For the first time the Cerebral Palsy Awareness Group will be hosting an awareness stand outside the ICC on Saturday 24th March from 10am until 2pm. They will also be celebrating Cerebral Palsy Awareness day on Sunday 25th March with a walk from the Piazza to Casemates at 10am. All are welcome to attend the walk especially anyone with CP and their families and friends. Wearing green is optional and the castle will be lit in green for both days.
Despite confirmation from the Chief Minister that there should have been a rise in the disability allowance last year in line with inflation; (as quoted in his 2012 budget speech); the Disability Society is disappointed to see that once again this month, March 2018, the rise has not materialised. The Society has written three reminders to No 6 as requested pointing out that pensions and rents were all promptly increased but not the disability allowance. The matter was also raised in Parliament by independent MP Mr Llamas who it appears was erroneously assured the allowance had been increased. It is hoped therefore that by finally bringing the matter into the public domain the rise in the disability allowance, backdated to 1st August 2017, will be promptly instituted by the rate of inflation which was quoted in the 2017 budget speech as being 2.7%.
It recently came to the attention of the Society that despite the Disability Bill (Agnes’ Law) being passed through Parliament in July 2017 it has still not be enacted into law. The Society was informed that the Bill was not given a commencement date and therefore cannot be signed by the Governor. After raising the matter directly with Minister Sacramento we have been told that Government needed 6 to 9 months to train staff and this was the reason for the delay. To say the Society is disappointed is an understatement particularly considering the Government had 5 years to start training in disability issues. It has now been 7 months since the bill was passed through parliament so the Society expects full transposition into law before May 2018.
Gibraltar Cultural Services and the Gibraltar Youth Service, on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, the Media,Youth and Sport will be organising a Youth Open Day as part of the first ever Youth Arts Jamboree. The event will be held at the Central Hall on Saturday 10th March
2018 from 10am to 5pm. The Youth Open Day will be a cultural and youth providers fair, with many entities being given the opportunity to expose their product and what they can offer young people.
The following entities have confirmed they will be taking part:
Gibraltar Army Cadets
Gibraltar Air Cadets
Childline Gibraltar
Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme
Scouts Association
Guides Association
Gibraltar Dance Organisation
Gibraltar Photographic Society
Gibraltar Arts and Crafts Association
Gibraltar Academy for Music and the Performing Arts
Clubhouse Gibraltar
Disability Society
Muslim Youth Group
CYE-CLE
Gibraltar Health Authority
Gibraltar Youth Service
Gibraltar Museum
Autism Support Group
Royal Gibraltar Police Recruitment Section
St Johns Ambulance
The Open Day will be accessible for persons with disabilities, and made more inclusive and sensory friendly. Sensory adaptations will be made available for the first one and half hours from 10am to 11.30am. During this period sound will be minimized and it will particularly benefit persons with autism, photosensitive epilepsy, visual and hearing impediments.
Thereafter, live performances and interactive workshops will take place from 11.30pm to 5pm, by many of the entities aforementioned. The Open Day will also feature a fun day and the organisers take this opportunity to thank Gibtelecom for sponsoring part of the event. For
Any enquiry or to get involved, please contact Gibraltar Cultural Services, Events Department, on telephone 20067236 or email: info@culture.gi
New initiatives will be available all throughout this year’s fair which commences on the 19 August to 27 August.• Sensory adaptations will be available for the first two hours of the fair, from 7:30 pm to 9:30pm, during which period lights will be switched off and sound will be minimized. This will be particularly beneficial for people with autism, photosensitive epilepsy, visual impairments and hearing impairments.This year will also see the launch of the “Easy Access Pass” (the Pass). This Pass will be applicable in two different ways:1. At attractions where there is a requirement to queue, Pass holders will upon reaching the front of the queue have to present their Pass to the attraction greeter (feriante). The attraction greeter will then secure a seat for the Pass holder.2. At attractions where there is no designated queue line, Pass holders will need to present their Pass to the attraction greeter (feriante) at the ticket box when purchasing the ticket. The attraction greeter will then secure a seat for the Pass holder.This new initiative will be particularly useful for people with mobility impairments. However, it must be noted that not all rides are suitable for all visitors as each have strict operating requirements based on the containment of the ride, the force of the ride and the evacuation procedure. Attraction greeters (feriantes) have to follow all rules and restrictions for health and safety reasons; therefore people are asked to please not ask attraction greeter (feriantes) to break these rules, they are there for the safety of all. Consequently, attraction greeters (feriantes) may refuse admission to a ride if they feel that the safety of a visitor or the safety of others visitors may be at risk.Individuals interested in applying for the Pass will need to complete an application form which is available for collection from the Ministry of Equality at 14 Governor’s Parade. The application form may also be made available upon request by emailing equality@gibraltar.gov.gi or calling 20070112.
