The newsletter for children and youngpeople with special and particular

needs in the Vale of Glamorgan

indexnewsletter

the

Issue 4January 2013

Olympic Torch

Being Positive about Disability

What’s On

Penarth Youth Project5&6

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Happy New Year!Welcome to 2013 and the 4th edition of ‘The index’I hope that you all had a nice Christmas break and a good New Year.

*The Index is funded by the Welsh Government Families First Grant

Since the last edition of the Index,we have recieved many morereferrals and have been busyupdating our database. However ifyou know someone who wouldbenefit from being added to theIndex register please contact theIndex Team.

I have been co-running the AdventuresRangers group with a colleague on Mondayevenings at 4pm at Ty Robin and wouldencourage families to attend to have somefun and play. I am there to offer any supportand advice to families should they need it.

We will continue to promote ‘The Index’ intothe New Year and 2013 with the aim ofraising the profile and getting more familiessigned up and gaining from the supportopportunities available.

If you think anyone deserves a mention inthe next Newsletter please contact myself orRhian Phillips (Administrator) and we willensure that this is included.

Please check out the Vale website forinformation regarding the ‘The DisabilityIndex’ and a copy of the most recentNewsletter:www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/disabilityindex

Please scan the QR code on the right to takeyou directly to the webpage!

Enjoy reading!!

Becky Keedwell-JonesSocial Care Officer/Index CoordinatorTel: 01446 725364

Rhian PhillipsIndex Administrator Tel: 01446 704736disabilityindex@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

Rhian Phillips and Becky Keedwell-Jones

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The Family Information Service hasdeveloped a number of web pages full ofinformation to support families who havechildren with additional needs. Thewebsite is an information hub for familiesand will point you in the right direction.Information includes:

• Council services, such as Pupil Support,the Child Health and Disability Team, Sportand Play Development

• The Disability Index• Early Support for Families• A Family Support Directory of localservices, including contact details andreferral criteria

• Links to other websites and directories,such as the Parents’ Federation andContact a Family

• Disability training courses for families andprofessionals

These web pages are developing all the timeand if you would like to see specificinformation, please contact Rhian PhillipsTel: 01446 704736disabilityindex@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/disabilityindexand click on ‘Children with Additional Needs’.

You can also contact Rhian if you havequestions or would like more informationabout organisations and services that canhelp you.

New website pages for families who havechildren with additional needs

Katie Williams and Sarah Murrayproudly carry the Paralympic TorchOn probably the wettest night of the wholesummer (and that’s saying something)! KatieWilliams forgot about the rain and made herown piece of Olympic history by joining in theParalympic torch parade in Cardiff Bay.

Katie’s Mum had nominated Sarah Murray from thecharity Thrive Cardiff to carry the torch. Thrive is asmall local charity run by parent volunteers, all ofwhom have children with additional needsthemselves. At weekends and school holidays, thecharity aims to organise regular events which allowchildren to experience all the activities that mostchildren take for granted. This summer’s activitiesincluded kayaking in Cardiff Bay, horse-riding,circus skills, trips to Legoland, Bluestone andLongleat, coast walks, camping O.. and of coursethe Paralympic torch parade. Plans are alreadyunder way for October half-term and Christmas.

Sarah has set herself a target of running 2012miles in 2012 in order to raise funds to purchase aholiday home for use by Thrive families. Katie gotinvolved with the charity when she was 9 years oldand has made many new friends as a result. For

more information look for “Thrive Cardiff” onFacebook.TeL: 02920 339895Email: thrivecardiff@hotmail.co.ukPost: Thrive Cardiff, 33 Bampton Road,Llanrumney, Cardiff, CF3 5SEwww.thrivecardiff.org

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Motion Control Dance has been working hardto raise money for Children in Need this term.Dancers have raised £250 in a whole schoolrehearsal and others have been involved inmore regional and national events.

