Disability Action
31 May 2012
Minutes of the Meeting of the Disability Users Forum Held on Wednesday 31 May 2012 in Station Road Resource Centre, Armagh.
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Present
Damian Mc Sorley (Chair) Gerard McEvoy, John Stewart, Gerry Murray, Andrew Martin, Martin Mallon, Maria Hughes, Bernadette McCabe,Kenny Clydesdale, Jim Corbett, Rodney Hamilton, Lisa Mc Cann
In attendance
Helena Mc Connell and Kieran Mc Keown (Cedar Foundation)
Apologies
Adrian Fox. Pat Hurley
| ACTION | ||
| 1 | Welcome and apologies | |
| 1.1 | Damian welcomed everyone to the meeting and gave apologies for Pat Hurley and Adrian Fox. He also welcomed Cedar Foundation Representatives Helena Mc Connell and Kieran Mc Keown to the meeting. New members Kenny Clydesdale, Rodney Hamilton, Jim Corbett and Lisa Mc Cann were also welcomed | Damian |
| 1.2 | Due to the fact that there were 4 new members to the Disability Users Forum today, everyone introduced themselves individually. | Group |
| 1.3 | Damian gave an overview of progress to-date for the benefit of everyone present | Damian |
| 2. | Minutes of the previous meeting
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| 2.1 | The previous minutes of the 31 May`12 were then discussed and progress on various action points identified. | Damian and group |
| ACTION | ||
| 3 | Matters arising
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| 3.1 | The loop system The loop was set up for today’s meeting and was located beside the wall. It was not used today as the mike lead was not long enough to be passed around and the Notetaker was preferred.Maria and Bernadette sat beside the Notetaker and they found this more beneficial than the loop. Rodney also moved to beside the Notetaker when Bernadette and Maria mentioned the advantages of this for him. | Damian to book Notetaker for further meetings and Maria, Bernadette and Rodney would be sitting next to Notetaker at future meetings |
Feedback from Bernadette and Maria Bernadette and Maria mentioned that it was important to ensure that the loop was turned up and that she can only hear the person who speaks into it. The extension lead is also necessary. | Damian to feedback this to SHSCT | |
Removing barriers Damian stated that the Disability Users Forum aims to remove communication barriers that disabled people face. | Damian | |
| 3.2 | Feedback for Gerard Mc Evoy Damian informed Gerard that he had sent minutes of the last two Disability user meetings in audio format. The previous Newsletter was also sent in a large print format. | Damian to email newsletter in normal print |
Zoomtax Gerard thanked Damian for this and mentioned that he has Zoomtax on his computer and wouldn’t need the enlarged print. | Gerard to use Zoomtax for minutes | |
| 3.3 | Sign Language classes Damian mentioned that Action for Hearing Loss has an Introduction course on BSL and that there is a course run through the South West College in Dungannon in September. | Bernadette plans to enrol in South West College Sign Language class |
| ACTION | ||
Example of Sign Language by Martin Martin mentioned that the` ISL is one hand and BSL is in 2 hands and vowels are done the left hand. ` Martin then gave an example of what he had learnt through a course in Millview by signing his name. Maria said she knew the letters of alphabet and stated that skills in sign language would be useful. | Martin gave practical example to group | |
| Maria also stated `there is no point in a profoundly deaf person, coming to a day centre and everyone else is talking and they are left are not involved. | An Interpreter is required in this instance and Maria would benefit from learning sign language | |
| Elizabeth McCautrey was given as a sign language tutor contact for the Newry area | Damian to get contact details of Elizabeth. | |
| 3.4 | We referred back to the Dromantine Report and members agreed to focus on welfare benefits, respite and transport. · Welfare Benefits · IT · Transport · Respite | Damian and group |
| 3.5 | Welfare Benefits Damian gave feedback on PIPS training that he had received. There will also be an Information Event on PIPS in Dungannon Leisure Centre on 19 September`12 that Disability Action is organizing. He also informed everyone that he is organizing a representative from Disability Action to do a workshop on welfare benefits. | Damian and Disability Action Management |
| 3.6 | Respite Damian informed members that he is currently working on an accessible holiday’s document with Access Officer, Wendy Lappin. | Damian, Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT) ACTION |
| Andrew mentioned that he done some research on this and would forward this on | Andrew to discuss research with Damian | |
| 3.7 | Respite and Transport Martin mentioned that he and his wife can't go on most bus tours as there were no wheelchair facilities on the buses Kenny also mentioned that bus companies don’t usually use signs to say if they are wheelchair friendly. | Damian to raise this via Disability Action |
