ecdp Monthly Bulletin 24

8/7/2019 ecdp Monthly Bulletin 24

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Monthly Bulletin 24

May 2011: Monthly Bulletin 24

This update includesarticles on the followingtopics:

ecdp news

1. ecdp quoted inGovernment responseto consultation on DLAreform

2. ecdps DisabilityEquality Training

3. Free training from ecdp

pass4. Affiliate member article:

Choosing the rightdirect paymentsinsurance

local news

5. Disability Sports Day6. My Home Life Essex

Herald7. Your lived experience of

the great outdoors!8. Passenger / Patient

Transport Project9. Herts PASS summer

job forum

May 2011

Dear Member,

Welcome to the May edition ofecdpsmonthly email bulletin. We hope you haveenjoyed the long weekends and Spring weatherover the last few weeks.

This email bulletin is slightly shorter than usual,due to the publication of the Spring edition of theecdp magazine, which will be posted out tomembers across Essex this week and will soonbe available on our website too: ecdp magazine.

The magazine focuses on the key work ofecdp over the last four months, as well aslocal and national news and events thatmay interest our members.

If you do not receive the magazine, andwould like to be added to the distributionlist, to receive a copy by post four times ayear, please let us know using the contactdetails below.

We welcome feedback and comments onthe articles in this bulletin and thosefeatured in the ecdp magazine. Likewise, ifyou would like to write an article or let us

know about something you think we shouldinclude, please contact us using the details
http://www.ecdp.org.uk/magazine/http://www.ecdp.org.uk/magazine/http://www.ecdp.org.uk/magazine/


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Monthly Bulletin 24 May 2011

If you want to get in touch with us aboutanyof the articles included in this update:

Telephone: 01245 392 300Email: [email protected]: Ivan Peck House, 1 Russell Way,Chelmsford, Essex CM1 3AA

below, or post on the feedback section ofour online Members' Forum.

You may remember that through ourprevious email bulletins, we have shareddetails ofecdp's work around the proposedchanges to Disability Living Allowance(DLA), including ecdp's CEO, Mike Adams',contribution to the Welfare Reform BillCommittee.

The Government have now released a responseto the public consultation on DLA, in which ecdpare quoted. You can read more about this workon page 3 of this bulletin.

Best wishes,

Rich WattsDirector of Policy & Development
http://www.ecdp.org.uk/forum/post/1432028http://www.ecdp.org.uk/forum/post/1432028


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ecdp quoted in Government

response to consultation onDLA reform

On Monday 4 April, the government published their response tothe public consultation on their proposed reforms to DisabilityLiving Allowance (DLA).

The full response is available to read on ecdps website as well

as on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website,where you can also find the initial consultation documentsoutlining the reform proposals; Disability Living Allowance -public consultation.

The government response document outlines the submissionsreceived from individuals and organisations, and provides furtherinformation on the replacement of DLA with Personal IndependencePayment (PIP) for working age disabled people from 2013/14.

You will note that ecdp are quoted on page 11 of the Governmentsresponse as recognising DLA as a system of support in need ofreform, and you can read the full response submitted by ecdp, here:DLA reform consultation - ecdp response. This response wasinformed by the lived experience of members, including that collectedin the survey we carried out last year.

As we mentioned above, Mike Adams, ecdp CEOwas given theopportunity to give evidence to the Committee for the Welfare Reform

Bill, which the changes to DLA are part of. You can read the transcriptof the session in which Mike spoke orwatch the session in full onParliament TV.


ecdp news
http://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/6/government-response-to-consultation-on-dla-reform.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/6/government-response-to-consultation-on-dla-reform.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/6/government-response-to-consultation-on-dla-reform.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/6/government-response-to-consultation-on-dla-reform.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/6/government-response-to-consultation-on-dla-reform.htmlhttp://www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2010/dla-reform.shtmlhttp://www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2010/dla-reform.shtmlhttp://www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2010/dla-reform.shtmlhttp://www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2010/dla-reform.shtmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/2/16/dla-reform-consultation-ecdp-response.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/2/16/dla-reform-consultation-ecdp-response.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/2/16/dla-reform-consultation-ecdp-response.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2010/7/23/results-of-ecdps-survey-on-dla-ilf.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/3/30/ecdp-ceo-gives-evidence-to-the-welfare-reform-bill-committee.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/3/30/ecdp-ceo-gives-evidence-to-the-welfare-reform-bill-committee.htmlhttp://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmpublic/welfare/110322/pm/110322s01.htmhttp://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=8024http://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/6/government-response-to-consultation-on-dla-reform.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/6/government-response-to-consultation-on-dla-reform.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/6/government-response-to-consultation-on-dla-reform.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/6/government-response-to-consultation-on-dla-reform.htmlhttp://www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2010/dla-reform.shtmlhttp://www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2010/dla-reform.shtmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/2/16/dla-reform-consultation-ecdp-response.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2010/7/23/results-of-ecdps-survey-on-dla-ilf.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/3/30/ecdp-ceo-gives-evidence-to-the-welfare-reform-bill-committee.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/3/30/ecdp-ceo-gives-evidence-to-the-welfare-reform-bill-committee.htmlhttp://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmpublic/welfare/110322/pm/110322s01.htmhttp://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=8024