Dancers from the Local Motion Dance companyand Barry Boy Breakers dance projects, funded byChildren in Need, performed at St. David’s HallTheatre on 10th November in a fundraisingshowcase of dance schools from across SouthWales. This was filmed by S4C for Children inNeed.

Samantha Owens, the dance leader of LocalMotion, was chosen to be the Chief Fundraiser forBBC One Show ‘Team Rickshaw’. Samantha wasone of eight young people who were selected to bepart of the gruelling challenge of completing a 411mile eight day rickshaw journey from Llandudno toBBC Television Centre in London. Samanthasupported the whole of Team Rickshaw’s journeywhich began on 9th November and the grouparrived in London on 16th November in time forThe One Show’s children in Need specialbroadcast.

Samantha has been dancing with Motion Controlsince she was seven, and is the longest serving

Motion Control Dance raises moneyfor Children in Need

member of the youth dancing programme.Samantha has Dyspraxia but this has not stoppedher from dedicating her time and energy to dance.She has completed her Dance Leaders course aswell as working with children and young peoplewho have disabilities in our Children in Needfunded dance project, called Local Motion, whichgives then a ‘chance to dance’.

For more information about dance classes forchildren and young people with disabilities, pleasecontact dance co-ordinator Emma Mallam on07725 038778 or emailemma@vibeexperience.com

‘Being Positive about Disability’ Event for AllVale People First are hosting an event:“Being Positive About Disability”• 5th February 2013• Barry Memorial Hall• 9:30am until 4:00pm

We will be promoting disability services in theVale of Glamorgan and organisations will beexhibiting, providing workshops and talks to amixed audience of Children, Young People,Professionals, Parents/Carers and otherdisabled people in the community.

The event is open to all parents, carers,children and young people and professionals.If you are interested in either exhibiting and or

attending, please ring Liz Davidson on07866 564741 or email:liz.davidson@learningdisabilitywales.org.uk

This initiative has been commissioned by theChildren and Young Peoples Partnership andis being funded through the Disability Strand ofFamilies First.

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Downs Heart Group 2013 Family Fun andConference WeekendOur Family Fun Weekend is open to anyone withan interest in Down’s syndrome and/or associatedheart problems. You can opt to attend all or part ofthe weekend events, but we highly recommendthe whole weekend as it has proved a verysuccessful event in the past. It provides you withthe opportunity to hear and learn fromexperienced speakers, time to network with otherfamilies and a great evening social event whereparents and carers can socialise in a relaxed andinclusive atmosphere whilst the youngsters enjoythemselves on the dance floor. See below formore details:

‘Growing Up – Gaining Independence’Saturday 23rd March 2013

The conference will focus around ways of helpingour youngsters work towards independence asthey grow up to whatever level is right for them.- Speakers to include a cardiac specialist- Keynote addresses and workshops on topicsrelevant to all ages

- Information stall and displays- Crèche or youth club for all youngsters

Dinner and DiscoSaturday evening 23rd March 2013

Themed around World Downs Syndrome Day,providing the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed andinclusive atmosphere full of fun and dancing,particularly for the youngsters.

Fun Day – Sunday 24th March 2013On Sunday we are looking to make arrangementsto visit one of the nearby attractions (probably theNene Valley Railway).

The venue for the weekend is the Marriott Hotel,Peterborough (just off the A1)

For more information please contact Down’sHeart Group on 0844 2884800 or email:info@dhg.org.uk

As part of the ‘Make Every Player Count’initiative, Cardiff City FC Communityfoundations have developed a new footballcoaching session for physically disabledpeople. This session is particularly suitable foramputees and people with Cerebral Palsy.The ‘Make Every Player Count ‘ initiativeseeks to get more disabled people involved infootball and will be delivered in partnershipwith Sport Cardiff.

