Keep up to date with Mid West Lifts News!

St. Patrick's Day Parade

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:38:19 +0000

DPOC took the opportunity of the 2010 St. Patrick's Day parade in Ennis to unveil their new secret weapon against rogue motorists who park in disabled access car parking spaces. No longer will there be any use uttering the phrases "I was only stopping for a few minutes" or "But it's 8 o'clock in the evening, what would disabled people be doing out at this time?"

Some think the Paddy's Pink Panzer an excessive reaction to the problem, but we have had some interested enquiries from the town's Traffic Wardens!

First Edition of Assistive Technology Ezine Now Available

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 10:38:33 +0000

Find out what's new in Assistive Technology (AT) in the first edition of the Enable Ireland National AT Training Service's ezine. This issue has features on the new AT telesupport service for Enable Ireland staff, updates on Enable Ireland partnerships with Microsoft and Dublin Institute of Technology, as well as a feature on AT in the media. It also contains the AT training calendar for 2010 which lists details of AT training and events planned over the coming months.

Click here to view the ezine.

Money Counts

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:28:20 +0000

People with an intellectual disability can face particular problems managing their money. MoneyCounts.ie is a collaboration between St John of God Carmona Services and MABS (Money Advice and Budgeting Service) which aims to provide money management and training through online activities such as interactive games, videos and excercises.

http://www.moneycounts.ie/

NDA's Standards Newsletter

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:28:56 +0000

The National Disability Authority's winter newsletter highlighted the changes to the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2009. These changes, which came into effect on the 1st January 2010, include the requirement for new building projects to include provisions in relation to disability access certificates (DAC).

The Regulations also amend the 1997 regulations to prohibit the opening, operation or occupation of a building unless a disability access certificate or revised disability access certificate has been granted.

Other headings in this newsletter include:

Introduction of Disability Access Certificates
Update on the review of 'Building for Everyone'
'Safe Evacuation for All' Conference
Update on standards development work by the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design

To read the NDA newsletter in full, click here.

Blind and visually impaired mobile phone buyer's guide

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:13:48 +0000

Useful information for blind or visually impaired people looking for a suitable mobile phone in this article from the BBC Ouch! website.

Click here

Disability Awareness DVD created by Longford students

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 11:29:59 +0000

An RTE news report recently featured a DVD created by Longford students which highlights how attitudes differ towards people with disabilities.

The inspiration for this programme, called 'View From Here', came from two 14 year old students who live almost identical lives but are treated very differently by many people. One of the girls has a physical disability and the other doesn’t. Often a physical disability can be viewed by many as a major barrier to succeeding in life. Both girls do not agree with this and want to change people’s attitudes by sharing some of the situations they experience on a daily basis.

Cameras were fitted to a wheelchair so viewers of the DVD will see some of the daily situations that arise for a wheelchair user and perhaps be surprised at what can happen. The wheelchair user is a representative of all members of a community who face a mobility challenge in any way.

View RTE News Report (click here)

The DVD production can also be viewed online on the Irish Wheelchair Association's website by going to www.iwa.ie/youth and clicking on the 'View From Here' link. To order copies of the DVD please contact IWA Information Department on 01 818 6400 or info@iwa.ie for details on ordering it.