Door Hell - from 31st July to 7th July 2008

31 July 2006

Today the door fitters from JLC installed our new front door and side panel. It looks really nice and tomorrow they will automate it. Kent contract with JLC to do these so they are arriving tomorrow. Kevin had to take the day of work because I had a meeting at work. JLC only told us last Friday afternoon they were coming so it was rather short notice.

1 August 2006

Well, this guy arrives today and basically didn't have a clue what he was doing. He spent from early morning until the end of the working day trying to make out all was well followed by running out to his van and saying it was f**k*d up. He spent all day on the phone and reading the instruction manual.

We were having a system with a pin code panel on the outside so that my PAs can let themselves in, remote buttons for me to press to open it, and the mechanism itself. The door was pre installed with part of the mechanisms - the wrong part so the door would not lock. We had to revert to a key for the night and he said a new one would have to be put in. The window company JLC used, last night, parked a door (large door and glass) in our hallway for the engineer to pick up - only he knew nothing about it. He said he doesn't normally fit the type I was having installed and the whole thing is a mess. He is coming back on Thursday to put in the new parts.

3 August 2006

The same guy came back today armed with the new parts. He installed these but then the door was opening and the lock was activating in the open position... He said it basically is caused by the air pressure - in layman’s terms the arm mechanism that opens the door is not strong enough. Someone else will be in tomorrow to install the new arm mechanism and finish the job.

Aghhhh.

3 August 2006 - 6.30 pm

The electrician contracted from KCC arrived at 5.30 for a 15 minutes job that took an hour. He has now put in a spur (for connecting door to the mains).

Up until now we have had a mains extension leeds trailing across the hall way into the porch.

4 August 2006

Today the stronger arm was fitted by a second engineer. He showed me timing on the door like how long it could stay open etc for me to choose. At the end of the day he told me it was all fitted and working. Alas I believed him, signed his book and sent him on his merry way. Kevin later discovered:

• The unit is still plugged into an extension lead (trailing through the hall and acting as a trip hazard) even though the fused spur was fitted by the electrician on Thursday.
• The batteries inside the psu box are not connected hence we think we may not have emergency back up.
• There are two holes in our new door where the wrong opener was fitted.
• Part of the trim above the door has been cracked and where it has been cut to fit the second opener it has been
  mutilated rather than being cut neatly as it was with the first opener.
• The sealant around the door frame has been removed and not replaced.
• There are holes through the wall that have not been sealed.
• The switch to hold the door open is on the wrong side of the opener so you can't reach it when the door is open. It is also
  a key switch rather that a 'normal' type (the engineer could not get the other switch to work).
• We have been left a master remote for the locca unit but no instructions.
• The lid to the psu box is held closed with a wood screw rather than the proper one.

There are other things wrong which I havn't gone into any great detail about ...
7 August 2006

Today Kevin is calling them and they have received an e-mail about our complaint.... we shall see what happens

24 August 2006

On Monday JLC visited to look at the problem areas and apologised profusely. Rest assured someone would be back on Tuesday to fix all the problems. So Tuesday came and yes most of it was done... until the engineer saw that the wrong key pad had been fitted to open the door from the outside... Finally on Wednesday morning (causing me to be 30 minutes late for work when the job was supposed to be done) the engineer was back and fitted the key pad. Hurrah... it is now working.

JLC also sent a bouquet of flowers to say sorry!

28 August 2006

Guess what... strange bleeping noises were heard coming from the door... on investigation this was the signal for a low battery and sure enough the back up had failed and also the door would now not lock without a manual key... JLC are coming again next week to have a look.

1 September 2006

There was an unknown error and 'Dan' the man got the door locking and disarmed the beeping noise so that next week a new unit could be fitted.....

5 September 2006

JLC were back again this morning, replaced the unit and I now have new remote switches which are my equivalent of a door key I can keep on me. Nice chap and door now works.

By 4.15 the beeping noise was back..... changing the unit hadn't worked so something else is the problem... JLC are apologising yet again.... is this going to be another bouquet of flowers.....

14 April 2007

Well - they never turned up for their 6 months check to see if the Door is working - and by hec it's got a mind of it's own.

Sometimes it doesn't let you in, then it won't let you out, then it shuts quickly so you have to run out.... you name it - every day it throws up something wrong. The battery back up isn't working and .... well we will be writing to them soon....

26 April 2007

Well - we have fixed the 'kicking you out persona' that the door took on. All it took was a bit of elbow grease (well just the grease actually) along the opener mechanism at the top... yeahhh.