Information about the session:Age group: Junior & Adult (5yrs +)When: Sunday 2pm-3pmWhere: House of Sport, Clos ParcMorgannwg, Leckwith, Cardiff, CF11 8AW

Cost: £3.00

To register your interest in attending theabove coaching sessions or for any queriesplease contact:Chris McDermott, Disability ProjectCoordinatorEmail:disability.football@cardiffcityfc.co.ukTelephone: 07580 434534

Cardiff City FC Football Sessions for people withphysical disabilities

Adventure Rangers

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What’s On

For 4-11 year olds with special needs toattend with their parent and siblings.

The group has now started and is runningevery Monday from 4pm – 5:15pm duringterm time at Ty Robyn on Robins Lane,Barry. Ten families have attended since westarted in September. They enjoy taking partin a range of activities from story time,imaginative play, messy play and sessionsled by Local Motion dance group. It alsogives parents the opportunity to share theirexperiences with each other and to getadvice and support from professionals.

The Toy Library can be accessed throughthis group.

For further information, please contactGinny on 01446 731628 or just feel free topop in.

Playscheme InformationThe Vale of Glamorgan’s Sports and Play Development team are busy organising three fun filled daysof inclusive playschemes for the February half term.

The playschemes are for children aged 4-11 yearsand will be run from 12th-14th February 2013. Thevenue is to be confirmed.

Play opportunities on offer will include den building,arts and crafts, cookery, outdoor games and sports.The playschemes are accessible to all children.Those with a disability will need to register whichenables us to provide adequate support for eachchild dependent on their level of need.

The playscheme will run from 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm. If you wish your child to attend for the full daythere will be a cost of £5 to cover the care neededover the lunch period.

The deadline for parents who want to book a spacefor their child is 23rd January 2013.

Places are limited, so if you would like your child toattend or would like further information, pleasecontact the Sports and Play Development Team on01446 704809.

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Disability Teen SchemePenarth Youth Project’s February half term2013 Disability Teen Scheme will take placeon the following dates:

February 2013Monday 11th February 10am-3pmTuesday 12th February 10am-3pm

Mark these in your New Year calendar!

Places are limited and are by referral only andby completion of the Helpful Book.

For further details, please contact: TraceyDownes of Penarth Youth Project on email:info@penarthyouthproject.org.uk ortelephone: 02920 405305

The Disability Teen Scheme is funded by WelshGovernment Families First programme.

Llantwit Major Karate ClubLlantwit Major Karate Club has beenrunning for nearly 20 years and has movedfacilities from Llantwit Major LeisureCentre to their new home at MOD St Athan,CF62 4WA. The club trains on Wednesdaysand Fridays from 6.30pm – 8.30pm.

The club Sensei is Simon Dodd and he hasbeen leading the club sessions since 2007.

If you would like more information on Simonand the club please visit the website:www.welshkarateunion.org/new/clubllantwitmajor

The club can cater for disabled people butplease contact Simon on 01446 751077 beforecoming to a session so you can discuss if theactivities will be suitable.

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Penarth Youth Project Informationon Asperger’s Autistic SpectrumDisorder (ASD) Strand

Crossing Boundaries ChallengingPerceptionCrossing Boundaries Challenging Perception(CBCP) is a Big Lottery project, managed anddelivered by the Vale of Glamorgan youth agencyPenarth Youth Project (PYP). We aim to:

- Empower and enhance the future prospects ofthose children and young people with AutisticSpectrum Disorder, in particular those withAsperger’s Syndrome, through targetedactivities.

- Monitor and evaluate working practices toaccommodate changing needs to make theservices provided more accessible to youngpeople presenting with ASD, in particularAsperger’s Syndrome.

United Youth Club (UYC)We run an after school club for young peoplediagnosed with Asperger’s and conditions on theAutistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) called UnitedYouth Club (UYC). This club is run by PenarthYouth Project’s team of specialist youth workersand volunteers who are trained in working withyoung people presenting with Asperger’s andASD.

