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Office for Disability Issues improves Blue Badge Map
The online Blue Badge map service, which makes it much easier for disabled people to find places to park, has now been significantly improved. The map on the Directgov website, was first launched in July 2006
The map, produced by the Office for Disability Issues, allows users to search by postcode or town name for designated Blue Badge parking bays, parking bays that fall on red routes in London as well as accessible stations, toilets and petrol stations.
Find the blue badge map on the Directgov website.
4 June 2008 - Government pledges £900,000 towards independent living and launches support programme for councils
On 4 June, Minister for Care Services Ivan Lewis announced an extra £900,000 to help disabled people work towards having more independent lives.
Speaking at an Office for Disability Issues consultation event on delivery of the Independent Living Strategy the Minister pledged new funding to help create up to 14 user-led organisations become new Action and Learning Sites. These organisations are led and controlled by disabled people and aim to help disabled people lead more independent lives.
The event also saw the launch of the Personalisation Resource Toolkit, part of the early work on the Personalisation Programme. This programme will work with leaders in the adult social care field to help councils transform their systems so social care service users have more control over the care they receive. The toolkit is the first product of the programme and will provide advice and examples of good practice to local authorities as they move to implementing a personalised system.
Further details are available from the Department of Health News Distribution Service.
Recruiting a new Chair
We are looking for a Chair to lead Equality 2025, a high profile and influential advisory network. Please visit the website www.equality2025.co.uk for more information on the role, including details of how to apply. The closing date is 14 July 2008.
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