One down.....

1 May 2007

Spoke to soon - the oil has not fixed the problem and it's as cranky as ever.....

14 January 2008

Well, since my last post, I think they have been here at least 4 times to try and fix the door which is as wonky as ever. It is driving my husband mad. First of all someone came, had a look and said he would order a new part. Came again, part didn't work. Said they would change the whole unit - returned some weeks later with only a replacement logic board. The problem was even worse now.

One day they said they said they would arrive at 8.30 but didn't turn up until 4!

He said 'Oh dear, I don't know what's wrong it it ' and again said they would replace the unit. That was a few weeks ago. Then an e-mail to say the part had to come from Spain and could take another 3 weeks..... and so it continues.

JLC are useless - never get a door from them.

10 February 2008

Well, the part that should have taken 3 weeks to come hasn't arrived - several weeks later - still no date as to when our wonky door will be fixed... hmmmmm.

15 February 2008

Today JLC turned up to fit in a new controlled - you will remember this as the one from Spain due weeks ago. Well the new one didn't work, the whole day was a fiasco and at one point the door developed a seizure and opened and closed in short stutters for some time! Alarms were sounding and the locking mechanism didn't work. Eventually he said he got it going - tried it many times and it did lock - but he said he knew it didn't always and there was nothing he could due as it was due to 'the door seal' and that it wasn't meant to work on a PVC door. Why is it, I asked, that this door was part of a 'door and opening system' which was put in together? Of course he had no answer for that.

Anyway, by the time Kevin got home it didn't lock - so when the door closes someone has to push it the last inch so the automatic locks bolt in. Also, the door has lost the ability to stay open e.g. when bringing shopping in, which he said was working - yet it isn't a function of the new system!!!

So, Kevin has told them once again that this is just not good enough and we await for them to return with the purchase of a 'new programmer' to make the door push with a greater force and close on its own like it is supposed to. So.... that would be the programmer they brought with them on an earlier visit which they now say they have to order as they have never had one....

to be continued...

03 March 2008

Turned up again today and fitted a second box next to the first one. Why - to make up for what box one should do if it functioned correctly.

They were also supposed to use a programmed to tell the door to close with the correct amount of force to actually shut - He brought the wrong connecter... I guess they will be back and we will be onto part 17...

02 June 2008

Today we told JLC that the door doesn’t reliably close every time. When going out we still have to wait until the door closes to be sure that our house is secure. Kevin and I are very unhappy with the level of service we have received from JLC Automation Ltd.

We feel that we have given them every opportunity to rectify the problem. However, after eighteen visits from their engineers and nearly two years of worry and hassle we have decided that enough is enough. We feel that this shows their company is obviously incapable of providing us with a reliable door opening/closing system.
 
Because of this, we have been forced to look elsewhere for a system that will work reliably and close, and lock, the front door consistently and securely. We are shortly going to have their door opener and controls removed and replaced at considerable expense to ourselves.

Obviously we are very unhappy that we are being forced to do this, but we just want this saga of incompetence and poor workmanship to come to an end once and for all.   We will certainly not be recommending this company to other customers looking for such a system and are saddened that other disabled people and their families will have no other option if reliant on NHS/Social Care provision that contract with JLC.

07July 2008

Yahoo

This week marked a momentous occassions - the JLC parts for the automatic door were ripped out or modified by the new company.

What a difference. Polite and competent engineers, a door that works and several features my hubby is dancing around about in terms of functionality.

The end of an 18 part saga that started back in July 2006 we feel is finally over.

Tags:independent living | disability equality | access | Daily living | equipment | JLC door | | ocupational therapy | environmental controls | electric door | jlc | disabled | local authority | kent

April 2006 - An alternative view to the value of Naidex.

This week is Naidex week. For all you none-disabled sorts - that's the NEC Birmingham Show for all things related to disability equipment.... or at least that was my memory of it.

It used to be the 'try it and see' for health and social care staff and of course 'we' the great public. - Everything from accessible kitchens and bathroom equipment to the latest in colostomy bags and leisure things (my favourite being the wheelchair accessible roundabout and swing for children - I wish they had them for big kids as well!!).

Some things you thought - never in a million years will disabled people want one of them in their homes because it looks horrible, uncomfortable and only comes in 'medical green' as a colour option .... only to overheard an OT place an order for 500. Do they ever learn... no I think NOT.

