We want The Big Bridge to be a vibrant, community resource so please fill in the e-form if you have any ideas to share by clicking on the above comments box. This is your website too!
For professionals
Here, you'll find information about council services, charities, care providers and voluntary groups who can support adults with learning disabilties in Brighton & Hove. We want The Big Bridge to be a vibrant, community site and welcome news about forthcoming projects so, if you have an event we could publicise here, please send details to us at hello@thebigbridge.org.
To find services:
Local care providers
Advocacy and advice
Countywide
Thumbs Up Launch!!
The Thumbs Up Scheme supports local businesses to offer good services to people with a learning disability. There is an official launch of the scheme on September 23rd 2010, 12 noon to 2pm at the Komedia, Brighton. There will be a screening of the film about the scheme and some tips for good support, plus an opportunity to grab some free lunch and to meet businesses from across the city. Please click here for the registration form and find out more.
British Association of Supported Employment Conference
8th-9th September 2010, Brighton Holiday Inn
The British Association of Supported Employment Annual Conference is highly regarded for its ability to cover both policy and practice issues. The conference will provide an invaluable opportunity for you to network with policy makers, delivery organisations, and frontline staff.
There will be over 20 workshops with a focus on areas of mental health, learning disability, autism and physical and sensory disability. Topics will cover health services, day services, learning, transition, volunteering and work.
For a booking form and further information - please click here.
The Big Health Service Check
6th October 2010, 10.30am to 1.00pm, King Alfred Leisure Centre, Hove
This is the chance for you, and the people you support, to have your say about health services for people with learning disabilities.
Attached are two questionnaires being used for the Big Health Services Check. One is for people with learning disabilities - click here and one is for family carers and support staff - click here. People who are not attending the Big Health Services Check Day can send completed questionnaires to Natalie Winterton directly. Her address is on the questionnaires and the deadline is 6th October 2010.
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Mencap needs your help!
The government has said that it will introduce a new medical test for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for working age adults. Mencap is concerned that the new assessment might mean that some people with a learning disability will not get DLA anymore.
To help us with our campaigning work we want to find out what people with a learning disability spend their DLA on. In particular, we are interested in people who get the care component of DLA.
DLA is often described as an "extra costs" benefit. It is paid to disabled people in recognition of the extra costs that their disability has on their ability to get around or look after themselves. We want to be able to show the government how important DLA is for people with a learning disability and what an impact it has on their lives.
Please click here to fill in a short on-line survey.
Person Centred Publications
Some useful Person Centred Publications can be found on this page of the Department of Health Website click here.
Help seeking personal assistants
The Federation of Disabled People is piloting a new noticeboard scheme on its website to provide lists of PAs looking for work and DP Users looking for PAs. For more information please click here...
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SeeAbility Factsheets
SeeAbility have produced a new series of easy to read factsheets on eye care and vision for people with learning disablities. They have been devised in consultation with a focus group of people with learning disabilities. Please click here to view them.
Online Basics
Online basics, a new free course designed to help thousands of offline adults take their first steps with computers and the internet.
Online basics, which is available free of charge at www.onlinebasics.co.uk, offers five modules covering the basics people need to know to get going online - from keyboard and mouse skills thorugh to email, internet searching and how to stay safe on the internet. The site also provides access to guidance from people helping someone to use the course, such as tutors in learning centres of family and friends supporting someone at home. In this way, Online basics is open to everyone.
We're putting together a series of articles from professionals who are happy to share their special knowledge, expertise or perspective - please contact us at hello@thebigbridge.org if you would like to contribute.