Maidenhead & Windsor

Changing attitudes to disability will be under the spotlight when service users, carers and health professionals gather at a conference in Maidenhead in March.

The 'It's Your Life, So Live It!' conference, being organised by the Maidenhead Royal Borough and Berkshire East PCT's partnership board for physically and sensory impaired adults, will be held in the Desborough Suite at the Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead SL6 1RF on Tuesday March 27 from 10am to 3pm.

The conference is free and will be of benefit to service users, carers, practitioners, managers and policy makers in healthcare, social care staff and the voluntary and community sector.

Under discussion will be the social model of disability – which contends that a disability is only a disability when physical or social barriers prevent a person from participating in everyday life – and its impact within the Maidenhead borough. There will be the opportunity for participants to have their say on how services should be developed.

Information will also be given on the role of various organisations in delivering and providing services, plus there will be interactive workshops and the opportunity for professionals and service users to network and discuss multi-agency working.

Cllr Pam Proctor, lead member for Maidenhead adult services, said: "People with disabilities need to be able to fully take part in all aspects of society and the borough regularly consults with those involved to create an environment that allows them to do so.

"This conference provides an ideal venue for all interested parties to find out what developments are taking place and to have their say on how they will develop in the future."

Carolyn Finlay, Berkshire East PCT's assistant director for Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead locality, said: "This is the third event we have held to plan improvements to services available to those with a disability. They are an extremely useful way of helping us to plan and develop integrated services and the conference in March will build on this work. It will also be a valuable forum where service users, carers and key professionals can exchange information and advice."

To book, call Louise Gray or Michaela Helman on 01628 683709, e-mail louise.gray@rbwm.gov.uk or michaela.helman@rbwm.gov.uk, or write to Louise or Michaela at Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, Learning & Care, York House, Sheet Street, Windsor SL4 1DD.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead