St. Bernadette’s Centre are setting up a multi function/sensory gym & need funds. Please help out by donating funds, donating cakes & treats or buying them at ICC Gibraltar this Saturday 14th April.
For the first time the Cerebral Palsy Awareness Group will be hosting an awareness stand outside the ICC on Saturday 24th March from 10am until 2pm. They will also be celebrating Cerebral Palsy Awareness day on Sunday 25th March with a walk from the Piazza to Casemates at 10am. All are welcome to attend the walk especially anyone with CP and their families and friends. Wearing green is optional and the castle will be lit in green for both days.
Despite confirmation from the Chief Minister that there should have been a rise in the disability allowance last year in line with inflation; (as quoted in his 2012 budget speech); the Disability Society is disappointed to see that once again this month, March 2018, the rise has not materialised. The Society has written three reminders to No 6 as requested pointing out that pensions and rents were all promptly increased but not the disability allowance. The matter was also raised in Parliament by independent MP Mr Llamas who it appears was erroneously assured the allowance had been increased. It is hoped therefore that by finally bringing the matter into the public domain the rise in the disability allowance, backdated to 1st August 2017, will be promptly instituted by the rate of inflation which was quoted in the 2017 budget speech as being 2.7%.
It recently came to the attention of the Society that despite the Disability Bill (Agnes’ Law) being passed through Parliament in July 2017 it has still not be enacted into law. The Society was informed that the Bill was not given a commencement date and therefore cannot be signed by the Governor. After raising the matter directly with Minister Sacramento we have been told that Government needed 6 to 9 months to train staff and this was the reason for the delay. To say the Society is disappointed is an understatement particularly considering the Government had 5 years to start training in disability issues. It has now been 7 months since the bill was passed through parliament so the Society expects full transposition into law before May 2018.
Gibraltar Cultural Services and the Gibraltar Youth Service, on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, the Media,Youth and Sport will be organising a Youth Open Day as part of the first ever Youth Arts Jamboree. The event will be held at the Central Hall on Saturday 10th March
2018 from 10am to 5pm. The Youth Open Day will be a cultural and youth providers fair, with many entities being given the opportunity to expose their product and what they can offer young people.
The following entities have confirmed they will be taking part:
Gibraltar Army Cadets
Gibraltar Air Cadets
Childline Gibraltar
Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme
Scouts Association
Guides Association
Gibraltar Dance Organisation
Gibraltar Photographic Society
Gibraltar Arts and Crafts Association
Gibraltar Academy for Music and the Performing Arts
Clubhouse Gibraltar
Disability Society
Muslim Youth Group
CYE-CLE
Gibraltar Health Authority
Gibraltar Youth Service
Gibraltar Museum
Autism Support Group
Royal Gibraltar Police Recruitment Section
St Johns Ambulance
The Open Day will be accessible for persons with disabilities, and made more inclusive and sensory friendly. Sensory adaptations will be made available for the first one and half hours from 10am to 11.30am. During this period sound will be minimized and it will particularly benefit persons with autism, photosensitive epilepsy, visual and hearing impediments.
Thereafter, live performances and interactive workshops will take place from 11.30pm to 5pm, by many of the entities aforementioned. The Open Day will also feature a fun day and the organisers take this opportunity to thank Gibtelecom for sponsoring part of the event. For
Any enquiry or to get involved, please contact Gibraltar Cultural Services, Events Department, on telephone 20067236 or email: info@culture.gi
New initiatives will be available all throughout this year’s fair which commences on the 19 August to 27 August.• Sensory adaptations will be available for the first two hours of the fair, from 7:30 pm to 9:30pm, during which period lights will be switched off and sound will be minimized. This will be particularly beneficial for people with autism, photosensitive epilepsy, visual impairments and hearing impairments.This year will also see the launch of the “Easy Access Pass” (the Pass). This Pass will be applicable in two different ways:1. At attractions where there is a requirement to queue, Pass holders will upon reaching the front of the queue have to present their Pass to the attraction greeter (feriante). The attraction greeter will then secure a seat for the Pass holder.2. At attractions where there is no designated queue line, Pass holders will need to present their Pass to the attraction greeter (feriante) at the ticket box when purchasing the ticket. The attraction greeter will then secure a seat for the Pass holder.This new initiative will be particularly useful for people with mobility impairments. However, it must be noted that not all rides are suitable for all visitors as each have strict operating requirements based on the containment of the ride, the force of the ride and the evacuation procedure. Attraction greeters (feriantes) have to follow all rules and restrictions for health and safety reasons; therefore people are asked to please not ask attraction greeter (feriantes) to break these rules, they are there for the safety of all. Consequently, attraction greeters (feriantes) may refuse admission to a ride if they feel that the safety of a visitor or the safety of others visitors may be at risk.Individuals interested in applying for the Pass will need to complete an application form which is available for collection from the Ministry of Equality at 14 Governor’s Parade. The application form may also be made available upon request by emailing equality@gibraltar.gov.gi or calling 20070112.
The full press release with details of requirements etc can be found at https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/new/sites/default/files/press/2017/Press%20Releases/473-2017.pdf
