park at: daniel.park@equalability.com or via mail to: Equal Ability CIC, Amco House, Cedar Court Office Park, Denby Dale Road, Wakefield WF4 3BA

Tolley’s Yellow Tax Handbook 2007-08

Redston, Anne (editor), Published Butterworths, Format: paperback, 4 Volumes, £94.95
This authoritative and long-running guide to UK Tax Law, published in August of this year, is the first to contain income and company tax rules in using the Plain English Crystalmark guidelines. Unfortunately, this has almost doubled the number of pages required and, in an effort to maintain the number of volumes published, a decision has been made by the publishers to reduce the print size. The paradox of a Plain English guide in a non-accessible format (the print size is tiny) will, I am sure, not be lost on GSD members.

Pages in Tax Handbook
2001 - 5,952
2002 - 6,432
2003 - 7,344
2004 - 7,936
2005 - 9,178
2006 - 9,806
2007 - 9,866*
Source: LexisNexis
*In smaller print size

Daniel Park

Framework for fairness article

The Government’s Green paper on the single equality bill - read the full article here 

Farewell to the DRC

The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) finally closed its doors on 28th September 2007, after seven years of campaigning and advocacy on behalf of disabled people - read the full article here

Mind your language Part 2

GSD Members who read the article “Mind your language” (pp.14-15, Summer/Autumn 2007) will recall a discussion about the extent of inappropriate “banter” in the workplace - read part 2 of the article here

Open sky for disabled passengers

Although the first provisions of the EU Regulation on the rights of disabled air passengers enter into force this year and must be completed in all member countries by 26th July 2008, the European Disability Forum warns against the legislation's shortcomings - read the full article here

Applying for a job!

A tongue in cheek look at writing an effective CV - read the full article here

The case for fire sprinklers

Most of us asume that fire safety measures in modern buildings make them as safe for disabled people as for the able-bodied. But is this the case? - read the full article here

Taxi!

In a piece of research conducted by Equal Ability CIC, we have calculated that the number of Hackney Carriages and saloon-style private hire vehicles in major Yorkshire cities in comparison to those in Greater London are as follows:  - read the full article here

Is stress a disability

Up to 60% of those absent from work at any one time are suffering from stress related illnesses - read the full article here

Annual car parking survey

The survey confirms widespread abuse of Blue Badge bays - read the full article here

The Law Society Library

Access for GSD Members - read the full article here

A short guide to “Scooching”

In what I may call "the blind world," we have recently been discussing how information about fire exits should be given at meetings in large halls.

Often, we find that the speaker says "over there!" or something similar, pointing to the exit or exits.  Useless for blind members of the audience!

A friend of mine, who works for Kent County Council, wrote as follows-

“Please find the fire evacuation procedure guidelines drawn up recently by ADEPT Transcriptions.  They can be contacted on 01525 373974.  Their website is www.adept.org.  Note these are guidelines to help organisations to put effective procedures in place, rather than an actual procedure.

There is nothing in them which advises presentation leaders to avoid what I call "Scooching".  This is my word for giving information which, because of the way it is given, is useless for a blind person.

The Eurovision Song Contest entry for Britain this year was by a group called Scooch.  It was about a flight across Europe to a holiday destination.
One line spoken during the song runs:

"The safety exits are here, here and here." which hardly worked effectively on radio!"


John Wall

Future Meetings

The National committee will meet on Wednesday, 12 December, 2007, Wednesday, 2 April, 2008 and Thursday, 22 May, 2008 - usually at 4pm. These meetings are open to all members of the Group.

The Annual General meeting date has been changed to Thursday 22nd May 2008 and will be followed by a reception.

All meetings will be held at The Law Society 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2 1PL. It is planned to have some future meeting outside London.

 

Coming soon!

Our next edition will be a Disability Equality Duty (DED) special.

Timed to coincide with our 2008 Conference “Doing your Duty” being held 22nd-23rd February at the Holiday Inn, Bloomsbury, London, this Spring 2008 issue will feature:

Plus: why are Equal Ability staff playing games at work? Find out in the next issue…

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