Dalton disabled residents speak up about local services

You said…   we want to have our say on facilities for disabled people of all ages

We did…   helped Dalton residents set up a Disability Group and have their say in local decisions

A new group in Dalton is helping disabled people of all ages speak up about facilities and services in their community.

Residents and members of Dalton Town Council turned to Angela Knowles in the county council’s Barrow Community Unit for help with setting up the group and advice on making their voices heard.

Angela and her colleagues at the Community Unit have experience in helping disability groups make a huge difference to their quality of life, having worked with parents and carers of disabled children start up a great range of holiday sports and social activities for their children elsewhere in the borough.

The Dalton group has already got together to talk about issues such as dropped kerbs and crossing points which will help make it easier for people who use powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters to get around town.

Also on the agenda was sports and activities on offer at the local leisure centre and community sports hall.

Angela is now helping the group set up some guidelines around how they will work and will give them the support they need along the way to make their plans a reality.

Angela says: “We are really keen to show residents that they can make their voices heard by the council, and a whole range of other agencies, and that we can offer them support in doing so.

“Earlier this year we worked with parents in the area to plan a new multi-use games area. One parent with a disabled child met with a council officer as part of this consultation to explain how the playground equipment would be suitable for hers and other disabled children.

“Things like this have really helped local people feel more confident that they are being listened to, and it’s great to see that this has given disabled residents the impetus to get more involved decision making in their area.”