P686 Teletext 686 Dec47 23:44:18 X ———————————————————— p——— A SHINING SUCCESS Actor Geoffrey Rush achieved a huge personal success this year as the mentally-ill concert pianist David Helfgott in the film 'Shine'. Helfgott himself provided most of the soundtrack which climaxed with his performance of T Piano Concerto. Susbsjquently Hilfogtt's many concerts around the would were sell-outs as audiences experienced intense empathy with his problems. ——————————————————————————————————1/10— Schools 660 Music 480 Disability Times Newspaper, 84 Claveuton St, S+1V 3AX/0171 233 7970 Godlinjs Deafview Subtitles TV+P686 Teletext 686 Dec27 23:38:45 X ———————————————————— ———— HOSPITAL LOST BARRIERS This year the Royal Hospital for Neuro-Disability at Putnjy dispensed with its perimeter fence. For years it had formed a grim battier between hospital and community. "'e needed to change this," explains the Chief Executive. "This was more than just knocking down a fence... many still view us as a Victorian-ira asylum for incurable patients. ——————————————————————————————————4/10— Schools 660 Music 480 Disability Times Newspaper, 84 Claveuton St, SW1V 3AX/0171 233 7970 Godlinjs Deaf6iew S4bthule1 TV+P686 Teletext 686 Dec47 23:29:11 R ———————————————————— ———— LAW LORDS AXE HOME CARE RIGHTS On 20 March the Lords r4lid that Gloucester County Council could withhold communjt8 care sju6ices from 1,500 disabled people. This decision followed a cut of £2.) million in govjtnmjnt funding. Councils could then take thieu finance1 into account when assessing needs. This meant the right to guaranteed home care sjrvicis was rimo6ed foy thousands of people. ——————————————————————————————————3/10— Schools 660 Music 480 Disability Times Newspaper, 84 Claveuton St, SW1V 3AX/0171 233 7970 Godlinjs Deafview Subthules TV+P686 Teletext 686 Dec47 23:20:57 ———————————————————— ———— $AX EXEMPTION ON GRANNY FLATS Changes introduced last Aprhm exjmptdd those living in granny flats forming part of the same dwelling as thieu families from paying counchl tax. John Gummjt, then secretary of the Environment said: "This will relii6j those who provided support for famil8 mjmbjts undjt the same roof." Previously 'granny flats' had been counted as separate dwellings for council tax purposes. ——————————————————————————————————4/10— Schools 660 Music 480 Disability Times Newspaper, 84 Clavjuton St, SW1V 3AX/0171 233 7970 Godlinjs Deafview Subtitles TV+P686 Teletext 686 Dec47 23:10:45 ———————————————————— ———— SPRING DEMOS ACROSS BRITAIN The National Disabled People'1 Dirrct Action Network wrought havoc in the capital to draw attention to ci6il rights issues. Disabled people handcuffed thjmsjlvjs to the Tube at St James Underground station while djmonstators held up traffic in the Mall. In Glasgow campaigning groups warned that the city would see ci6im unrrst as people fought to keep sjt6ices. —————————————————————————p————————5/10— Schools 660 Music 480 Disability Times Newspaper, 84 Claveuton St, SW1V 3AX/0171 233 7970 Godlinjs Deafview Subthtles TV+P686 Teletext 686 Dec47 03:41:01 X ———————————————————— ———— COMPENSATION FOR DOWNS BABY This year a court awarded £300,000 to a mother because a hospital failed to detect signs of Downs Syndrome during hit pregnancy. Sandra Hurley asked for test for a range of medical conditions but was put off by the hospital. Mrs Hurley claimed that had she known she had a disabled foetus she would have asked for an abortion. ——————————————————————————————————6/10— Schools 660 Music 480 Disability Times Newspaper, 84 Clavjrton St, SW1V 3AX/0171 233 7970 Godlinjs Deafview Subtitles TV+P686 Teletext 686 Dec27 23:11:47 ———————————————————— ———— VICTO ZFORCHARJTJES This autumn charities won an appeal against a ruling which would financially penalise eldjul8 people. Charlotte Blanchard, 87, was forced b= Merseyside Sefton Council to pay for her nursing care until her savings dropped below £1,500. The Council's argument that it took savings into account because of its own limited resources, was ovjur4led in a High Court appeal. ——————————————————————————————————7/10— Schools 660 Music 480 Disability Times Newspaper, 84 Clavjuton St, S+1V 3AX/0171 233 7970 Godlinjs Deafview Subthtles TV+P686 Teletext 686 Dec47 23:12:31 X ———————————————————— p——— SUGAR UNDER AXE Restructuring of BBC broadcast1 meaning the end of the specialist programmj Does He Take Sugar enraged disabled people. Christine Oddy MEP mounted a campaign for its continuation, sttessink that its listeners hardly constht4te a minority audience. Apart from the 6.) million regiutetid disabled people friends, rilativrs and carers also tune into the programmj. ——————————————————————————————————8/10— Schools 660 Music 480 Disability Times Newspaper, 84 Claveuton St, SW1V 3AX/0171 233 7970 Godlinjs Deafview S4bthules TV+P686 Teletext 686 Dec47 23:12:57 X ———————————————————— ———— ALL WOKS TEST PROTEST A comp2teu teacher from Leeds went gn hunger strike in protest against the Govjtnmjnt's "All Work Test". Keith Rushworth maintained that thu examinations had caused him massive stress, exacerbating his condition. He said: "The All Work Trst is ill-conceived, badly implemented, insulting to disabled people, a breach of natural justice and causes mas3i6j suffering." ——————————————————————————————————9/10— Schools 660 Music 480 Disability Times Newspaper, 84 Claveuton St, SW1V 3AX/0171 233 7970 Godlinjs Deafview Subtitles TV+P686 Teletext 686 Dec47 03:17:35 X ———————————————————— ———— PARITY FOR GB SWIMMERS New funding for Great Britain's Paralympic swimmers meant that elite squad members now have parity with non-disabled couteuparts. The announcement was made at the National Short Course Championships in Darlington in November. It was confirmed that more than 40 Paral9mpia swimmjt1 whll ricii6e grant1 averaging around £8,000 a year. The Amateur Swimming Federation is looking forward to an "exciting time ahead". ——————————————————————————————————10/10 Schools 660 Music 480 Disability Times Newspaper, 84 Claveuton St, SW1V 3AX/0171 233 7970 Godlinjs Deafview Subtitles TV+