independent living
Door Hell - unbelievable!
26/January/2010 03:47 PM Filed in: Social Care
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
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.
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.
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.
Apps, PAs and shopping
16/October/2009 06:36 PM Filed in: Other
This App caught my eye today. Basically, you
can locate not only a Tesco store but also use their
database to tell you exactly where the product is.
Hmm, with the marvels of technology and loads of minutes to use up on my phone... what if I send my PA off to Tesco’s ‘Treasure Hunt’ style as my own personal shopper. I joke of course but there are times when this could work. I would like to be able to send my PA in to pick up something and be sure of getting the right thing - so showing her a picture could be quite useful. Someone I knew sent her PA into a shop to buy a fuse bar (chocolate bar) and her PA came back with a pack of electrical fuses! Needles to say her chocolate craving was far from satisfied.
How I wish I had this App when I was at Uni and trying to tell my none-English speaking volunteer PAs what I was looking for - a picture book wouldn’t have looked quite so cool!
I am sure this sort of technology could be quite useful if supermarkets offered free wifi or internet connections to aid shoppers.
Also, if the supermarket is crowded it can be harder for people who’s eye level is only 4 foot off the ground to see the signs. Clear labels like in a library (lower down) and to be able to look at your phone to tell you where to go would be great. In fact, I want full sat nav to find the shortest distance to travel around the store in order to complete my shopping list. I am sure supermarkets could make the experience easier for everyone.
Apparently it uses the same database of products from on-line ordering - and when we looked into this a while ago, half of what we have wasn’t showing up..... but I think personalised shopping and using technology has real future potential for disabled people.
People are already using Direct Payments to purchase computers and broadband subscriptions to get on-line and go shopping (amongst other uses) - so in a basic form, technology and creative use of funds can really work for people.
Love to hear from twitter folk who are using tech for shopping assistance.
Tesco - if you’re reading this, I’m always available to try out a new bit of tech :-)
PA potential?
Hmm, with the marvels of technology and loads of minutes to use up on my phone... what if I send my PA off to Tesco’s ‘Treasure Hunt’ style as my own personal shopper. I joke of course but there are times when this could work. I would like to be able to send my PA in to pick up something and be sure of getting the right thing - so showing her a picture could be quite useful. Someone I knew sent her PA into a shop to buy a fuse bar (chocolate bar) and her PA came back with a pack of electrical fuses! Needles to say her chocolate craving was far from satisfied.
How I wish I had this App when I was at Uni and trying to tell my none-English speaking volunteer PAs what I was looking for - a picture book wouldn’t have looked quite so cool!
I am sure this sort of technology could be quite useful if supermarkets offered free wifi or internet connections to aid shoppers.
Also, if the supermarket is crowded it can be harder for people who’s eye level is only 4 foot off the ground to see the signs. Clear labels like in a library (lower down) and to be able to look at your phone to tell you where to go would be great. In fact, I want full sat nav to find the shortest distance to travel around the store in order to complete my shopping list. I am sure supermarkets could make the experience easier for everyone.
Apparently it uses the same database of products from on-line ordering - and when we looked into this a while ago, half of what we have wasn’t showing up..... but I think personalised shopping and using technology has real future potential for disabled people.
People are already using Direct Payments to purchase computers and broadband subscriptions to get on-line and go shopping (amongst other uses) - so in a basic form, technology and creative use of funds can really work for people.
Love to hear from twitter folk who are using tech for shopping assistance.
Tesco - if you’re reading this, I’m always available to try out a new bit of tech :-)
Involvement is dead
26/August/2009 03:10 PM Filed in: Social Care
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.
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?
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?
Life giving gadgets
It’s blogging against disablism day and my topic this
year was going to be entitled life enhancing gadgets
and techno wizardry. However, thinking about it -
gadgets haven’t enhanced my life - they have GIVEN me
life.
I might post a few entries today - and do pop onto facebook if you have a disability gadget question - I might know something that could help!!
I am a gadget nut - I read about new gadgets more than once a day and I’m counting down the days until an iPhone finds its way into my hand.
So what have amazing feats of technology done for me. Well, if you know me it;s pretty easy to spot that I have little strength in my limbs (think floppy rag doll). I have MD and it’s a progressive type of impairment - so each day I’m a bit worse than the last. Thankfully - technology has kept up with my needs.
Here’s some examples
Taking exams in the 90’s. Laptops were like telephone directories in weight and cost an absolute fortune. However, I couldn’t take notes in class and my dictation skills were useless (and disturbed other people to be honest). It also meant they had to pay a nursery nurse (yes that;s what they called educational personal assistants) to take notes. So, education would have been a nightmare - had it not been that laptops were just about in existence and my local education authority sent a geek in glasses and a beard to deliver one to my school. So I became fluent in touch typing, got rid of the nurse and kept up with lessons alongside everyone else. I was starting to become gadget kid to the envy of everyone. Within a year, apple computers were installed at my school - about 15 of the old apple II series cubed, black and white, small screens. I spent many hours in the free to enter room drawing and typing - and my love for all things Apple introduced a range of inclusive software.
Going to Uni was different
- the laptop was confiscated and I was told to
go and raise funds if I wanted one. It wasn’t a
case of wanting one, I NEEDED one. Disabled
people had no legal right to one like they do
now under civil law. A few calls to a local
newspaper about this injustice got them to cough
up - so I gained my first degree.
Whilst at Uni - the invention of the mobile phone meant that I could trundle around in my elecy wheelchair - safe in the knowledge that my brick would just about have enough power to call for assistance should I get stuck or need general assistance. It was a life line and eventually I hooked it up to my wheelchair battery to ensure maximum power. Nowadays, micro life-line pendants, pagers, telecare and similar support millions of people to make life saving connections with carers, assistants and others.
Later, I was unable to use my arms and lift a phone to my ear - and low and behold they got lighter and easier to hold - so I dumped the Erikson brick for a small Nokia - and life continued.
Then I couldn’t hold anything up to my ear - so hands free and bluetooth became the way to go.
Now I can’t press buttons so well - so my iPhone will be fantastic because with just a tap I can get texting again. An when I can’t tap - well brain wave power is coming on line for controlling things - so thought controlled apps - here I come.
With the right technology I’m not disabled - I can keep in touch with people and even control my home environment and get around as much as anyone.
1) Better electric wheelchair design - they have had 4 wheels and a clunky, bulky, inaccessible design for many years. Although we have seen a few more functions (raise, tilt in space, stair climbing and use of gyroscopes) the overall functionality has not really improved with the technology available.
If you could see what the NHS offered me you would think we were in the year 1908 - it was only an electronic step up from a basket.
I might post a few entries today - and do pop onto facebook if you have a disability gadget question - I might know something that could help!!
I am a gadget nut - I read about new gadgets more than once a day and I’m counting down the days until an iPhone finds its way into my hand.
So what have amazing feats of technology done for me. Well, if you know me it;s pretty easy to spot that I have little strength in my limbs (think floppy rag doll). I have MD and it’s a progressive type of impairment - so each day I’m a bit worse than the last. Thankfully - technology has kept up with my needs.
Here’s some examples
Gaining an education
Taking exams in the 90’s. Laptops were like telephone directories in weight and cost an absolute fortune. However, I couldn’t take notes in class and my dictation skills were useless (and disturbed other people to be honest). It also meant they had to pay a nursery nurse (yes that;s what they called educational personal assistants) to take notes. So, education would have been a nightmare - had it not been that laptops were just about in existence and my local education authority sent a geek in glasses and a beard to deliver one to my school. So I became fluent in touch typing, got rid of the nurse and kept up with lessons alongside everyone else. I was starting to become gadget kid to the envy of everyone. Within a year, apple computers were installed at my school - about 15 of the old apple II series cubed, black and white, small screens. I spent many hours in the free to enter room drawing and typing - and my love for all things Apple introduced a range of inclusive software.
Mobile phones
Whilst at Uni - the invention of the mobile phone meant that I could trundle around in my elecy wheelchair - safe in the knowledge that my brick would just about have enough power to call for assistance should I get stuck or need general assistance. It was a life line and eventually I hooked it up to my wheelchair battery to ensure maximum power. Nowadays, micro life-line pendants, pagers, telecare and similar support millions of people to make life saving connections with carers, assistants and others.
Later, I was unable to use my arms and lift a phone to my ear - and low and behold they got lighter and easier to hold - so I dumped the Erikson brick for a small Nokia - and life continued.