I happened to be browsing the list of exhibitors last nights and the latest inventions that are up for 'an award'. Oh how things have changed over the years.

Fantastic NEW products include....... The Great John. Of course this can only be one thing - a reinforced toilet for obese people which boasts a 200% larger seat and - you guessed it is an American invention. A new commode and large wheelchair ... for Bariatric patients (obese people)... and so on. Can you see a theme here.

The UK is now benefitting from more disabled people (to balance the demise of our people due to genetic testing LOL) and of course there needs to be appropriate adjustment in the equipment field.

Also in the past years there has been a rise in the number of stands devoted to discrimination (yes the DRC are there) and organisations of disabled people - now we are getting somewhere - life isn't always about trying to 'fix us' in some way with a bit of equipment.

What does make me angry - the cost of these 'liberating' gizmos.... see my other posts.

Tags:equipment | disability | gadgets

I use the Independent Living Fund. Today I received a letter dated only as August 2009.

It was telling me about ‘The Right to Control’ consultation about the future of social care.

As a trainer and consultant - it’s something I am already supporting other local authorities with - as a services user I may not have heard about it.

They have sent me a booklet with some answer boxes for SELECTED questions from the consultation which they believe are the most important to me.

Angry

I feel angry that someone else has decided which elements I might consider important in terms of the consultation.

I am frustrated that I am being signposted to the internet to read up about it before I make some comments because whilst I have internet access - many ILF users probably don’t.

I am angry that on August the 26th I am being told about consultation dates which began on August 25th.

Am an annoyed that my local consultation event is being held in 1 weeks time in London. For people with severe impairments, travelling to London of all places and with so little notice makes this pretty impossible.

I am annoyed because the ILF came to my house the other day and took the time to write down on my notes that I prefer to communicate via e-mail and that this is the most appropriate and accessible format for me. However, my consultation letter was sent in the mail as was the booklet which is no use.

The letter does not say that the pros and cons of this government change could be far reaching and are not explored on the web-site it signposts to. There is no signposting for people to find out more from organisation run by disabled people, only government documents which don’t tell the full story. How can consultation be anything more than tokenistic when there is so little information of opportunity to find out the facts of the proposals.

What happened to involvement?

Tags:independent living | iLF

Pop along to Naidex web-site.

I am researching accessible layouts of exhibitions and thought I would see what the NEC has to offer where Naidex is held.

“As the UK’s largest event for homecare, disability and rehabilitation. Naidex is your best opportunity to touch, test and compare all the latest new products and services available.”


So, I clicked on ‘visiting’ and then onto frequently asked questions.

Would this site answer it? No. I found this:

“What are the disabled facilities?”

and the link went to a dead page.

Hmmm... is this a conspiracy to prevent disabled people from finding out about access.

I don’t think exhibition venues actually look at access within the great halls. A maze of stands, flyers sticking to your shoes that have found their way onto the floor and a phobics nightmare if you ‘don’t do the people thing’. Not to mention the buzz of thousands of voices and even scarier - lots of therapists milling around. Aghhh.

It’s a nightmare.... I don’t care how many accessible parking spaces and toilets they have. This does not an accessible venue make, dear Sir.

Tags:website | disabled | access | Naidex

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) turns 60 on 10 December 2008. On Human Rights Day 2007, the United Nations Secretary General launched a year-long UN system-wide advocacy campaign to mark this important milestone. The initiative celebrates the Declaration and the promise that has made this document so enduring: “Dignity and justice for all of us”.
Disabled people are often denied their rights - both civil (DDA etc) and human rights.
To find out about ensuring disabled people have their rights within social care practice, why not visit:
Equality and Human Rights Commission - Human Rights
Topics cover:

Fair and dignified treatment
Taking part in the community
Living the life you choose
Being safe and protected from harm

Rights in different settings - essential for all social care staff to implement.


Topics include:
Health and Social Care, Houseing, Learning and Training, Criminal Justice System etc.

Disability Equality Duty - applies to all local authority workers.

Tags:disabled | rights

One of the things I find quite disturbing is the number of disabled people who will openly and honestly say that they chose benefits as a lifestyle choice.

These individuals are quite accepting that even with their level of impairment, they could work - but choose not too.

I have seen four distinct groups emerging over the last year.

1) The “I can’t and never will be able to work” group.

Those that believe that they could never work because they adopt the sick role or believe ‘disabled people don’t get jobs because of discrimination so why bother’. They see work as out of the question and often refuse to engage with anything that might indicate otherwise.