| 4 | Input by Helena Mc Connell and Kieran Mc Keown Cedar Foundation | |
| 4.1 | Outline of presentation on brain injury Helena and Kieran discussed their role with the Cedar Foundation and focused on the effects of brain injury and the area of hidden disability and how they assist in stress management of individuals they work with. | Kieran and Helena |
| 4.2 | Causes and effects of brain injury Helena and Kieran discussed how brain injury can be caused through accidents, poisoning, and stroke and brain tumours. The Cedar Foundation supports those with brain injury by helping them to build new strategies to deal with their disability. They likened it to a light bulb being turned off. Simply speaking, things that one was able to do normally cannot be done.` This has knock on effect with day to day living | Presentation |
| 4.3 | Long term v short term effects Helenaexplained that some effects are permanent and some are temporary. The first two years are the most important after a brain injury in terms of whatever recovery can be achieved. | Presentation |
| ACTION | ||
| 4.5 | Emotional effects of brain injury Brian injury also creates difficulties’ in reasoning and problem solving eg a joinery forgetting on how to hang the door. This can lead to frustration and a lack of motivation. The feeling you experience is that `you knew you could and now you can't and don't understand. ` | Presentation |
| 4.6 | Feedback from Disability User Forum members: John John mentioned that just like that, you snap over something silly like dropping a shirt on floor He accepted the fact that brain injury may cause anger, depression and frustration. Fatigue is often an often overlapping issue. | Group members to continue to communicate feedback on issues |
| 4.7 | Feedback from Disability User Forum members: Bernie Bernie explained that she had never known the material presented today about brain injury and may seek support in this area for her son who had been involved in a car accident. She is now aware that her son’s anger outbursts may be as a result of brain injury. | Group members to continue to communicate feedback on issues |
| 4.8 | Feedback from Disability User Forum members: Rodney Rodney explained difficulties he had with in word finding through his `Aphasia` disability. He peeled a segment of an orange in front of the group and took off a segment to symbolise the injury of the brain he had. | Group members to continue to communicate feedback on issues |
| 4.9 | Feedback from Disability User Forum members: Andrew Andrew explained that he has Ataxia and that can't write a name or make fine motor movements | Group members to continue to communicate feedback on issues ACTION |
Feedback from Disability User Forum members: John John stated that sometimes you never get back to where you were. | Group members to continue to communicate feedback on issues | |
| 4.10 | Feedback from Disability User Forum group The entire group expressed how much they had learnt about brain injury today and would welcome further sessions in this area. | Group willing to undertake further training in this area; Damian to discuss further |
| 5 | Forthcoming plans | |
| 5.1 | PPI Panel Andrew and John will be attending the SHSCT PPI Panel Meeting at Quaker Buildings in Lurgan on 22 June 2012. | John and Andrew to attend and gave feedback at next meeting |
| 5.2 | John Stewart has completed the expression of interest form recently sent to him by Damian | John is new PPI member |
| 5.3 | Follow up meeting Damian thanked Helena and Kieran from the Cedar Foundation for their input today | Damian to send minutes of today’s meeting to Kieran and Helena |
| 6 | Any other business | |
| 6.1 | Group photo Everyone present were asked if they gave verbal consent for use of a camera for publicity purposes for the programme. | Photo taken of group |
| 6.2 | Everyone agreed to the use of a camera for publicity purposes. The group were also informed that the photo would be used for the newsletter. | We will continue to work in publicizing what we do |
| 6. 3 | Welfare Rights Terry Kelly Disability Action will be organized as a speaker for our meeting on 8 August 2012. | Damian to speak to Disability Action Management ACTION |
| 6.4 | Other training Damian mentioned that he will be organizing other speakers with a view to undertaking training. E.g Human Rights | Damian to follow up in organizing speakers for meetings |
| 6.5 | Newsletter meeting The next meeting would take place on 7 June 2012 in Station Road at 11am | Andrew gave his apologies; Gerry to attend |
| 7 | Evaluation | |
| 7.1 | Feedback Members thoroughly enjoyed today’s session and new members mentioned that they were keen to attend the next session | Evaluation system to be continued in further meetings |
| 8 | Date of next meeting | |
| 8.1 | Details of the next meeting were given:
Thursday 5 July 2012 11.00am-2.00pm
Venue:- Station Road Resource Centre Armagh. | |
| 9 | Close |