Then I couldn’t hold anything up to my ear - so hands free and bluetooth became the way to go.
Now I can’t press buttons so well - so my iPhone will be fantastic because with just a tap I can get texting again. An when I can’t tap - well brain wave power is coming on line for controlling things - so thought controlled apps - here I come.
With the right technology I’m not disabled - I can keep in touch with people and even control my home environment and get around as much as anyone.
What I’d like to see bring us into the 21st century
1) Better electric wheelchair design - they have had 4 wheels and a clunky, bulky, inaccessible design for many years. Although we have seen a few more functions (raise, tilt in space, stair climbing and use of gyroscopes) the overall functionality has not really improved with the technology available.
If you could see what the NHS offered me you would think we were in the year 1908 - it was only an electronic step up from a basket.
Gadgets and innovation
It’s blogging against disablism day and here is my
round up of top gadgets and innovative products that,
in my opinion, are not to be missed.
Just the other day I was Oooo-ing at an iPhone that a BSL interpreter had on one of my courses. Now there’s a phone that I can’t wait to get my hands on. But wait, I hear your cry. What about blind people - how are they going to manage in a world that is going touch screen? To which I replied, well actually... did you know that people with visual impairments CAN access a whole range of apple products with some interesting innovations and built in design
It’s true, technology can be life enhancing and access features for disabled people are at risk of being left out of the top ten things to include in new devices.
Being a total tech head I’m always on the lookout for the next gizmo and gadget that I can’t possibly live without - and many of them are offering life enhancing capabilities and good accessibility.
Innovation:
1) Lip-reading computers developed at the Unversity of East Anglia. Many disabled people lose their voices but retain lip movement so this would be perfect. Think of the business applications - especially when it can read several different languages. More about lip-reading computers
2) Phones. Other useful tech includes the ability to translate sign language to audio for mobile phones. If you have no vision then this concept case for the iPhone is interesting.
Moving on - you can now control your light switches from your iPhone! I have so many remotes for switching plugs and lights that to have one cool gadget as a universal control - now that’s progress.
So, my next one is home automation (environmental controls).
3) Home automation is now affordable outside of ‘special disabled equipment’ from the NHS. In my dream world, one command would open the curtains, bring the lights up from dim, set the radio going with soothing sounds whilst my coffee and breakfast was being made for me in the kitchen by yet more fab gadgetry. Oh wait, actually I suppose I do have this in the form of a PA... hmmm.
4) Brain waves for blogging and tweeting. Yes if you can’t move a muscle then use your noggin to keep up with your bloggin (I always knew I was a poet???) and use of Twitter (if you don’t mind wearing a mad cap full of electrodes - hey I’d try it).
5) Brain waves for controlling wheelchairs. Yes working prototypes are available. You programme your chair to move left or right according to thinking about a particular object. What happens when you’re weaving about the newsagents thinking Left Left Left and your distracted by a top shelf magazine I don’t know - perhaps you start spinning round or something!
6) Gadget web-sites - I’ve found many a useful invention on these sites.
http://www.coolest-gadgets.com
is my favourite one but there are lots on the web - go and see if you can find something that could change your life!
Just the other day I was Oooo-ing at an iPhone that a BSL interpreter had on one of my courses. Now there’s a phone that I can’t wait to get my hands on. But wait, I hear your cry. What about blind people - how are they going to manage in a world that is going touch screen? To which I replied, well actually... did you know that people with visual impairments CAN access a whole range of apple products with some interesting innovations and built in design
It’s true, technology can be life enhancing and access features for disabled people are at risk of being left out of the top ten things to include in new devices.
Being a total tech head I’m always on the lookout for the next gizmo and gadget that I can’t possibly live without - and many of them are offering life enhancing capabilities and good accessibility.
Innovation:
1) Lip-reading computers developed at the Unversity of East Anglia. Many disabled people lose their voices but retain lip movement so this would be perfect. Think of the business applications - especially when it can read several different languages. More about lip-reading computers
2) Phones. Other useful tech includes the ability to translate sign language to audio for mobile phones. If you have no vision then this concept case for the iPhone is interesting.
Moving on - you can now control your light switches from your iPhone! I have so many remotes for switching plugs and lights that to have one cool gadget as a universal control - now that’s progress.