2) The “I could but don’t see the need to” group.

Those who are comfortable with free housing, free support and free social activities paid for by the council. Many have had well paid jobs before they became disabled, are not contributing towards the cost of their support, have maximised their benefits and feel that their ‘income’ provides a desirable quality of life - so why change? Many have high academic qualifications and many sought after skills and experience.

3) The “I will try work if I have the right support” group.

Those that want to work, but find it difficult to get the right amount of support and a job that pays well enough to come of benefits. They accept the responsibility of citizens to seek employment - and see themselves as no different in that sense.

4) Those who truly can’t work at all because they have a very severe level of impairment.

Often individuals who have high disability related and housing costs that go far beyond what benefits will cover. Individuals for whom the benefit system is really supposed to help - and which doesn’t go far enough in it current format.

Equality - we must ensure responsible citizenship.

I have worked with many social workers and care managers who quite readily offer 2 or 3 days at a resource centre or Direct Payments to enjoy leisure activities, without exploring whether that person should be engaging with work (and may thus rule out the need for so much leisure support to make a person’s days ‘fulfilled’).

I am not saying that disabled people don’t deserve funds to enable them to access leisure - far from it.

However, as a disabled person, it grates to know that I might be slogging away for 5 days a week at work, whereas someone else with the same level of impairment can be having 5 great days worth of fun activities.

Where is the equality in that?

Tags:employment | independent living

"The best way to predict your future is to create it."

I work with many people who are influential in the lives of disabled people. Many of them will influence health and social care - either as policy or decision makers, assessors or advisors.

Every UK citizen will also make decisions which affect the lives of disabled and older people. Through our democratic voting - we are choosing who we want to influence our future and the way they will do it.

It is perhaps wise for us all to think that one day, older age or impairment may well creep in. Have we chosen our future wisely or will we regret what we have done or failed to do?

To understand this post you may need the key or glossary on the right.


Dragon's Den

How many business woman have to go through a 'business viability' check and 1:1 interview before they can do anything. I can not work without physical assistance. I have very little movement in my head and limbs. I had to endure a 1:1 interview and put my case forward as to why A2W should fund my personal assistance.

I had to disclose financial details such as how much I planned on spending on christmas presents, how much I spent on social gatherings, mortgage, utilities, magazine subscriptions, food..... and I was told 'to be honest'. The interviewer scanned her eyes around my home, where the interview took place, looking for signs that I had more or less money than I had disclosed. I had to prove that myself and my husband were living within our means and didn't have a 4 foot plasma screen TV hidden in the corner!
We went over everything from number of Degrees I held through to my marketing and financial strategies.

It took a good few hours. She would then go away and I would get the results in the post - if they said yes I could continue setting up in business. If they said no, then I would have to privately fund my assistance of over £700 a week or give up self employment.

In the meantime they would pay me £11 an hour for personal assistance up until the last day of October.

October came....

No letter, I have also filed out about 20 pages of two application forms to the ILF. I have both the ILF and Social Services on standby to provide financial assistance should A2W decide not to fund.

I have spent over a week filling out forms to organise my personal assistance.
I went on holiday for 1 week.
Postal strikes and IT failure plagued my efforts.

I had spent the last three months doing business set-up, mailshots, advertising, networking etc. I almost had three contracts - then they fell through. Time was pushing on ... still no reply. I wondered if all my hard work had been for nothing... what if they didn't fund. My business would be over before it had started.

The pressure was immense.

I am told I can not use ILF or DPs for work purposes. If this fails I will not be able to work.

I feel demotivated - will my hard work be for nothing. It is an ugly black cloud over my head.

It was a few days to go until the end of October, I contacted A2W to ask what they had decided.
They said the letter was 'lost in the post'. I was e-mailed a copy. It stated I had a viable business plan. I was asked how many contracts I had. I had none - and I hadn't been expecting an income until my marketing strategy kicked in. I had been given three months to secure substantial contracts - just three months. I am not told how 'substantial' these should be.

I didn't get the funding. Officially I am not working but doing 'meaningful activities'. The alternative is I go to a day centre with large numbers of other disabled people who could work given half the chance.
Once there I could make baskets and play scrabble or have a sing-a-long.
I would cost the tax payer a lot of money and go mad. It is no place for a person with two degrees and a desire to work.

I would find it almost impossible to work for anyone but myself because of the flexibility and home working base that I would need - not many people offer work that is flexible enough.

I will not be giving up on my business just yet though.