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Newclose Cricket Ground

Parents Voice is an organisation which exists to support parents of disabled children and young people and those with Special Educational Needs. They are holding a coffee morning on Friday March 19th from 10 am until 12 noon for parents. The aim of the morning is to gather parents’ views on how easy it is to access information that parents need. For example, what help is out there and how you can access it, how you find out what your child is entitled to, choosing the right school or social activities for your child.

If you would like to come along, please confirm your attendance by emailing Kerry Watson on [email protected]

The above sports camp is to be held on March 20th at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, starting at 9.15 am. It aims to introduce disabled children who are aged from 6 – 11 (with physical or mild sensory problems) to a wide variety of sports in a safe, friendly and fully inclusive environment. Sports include indoor athletics, carpet bowls, fencing, kurling, polybat, short tennis, table tennis and swimming.

If you are interested in this opportunity and would like to find out more about the day, please visit wheelpower.org.uk for more information.

Aiming High for disabled Children is a government programme which aims to transform services for children with special needs and their families. As new services are developed, it is really important that the right people test them out .... YOU!

We need disabled children and young people to form a strategic group of experts so that we – the Local Authority and Primary Care Trust (PCT) – can get things right first time!

This strategic group will meet to discuss future plans and will also be active in testing out services for young people. For example, the new playgrounds being built on the Island need to be tested to make sure that they include everyone!

If you would like to be involved and to make a difference, send your details i.e. name and contact number to Moira on 533523 or [email protected]

Following a consultation day with parents in January at Landguard Manor, Shanklin, one of the key areas where concerns were expressed related to changing facilities for disabled children and their families at sports and leisure centres.

After discussion with Alex Minns, Operations Manager for Leisure Facilities at the Council, it was agreed that Aiming High should fund new transferable hoists and changing tables for a variety of leisure centres on the Island.

Details will follow shortly of exactly what has been bought and where you will find these new facilities.

A new sign/symbol website has been launched for children and young people who find accessing written language difficult. This website is unique in that it has been designed by disabled children and young people for disabled young people! Powered by Widgit software and funded by the Big Lottery Fund, it is used by disabled children and young people around the world.

It provides an accessible site where young people/children can find out what is on in their local area and read about the latest news, weather reports, film, sport or music reviews.

It also provides a forum where children can feedback their comments to others using the Graffiti wall.

It is hoped that gradually, the ownership of the site will move to young people who enjoy researching stories, taking photographs and writing articles for the website about fun activities that can be shared on the Island.

If you’d like to see what’s on, log on to www.askability.org.uk and then click on ‘What’s On’ followed by ‘Local Regions’.