So, my next one is home automation (environmental controls).
3) Home automation is now affordable outside of ‘special disabled equipment’ from the NHS. In my dream world, one command would open the curtains, bring the lights up from dim, set the radio going with soothing sounds whilst my coffee and breakfast was being made for me in the kitchen by yet more fab gadgetry. Oh wait, actually I suppose I do have this in the form of a PA... hmmm.
4) Brain waves for blogging and tweeting. Yes if you can’t move a muscle then use your noggin to keep up with your bloggin (I always knew I was a poet???) and use of Twitter (if you don’t mind wearing a mad cap full of electrodes - hey I’d try it).
5) Brain waves for controlling wheelchairs. Yes working prototypes are available. You programme your chair to move left or right according to thinking about a particular object. What happens when you’re weaving about the newsagents thinking Left Left Left and your distracted by a top shelf magazine I don’t know - perhaps you start spinning round or something!
6) Gadget web-sites - I’ve found many a useful invention on these sites.
http://www.coolest-gadgets.com
is my favourite one but there are lots on the web - go and see if you can find something that could change your life!
Back to work or stay on benefits?
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?
Equality in an emergency
27/February/2008 02:28 PM Filed in: Equality
Yesterday a new way of making an emergency call was
launched - by Text Message. I have worked with a
number of disabled people within the first aid and
emergency services where this would have been a
life-saver for people who can't hold a phone, have a
speech impairment or are Deaf. I taught a Deaf lady
on a first-aid course one year where making the
999/112 call was very difficult for her to be
understood.
My texting life saver.
As a person who finds it impossible to hold a mobile phone, I found myself in a predicament where a care worker was becoming drunk and about to physically abuse me - or worse. I had employed a live-in, male care worker and all was going well until I started smelling alcohol on his breath. His references had all checked out and a CRB was being carried out. I then heard that he had been dismissed because of alcohol and related problems from a previous care worker job and should not be working in this field.
I discussed my findings and he was due to leave the next day. However, by the evening he was intoxicated through consoling himself because he had lost himself another job - and things took a sudden turn for the worse. Every indication was that there was a high risk of an abusive situation but then things got even worse.
My electric wheelchair went from having a slow puncture to being being completely flat in a few seconds. I was stuck in the middle of the room with a care worker who was making advances. I also knew that he had taken a knife into his room for some unknown reason. I couldn't make a 999 call as it was too difficult and it could have pushed him over the edge. He wanted to kill himself and now there were two lives in danger.
I had, however, told a friend what was happening and if I texted a code word the police would be called. I did this silently and effectively. Thank goodness I did, just as the care worker touched my face the door went - it was the police who removed the man from my property calmly and effectively and I live to tell the tale.
PRESS RELEASE SUMMARY: 26th February 2008
Emergency SMS texting service for deaf and speech-impaired people launched
From: Kent Fire and Rescue Service and Kent County Council
A new SMS service for Deaf and speech-impaired people was launched at Kent Police Headquarters today (26 February 2008).
The launch of this partnership project coincided with a visit from Anne McGuire, Minister for Disabled People, who was visiting Kent Police Headquarters to attend a disability action group meeting.
The initiative is a joint venture between Kent Police, Kent County Council (KCC) and Kent Fire and Rescue (KFRS), and will allow those with hearing and speech problems to 'text' the emergency services when they require help.
Those using the SMS system, will have to start their text with the word 'police', 'medic' or 'rescue' depending on which service they need, followed by the rest of their message. The text will then be channelled to the relevant organisation and dealt with immediately.
Kent Police Assistant Chief Constable Steve Harris said: 'This new service means that deaf and speech impaired people will be able to alert emergency services of concerns they have quickly and effectively, without having to face problems that could be linked to conventional methods.
'With technology moving forward all the time, it's vital that we use the latest and most efficient means of communication for everybody in our local communities.'
Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire said: 'I am delighted to see the launch of this invaluable text messaging service. It will empower deaf and speech impaired people to gain quick and easy access to emergency services where and when they need to. I would like to express my thanks and congratulations to all the organisations which have put in such hard work and dedication to make this happen. This project is a great example for the rest of the country.'
