Focusing on the everyday challenges that disabled people face in the city and taking action – the newly-formed Portsmouth Disability Advisory Group is already making a big difference.
At its inaugural meeting in February, members of the group mapped out their key areas of work and agreed how they would work together to make Portsmouth a more accessible place for all.
Access, employment, transport and healthcare have been identified by the group as the issues they most want to tackle.
A Disability Advisory Panel of up to 12 people will form the core group and will be run and chaired by disabled people who can prioritise the issues they want to tackle.
Working groups will be set up dedicated to single topics, enabling people to get involved in the issues which matter most to them. The group will also work closely with a network of supporters – organisations and charities which have come forward to offer their guidance and assistance.
Disability Advisory Panel Chair Laura Collinson said: “It was a really positive first meeting. It’s clear that this group won’t be sitting back and describing the problems without the willingness to do something about them. We’re motivated and we know we can make a real change.”
“We’ve already started to get to work. For example we’re talking to the council about the issue of transport and taxi access in the city and we’re consulting on beach and seafront access in Southsea and along Langstone Harbour. The group is also looking into access to NHS rehabilitation services for people coming out of hospital.”
For more information about the group, which is being supported by HIVE Portsmouth, please email disability@hiveportsmouth.org.uk
