News

Grace Eyre is excited and proud to be partnering with the Brighton Fringe this year, to make sure that the iconic event is as inclusive as possible, and ensuring that accessibility at the festival is considered beyond just wheelchair ramps, in a way that will benefit both Fringe artists and attendees, this year and beyond.

The Big Plan describes United Response’s ambitions, giving direction and clear priorities for the next four years. We all deserve to live a big life where every day joys are abundant, and aspirations and dreams are nurtured and within reach.

Fitzroy and Keyring have produced a white paper on cuckooing affecting people with a learning disability, autism and/or mental health needs. The report sets out challenges, current responses and steps to strengthen prevention.

Planning permission has been granted for a new Arts Centre at The Orpheus Centre. This marks a major milestone in the charity’s aim to create a world-class, inclusive Arts Centre with fully accessible spaces for learning, performance and creativity – growing capacity by nearly 50% to meet rising demand and increasingly complex student needs.

Named for Harry Charlesworth, who has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and many other complex needs, Harry’s Pledge is a commitment to carers focusing on four areas of support for those who need care and those who provide it. Make your pledge and learn more about how you can support the campaign.

AI Can is one of the UK’s first digital hubs and peer-led training programme aimed at increasing the safe use of everyday AI tools by people with learning disabilities and autistic people. It helps people use everyday AI tools with confidence, aiming to make digital tools inclusive and easier for more people to use.

The National Autistic Society hosts a free webinar about reasonable adjustments on 16 April. The session, which is open to all, brings together autistic speakers and inclusion specialists to explore how organisations can create environments in which everyone feels supported and able to do their best.

National Autistic Society has put together a toolkit to help provide feedback on the government’s SEND reforms, and to help put pressure on the Government to improve the plans. The toolkit includes a quick survey, guidance to help you respond to the Government consultation, and tips for getting in touch with your MP.

This conference is a partnership between Norwood, The United Synagogue and Gesher School, bringing together a broad range of community organisations from across the Jewish community spanning education, health, social care, community services and employment to strengthen how we design and deliver inclusive environments for neurodivergent people and their families.

Free course from Grace Eyre for people with a learning disability and autistic people focusing on the eight Foundation Digital Skills, including turning on and operating a device (laptop, tablet, phone), setting up an email, using word processing, communicating via social media and checking NHS appointments.

AFK’s equity, diversity and inclusion offer is designed to equip organisations with practical tools to build inclusive workplace cultures and create accessible career opportunities for disabled and neurodivergent people.

John Verge, CEO of Golden Lane Housing, has been appointed to the panel, which will play a key role in providing valuable information and expert advice to government on supported exempt accommodation.

The latest report by Community Integrated Care finds that social care support workers still take home £7,048 less per year than NHS Band 3 colleagues. Five years in, the gap has narrowed to 28.6%, but it has not closed and the FPA, while welcome, will still leave a take-home pay gap.

Following a formal procurement process, Choice Support will continue to deliver the CQC’s Experts by Experience Programme while National Voices, supported by Innovation Unit and Collaborate CIC will manage the CQC’s Public Engagement Network.

Next week, from 13 to 19 March, Mencap are holding a free exhibition in Shoreditch on Homes Not Hospitals | The Fight for Freedom.

Join RNIB in commemorating the ninetieth anniversary of Talking Books with a very special recording of Pride and Prejudice.

Chailey Heritage Foundation has opened the new Dervia Sensory Studio, a purpose built space designed to enhance learning, development and wellbeing for children and young people at the school. Funded by the Dervia Foundation, the studio opened in February and now offers three individual sensory rooms where pupils can explore sound, light, movement and texture in ways that support their education, sensory needs and development goals.

The Our Life Stories exhibition brings together a co-curated selection of real-life stories and objects from more than eighty people supported by United Response. Each item tells an individual story of everyday life, from personal achievements to the structural barriers faced by people with learning disabilities and autistic people. Together, they paint a picture of disability history in England over the past fifty years which until now has been sorely missed from the historical record.