UYC takes places at:Room 102, Rhoose Community Centre, Vale ofGlamorgan on Tuesdays 6-8pm during theschool term from September to July.We offer games, activities, film nights, occasionaltrips to nearby centres and places of interest andinformal sessions to develop social andcommunication skills. There are alsoopportunities for members to be trained asvolunteers and peer led facilitators.

We run group sessions at community venues towork with the young people to develop theircommunication and socialisation skills.

We work with services to promote inclusion,providing ongoing direction and feedback

concerning best practice, to improve services foryoung people presenting with ASD (in particularAsperger’s Syndrome).

Heads Up ProjectThe second group we run is for young peoplewho are affected by ‘hidden harm’. We offer aneight week Life Skills programme called HeadsUp where our specialist team run sessions suchas emotions, communication skills, copingstrategies and assertive behaviour.

How do you access our service?Young people must be referred to the CBCPproject by a family member, school, healthpractitioner or support worker and meet thefollowing criteria;

- Be aged 11 to 18 years- Live in the Vale of Glamorgan- Have a diagnosed condition on the AutisticSpectrum Disorder

- Demonstrate ASD traits tendencies

Referral forms are available fromPenarth Youth ProjectTel: 029 2040 5305Email: cbcp@penarthyouthproject.org.uk

First Aid coursefor carersA First aid course for carers is available on:

Wednesday 23 January 2013, starting at 1pmin the Training Room, Second floor in theVale of Glamorgan Council Dock Office,Barry, CF63 4RT.

Please contact James Livingstone on 01446704604 for more details. Email:CarersServices@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

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Money Information

The Vale of Glamorgan CAB is expanding itsservice with the help from the WelshGovernment’s Better Advice, Better Livesproject.

Based at the Barry Office, the CAB’s dedicated‘Better Advice Better Lives’ team is striving to reachout to local communities in the Vale and isdeveloping various specialist outreach locations atLlandough Hospital, Penarth, Llantwit Major, andCowbridge.

The project has helped people like Bernadette, whois a single mother with 3 children. She wanted helpto apply for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for her13 year old son who suffers from the hereditarydisease – Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. During theappointment it became apparent that, due to familybereavements and the everyday pressures of life,she had not claimed Child and Working Tax credits,including the Disabled Child element. Bernadettehas increased her weekly income by £351.

Working closely with health-care settings, such asGP surgeries, Community Mental Health CareTeams and charities, such as MIND in the Vale, theteam takes referrals and aims to improve the healthand well-being of clients, by supporting them withthe stresses and anxieties of everyday life.

The team is also seeking to encourage the take upof Housing/Council Tax Benefit and to ensure thatexpert advice is available to families with disabledchildren.

Contact the BABL Team - 01446 704993.

The Benefit Take up Team, also run by the CAB,holds various drop in session. For more informationcontact: 01446 704993, advice@valecab.org.ukwww.valecab.org www.advice.org.uk

Are you caring for a child or young person up tothe age of 18 with a disability and or additionalneeds? If so, are you getting the help andsupport to claim the benefits you are entitled to?

Julia Preece is the Vale of Glamorgan Councilfunded Advice & Advocacy worker and she isbased at the Carers’ Centre, Fairwater, Cardiff.Julia is there to guide carers through the welfaremaze to make sure you are receiving your correctwelfare entitlements.

This advice may be especially helpful in the lightof the 2012 Welfare Reform Bill. The Bill providesfor the introduction of a ‘Universal Credit’ toreplace a range of existing means-tested benefitsand tax credits for people of working age, startingfrom 2013. This legislation also introducesPersonal Independence Payments to replace thecurrent Disability Living Allowance and restrictsHousing Benefit entitlement for social housingtenants whose accommodation is larger than theyneed. More information on these changes can befound at www.disabilityalliance.org

Julia offers free, confidential information, adviceand support to carers and the benefits they maybe entitled to. She is happy to arrange home visitsor be seen at the fortnightly drop-in advice surgeryat Ty Jenner, Gladstone Road, Barry.

