The Blog

DISABILITY LEGISLATION UPDATE

The Chairperson of the Gibraltar Disability Society, Mrs Debbie Borastero, recently raised the issue of the slow progress of the introduction of disability legislation directly with Chief Minister Fabian Picardo. In response to the question of why disability legislation has not been passed unlike other equality legislation the Chief Minister stated it was because of the ‘cost its introduction would bring about not only to the government but to private businesses’. The Society wrote to the Chief Minister to ask for clarification of this statement and received the following response: “we are making huge progress and expect to publish a further draft very shortly for consultation in particular with the GFSB and the Chamber. The reasoning behind the further circulation of drafts relate to the potential cost to business issue which we discussed. We want to get this right and don’t want the disabled to be seen as an ‘additional cost to business’. Hence wanting to get it right the first time.”

The Society is very discouraged by this reply although the honesty of the Chief Minister was appreciated. The Committee feel that at present it must refrain from making any further comment until a comparison can be made between the first draft, to which the Society was a “stakeholder” and was released for public consultation in October 2015, and any further drafts the Government release for public consultation. It is imperative that all those affected by disability issues or who are involved in disability issues participate fully in further public consultation. At the end of the day disability legislation must put the rights of the disabled in our community above all else.

BINGO!!

Gibraltar Disability Society Bingo at the Admiral Casino
Wednesday 26^th October – bingo starts 9.30pm

Price: £10 for 9 games
1st-8th Game prizes £20 for the first line and £75 for the house
9th Game prize £100 for the first line and £1,000 for the house
We have been provided with a number of tickets by the Casino which are now available from Angela on 57178000 or 20075210
A raffle will be held on the night for a prize draw before the last game
Please support as all proceeds go to the Disability Society

Press Release

GIBRALTAR NATIONAL DAY EVENTS

Saturday 10^th September 2016

The Self Determination for Gibraltar Group (SDGG) wishes to remind persons wanting a space at the wheelchair viewing platform or the stand for persons with a mobility disability that the closing date is Friday 26^th August 2016.

Persons will be able to obtain tickets on a first come served basis by contacting the Gibraltar Cultural Services directly on telephone 20067236 before the 26^th August 2016, to register and pick up their ticket. Ticket holders may be accompanied by one other person. Blue badge to be presented on collection of tickets. No tickets will be available on the 10^th September.

Fundraising Skydive

On the 25th June Lindsay Davis bravely did her first skydive and in the process raised money for two local charities. The Disability Society wishes to thank Lindsay and all her sponsers for the wonderful donation of £570.00.

Flag Day Update

Thanks to all those who helped shake a tin on flag day and many thanks to all those who donated. We rasied a grand total of £897.77 and €39.00

British Sign Language course

In response to demand the Gibraltar Hearing Impaired & Tinnitus Association is planning to organise a British Sign Language introductory course. If you would like to take part please express your interest by emailing hit@gibtelecom.net

Please note this course was 2016. For more up to date information on Hearing Issues and Tinitus Association (GHITA) at www.ghita.gi

Thanks to Brit Group Services

The Committee of the Gibraltar Disability Society would like to publicly thank Brit Group Services and their staff for the wonderful donations which were recently received. The Disability Society was one of ten charities nominated by staff members and was lucky enough to be chosen to receive a donation of £3,000 from their head office in UK. A further £530 was donated by the staff of Brit Insurance here in Gibraltar. The Disability Society is grateful to all those who raised such a generous amount and would once again like to thank all those involved.

Milan Art Project Exhibition

The art exhibition was opened by Minister Sacramento and Carlos Bandera on the evening of 18th January. Artwork by 37  service users of the Dr Giraldi Home and St Bernadettes Resource Centre is on display at the Gustavo Bacarisas Gallery in Casemates. There is wonderful display of  vibrant and expressive paintings which include two works by the group as a whole. Much work has been put into this exhibition not only from the artists themselves but from those who supported them including five local art students Sophie Bossino, Laura Glendhill Cortes, Kayleigh Ann Thond also local artists Peter Mosca and Christian Hook. Not only will these artworks be displayed locally there will also be a second exhibition held at the Scalvini Museum located in Milan, Italy. This second exhibition will be held from 5th to 27th March at the invitation of Profesor Cristiano Plicato, Director of the Scalvini Museum. All paintings are for sale with several painting being sold on the opening night. The Gibraltar Disability Society would like to congratulate all the artists on their wonderful exhibition and recommend a worth while trip by all to view these amazing paintings which are on show until 30th January.

