Pilot Products Working Group

Disability Action is currently looking for disabled people and carers to take part in a pilot Products Working Group.

The Products Working Group will be made up of a range of people including: people with disabilities, manufacturers, representatives from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, and other professionals.

The group may look at a range of products including:

• Shower/s - Shower seat or aid


• Baths - Bath aid or seat


• Lifts


• Ramps

If you would like to share your experiences on these products, or perhaps suggest a new product / adaptation then the Products Working Group could be the place for you. The pilot will take place between September and December 2010.

For further information on how to take part please contact Laura Cleland, Housing Project, Disability Action on 028 9029 7880 or lauracleland@disabilityaction.org
 

MS Society Trustees Announce Respite Care Decision

The MS Society's Board of Trustees today announced that the Society will no longer directly provide residential respite care. We will instead move to a more personalised system of support, providing a larger number of people across the UK with more choice and control.
The announcement comes after a year long review and consultation process, during which more than 1600 with people with MS and their carers contributed their views.

Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive said "The MS Society respite care centres in England and Scotland have provided excellent care facilities over the years, but in Northern Ireland little support is available. The Board's decision marks an exciting and necessary change towards more personalised respite care that has a wider reach across Great Britiain and Northern Ireland.

The MS Society took great care during our respite care review process to consult with people affected by MS and it was overwhelmingly evident that many people prefer more individulaised forms of respite, such as personal budgets and supported holiday breaks. In Northern Ireland there are presently big gaps in respite care and this marks a very positive step towards more flexibility and greater choice for people in Northern Ireland."

Patricia Gordon, Director MS Society NI said "The MS Society NI welcomes the opportunity to develop new approaches, to provide greater choice and equity of services for people who would benefit from respite care."

If you would like to find out more about the respite care review and the decision taken please click here 
 

Warm Homes Scheme

The Warm Homes Scheme is a grant for home owners and private tenants who are in receipt of a qualifying benefit. The scheme was designed by the Department for Social Development to help people who are in fuel poverty live in a more comfortable, warmer, healthier home by providing free insulation measures such as cavity wall insulation and loft insulation. For those who have solid fuel, Economy 7, No Het or LPG, there may also be an entitlement to a new energy efficient oil / gas heating system.

If you would like to find out more please visit the Warm Homes website.
 

MS Society Launch Counselling Service

A counselling service for people affected by MS will be provided at the Resource Centre, 34 Annadale Avenue, Belfast BT7 3JJ. 

Latest Issue of MS Society NI Magazine Now Available

You can listen to an audio version of the magazine by clicking here or you can download a copy of here . The magazine is also available in audio cd format.


If you would like to receive a hard copy or an audio copy please contact Clare McBride on cmcbride@mssocietyni.co.uk or 028 9080 2802.