The French Government has been working to improve the situation for disabled travellers

            The French Government has been working to improve the situation for disabled travellers. The 'Tourisme et Handicap' label provides disabled people with access to reliable, 

           consistent and objective information about the accessibility of tourist sites and facilities, classified into four major types of disability (physical, visual, hearing and mental).

            Hotels, restaurants and other sites have passed a number of strict requirements and standards. On your stay this will be clear as those that have passed will be marked as ‘Accessible norms handicapes’ – 

            although not an official rating this is helping to make France an easier place to visit for the disabled traveller.

            This logo ensures the accommodation, restaurant or attraction is accessible to disabled visitors. For more information visit  www.tourisme-handicaps.org

Disabled Man Crosses Russia in Wheelchair

            Despite being in a wheelchair, one Russian hero has covered 11,000 kilometers, right across Russia, with an electric buggy to draw attention to the plight of disabled people.

           It has been more than a decade since the accident that put Aleksandr Kashin in a wheel chair. An allegedly drunk American Consul General in Vladivostok was driving the car that collided with Kashin's vehicle.

            Because he was a diplomat, American Douglas Kent could claim immunity. Officials back in Washington refused to waive his rights as a diplomat so Aleksander had no chance of getting redress. 

         Alexander has been fighting for compensation ever since -- to pay for his specialist care and medical expenses. Ten years after the incident he is still determined to fight: "He walked away scot-free. But I will keep on seeking justice.

         That is why a decade after the accident it is important to Alexander to keep his case in the public eye. 

          Alexander's top speed is not much more than walking pace, but he has just finished a marathon of marathon proportions, driving his electric buggy 11,000 kilometers from his home to Moscow. 

          It has been a journey of discovery. "I was most surprised by the decency and generosity of our people.

          I never expected such help. Just imagine every set of stairs demands four people to get me up there," he says. Despite all the obstacles, he made it right to the heart of Russia. 

          Many people along the way told him: "Go to the Kremlin, tell them how we live", but Alexander is not the complaining kind. He strongly believes that no matter what the odds, everyone's destiny is in their own hands.

Employers' Disability Network

         The Employers' Disability Network is a group of employers dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities get the same opportunities in life as the rest of us and, in particular, have access to jobs and work.

         It provides resources, concepts and ideas to explore and implement strategies in making workplaces an equal opportunity environment.

Social Security & Health Benefits in Portugal

             Social Security benefits only apply to Portuguese nationals, qualifying European Union nationals, and those legally resident in Portugal as well as their spouses and dependents. 

            Citizens of other countries should seek advice from their Embassy or Consulate regarding obtaining private insurance.

• Comprehensive information in English from the European Commission: Click here (PDF)

The social security system has three basic schemes:

1. A contributory scheme for employed individuals and their families (for sickness, birth/adoption, disability, retirement, unemployment, death, work-related accidents or illness)
2. A contributory scheme for self-employed individuals (for birth/adoption, disability, retirement, death; optional coverage for family as well as illness and work-related illness)
3. A non-contributory scheme for those who do not meet the minimum income requirements to belong to either of the first two schemes (for disability, retirement, death and family)

           All individuals registered for social security coverage are also covered for healthcare in Portugal. All healthcare benefits are administered by the Ministry of Health (Ministério de Saúde) 

          while social security benefits (pensions, disability, maternity/paternity benefit, etc.) are administered by the Social Security Institute (Instituto da Solidariedade e da Segurança Social).

• Ministério de Saúde (Ministry of Health) At: Alameda D. Afonso Henriques, 45, 1049-005 Lisbon Tel: 218 430 500 Fax: 218 430 530 Helpline 24/7: 808 242 424 e-mail
• Instituto da Solidariedade e da Segurança Social (Social Security Institute)
  At: Rua Rosa Araújo, nº 43, 1250-194 Lisbon
  Tel: 808 266 266 / 218 425 700
  Fax: 272 240 900 e-mail or email
• The Social Security website has information in English: Click here

           Contributions are made by both employer and employee. Employer contributions cover work-related accidents and occupational illness.

