Advisors Report 2007

My name is Mark Williams and I am a city-wide Advisor on the Disability Equality Forum. This year has been another busy one for me, so I am going to report on the different groups I am involved with.

Inclusive Education sub-group

Again, it has been my pleasure to Chair this group for the last year. This working group came about after our membership prioritised education as a major issue. Some members have had training in the new Disability Equality Scheme that every school has to have by the end of 2007, which was one of our aims for last year. The group’s aims for this year include training up disabled people so they are able to become school governors. This will enable school governing boards to have a disability equality perspective in the running of their school.

Quality of Life Scrutiny Commission

I have again been a co-optee on this Commission, representing the Disability Equality Forum. The commission meets every six weeks, with piles of paperwork to work through. Anne James has been an enormous help in supporting the different forums to highlight the main points. Over the year we have commented on the Home Care Futures situation in Bristol and also housing (including the new St Monica’s Trust building and the ensuing fire).

Physical & Sensory Impairment Board

I have been on this board for the last few months, which has looked at issues such as Orchard View and the problem of support workers for disabled students at the City of Bristol College.

Stakeholder Forum

I have also been involved with this group from the start, which was formed in the last year. This group discusses issues such as White Papers being published, including ‘Your Health, Your Care, Your Say’.

I hope this has given members a flavour of what you can be involved with as a Disability Advisor.

Mark Williams
City Wide Advisor, Bristol Disability Equality Forum