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ecdps Disability Equality Training

The Equality Act is here. Are you taking notice?

What are the rights and entitlements for disabled people?

What is it that disables people in society?

What does the Equality Act (2010) cover?

What is the correct language and terminology to use?

By the end of the training you will be able to answer these questions.Participants will also get the opportunity to develop and share practicalguidelines for best practice.

All courses take place at our fully accessible Chelmsford trainingcentre and are delivered by trainers with lived experience of disability.

ecdps next Disability Equality Training will be taking place onThursday 7 July 2010.

For more information please contact Karen Bellerby on 01245 392303or email [email protected]

ecdp news

ecdp on Twitter

For current updates on our work and other disability news, you canfollow us on Twitter. Just visit www.twitter.com/ecdp

You can also view our Twitter feed on the left-hand side of ourwebsite homepage.
http://www.twitter.com/ecdphttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/http://www.twitter.com/ecdphttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/


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Free training from ecdppass

The following training courses are available FREE forall Essex Direct Payment / Personal Budget holders and theirPersonal Assistants (PAs) during 2011.

PA Training Friday 13 May

ACAS Employment Law Update Tuesday 17 May

Employer Responsibilities Friday 10 June

Empowering the Employer Tuesday 14 June

Moving and Handling (am) Friday 24 June

Medication Awareness (pm) Friday 24 June

Employing a PA - Getting it Right Wednesday 29 June

Emergency Life Support Friday 8 July

Health and Safety Awareness (am) Wednesday 20 July

Food Safety Awareness (pm) Wednesday 20 July

Employing a PA - Getting it Right Wednesday 7 September

For further information on the content of courses, or to book a place

please contact Debbie on 01245 392321

ecdp news


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Affiliate member article: Choosing the

right direct payments insuranceecdp has received the below article, which may be of use toour members, from Premier Care (who are affiliate membersofecdp), regarding choosing insurance.

With more and more people choosing to employ carers and personalassistants to help them live independently, the added responsibility ofensuring that adequate insurance cover is in place also falls onto theindividual.

There are now a number of insurers supplying to the market whichmeans that for the first time there is a choice of which cover to take.With choice however comes the responsibility for making the rightdecision to ensure all parties involved have peace of mind.

We at Premier Care have listed our top tips for making this choicewhich should help make your decision both easy and informed.

1. Does your insurer provide a 24hr advice line for all employment /payroll and tax queries and, more importantly, are the adviceservice aware of independent living and personal budgets?

2. Does your insurer have redundancy cover in place in case youhave to make staffing changes?

3. Does your insurer offer flexible payment terms so that you can

arrange immediate cover without having to pay the premiumstraightaway?

4. Does your insurer have the flexibility to cover more than oneperson in the same household at no extra cost, regardless of thenumber of PAs/Carers?

5. Does your insurer offer comprehensive cover for your carers /PAs and will it cover their possessions?


ecdp news
http://www.premiercare.info/http://www.ecdp.org.uk/affiliate-membership/http://www.premiercare.info/http://www.ecdp.org.uk/affiliate-membership/


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6. Does your insurer charge an excess on each claim which canbe a way of discouraging claims? Check as you may have topay the first 50-100 on each claim.

7. Does your insurer have a dedicated customer helpline whereexperienced and well trained staff are waiting to help with anyproblems you may have?

8. Does your insurance include legal expenses and compensation

award cover. This will protect you for an employment tribunalsituation should one arise?

