DYSPRAXIA FOUNDATION

GENERAL COUNCIL MEEETING

1 FEBRUARY 2003

LOCAL GROUP REPORT

MANCHESTER ADULT GROUP

Prepared by Janet Taylor � Adult Co-ordinator - Manchester

This year has been a very eventful year I have been studying on the Diploma in Community and Youth Work studies, Part- time at Manchester University in order to improve my skills as an Adult group Co-ordinator and I will be ready for Level 2 by the Easter Term.

Over the past year The Adult support group and myself have done the following group networking and dyspraxia awareness activities.

Group work

One to one work with individual group members

Group support meetings every 2months

Social events for all

Bowling twice

Sunday Lunch at the Hogshead Pub twice

Woman�s social during international women�s week on March 8^th 02

4 Nights out for younger Members 18-25 at Local theme Bars in Manchester then at the Ritz Night-Club.

Sarah Whitely volunteered to be the Young person�s representative to help befriending younger members.

Day trip to Blackpool Subsidised from group funds.

Christmas social at Square Albert followed by clubbing at the Ritz for younger Adults. (meal subsidised from group funds)

A separate parent�s support group was established in December that is Facilitated by Angela Merric (parent) in a separate room from the Adults meeting. To allow younger adults to mix with other group members of their own age and to give Parents support in allowing their adult offspring to achieve more independence according to their individual needs and to get to know each other and arrange social events for parents.

Networking and Dyspraxia awareness

Dyspraxia awareness displays at Manchester town hall for women�s week, Education week. And Volunteers week at Manchester Town hall as well as displays at Salford�s Health Fair and at other venues.

Challenged Salford CVS�s Application forms and interview selection procedures under the Disability discrimination act .I have been asked to do some consultancy work with them to improve their practice in January.

Networked at Equalities Conference, Woman�s Voices Conference, Coalition of disabled people, Salford Disability Forum, Manchester University Youth, and Community Work department.

I have also done dyspraxia awareness presentations/workshops at Conferences and other events-:

Darwin Dyspraxia and social inclusion conference

Dyslexia Conference in Lancaster

Angel Healthy living initiative open day

Dyspraxia Foundation and related Conferences

I won a millennium award to organise the Dyspraxia Awareness Conference in Adulthood Conference at The GMB College in Manchester on June 24^th. 90 people attended including staff from voluntary and statutory services, parents of all age groups of people living with dyspraxia, Adult�s Living with dyspraxia, and people from diverse cultures.

I did a presentation on my experiences of living with dyspraxia at the Northwest Adult�s Conference in York. And a last minute Co-facilitation with Dorothy Penso on Sharing coping strategies. There had been a misunderstanding by Gill Dixon about the date of the Conference.

At The Southern Adults Conference I facilitated a discussion about making a Video on dyspraxia in Adulthood and a workshop for Co-ordinators and Adult contacts to give training and mutual support.

Video Funding

Although I was short listed for additional funding from the EEC Year of the disabled funds for a national video project on Adult dyspraxia made by adult�s living with dyspraxia I was unsuccessful.   Possibly because �50,000 was too much to ask for.

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