Disability Action Group's Home Page
Welcome to the Disability Action Group's Home Page. Due to an unexpectedly busy, demanding and changeable year DAG is revising this whole section of the website.
Jo Wanmer and Mary Redman are still working for residents with disabilities, chronic impairments or with issues relating to physical, mental, learning disabled and sensory conditions which affect your tenancies.
New members have been recruited but need time to get used to our way of working. Please bear with us while these discussions and changes take place.
In the meantime DAG can be contacted directly on 07738 885074 and will soon have an email address too.
Background and Aims
The Disability Action Group - formed in December 2008 - aims to highlight housing issues people who have disabilities may face. The group covers all types of disability including sight and hearing as well as mental health issues.
“We are a friendly group, and there is no pressure on anyone as to how much you contribute - we just want your opinion,” said David Lazerous; one of the groups’s founding members. “Together with CHP we can help improve the issues facing disabled residents.”
The disability group are looking for residents that are aware of issues that affect people with disabilities to join the group. If you are interested in joining please contact the resident support officer on 01245 613074 or email: residentsupportofficer@chelmerhp.org.uk or contact us through the website. If you need transport to attend our meetings please call the Resident Support Officer on the above number, please state if you need special transport.
Meeting Dates
Our planned meeting dates are listed below. Please contact us beforehand to confirm the venue and times. If you need a taxi to attend please call the Resident Support Officer to arrange one for you.
| Date: | Venue: | Comments: |
| 14 Feb 11 | Coates Lodge, Hollis Lock. | 6.30 - 8.00 pm |
| 14 March 11 | " | 6.30 - 8.00 pm |
| 12 April 11 | " | 6.30 - 8.00pm |
| 9 May 11 | " | 6.30 - 8.00pm |
| 13 June 11 | " | 6.30 - 8.00pm |
| 11 July 11 | " | 6.30 - 8.00pm |
| 12 Sept 11 | " | 6.30 - 8.00pm |
| 10 Oct 11 | " | 6.30 - 8.00pm |
| 14 Nov 11 | " | 6.30 - 8.00pm |
Minutes from Previous Meetings
Please click on the link below to read the minutes of previous meetings. The minutes are in Word format, if you don't have Microsoft Word on your computer you can download a free utility from Microsoft that will allow you to read and print Word doc2010uments. The download can be found here.
Minutes Jun 2009
Minutes May 2009
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Independence in your Home
The schemes detailed below may be of interest to disabled residents, the services are not provided by Chelmer Housing Partnership or the Chelmer Residents Forum, however they are all legitimate.
Chelmsford and Maldon Garden Clearance Scheme The Chelmsford and Maldon Garden Clearance Scheme aims to help older and disabled people tackle unruly gardens. We are unfortunately not able to offer a regular maintenance service, however if your garden has developed a mind of its own and requires taming, please do not hesitate to contact us. We have an excellent team of volunteers who assist our gardener and with whom the service would not be able to continue without. Again, the gardener will not visit without an appointment however if you unsure at all, please give us a call. You will be asked to make a contribution towards the labour charge based on £8 per hour for this service. Please Call (01245) 392121 Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm and to speak to a member of their team.
Elections
- Chair for one year: David Lazarus
- Vice-Chair for two years: Jo Wanmer
- Secretary for three years: Benita Cook
- Representative to Central Forum for two years: David Lazarus
- Representative to Central Forum for three years: Benita Cook
The DAG Committee which is resident led, is currently composed of thirteen residents with various disabilities and/or severe, chronic illnesses. We warmly welcome all new members to join in the activities of our fast growing and effective team.
We influence how services are provided to us, CHP Residents with disabilities, by our landlord and hope to influence the local Councils when it comes to policies regarding Social Housing specific to the needs of residents with disabilities.
Finally, the stronger we become and the more well known we are, we hope to influence other Housing Associations that currently haven't got a Disability Action Group to build on our model by participating in TPAS Conferences and matters of a National Level.
David Lazarus, Chair of Disability Action Group 08.10.2010
Would you like to join us? Click here for an Application Form
Click here to view Our Terms of Reference
Our Budget. Click here to veiw our Budget.
There are other groups who give disability help and advice, they are -
Disability Alliance http://www.disabilityalliance.org
Essex Coalition of Disabled People http://www.ecdp.org.uk
By enrolling as a member of the Disability Action Group you will receive the benefits of organisational membership to each. In that case, it makes sense to join us.
| Incapacity Benefits and Reassessment From February this year people who receive Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disability Allowance and Income Support on grounds of illness or disability are facing a reassessment. This is all part of the Coalition cost saving plans. We know that this is causing concern to many people. Unfortunately there is little we can do to stop this happening, but we can attempt to arm you with all the relevant facts to help you. Pressure is mounting on the Government to back down from there proposals, but it won’t be easy. Here are the documents that might be of help. Knowledge is Power – get powered up here! 1.Consultation about changing Disability Living Allowance to a new benefit. Tell us what you think. Click Here 2. A guide to Employment and Support Allowance – The Work Capability Assessment. Click Here 3. Incapacity benefits – the reassessment process. Click Here. 4. Public consultation - Disability Living Allowance reform. Click Here Go to www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2010/dla-reform.shtml For the Government Consultation - Disability Living Allowance |