Getting it Right - Isobel's Story

When I was working with adults with learning disabilities, my job was to help them live as independently as they possibly could.  It was work I enjoyed and found very fulfilling.  I had to stop working however, because of increasing mobility problems and shortly afterwards I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  Suddenly, I found my role reversed and I had to find out how I could live as independently as possible. 

At this stage it was hard enough coming to terms with the emotional and personal implications of being physically disabled without having the added difficulty of acquiring and assimilating the information that would help me, and there was a great deal of it. 

However, I was lucky that I had a network of family and friends who could find out what I needed and the agencies who could help me.  It soon became apparent to me that a disabled person living on their own would find it very difficult and frustrating to access the information about the help that was available to them. 

'Go for It!'

With the financial help of the Social Work Services department and others, I was able to put together all the information I had acquired about benefits and the services provided by Health and other organisations.  I also made a directory of accessible places in the Borders - restaurants, hotels and toilets – that could enable wheelchair users to go out and about with confidence.  These were the Go For it! packs which were widely distributed and proved to be very successful.

'Get it Right'

The Disability Discrimination Act has undoubtedly improved the lives of disabled people, particularly with regard to accessing buildings.  Also, Building Regulations have changed over the years, reflecting a greater awareness of the needs of physically disabled people.  However, many toilets have not been upgraded and remain unusable for many disabled people. 

The Get it Right and Getting it Right booklets are there to provide information for both disabled people and providers of disabled toilets.  Providers should have a better understanding of what should be in place and disabled people will know if they are able to use the type of toilet that has been provided.

Where can I get copies of the leaflets?

Get it Right and Getting it Right are available from:

• Communications Team, Social Work Services, Council Headquarters, Newtown St Boswells TD6 0SA
• Tel: 01835 825080

Go for It! is now out of print but details of many of the organisations mentioned are listed in the Online Borders Directory.