Julia can be contacted: via the telephone helplineon 02920 566171, emailreception@cvacarers.co.uk

If you require more information or help that maybe available to support you in your caring role,please contact: James Livingstone, Carers’Development Officer for the Vale of GlamorganCouncil on 01446 704604 or email:CarersServices@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

Benefit support for Carers Citizens Advice Bureau’s (CAB)Better Advice, Better Lives(BABL) Project

Family Fun at Touch Trust every Saturday!Touch Trust is a pioneering charity that offersunique and creative movement education-Touch therapy-for children and babies whohave special needs.We aid self-development within a social, creativeand nurturing environment for children, but alsofor the family, parents and siblings.We also offer the following one day introductorycourse – Communicating Through TouchTo help care staff, parents and otherprofessionals working with challengingbehaviour, profound learning needs and othervulnerable individuals and groups.• This revolutionary one day workshop willprovide practical activities for adults andchildren with complex needs based on theunique Touch Trust programme.• These activities and exercises can be usedto help lessen anxiety and stress, improvecommunication, enjoyment and sensoryintegration.

• At the end of the daystaff/parents will have techniqueswhich they can use for their ownwell being as well as that of their children.

• They will also learn helpful strategies forchallenging situations.Communicating Through Touch is our one dayaccredited course which covers an introductionto Touch Trust and the techniques we use tocommunicate and build trust. You will receive aRecord of Achievement (ROA) from AgoredCymru on completion of the course. This courseis run at the Touch Trust throughout the year,please contact the office on 02920 635660 orinfo@touchtrust.co.uk to find out the date of thenext course.

Where You Stand is a guide to services, support andopportunities for people with a learning disability

Parents and carers with a disabled child or relativeoften highlight the difficulty in accessing accurateand easy to understand information on the servicesand opportunities that may exist for their child andthemselves.

For two decades the Parents’ Federation hasproduced and updated an extensive guide toservices and how to access them, called Where YouStand. Originally this was produced as a booklet ofseveral pages but now it extends to a majorpublication of almost 200 pages. The guide containsinformation on national legislation and guidelines aswell as local services and facilities. Covering bothCardiff and the Vale, some sections are colour codedto highlight entries that are local to one county alonesuch as local council services and venues.

The guide contains information on services from birththrough to late adult-age groups and explains whatyou should expect from your service providers, howto contact them, how to complain and a section onother groups and opportunities that may be of

assistance. The guide is written from a carersperspective and updated by parents and a smallpanel of volunteers.

Printed copies are provided free of charge to the 800families that are members of the Parents’ Federationand through the community support teams in eachcounty. The guide is also available online atwww.whereyoustand.org and is currently undergoingan extensive update. This online guide also includeswebsite links to other organisations andopportunities, saving parents from having to trawlthrough endless search engine pages!

We are constantly improving the guide and value anyfeedback from families on how we can make it moreuseful. We also seek feedback from organisationsthat are included in the guide or those that would liketo be added.If you are the parent or unpaid carer of a child oradult with a learning disability, please contact us on02920 227800 to be added to our membership andreceive your free copy of the latest guide, due out inJanuary 2013.

Parents Federation Where You Stand Guide

Everything you need to know about the

Special Needs Health Visiting Service

My name is Claire Thomas and I am theSpecial Needs Health Visitor for the Vale ofGlamorgan. I and other health visitors, providespecialist health visiting to all children withspecial needs in Cardiff and the Vale ofGlamorgan, providing a visiting service tothese children and their families.

What do we do?We aim to work with families/carers and childrenwith special needs, to provide support andrelevant information to help you make informedchoices about your child’s care.

