December 5, 2016
In February 2016 the new website www.signpost.gg was launched providing information about services, support and activities for parents and carers of children with a disability.
The Autism Framework has been shared widely in Guernsey providing groups and individuals the opportunity to have their say. The framework has been approved by the Committee for Health & Social Care and the next phase is to develop an implementation plan.
The Dementia Framework has been shared widely with key stakeholders and a first draft of the framework has been written. Further consultations will take place early in 2017.
Responsibility for the Disability and Inclusion Strategy moved to the Committee for Employment & Social Security from May 2016. A Project Board has been established and a Project Plan with detailed information for each workstream has been written. Ed Ashton made a commitment at the September GDA members’ to share timely and accurate information about progress being made within the workstreams. As a result Highlight Report No 1 was shared widely across the States and with the Third Sector. Subsequent highlight reports will also be shared.
Staff across all service areas in the States, local businesses and people working in the Third Sector are being encouraged to undertake the Disability & Awareness free on line training which was developed with support from Charities and disabled people in Guernsey. Feedback from many people who have undertaken the training has been very positive.
A review of service areas across the States has commenced in preparation for future disability discrimination legislation. The Business Disability Forum (BDF) which is leading the review has spoken with key leads within the States and some Third Sector members and will be involving States employees and disabled people in early 2017.
Caroline Mullins
Disability Officer