9. There are a number of other additional benefits you mayconsider important depending on your situation. Some policieswill offer cover for loss of house keys, identity theft cover andcard fraud cover as well as the above.

It is essential when making your choice of insurer that you are fully

aware of exactly what you are paying for. We at Premier Care havecreated a number of extra tools to help simplify insurance and give acomparison of the whole market. ecdp have supplies of our plainEnglish guide to insurance which will help you understand your policyand what it actually covers.


Disclaimer

ecdp passes on information about products, services and events offered by other

organisations. This does not mean that we endorse or support theseorganisations or their products, services and events.

Readers are advised to check details for themselves and make their ownjudgements about the merits of organisations.

Unfortunately, ecdp cannot take responsibility for the accessibility of contentprovided by external organisations.

Views expressed are not necessarily shared by ecdp.

Adverts are provided by Affiliate Members. To find out more about AffiliateMembership visit the ecdpenterprise pages on the website:www.ecdp.org.uk/affiliate-membership/

ecdp news
http://opt/scribd/conversion/tmp/scratch2673/www.ecdp.org.uk/affiliate-membership/http://opt/scribd/conversion/tmp/scratch2673/www.ecdp.org.uk/affiliate-membership/


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Disability Sports Day

Registration is now open for the next Disability Sports Day, being heldthis Saturday 7 May from 11.00am at Riverside Ice and LeisureCentre.

The day will give disabled people - including children, adults andfamilies - the opportunity to try sports, arts, dance and other interactiveactivities throughout the day.

For more information, including a timetable of events, please see theDisability Sports Day Leaflet on the Chelmsford Borough Councilwebsite.

If you would like a hard copy of the leaflet and booking form, or formore information, please e-mail [email protected], call01245 606979 or see the website:www.chelmsford.gov.uk/disabilityday.

There are also various opportunities to volunteer on the day. If you are

interested in being part of the event, please contact Karen Barden,Sports Development Officer using the above contact details.

local news
http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/media/pdf/2/9/Disability_Flyer_2011.pdfmailto:[email protected]://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/disabilitydayhttp://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/media/pdf/2/9/Disability_Flyer_2011.pdfmailto:[email protected]://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/disabilityday


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My Home Life Essex Herald

My Home Life Essex aims to transform the quality of life ofresidents, relatives and staff living, visiting and working inresidential care homes right across the county.

My Home Life Essex Herald is the first newspaper to focus solelyon stories from Essex residential care homes for older people. Itfeatures a number of stories of individuals living all over Essex,as well as information about the places they live.

The newspaper is available on ecdps website, and you candownload a PDF version here: My Home Life Essex Herald(PDF).

If you have some news or views you would like to share, please email:[email protected]

For more information, articles, films and bulletins, please visit thewebsite: www.myhomelifeessex.org.uk. If you would like a hard copy

please contact Lesley Cruikshank [email protected]

local news
http://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/18/my-home-life-essex-herald.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/18/my-home-life-essex-herald.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/18/my-home-life-essex-herald.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/storage/My%20Home%20Life%20Essex%20Herald.pdfhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/storage/My%20Home%20Life%20Essex%20Herald.pdfmailto:[email protected]://www.myhomelifeessex.org.uk/mailto:[email protected]://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/18/my-home-life-essex-herald.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/18/my-home-life-essex-herald.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/storage/My%20Home%20Life%20Essex%20Herald.pdfhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/storage/My%20Home%20Life%20Essex%20Herald.pdfhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/storage/My%20Home%20Life%20Essex%20Herald.pdfmailto:[email protected]://www.myhomelifeessex.org.uk/mailto:[email protected]


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Your lived experience of the great

outdoors!ecdp has been contacted by member, Rowena Macaulay, who islooking to research and improve access to the outdoors for disabledpeople. For further information, please see full text on ecdpswebsite or contact Rowena directly, using details at the bottom ofthis article.

Inclusive access to the countryside - can you help with aresearch project?

I am a student in Inclusive Design at the University of Salford with aparticular interest in improving access to the outdoors for mobility-restricted walkers. I am also a founder member of a localorganisation called Walk Colchester(concerned with inclusiveapproaches to the promotion of walking for health, leisure andtransport), and a full-time chair user myself. Out of these combinedinterests and as a part of my MSc, I am currently researching the

importance of access to information about the outdoors, focusing onthe use of photovisual information (photographs and slideshows etc),and I am keen to recruit a small number of volunteers to assist me inthis.