          The Portuguese government pays for healthcare coverage while the employee pays for other benefits including maternity, old-age pensions and disability.

Learning to Drive: Disabled People

          Learning to drive for disabled people, learning to drive is mostly exactly the same as it is for everyone else, with a few extra considerations. 

          In your daily life, depending on the severity and nature of your disability, you are used to facing challenges: this is one more, 

          and one which will bring you such pleasure as you experience the joy of the open road – as all our successful drivers do – but perhaps our a slightly greater appreciation of the independence being a driver brings.

          Don’t be put off by the idea because it seems too difficult: millions of disabled people are learning to drive and have passed the tests.

          There is plenty of help out there from disability organisations and the Government. Get as much advice as you can, talk to healthcare professionals about your abilities and they will put you in touch with disabled organisations.

for more details visit britannia driving school

services provided by uk government to diabled people

Help with finding work

            You can get help to gain new skills, find a job or stay in work from a range of organisations. These include Jobcentres, careers services and voluntary organisations.

Job centres

           Job centre Plus is responsible for the national network of Jobcentres. These give skilled advice at every stage of your search for a job. They will also make sure you know which benefits or allowances you are entitled to claim.
 
         They can also support you if you are concerned about the impact of your disability on your existing job.   Your local Jobcentre can help and advise you regardless of your situation. 

         They can also help and advise you if you've not had any work experience or not worked for a long time.

Disability Employment Advisers

         You and your Jobcentre Plus adviser may decide that getting further specialist advice would be helpful for you. They can arrange for you to have an interview with a Disability Employment Adviser (DEA).

         The Disability Employment Adviser will find out about your abilities and the sort of job that would suit you. Then they draw up a plan of action with you to help you get closer to or into work.

• Disability Employment Advisers

Education training and employment for disabled persons in australia

          To know the services and supports that may be useful as you explore your work options and take steps towards gaining employment in australia. 

         You can go straight to the information about disability employment services and supports or you may wish to first think about why people work and the type of work you would like to do.

          Information also included steps to take when looking for work and information for employers and colleagues of people with disability, injury or illness.

• Why do people work?
• What type of work you would like to do?
• Disability employment services and supports
• Steps to take when looking for work
• Your employment and rights at work
• For employers and colleagues

National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped

National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped established in the year 1984 at Manovikasnagar, Secunderabad (AP) is an Autonomous Body under the administrative control of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, 
       Government of India and thus the institute is fast approaching towards its silver jubilee to celebrate its dedicated services to persons with mental retardation in the national interest. 

         NIMH has three regional centers located at New Delhi, Kolkata, & Mumbai, NIMH Model Special Education Center located at New Delhi.

          The institute endeavors to excel in building capacities to empower persons with mental retardation.  Since the quality of life of every person with mental retardation is equal to other citizens in the country, 

           in that they live independently to the maximum extent possible and through constant professional endeavors, 

           National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped empowers the persons with mental retardation to access the state of the art rehabilitation intervention viz., 

         educational, therapeutic, vocational, employment, leisure and social activities, sports, cultural programmes and full participation.

National Institute for the Orthopaedically Handicapped :India

National Institute for the Orthopaediaclly Handicapped is an apex organization in the area of locomotor disability Orthopaedically Handicapped) 

         which came into the nations’ service since 1978 as an autonomous body under the ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. It is located in the city Kolkata and expanding its services whole countrywide.

Benefits Planner: Number Of Credits Needed For Disability Benefits

          The number of work credits needed for disability benefits depends on your age when you become disabled. Generally you need 40 credits, 20 of which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you become disabled. 

         However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.

