Paces

Catching up on some good news

Life as Paces CEO has been a bit hectic over the past couple of months or so. Which explains why I've not posted as often as I would have liked. Funny thing that - the more stuff happens, sometimes, the less easy it is to write about - never quite reaching the moment when there's something to say. I'll maybe have some time to give it a go when we are in Pembrokeshire this week. That's not a promise - we've no reliable internet connection!

Some good news has slipped by though. Towards the end of March, I posted here that being at Paces then seemed a bit like one of those 'change' moments when we hold our breath waiting for something to happen. Well, one thing did happen: we secured a grant toward the repair and refurbishment of the former craft workshops at the back of Paces Campus. The plan is to open these as three new large classroom spaces for Paces School. The grant came from The Social Investment Business, to whom we are immensely grateful. And if that is not enough good fortune, it's great to be able to say that KeepMoat plc, who have supported Paces with 3-year sponsorship of our Families Support work, have already pitched in with a commitment to help us wring as much value from the grant as possible.  More later.

Now for a short holiday.

Next week we are going to Pembrokeshire

"Where are we going?"

"I don't know. I thought you knew."

"No. I don't know. Maybe he knows."

"No. He definitely doesn't know."

[Pause]

"Maybe no-one knows."

[Pause]

"Oh well. I hope it's nice when we get there."

Next week we are going to Pembrokeshire, Dru, Sarah and I. A few days holiday. Between St Davids and Fishguard, though we often go a little way up the coast to Newport. A favourite place.

I wonder where Conductive Education in the UK is going? Maybe we'll find out in Hong Kong. I hope it's nice when we get there.

----------------------------------------

Footnote:

Where are we going? from The Interesting Thoughts of Edward Monkton

Click on the Gallery tab. In the Gallery, highlight Column 2, Row 7.

Take a moment out to amuse yourself. I did.

Now I've to get on and complete a funding bid.

"Spending shockwave" looms over school transport

"Local councils will bear a large share of the cuts, which could raise questions about the services they deliver. There will be a cut of £311 million in the money handed to local authorities for education services like school transport." ( Spending 'shock wave' just the start, ministers warn)

Who are the big users of school transport?

If I cease to exist, he said, then I will enter into someone as a phoenix.

In an article for RACE, the occasional journal of conductive education, in 2003, jointly authored with Erzsébet Majorvics, we wrote:

"András Pető was a doctor, mentor, teacher, entrepreneur in one person, who never accepted money from the patients but funded himself through various enterprises. `If I cease to exist,' he said, `then I will enter into someone as a phoenix'".

Does anyone remember Peto having said this, or perhaps Dr Hari repeating it, or anything similar?

Debt, cuts and special needs

"The Treasury has drawn up plans to accelerate deep spending cuts over the next two or three years to reduce the £164 billion deficit."  ("Coalition is urged to move fast with deep spending cuts": The Times today)

You will make your own mind up whether this is the right course of action depending on your personal political loyalties. Apparently Canada is the model for the pro-acceleration view.

Canada, though, may have a warning for us in the UK:  "....education cuts imposed by the Ontario government led to a sharp increase in class sizes — from 25 to 35 children in some instances — and the loss of many services for children with special needs, who were integrated into mainstream classes. The provincial administrations, which provide the bulk of education and health services, focused their initial cuts in these two areas.

Can we do more than "wait and see?".

Can disability be sexy?

Can disability be sexy? I wonder how many of us find just asking the question makes us uncomfortable?

Thanks to @GlendaWH's Re-Tweet on Twitter directing me to a remarkable post by Michelle Diament on DisabilityScoop

Take a look for yourself and make up your own mind.

Meanwhile, I'm going to take a look at DisabilityScoop - "the first and only national news organization serving the developmental disability community including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, fragile X and intellectual disability, among others".

Just a little grumble

Just a little grumble. Why should someone who is permanently disabled - with cerebral palsy for instance - and on Higher rate Invalidity Benefit have to prove every three years that they are still entitled to a Blue Badge?

Step 1: Make an application to the Council to renew Blue Badge. Days go by.

Step 2. Make follow up enquiry. Learn a form is required from Dept of Work and Pensions. DWP not allowed to speak directly to Council. Request form. Days go by.

Step 3. Complete form and submit to Council. Days go by.  Current blue badge expires.

Step 4. Make follow up enquiry. Told form not received "not on spreadsheet". Speak with Manager. Speak with DWP. DWP not allowed to speak directly to Council. Request resend form.

Yesterday, there was a general election in the UK. Whichever party forms the Government, an Age of Austerity with cuts in public services is sure to follow.

Somebody should count the cost of this waste of public resource not to mention the time expended by the applicant - and cut it.

Meanwhile we shall have to continue to use an out-of-date Blue Badge. And risk a fine or clamping. Just a little grumble.

BTW Did you see that the election "jolly" the BBC put on last night for B list celebrities on a luxury yacht called the Silver Sturgeon moored by the London Eye probably cost licence-payers £45,000. You have to smile.