The research itself would be home-based (ie not outdoors), and youwould be ideal to take part if: you are someone who already enjoys outdoor/countryside access,

or who would like to get out more if better access/support etc was

in place you have a mobility impairment that potentially places some

restrictions on outdoor access (e.g. you are a chair user oran ambulant disabled person), and

you enjoy looking at pictures of the countryside this last part notessential but handy!

If you would be happy to take part, or would like more information first,I would be very pleased to hear from you. Please contact me via email

or telephone:Rowena Macaulay [email protected] / 07710 474999

local news
http://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/5/3/your-lived-experience-of-the-great-outdoors.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/5/3/your-lived-experience-of-the-great-outdoors.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/5/3/your-lived-experience-of-the-great-outdoors.htmlhttp://www.walkcolchester.org.uk/mailto:[email protected]://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/5/3/your-lived-experience-of-the-great-outdoors.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/5/3/your-lived-experience-of-the-great-outdoors.htmlhttp://www.walkcolchester.org.uk/mailto:[email protected]


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Passenger / Patient Transport Project

A while ago we asked members to contribute their livedexperience to some work looking at the use of patienttransport. We have now received the below update,which we thought you might be interested to read:

Planning & co-ordinating over a million patientpassenger journeys per year across Essex!

Essex based Health & Social Care commissioners areworking together to join up and improve the provision ofnon-emergency transport services that are funded bythe NHS & Adult Social Care.

Our aim is to modernise and bring together the planning,scheduling and deployment of over a million journeysper year so they can be delivered more effectively andefficiently around the needs of the Essex residents andthe NHS and Social Care service providers who rely on

these services every day.

What are the next steps & when will the project bedelivered?

We started a joint tender process in September 2010and this process is now allowing us to meet and havediscussions with transport & logistics providers. Theproviders will be helping us to re-design how servicescan be deployed across Essex that will be more

responsive to the needs of our patients, service users,service bookers and providers. The tender process iscurrently on schedule and we hope to announce ourPreferred Partner in the Autumn of 2011 with the newservice commencing in the spring of 2012.

What feedback are we getting from patients andservice users?

The project team are passionate and committed to

improving future transport services and have thereforebeen seeking feedback from a wide range of Patient & Service User

ecdp offers freemembership to alldisabled people who liveor work in Essex.

Membership entitles youto:

this monthly emailbulletin

the quarterly ecdpmagazine full ofnews about ecdpswork and widerdisability issues

The opportunity tocontribute your livedexperience to ecdpswork

If you are interested injoining, please [email protected] orphone 01245 392 300.

local news
http://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/11/passenger-patient-transport-project.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/11/passenger-patient-transport-project.htmlmailto:[email protected]


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representative groups.

For more information, including details of key themes from PatientTransport Services feedback, please see the ecdp website.

To contribute your experiences to this project, contact your PCTrepresentative or Peter Quinn at the Essex CSU on 01245 459354, orvia email at [email protected]

local news
http://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/11/passenger-patient-transport-project.htmlhttp://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/11/passenger-patient-transport-project.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.ecdp.org.uk/home/2011/4/11/passenger-patient-transport-project.htmlmailto:[email protected]


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Herts PASS summer job forum

Hertfordshire PASS - a user driven charity in Welwyn GardenCity - is offering young disabled people (aged 16-25) the chanceto experience and learn about the reality of work by usingcreative media.

The Summer Job Forum, which runs through the school summerholidays, gives attendees the opportunity to try new media and artsand will include sessions with disabled and non-disabled experts from

different industries, sharing their experience of work.

The sessions will be from 10.30am until 3.30pm, for six consecutiveweeks starting on Wednesday 13 July and every Wednesday until 17August. The sessions will be charged at 2 each.

For more information see the Summer Job Forum pages of the HertsPASS website and to book contact Katie Fraser by [email protected] or by phone 01707 321442 (ext 23).

local news
http://www.hertspass.com/2011/03/learn-about-the-reality-of-work/http://www.hertspass.com/2011/03/learn-about-the-reality-of-work/mailto:[email protected]://www.hertspass.com/2011/03/learn-about-the-reality-of-work/http://www.hertspass.com/2011/03/learn-about-the-reality-of-work/mailto:[email protected]


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Voting and accessibility

This Thursday 5 May, local elections will be taking place acrossthe UK. There will also be a referendum on changing the currentsystem of voting, from First Past the Post to Alternative vote (orAV).

