Bid to give disabled more independence

Jan 8 2009 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

DISABLED people living in South Lanarkshire are being given the opportunity to get behind a project which aims to offer them more independence.

Self Directed Support Scotland (SDSS) is carrying out a pilot project in a bid to set up an independent, user-led support agency which would support people who want to manage their own care package.

Self-directed support is when a person arranges some or all of their (or their child's) support instead of receiving directly-provided care services from their local authority social work or housing department.

SDSS have been working closely with South Lanarkshire Council and councillor Graham Simpson to get to this stage.

Councillor Simpson said: "Other parts of Scotland have these support organisations, led by disabled people, with advice and support provided by people with experience of using self directed support. These support organisations help to make sure that self directed support works for an individual, so that the individual can exercise genuine choice and control over their lives, and that is incredibly liberating.

“South Lanarkshire Council's social work department have been incredibly supportive."

SDSS hope to find out if there are people in South Lanarkshire who want to become involved in taking this forward, and have arranged a series of meetings for this purpose.

The meetings are aimed at people in receipt of Direct Payments or Independent Living Fund, or those who may be thinking of accessing them.

Meetings will take place on Monday, January 26, from 11am-1.30pm at South Lanarkshire Lifestyles, Neilsland Road, Fairhill, Hamilton, and on Wednesday, January 28, from 10.30am-1pm at South Lanarkshire Lifestyles, Harry Smith Complex, Thomas Taylor Avenue, Lanark. A snack lunch will be provided, and personal assistants on hand.

Anyone wishing to attend should telephone 0870 850 7795 or email sdsscotland@btinternet.com and register by Friday, January 23.