LAW AND BENEFIT REVIEW

“Our primary aims are to provide as much information as humanly possible to assist both the elderly, infirmed and disabled as well as their carers, personal assistants and families in reviewing all matters remotely associated with them”

The Aims & Objectives of ‘Disability Matters’ were formulated on April 22 2006 at South Cerney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 6HY Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom, by five individuals all of whom agreed upon the following:

1. The Group will be known as ‘Disability Matters’ and shall pursue any philanthropic purpose for the benefit of elderly, infirmed and disabled people and in particular to promote mobility, fairness, equal opportunity, freedom to information and accessibility for all such persons and other members of the community in which the Group intends to carry out its work
   
   
2. In carrying out its aims and objects, the Group shall always promote equality and opportunity for all sections of the community, both in its own affairs and in society generally
   
   
3. In particular the Group shall:
   
   Support all people with disabilities in efforts to ensure safe and easy access to all forms of transport, businesses, shop premises, places of entertainment, sports fields and stadiums, hotels, restaurants and all other places that the public generally have access to
   
   Support all elderly, disabled and infirmed people in their efforts to achieve their rights generally in respect of housing, transport, benefits and local understanding of all matters
   
   Provide a focus on matters relating to all disability issues and to promote local understanding of these matters
   
   Provide advice through a website based on experience, research and knowledge of the original group members to all disabled, infirmed and elderly people, local authorities, governments, commercial undertakings, private individuals and other groups of a similar nature as ‘Disability Matters’.
   
   Maintain contact with local and national groups, associations and organisations
   
   Establish or join with others to organise or support local projects and campaigns
   Improve all matters relevant to the sufferings of disabled and elderly people

The work envisaged by ‘Disability Matters’ can include:

[a] Monitoring all matters relating to disability issues and other matters directly affecting the elderly, infirmed and disabled

[b] Advising local authorities and central government of the opinions of local disabled, infirmed and elderly people in respect of changes in benefits or new legislation that would have a direct impact on such people

[c] Campaigning locally for improvements in elderly, infirmed and disability issues

[d] Generating awareness through our website and local press coverage

[e] Checking licensing applications and regulations to ensure that both the elderly, infirmed and disabled are not excluded from premises or service

[f] Giving talks and holding meetings to and with other local organisations to get disability issues across at their request

[g] Supporting other groups aimed at helping the disabled, infirmed and elderly in all issues

[h] To communicate the needs of people who are either elderly, infirmed or disabled to local authorities and government departments, developers, building managers, highway authorities, etc.

[I] To identify problems in public places such as poor surfaces, lighting and construction that could be adversely incompatible to disabled, infirmed or elderly people.

[j] To be able to provide an effective consumer panel representing both the elderly, infirmed and disabled when called upon to do so by local authorities generally.

[k] To provide a consensus view on solutions to be adopted and the priorities to be taken by authorities generally

[I] To ensure that legislation is enforced by local authorities, highways agencies, planners, builders, transport operators and that the contents of the Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2006 are adhered to by service providers and owners of premises providing access to the public.

[m] To provide help and knowledge from personal experiences relating to personal disabilities when called upon by professional people and local authorities and government.

[n] To encourage and ensure the use of national standards when public undertakings are carried out by local authorities in respect of matters such as Part ‘M’ of the Building Regulations and Department for Transport guidelines

[o] To publish on-line a monthly edition of the Law and Benefit Review at www.lawandbenefitreview.co.uk in which all issues remotely connected with ‘disability’ will be reviewed and updated

Alan de Derval et de Moisdon
Chairman of Disability Matters