The underclass: talented but disabled

Thousands of disabled people across the UK are forced to rely on charities for basic care, equipment and vital information because of gaps in social services, according to new research by Shelter and Capability Scotland. Their report, Fit for Purpose, to be published this summer, will expose the constant battle disabled people face as they try to adapt their homes or move into more suitable housing. A lack of practical advice, long waiting lists and shortfalls in funding are common because of a huge gap between government policy and practice on the ground, the authors claim.

To read the rest of this article visit the Independent website

Access Ramp Length Calculator

Health & Safety guidelines recommend a gradient of 1:12 for general access and unassisted manual wheelchair users, this may be difficult or impractical due to space constraints or restrictions. You may find your particular requirements are unable to meet this specification.

This ramp length calculator may help you in determining the best fit to your particular requirements by giving you suggested minimum lengths where space restrictions rule out the use of the Health & Safety recommendations. Regardless, only use ramps as long as, or longer, than those suggested. Ramps should be carefully evaluated during use, with assistance at first, to confirm their suitability in practice for your particular application.

The suggestions in this calculator use the following gradients:

Manual Wheelchair			Electric Wheelchair / Scooter
1:8	‘Good’	For use with assistance.	1:6	‘Good’
1:10	‘Better’	Unassisted or assisted as necessary.	1:7	‘Better’
1:12	‘Best’	Unassisted.	1:8	‘Best’

Click the portable access ramp link for more details.

Disabled woman's anger over 'wheelchair friendly bus'

A DISABLED woman was unable to get on a "wheelchair-friendly coach" because her device was "not the right type".

Visit Cambridge News Online for more details.

Design solution sought for Aquatics Centre pool lift

During the London 2012 Diversity Week, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has launched the search for an innovative swimming pool lift that would enable improved access for disabled swimmers.

For more information visit the London 2012 website.

Oxford Hoists

Oxford Hoists, formally a division of Sunrise Medical, are now a trading division of Joerns Healthcare. This division specialises in patient handling and includes products such as ceiling track hoists, portable hoists and swimming pool lifts.

Need to know which type of hoist is right for you? - Disabled Patient Hoists Explained

Apology as jury box not accessible by wheelchair

Read the full article on irishtimes.com

THE COURTS Service has issued an apology after a jury was discharged in a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court partly because a wheelchair-using juror was unable to gain access to jury boxes in the Four Courts building.

Oxford Voyager 800 Hoist

The Oxford Voyager 800 has been designed to lift 360kg (800Ibs/57st) and is the perfect answer for bariatric or specialist institutional requirements. The Voyager 800 has all the features of the Voyager 420 and comes in a 4-way (powered vertically and horizontally) model only.

Oxford Voyager 550 Hoist

The Oxford Voyager 550 has all the features of the Voyager 420 but will lift 250kg (550lbs/40st). The Voyager 550 is suitable for manual handling where a patient exceeds 190kg (420lbs/30st).

Oxford Voyager 420 Hoist

Whether its for the institutional or homecare environment, the Voyager ceiling track hoisting system is the perfect solution to your moving and handling needs.


The Oxford Voyager 420 ceiling hoist will satisfy the majority of manual handling requirements with a maximum user weight of 190kg (30st/420lbs). The Voyager 420 is available in a 2-way (powered vertically, freewheel horizontally) or 4-way model (powered horizontally and vertically ). The standard Oxford spreader bar supplied, allows use of the full Oxford sling range.

Wessex Low Rise Lifting Platform

The 'New' Wessex Low Rise Lifting LR Range are the perfect solution to give easy access to homes, buildings and public premises where a change in level excludes the less able.

The Lifting Platform can be easily converted to a Step Lift by adding an innovative bridging device which allows access for wheelchair users up to 4 steps (1 metre). The Lifting Platform is not only a cost effective quality solution, it is also supremely flexible.

The lift is supplied with a 5 year anti-corrosion warranty and will be installed by Wessex trained engineers.

A comprehensive user manual, on site training and maintenance advice is provided.

Dolphin offer a selection of maintenance contracts to meet individual requirements. Ring 0800 9800 126 for more information and pricing.

Disabled Access not resolved at Quad

DISABLED visitors to the £11m Quad arts centre in Derby are still waiting for an access button to be installed on the door – five months after it opened.

A post with a push button on it, to allow wheelchair users to open the doors, was meant to be put up outside the building, in the Market Place, shortly after it opened in September last year.

But now, more than five months on, Quad is waiting for planning permission for the post, after taking months to draw up designs for it.

At present, disabled people have to wait outside until they are seen by staff and let in.

Read the full article on thisisderbyshire.co.uk

Oxford Mermaid - Bath Hoist

The Mermaid hoist is a fixed bath side hoist that enables patients to safely transfer in and out of the bath. The Mermaid is available in both electric and mechanical versions and can be used in either a fixed seat version or with the Ranger transporter system.

Mermaid with Ranger Chair

Available as either an electric or mechanical version, it can be mounted onto a wooden or concrete floor with the fixings provided.

Mermaid Fixed Seat

The Mermaid can be fitted in two positions relative to the bath. The most common is the side fit, where the mast is fitted at the side of the bath and the end fit is where the mast is fitted to the centre line of the bath at one end.

The seat has a locking system that allows safe transfer and when the chair is unlocked it will rotate 360 degrees.