The rules are as follows:

• Before age 24--You may qualify if you have 6 credits earned in the 3-year period ending when your disability starts.
• Age 24 to 31--You may qualify if you have credit for working half the time between age 21 and the time you become disabled. For example, if you become disabled at age 27, you would need credit for 3 years of work (12 credits) out of the past 6 years (between ages 21 and 27).
• Age 31 or older--In general, you need to have the number of work credits shown in the chart below.
  Unless you are blind , you must have earned at least 20 of the credits in the 10 years immediately before you became disabled.

  Born after 1929, Became Disabled At Age:	Number of Credits You Need:
  31 through 42	20
  44	22
  46	24
  48	26
  50	28
  52	30
  54	32
  56	34
  58	36
  60	38
  62 or older	40

You can find additional information about disability benefits in our Disability Planner. 

Click on the following topics for more information about Social Security credits:

• How Credits Are Earned;
• Number Of Credits Needed For Retirement Benefits; and
• Number Of Credits Needed For Survivors Benefits

Apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

        How do I apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability and blind benefits?

To apply for SSI disability and blind benefits:

• Complete the online Adult Disability Report or the Child Disability Report; and
• Schedule an appointment to complete the application for SSI. 

           To schedule an appointment  with your local office, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.  

           Please have your Social Security number available when you call.

Note: 

          Only the Disability Report can be completed online.  You will need to  to complete the application for your SSI claim with your local office. 

Video Presentation on Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits Online

           This webinar describes how to apply for Social Security disability benefits online. The presentation includes information about who can apply online, 

          the Adult Disability Checklist, the Adult Disability Report and other documentation that must be submitted along with your application for benefits. 

          For answers to other questions read Applying Online for Disability Benefits Webinar Q & A.

Disability Planner: Social Security Protection If You Become Disabled

            Disability is a subject you may read about in the newspaper, but not think of as something that might actually happen to you. 

            But your chances of becoming disabled are probably greater than you realize.Studies show that a 20-year-old worker has a 3-in-10 chance of becoming disabled before reaching retirement age.

            While we spend a great deal of time working to succeed in our jobs and careers, few of us think about ensuring that we have a safety net to fall back on should we become disabled. 

            This is an area where Social Security can provide valuable help to you.

The disability planner will help you find out:

• How you can qualify and apply for benefits,
• What happens if your application is approved,
• Who can receive benefits on your earnings record,
• What you need to know about receiving disability benefits, and
• When Medicare coverage starts for Social Security disability beneficiaries.

Bridgend Coalition of Disabled People tell travel firms of daily problems

          Disabled people will tell the meeting about the difficulties they have faced using bus, trains and taxis

Disabled people are to air grievances about their difficulties using public transport at a meeting attended by bus, rail and taxi chiefs.

           Bridgend Coalition of Disabled People (BCDP) said its members faced the daily travel problems highlighted by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.

           The Paralympic gold medallist, who has spina bifida, said she had to crawl off a train at King's Cross in London. BCDP's Simon Green said: "That happens to people on an everyday basis."

           Friday's meeting comes as four young disabled people continue a journey around Wales on public transport to mark 40 years of the charity Disability Wales. 

           The group, which set off from Haverfordwest, aim to highlight problems faced on buses and trains.

           BCDP chairman Mr Green said he received a constant stream of phone calls and emails from disabled people recounting the trouble they had faced using or trying to use public transport.

           He said: "I use buses daily and train two or three days a week and I've lost count of the number of times I've been left on a train or a bus has not pulled up in the right place.

           "Passengers have sworn at me because there's been a bike or luggage in a wheelchair space and I've asked them to move it."

            The letters he has received after making a complaint have "not really solved the issue".

            'Mystery shopper' Representatives of First Cymru Buses, Arriva Trains Wales and local taxi firms are due to speak at the meeting at Bethlehem Life Centre in Cefn Cribwr, Bridgend, on Friday.

            Mr Green said around 50 people with a variety of disabilities were expected to attend the event to tell the panel about the problems they had faced using public transport.

            Cardiff-born Baroness Grey-Thompson, an 11-time Paralympian gold medallist who is a regular commuter to London from north-east England, said: "Lots of disabled people are made to feel second class on our public transport system.