The full press release with details of requirements etc can be found at https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/new/sites/default/files/press/2017/Press%20Releases/473-2017.pdf
Many years ago the late Chairwoman of the Gibraltar Disability Society, Mrs Agnes Valarino, made it her mission to bring legislation to Gibraltar to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. Such was her determination she even wrote a paper with draft legislation based on the disability law in Southern Ireland. After Agnes sadly passed away the Disability Society continued her fight to achieve such legislation. Over the years we have worked with all Governments in attempt to achieve this aim and today the hard work of Agnes and the Disability Society has finally come to fruition. Parliament has unanimously voted to pass the Disability Bill which will in future be referred to as “Agnes’ Law”. The Disability Society would like to thank all those who have supported us over the years in helping to reach this milestone. We would also like to especially thank Minister Sacramento for her proposal to name this legislation after such a wonderful woman. This proposal was not only welcomed by Agnes’ family but by all those who worked with or knew Agnes and it is a fitting tribute to her legacy. Now that Gibraltar has taken the initial step in introducing such necessary legislation the Disability Society will turn its sights to the introduction in full of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilties to Gibraltar. However today we will take the time to remember Agnes a strong and caring woman whose determination has changed the future for the better for those with disabilities in Gibraltar.
It has been brought to the attention of the Disability Society that the Ministry for Transport has seen fit to remove the signs from the local buses regarding the space for wheelchair users. As the Minister for Transport has made no public statement regarding this matter it can only be assumed that this is due to pressure by certain groups regarding the issue of wheelchairs and prams using the local bus service. The Disability Society has always maintained that the buses the Government chose to buy are not fit for purpose for those with disabilities particularly those with wheelchairs and disability buggies. In fact the following is quoted from the GSLP Government 2015 manifest: “When we acquired the new red EURO6 buses that are in circulation, we had a guaranteed buy back. We will exercise that guaranteed buy back so that we can once again acquire new buses that will be more accessible and usable by the elderly and disabled.” It now seems quite clear that the Government has made no attempt to exercise this guaranteed buy back despite the many complaints over the unsuitability of the buses for the disabled and the elderly. The Disability Society therefore insists that the Government not only replace said signs but go one step further and follow the example of the UK to make it compulsory for the seats in the wheelchair space to be given up should the space be needed by a passenger using a wheelchair or disability buggy. After all there are many seats available on the bus but only one space for a wheelchair. Discrimination of wheelchair and disability buggy users using our local transport system is simply not acceptable.
Today the Minister of Equality will launch the first of a series of guidance documents in relation to disability equality matters which will be made available to all Government Departments, private sector and the community by the Ministry of Equality.
One of the strategies of the Ministry in raising awareness and facilitating inclusion of people with disabilities is to provide easy–to-use reference documents. This is one of a series that the Ministry of Equality will be issuing during the course of the year.
This first reference booklet is in relation to inclusive language and etiquette; words to use and avoid when writing or talking to people with disabilities and explains common courtesies when meeting people with disabilities and their support workers. This particular document can be used by frontline staff when assisting potential customers who have a disability.
Knowledge of appropriate language and etiquette may not necessarily be something which everyone is aware of or has access to, for many it can be a cause for concern as they do not wish to offend. The Ministry of Equality, in consultation with the Gibraltar Disability Society has therefore embarked on this initiative for the purposes of clarifying appropriate terminology, attitudes and practices. Ms Debbie Borastero, Chairperson of the Gibraltar Disability Society stated: “The Gibraltar Disability Society welcomes all the initiatives to date and all future initiatives of the Ministry of Equality that bring matters of disability to the forefront in Gibraltar”.
These matters will also be discussed at the training that will be delivered to the public sector at various training sessions that are planned for this week as well as at the business sector breakfast on Wednesday and private sector training seminar on Wednesday.
The Minister for Equality, the Hon. Samantha Sacramento MP, said “Appropriate language and etiquette is not only polite and avoids potentially causing offence, but promotes equality. We want to break down barriers and increase opportunities for people to learn about matters which relate to people with disabilities. It is only through knowledge that we can all work together in achieving a more inclusive society. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Gibraltar Disability Society for their advice.”
Booklet can be found online at https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/new/sites/default/files/press/2017/Press%20Releases/336.1-2017%20Disability%20Language%20Etiquette%20Booklet.pdf