Inspired Services have produced a guide to the AlternativeVoting Referendum, which can be found here: May 5th Elections:Do you want a new way to vote?

The Electoral Commissions About My Vote website hasinformation for voters, including where to find out about who isstanding in your area and what to do if you havent received yourpoll card or postal ballot.

On this website you can also explore a virtual polling station so youknow what to expect when you turn up to vote: Virtual Polling Station.For specific information about accessibility, please see here: About MyVote - Accessibility

Scope have run a campaign called Polls Apart: Opening Elections toDisabled People, highlighting the accessibility issues that disabledpeople can face at election time. The Polls Apart website has moreinformation about the campaign, and enables people to search for theirlocal polling station and find out what access provisions have been putin place. You can also comment on your local polling station andvoting provisions, and share your lived experience with others.


national news
http://www.inspiredservices.org.uk/http://www.inspiredservices.org.uk/Alternative%20Voting%20EasyRead.pdfhttp://www.inspiredservices.org.uk/Alternative%20Voting%20EasyRead.pdfhttp://www.inspiredservices.org.uk/Alternative%20Voting%20EasyRead.pdfhttp://www.inspiredservices.org.uk/Alternative%20Voting%20EasyRead.pdfhttp://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/general_election_faq.aspxhttp://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/how_do_i_vote/polling_station_walkthrough.aspxhttp://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/faq/accessibility.aspxhttp://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/faq/accessibility.aspxhttp://www.pollsapart.org.uk/http://www.pollsapart.org.uk/http://www.pollsapart.org.uk/pages/2010report.phphttp://www.pollsapart.org.uk/pages/2010report.phphttp://www.inspiredservices.org.uk/http://www.inspiredservices.org.uk/Alternative%20Voting%20EasyRead.pdfhttp://www.inspiredservices.org.uk/Alternative%20Voting%20EasyRead.pdfhttp://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/general_election_faq.aspxhttp://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/how_do_i_vote/polling_station_walkthrough.aspxhttp://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/faq/accessibility.aspxhttp://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/faq/accessibility.aspxhttp://www.pollsapart.org.uk/http://www.pollsapart.org.uk/http://www.pollsapart.org.uk/pages/2010report.phphttp://www.pollsapart.org.uk/pages/2010report.php


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Deaf Awareness Week

This year Deaf Awareness Week runs from Monday 2 May toSunday 8 May 2011. The below information is taken from theDeaf Awareness Week website, coordinated by the UK Councilon Deafness, where you can also find information on eventstaking place, event ideas and publicity materials, should you wishto hold your own event.

During Deaf Awareness Week, organisations working with deafpeople across the country are inviting everyone to 'Look At Me'.The theme aims to improve understanding of the different typesof deafness by highlighting the many different methods ofcommunication used by deaf, deafened, deafblind and hard ofhearing people, such as sign language and lipreading.

Supported by over one hundred deaf charities and organisations underthe umbrella of the UK Council on Deafness, Deaf Awareness Weekinvolves a UK wide series of national and local events. "The UKCouncil on Deafness are delighted to coordinate the all-inclusive Deaf

Awareness Week campaign, promoting the positive aspects ofdeafness, social inclusion and raising awareness of the huge range oflocal and national organisations that support deaf people and theirfamily and friends.

If you would like to let us know about any events you are holding orknow are taking place during Deaf Awareness Week, please [email protected] or call 01245 392300, and we will include themon the ecdp website.

national news
http://www.deafcouncil.org.uk/daw/index.htmhttp://www.deafcouncil.org.uk/http://www.deafcouncil.org.uk/http://www.deafcouncil.org.uk/daw/diary.htmhttp://www.deafcouncil.org.uk/daw/diary.htmhttp://www.deafcouncil.org.uk/daw/eventids.htmhttp://www.deafcouncil.org.uk/daw/pubmat.htmmailto:[email protected]://www.deafcouncil.org.uk/daw/index.htmhttp://www.deafcouncil.org.uk/http://www.deafcouncil.org.uk/http://www.deafcouncil.org.uk/daw/diary.htmhttp://www.deafcouncil.org.uk/daw/diary.htmhttp://www.deafcouncil.org.uk/daw/eventids.htmhttp://www.deafcouncil.org.uk/daw/pubmat.htmmailto:[email protected]

Documents

ecdp Monthly Bulletin 24