           "Disabled people don't want special treatment, we just want to share the same experience as anybody else using the buses or trains."

           Bus firm First Group said it had developed a mystery shopper form with disabled people in mind to capture both their good and bad experiences and had also held focus groups with blind and partially sighted people in Bristol.

          A spokeswoman said: "We're aware that people want to see low-floor buses and we are working towards that."

          Arriva Trains Wales commercial director Mike Bagshaw said: "We regularly meet with groups such as Bridgend Coalition of Disabled People and we hope that by meeting and discussing the challenges associated with access and disabilities,

          that we will further develop our understanding of the experience of disabled people using public transport in Wales. 

"We hope their feedback will allow us to further improve access for those with specific requirements around travel."

Born for encouragement

Premiere Speakers Bureau: Exclusively Representing the World's Most Compelling Speakers Nick Vujicic, Speaker Living a Motivational Life, Life Without Limbs We all take many things for granted and easily lose perspective of what is really important in our lives. Nick was born without arms or legs. He has had to learn to adapt to this, and has achieved the seemingly impossible. In recent years, he has learnt to become independent and can now take care of all of his personal needs. He can do everything from brushing his teeth, combing his hair, clothing, taking care of personal hygiene and even shaving. He moves around the house by jumpin' around and, outside the house, he has an electric wheelchair. He loves to swim, fish and play soccer. He graduated from college with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Financial Planning and Accounting. He trades stock options in addition to brokering real estate. Nick has brought back that refreshing positive focus to many employees of companies who value the importance of keeping their team motivated. He has spoken at annual conferences and at business-related seminars. Nick shares how there were several times when life would seem hopeless and not worth living for. He takes the audience on an emotional and captivating journey that lets them experience a taste of the adversity Nick faced. The key turning points in his attitude from depression to joy are truly inspirational. He reveals the secret of how to unleash the limits on their goals and dreams and imparts strength to never give up.            Premiere Speakers Bureau: Exclusively Representing the World's Most Compelling Speakers Nick Vujicic, Speaker Living a Motivational Life, Life Without Limbs Premiere Speakers Bureau: Exclusively Representing the World's Most Compelling Speakers Nick Vujicic, Speaker Living a Motivational Life, Life Without Limbs We all take many things for granted and easily lose perspective of what is really important in our lives. Nick was born without arms or legs. He has had to learn to adapt to this, and has achieved the seemingly impossible. In recent years, he has learnt to become independent and can now take care of all of his personal needs. He can do everything from brushing his teeth, combing his hair, clothing, taking care of personal hygiene and even shaving. He moves around the house by jumpin' around and, outside the house, he has an electric wheelchair. He loves to swim, fish and play soccer. He graduated from college with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Financial Planning and Accounting. He trades stock options in addition to brokering real estate. Nick has brought back that refreshing positive focus to many employees of companies who value the importance ...all »

          We all take many things for granted and easily lose perspective of what is really important in our lives. Nick was born without arms or legs. 

          He has had to learn to adapt to this, and has achieved the seemingly impossible. In recent years, he has learnt to become independent and can now take care of all of his personal needs. 

          He can do everything from brushing his teeth, combing his hair, clothing, taking care of personal hygiene and even shaving. 

         He moves around the house by jumpin' around and, outside the house, he has an electric wheelchair.   He loves to swim, fish and play soccer. He graduated from college with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Financial Planning and Accounting. 

          He trades stock options in addition to brokering real estate. Nick has brought back that refreshing positive focus to many employees of companies who value the importance of keeping their team motivated.

           He has spoken at annual conferences and at business-related seminars. Nick shares how there were several times when life would seem hopeless and not worth living for. 

            He takes the audience on an emotional and captivating journey that lets them experience a taste of the adversity Nick faced. 

           The key turning points in his attitude from depression to joy are truly inspirational. He reveals the secret of how to unleash the limits on their goals and dreams and imparts strength to never give up