The Disability Society supported the workers from the disability services at their demonstration outside the Dr Giraldi Home. Concerns about major staff reshuffles resulting in a serious lack of continuity of care was expressed by the Society and Unite the Union. Disappointingly Panorama did not attend to report on the situation and GBC News failed to mention the attendance or press release from the Society. Here is the Society’s statement in full:
“Today having met with Unite the Disability Society is concerned that the Care Agency persists in its failure to comprehend the vital importance of continuity of care. Despite meeting regularly with the Care Agency to discuss issues within the disability services no mention has ever been made of the attempt to move staff in such a catastrophic manner. The Society is sure that disability experts, management and staff on the ground have expressed their concerns over the detrimental effect on the wellbeing of service users such a disruption will have. In 2014 the Society took up the issue of rolling contracts of several staff members in the disability service. We worked closely with Fabian Picardo on this issue and an outcome that was beneficial to the most important people, the service user, was achieved. It appears that financial motives and the use of a majority of agency staff on zero hour contracts is how the Care Agency now wishes to run the disability services. This as we all know and have seen before will lead to a regular turnover of staff and could be seen as completely unethical. The Disability Society and its members will not accept the Care Agency’s apparent attempt to railroad staff and service users into a situation that could, and has been proven, to be dangerous and not in the best interests of the most important people – the service users themselves.”
The Society wishes to give a huge thank you to the Integral Yoga Centre who have given us the generous donation of £2,172.50! The money was raised at the premier of a wonderful documentary “Energy for Life: Talia’s Story” – A mother’s love for her special needs child and her search for answers. Pictured is our Chairperson Debbie Borastero accepting the cheque from Nalanie and Michele from the Integral Yoga Centre. We have also attached links to the GBC news report on the documentary and the documentary itself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50c1vZdLsgE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJlQrBP0ZJ8
The Society was very proud to be presented with the Mayor’s Community Group Award. Although the award was accepted by members of the present committee it was done so on behalf of all who served as part of the committee over the past 52 years
The Disability Society notes the recent publicity regarding a wheelchair user left waiting for a taxi for over 90 minutes. The Society wishes to congratulate the Taxi Association on taking action and issuing an apology in a timely manner following the incident. There are many people, local and visitors, who are wheelchair users, both manual and electric. The Society would like to take this opportunity to express disappointment that there are only two adapted taxi’s in Gibraltar and these are only designed to take manual wheelchairs. Unfortunately there is only one wheelchair space on each of our local buses it is therefore important that the lack of wheelchair friendly taxis be addressed.
Survey can be found online at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8193l5NAEfXdZSkbbkcVLy7YdfF2VlEDNmVSkLh5_MqB8cw/viewform?c=0&w=1
Thanks to Gemma who sent us this link. Shoes that are not only good for all but good for those with splints or DAFO’s. Shoes for all abilities!! https://billyfootwear.com/
The Society joined GibSams on Saturday the 1st September at the Piazza https://www.facebook.com/GIBSAMS/
https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/new/sites/default/files/press/2018/Press%20Releases/377-2018.pdf