Government Offers Accessibility Training

The Department of Equality is introducing a series of lectures and seminars aimed at the private sector to show how an inclusive business can mean a more profitable business. The series will be called “Equality Means Business” and will commence with an awareness seminar and training workshop on accessibility to the physical environment.
As a matter of Government policy, every single new Government project is entirely accessible. The Government encourages the private sector to follow suit, and is looking to highlight the business case for doing so. The Department of Equality is fronting this with an awareness initiative with the aim that principles of inclusion and equality are embraced in both the private and public sectors. Accordingly, the Government wishes to assist in providing training and awareness on accessibility to buildings for the disabled and elderly.
The Department for Equality has organised two different seminars:
1. A seminar on how to make your premises accessible on Monday 30th November between 2pm-5pm at the O’Callaghan Eliott Hotel.
2. A 2 day, more in depth, training workshop from the 1st to 2nd December 2015 to be held at the University of Gibraltar on access audit training. A detailed outline of the training programme is available upon request.
Both the seminar and training sessions will be delivered by Ian Streets, Managing Director of
About Access Ltd. Mr Streets is no stranger to Gibraltar, having delivered some very successful
training sessions last year. He has been providing advice to clients in the UK on the Disability
Discrimination Act, Equality Act and access to buildings/sites for disabled persons. His clients
include both the national and local government in the UK, housing associations, national charities
and businesses. His work ranges from single site audits to portfolios with over 300 sites. A
regular part of his work includes preparing plan appraisals and advice to national/local
government bodies and businesses on policy relating to access.

To register contact: Tel: 20070112 E-mail mfess@gibraltar.gov.gi

THE GIBRALTAR DISABILITY SOCIETY WISH LIST 2015

Disability Legislation

• The Disability Bill is in the process of being brought into law. The Society wishes Government to further build on this and introduce the UN Convention via the UK once Gibraltar has disability legislation framework in place.

Supported Employment

• Although the Government introduced Supported Employment Co Ltd it no longer functions and exists in name only. It needs to be restructured with trained HR staff to UK National Occupied Standards. We would also like to see a supported internship programme.
• Social insurance contributions towards pension entitlement for workers on the scheme.

Independent Inspections

• A statutory body should be introduced to monitor and audit all areas of the disability and care services.

Staffing of the Disability Services

• Training of all staff should be continued and increased and should lead to formal qualifications.
• Less reliance by Government on supply workers. More permanent staff should be employed to ensure quality continuity of care which is paramount to service users.
• If private agency supply workers are hired they must be trained and inducted to the same degree as Care Agency workers.
• The issue of disability nurse contracts needs to be addressed. At present they are on 11 months contracts and over a dozen nurses have left the services since December 2011.
• Staff absenteeism is exceedingly high. Schemes offered in other government organisations ought to be extended to disability services staff.

St Bernadette’s Resource Centre

• Centre needs to be expanded due to increased number of users. This could be achieved, should the Dr Giraldi Home be re-sited, by expansion to the second floor.
• Better provision should be made for the different age groups. This could be achieved by the aforementioned expansion and should include a transition unit for new arrivals.
• Centre should open at least one evening a week to provide leisure facilities to its users and the community
• Hydro-therapy pool has been unused for years – a decision needs to be made as to its future.

Dr Giraldi Home

• This should be re-sited to allow the expansion of St Bernadettes Resource Centre onto two floors.
• Respite Unit should be re-sited to a separate location.

 Future planning for persons with disabilities

• Information on Disability Action Plan talked about in the 2011 manifesto
• Community Care for persons with disabilities as promised in 2011 manifesto

Education

• New school for St Martin’s with provisions for difference age groups.
• Increase capacity of Early Birds Nursery.
• A commitment to review and improve inclusive education at secondary level.

Supported Independent Living

• Dr Giraldi Home is full and has already been divided from 3 to 6 flats. Government to commit to providing any future residential care within the community.
• Commitment to give disabled persons the right to live independently with care and support in their own home. Not wait for the death of a parent to offer such independence.
• Disabled persons to retain tenancy of family home on the death of last surviving parent should they still be living within the family home. All necessary care and support to be provided to allow them to continue to live in the community.

 Sponsored Patients

• Although there has been an increase in sponsored patient’s allowances it should be taken into consideration that in some instances families with a disabled family member need both parents to attend appointments.
• Help should be provided for some families with a limited support network with regard to other siblings.

Increase support from Government

• More help provided from Housing for families who have a family member who is born or becomes disabled. A parent may have to give up work to provide care for their disabled family member and therefore can no longer afford to pay a mortgage. If they have to go back on the housing list it should be with all entitlements.
• Introduction of financial aid for families whose need to adapt a private property due to a family member being born or becoming disabled.
• Government departments such as GHA, Social, Housing, Education and Employment, still need to work more closely to ensure a smooth transition for persons with disabilities throughout their lives.
• Government should appoint a working party to examine the effectiveness of Government departments and how this can be improved.

Accessibility, Services and Transport

• The existing programme of making all official buildings accessible should be accelerated and a commitment to make this happen by 2020.
• Part M of the Buildings Regulations to be legislated without further delay.
• To amend the Equal Opportunity Act to end discrimination against disabled persons in respect of services.
• Better policing of disability parking bays and increase fines for obstruction of dropped curbs, illegal parking within a demarcated disability parking bay and misuse of the disabled parking blue badge.
• Expansion of wheelchair accessible taxi fleet with a commitment of 50% accessibility by 2020 and 90% by 2025.
• Ensure at least 25% of coaches are wheelchair accessible by 2020. This will be a benefit not only for locals but for tourists as several tourist sites are now disability friendly.