 PERIODICO TRIMESTRALE- AMMINISTRAZIONE
E REDAZIONE: VIA DON BOSCO 4/F -80141-(NA) ITALIA
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Wirral Inroads |
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Wirral Inroads set up in 1991 and is a
non-profit making charity founded and run by disabled
people for disabled people. We work effectively with
trade unions, local and national government and the
private sector. The services we offer are aimed at
enabling people to become more independent and to enable
them to have increased control over their lives.
Wirral Inroads is partly funded by the European Social
Fund and therefore are required to work with other
European organisations involved in similar work.
During the beginning of 1998 we were involved in
identifying partnerships for the project, we found
partners in Greece and Italy and began exchanging
information and identifying and discussing our objectives
for the project.
Our first meeting with our Transnational partners took
place in May 1998. We went to meet Parents and Guardians
Association of Hard of Hearing Children in Thessaloniki,
Greece. This was a useful opportunity to gain insight
into their work and environment and meeting their
beneficiaries and learning of their culture.
Our first meeting with our Italian Transnationals took
place in September 1998. We went to visit Consulta
Regionale Degli Handicappati in Naples, Italy. This again
was very valuable experience in getting to know our
partners and the work that they do.
Both our partners visited us in December 1998 and this
was a good opportunity for all partners to be together
and discuss issues and requirements for the New Year
ahead.
Wirral Inroads works with many different organisations to
improve opportunities for people with special
communication needs. In doing so we are able to produce a
better service by utilising each organisation's
strengths.
This was clearly evident when it came to setting up the
Challenge Awards. We had the idea but felt that it would
be stronger with the involvement of other organisations.
Wirral Association for Disability and Wirral Borough
Council were invited to join us so as to contribute and
bring additional expertise. Wirral Association for
Disability helped us in the organisation and the setting
up for the Ceremony and Wirral Borough Council provided
the venue. The event took place on 3 December, which is
International Day of Disabled Persons. The event was
designed to promote and encourage commitment to the
positive empowerment of disabled people to access all
aspects of modern life and to give special recognition
for those people/organisations that have contributed in
such a way. The evening was successful and we were very
pleased to have our partners from Italy, Consulta
Regionale Degli Handicappati in attendance.
During 1998 we were able to ensure that 7 people with
special communication needs entered into open paid
employment, other beneficiaries have been supported at
interview and during employment. We have also been able
to contact beneficiaries by minicom (text machine) on
behalf of employers who do not have the correct
equipment. Apart from the obvious immediate value of this
service to our beneficiaries it has raised employer's
awareness of what should be provided and what can be
achieved.
11 people with special communication needs were worked
with in retention cases. An example of a retention case
is as follows: -
One of our beneficiaries who is deaf without speech was
working for one of the countries leading insurance
companies. He was accused of committing certain offences
by non disabled colleagues and suspended from work. There
was a distinct lack of evidence but our beneficiary's
inability to communicate meant he was unable to defend
himself and present his case as a non disabled colleague
would. On the verge of dismissal our support worker went
to assist the beneficiary and his union representative.
After a number of meetings and tribunals the charges were
dropped and he was able to resume work.
Other work that we have been involved in is Access Audits
for all council buildings and schools in our area. Our
agreement at the beginning of the project was to provide
24 audits and this amount has been exceeded due to the
fact that the Discrimination Act now requires all public
buildings to be fully accessible for disabled people.
We are also now on the Internet and a Web-site is under
construction. Our transnational partners are utilising
our e-mail address to send information.
We are planning to mainstream the strategies for
employing and retaining people with special communication
needs. This will take place towards the end of the
project and will be reviewed in detail at the end of
1999.
Carole Clynes
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