As with everyone else in the office I have been very busy over the past while and had some very productive meetings and again this month met with several of the Access Panels.
We continue to take part in the Rail users group and along with Pat we are able to feed in the thoughts and suggestions of our members.
I supported Morven Brooks at the Dundee Roadshow and the event was very well attended. Discussions were around the Disability Delivery plan and there were some very good conversations and points raised that will be fed back.
Architecture Scotland are developing a changing places tool and I met with them to discuss it. They will be launching it in the near future and will be made available for the network to comment on, probably before the end of the year.
Also met with Generations working together and this could be a good vehicle for partnership working and attracting younger people to the Access Panel network.
Probably the most rewarding meeting was with Ian Gray MSP and a young lady called Grace from East Lothian who has Crones Disease. Grace is 10 and looks a picture of health but has good days and bad days. She became aware that not everyone with a disability is immediately identifiable and that signage does not reflect this. She has taken this, along with her mum, Judith, to her MSP and a pilot will be run in South Lanarkshire to see if there is a better way to reflect and address this issue. Will keep you informed of developments, and Grace also has a Facebook page, called Graces Sign, she is a very impressive wee girl and we are working with others to make her idea a reality.