The special needs health visitors are frequentlythe named health key worker for the child withdisabilities and their family. We assist in co-ordinating health and social care for the child andfamily and have the necessary experience torecognise the potential social and emotionalconsequences of a disability on family membersand to anticipate and respond to their needs andproblems.

Who can receive a service?Special Needs Health Visitors visit children from0-11 years of age and meet one of the followingcriteria:

- Children who have a moderate/severe learningdisability

- Children who have a moderate/severe physicaldisability

- Children with a severe speech and languagedisorder

- Children with moderate/severe social andcommunication difficulties

Referrals are accepted for all children who meetthe referral criteria and where possible, visits willbe conducted jointly with the referrer. The first visitwill establish if the child meets the SNHV criteria.

Contact Points:Special Needs Health Visitor for the Vale:Clare Thomas – Colcot Clinic, Winston Road,Barry, CF62 9SUI work part time; generally Tuesday, Wednesdayand Thursday.Telephone number: 01446 744234Mobile: 07966 194573

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Barnardo’s Community Links have beenworking with Action for Children, to supportyoung people with disabilities to learn andpractice skills to support their transition toadulthood.

A pilot 12 week independent living skills programmehas been developed and five young people havecome along every Monday evening for 2 hours.They have discussed and learnt about topics suchas money, budgeting, healthy eating, householdtasks, self care skills, dealing with bullying andmanaging feelings.

As the groups are held at Ty Robyn in Barry, theyoung people have been able to learn about andthen practice skills such as stripping and remakinga bed, sorting dirty laundry, and hoovering. After thegroup sessions the young people have been giventasks to practice in their own home setting.Individual support has been provided, to supportthe young person with this if required.

Alongside this, six otheryoung people havereceived 1:1 support tohelp them to learnindependence skills such as accessing things intheir own locality such as shops and publictransport, making shopping lists for personal items,shopping and making routines for bedtimes andearly mornings.

The input has been really welcomed by the parentsand carers of the participants, who recognise theneed for these really important skills to be taughtand reinforced in a supported learning environment.

All the young people have enjoyed the sessions,which have been entertaining and fun, but with afocussed outcome.For more information contact:Suzanne Lush, Project Worker, Barnardo's CymruCommunity Links029 2057 1910suzanne.lush@barnardos.org.uk

Independent Living Skills Programme for

young people in the Vale

We are always interested to hear your thoughts andfeelings regarding the newsletter. So if you have anysuggestions on how we could improve the newsletteror would just simply like to feedback to us.

Please do not hesitate to contact us on one of thefollowing:

Telephone: 01446 704736Email: disabilityindex@valeofglamorgan.gov.ukPost: Disability Index, Family Information Service,Dock Office, Subway Road, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan,CF63 4RT

Newsletter Feedback

The Children & Young People’s Partnership Team havebeen developing E–Learning modules relating to disability,to offer staff who work with children and young people withspecial needs training on specific areas of disability.The aim of this is for staff to be able to access short trainingsessions that can be worked through to give them a betterunderstanding of disability and the issues that are faced bythose with a disability. At the moment these modules canbe accessed by Vale of Glamorgan Council staff via theonline learning pool and take approximately 30 minutes foreach module. Each module contains information about thesubject, with exercises to work through and there will be aquiz at the end of each module. If successful, participantscan print a certificate for their professional developmentrecords.

At present, modules have been developed relating tolearning disabilities, physical disabilities and mental health.These have been piloted by parents and professionals andthe next stage is to look at what other areas of disability wecould focus on.

We are keen to seek the views of parents, so if there areany modules that you would like us to develop in future,please get in touch with Jane Hawkshaw on Tel: 02920755444.

I am also hoping to be able to offer this to some parentswhen I am working 1:1 in the home and during groupsessions.

The development of these modules has been possiblethrough using Families First grant funded money from theWelsh Government.

Ginny Kolmar,Childcare DevelopmentWorker, Vale ofGlamorgan Council.

New Disability E-Learning Modules