KCC Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services, Kevin Lynes said: 'I am delighted that Our Deaf Forum and staff in Deaf Services have played such an important role in the setting up of this vital system. This is an excellent example of pooling resources and together with Kent Police and Kent Fire and Rescue; this new initiative can quite literally save lives.'
Assistant Director of Kent Fire and Rescue, Steve Griffiths, said: 'We are delighted to be teaming up with our emergency services colleagues to launch this new service. It is really important to us that deaf people are able to contact us quickly and easily if they need our help- and this new service is a great solution.'
Posters and leaflets advertising the initiative are currently being distributed in key locations around the county.
My texting life saver.
As a person who finds it impossible to hold a mobile phone, I found myself in a predicament where a care worker was becoming drunk and about to physically abuse me - or worse. I had employed a live-in, male care worker and all was going well until I started smelling alcohol on his breath. His references had all checked out and a CRB was being carried out. I then heard that he had been dismissed because of alcohol and related problems from a previous care worker job and should not be working in this field.
I discussed my findings and he was due to leave the next day. However, by the evening he was intoxicated through consoling himself because he had lost himself another job - and things took a sudden turn for the worse. Every indication was that there was a high risk of an abusive situation but then things got even worse.
My electric wheelchair went from having a slow puncture to being being completely flat in a few seconds. I was stuck in the middle of the room with a care worker who was making advances. I also knew that he had taken a knife into his room for some unknown reason. I couldn't make a 999 call as it was too difficult and it could have pushed him over the edge. He wanted to kill himself and now there were two lives in danger.
I had, however, told a friend what was happening and if I texted a code word the police would be called. I did this silently and effectively. Thank goodness I did, just as the care worker touched my face the door went - it was the police who removed the man from my property calmly and effectively and I live to tell the tale.
PRESS RELEASE SUMMARY: 26th February 2008
Emergency SMS texting service for deaf and speech-impaired people launched
From: Kent Fire and Rescue Service and Kent County Council
A new SMS service for Deaf and speech-impaired people was launched at Kent Police Headquarters today (26 February 2008).
The launch of this partnership project coincided with a visit from Anne McGuire, Minister for Disabled People, who was visiting Kent Police Headquarters to attend a disability action group meeting.
The initiative is a joint venture between Kent Police, Kent County Council (KCC) and Kent Fire and Rescue (KFRS), and will allow those with hearing and speech problems to 'text' the emergency services when they require help.
Those using the SMS system, will have to start their text with the word 'police', 'medic' or 'rescue' depending on which service they need, followed by the rest of their message. The text will then be channelled to the relevant organisation and dealt with immediately.
Kent Police Assistant Chief Constable Steve Harris said: 'This new service means that deaf and speech impaired people will be able to alert emergency services of concerns they have quickly and effectively, without having to face problems that could be linked to conventional methods.
'With technology moving forward all the time, it's vital that we use the latest and most efficient means of communication for everybody in our local communities.'
Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire said: 'I am delighted to see the launch of this invaluable text messaging service. It will empower deaf and speech impaired people to gain quick and easy access to emergency services where and when they need to. I would like to express my thanks and congratulations to all the organisations which have put in such hard work and dedication to make this happen. This project is a great example for the rest of the country.'
KCC Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services, Kevin Lynes said: 'I am delighted that Our Deaf Forum and staff in Deaf Services have played such an important role in the setting up of this vital system. This is an excellent example of pooling resources and together with Kent Police and Kent Fire and Rescue; this new initiative can quite literally save lives.'
Assistant Director of Kent Fire and Rescue, Steve Griffiths, said: 'We are delighted to be teaming up with our emergency services colleagues to launch this new service. It is really important to us that deaf people are able to contact us quickly and easily if they need our help- and this new service is a great solution.'
Posters and leaflets advertising the initiative are currently being distributed in key locations around the county.
Imagine this
12/December/2007 06:41 PM Filed in: Business
What are my chances of getting a contract?
Did you know that 1 in 5 people are disabled - but only half of disabled people (of working age) are in employment?
Many have the right qualifications but are never asked to an interview.
80% of non disabled people (of working age) are in employment earning more than their disabled peers.
It is highly likely, that in the course of my business, people, given the choice, will choose a non-disabled service provider because of prejudices and discrimination in the UK.
This is my reality.
