Kingston Disability Network

Tag: KDN

  • Survey – Shape Disability Rights UK’s Work

    The following is shared on behalf of Disability Rights UK.

    Disability Rights UK is launching a nationwide conversation to understand what truly matters to Disabled people today.    

    With 16.7 million Disabled people in the UK – representing 25%, or one in four of the population – your lived experience, insight and priorities are essential in shaping the future direction of our organisation.  

    We are in the process of developing our next five-year strategy. As a Disabled People’s Organisation, led by and for Disabled people, we want to make sure it reflects your insight, experience and ambition for the organisation. Our current goals were created in a very different political and social climate. We believe that the world, and the landscape for Disabled people, has changed significantly since then. 

    This is our chance to step back, listen to each other, and shape where we go next. 

    We don’t want this to be a tick-box exercise: we want a real conversation. Every voice matters. While not every suggestion will become a formal goal, they will inform and guide our direction and priorities over the coming years. 

    To share your thoughts, please respond to the survey:

    Standard link – Disability Rights UK strategy survey

    EasyRead link – Disability Rights UK Easy Read strategy survey

    BSL link – Disability Rights UK strategy survey BSL version

  • KDN AMM – June 4th 2026

    (Please note – this article will be updated as details are confirmed)

    Please join us for our next All Member Meeting.

    Where? TBA

    When? Thursday, 4th June

    What time? 11AM-1:30PM

    Who can attend? Anyone – but please ensure you sign up via our sign-up form so we can keep you updated.

    How to get there? TBA

    Who are the guests? TBA

    We look forward to seeing members!

  • Notes from the LIME Disability Advisory Board, 30th April 2026

    The LIME Disability Advisory Board, which is a national board, was attended by Acting Chair Ashley Pearce, Secretary Keegan Hillier, and Steering Group member for Healthwatch Kingston, Karen Dempster.

    We heard about the design of new and improved bikes. These will be an improvement thanks to:
    • A lighter and smaller design, developed with women, older people, and disabled people in mind, making them easier to use.
    • Greater GPS precision – meaning LIME can identify when bikes are parked on pavements or in other obstructive spaces.
    • Clearer improvements to the app, to explain to cyclists where they can and can’t walk.
    We asked about the steps being taken to improve cycling safety. They are, currently, as follows:
    • LIME do pop-ups with the police, educating cyclists on the dangers of unsafe cycling. They also assure us they ban thousands of offending cyclists a year, but know they need to do more.
    • LIME are able to track down LIME bike cyclists who are cycling on pavements or unsafely, even when the person reporting is visually impaired and cannot track down specific details. To do this, you need to note the date, time and location of the incident, and report this to LIME, who can then use their tracking to identify the offender.
    • Whilst LIME are yet to take a firm stance against ‘floating bus stops’, our contact Leanne shares her own struggles as a non-disabled cyclist with these set-ups. We will be sharing the National Federation of the Blind’s campaign with LIME for them to look into.
    LIME let us know some details about their ‘share the joy’ fund, in collaboration with the National Cycling Campaign.
    • This provides grants to increase cycling in underrepresented groups – improving health and wellbeing, accessibility and inclusion, or skills and connectivity. They have supported groups like those who help disabled people learn to cycle and helping people cycle with trikes.
    • The fund opens twice a year. The next opening will be in September-October time. If you know of any groups that would be interested, please direct them to the LIME team for more detail.
    LIME plans to put access at the forefront for Global Accessibility Awareness Day, which falls on the 21st May:
    • The app will display a banner for all users reminding them to keep accessibility in mind when cycling and leaving bicycles.
    • They will hold an in-person event in Hackney, one of the boroughs with the highest LIME bike usage. We have been invited to attend, so one of the Executive Committee will attend and report back.

  • Inclusion London Event – What Next for Independent Living?

    Secretary Keegan Hillier attended the Inclusion London event, What next for Independent Living?, on Thursday 16th April. The event took place in person at the Coin Street Community Centre in Central London.

    The focus of the day was on understanding the movement out of institutions and imprisonment, and ensuring that disabled people remain able to choose and have a say in their care and living situations.

    A photo of attendees from the Inclusion London Event. There is a diverse group of around 30 people, all smiling at the camera.

    As the photo shows, there was a wide range of people from across the capital, with some coming in from even further afield. We hope to invite some of the contacts made to future All Members Meetings to share how schemes from other areas can be applied to and improve accessibility and disability understanding in Kingston upon Thames.

    Keegan’s Key Takeaways from the day were;

    • The Independent Living movement is surprisingly new – the movement began in the late 1960s in America.
      • The UK version was kicked off by John Evans, among other prisoners of institutions, leading up to Project 81, with the UN International Year of Disabled People, 1981, being their target for freedom.
    • In the 1980s, Centres for Independent Living (CILs) and Deaf and Disabled Peoples Organisations (DDPOs) created, and practiced, the concept of self-directed support.
      • This was a radical change at the time, challenging the medical and charitable models of disability in favour of the social model.
      • This was where the move to describing people as Personal Assistants (PAs) over Carers came in, as they assisted with living life.
    • It took until 2007 for the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People. This was ratified by the UK government in 2010.
    • Intersectionality was essential, especially in the early days of the Independent Living movement.
      • Panelists explained how the Black Panthers movement in America were very supportive of the ‘Crip Camps’ and other disability organisations and movements that went on in their country. The panelists also raised how women were particularly important in supporting the work of Independent Living activists, especially in its early days.
    • Reflections on what more needs to be done included;
      • Revisions to personal budgets, to allow for greater freedom to provide what disabled people need.
      • Tackling misconceptions of what ‘independence’ means, as what is viewed as independence to able-bodied people is often very different to what is true independence for disabled people.
      • Continuing to speak up when policy and systems are not working. This includes, but is not limited to, advocacy for greater funding into social care, or pushing for more accessible and adaptable affordable and social housing.

    Inclusion London regularly runs campaigns, and events, working to improve accessibility and unite disabled people across London. You can see their current campaigns at the following link – https://www.inclusionlondon.org.uk/campaigns-and-policy/

  • The Fairfield review wants to hear your experiences of the Met Police

    The following is shared on behalf of Inclusion London:

    The Fairfield Independent Review is looking into what the Met Police have done to regain public trust since the Casey Review found serious failings, including shocking ableism from the police. 

    The review wants to hear about your experiences of the Met Police, positive or negative.

    There are three ways to give your views:

    Please also see the article from Inclusion London for more information – https://www.inclusionlondon.org.uk/news/the-fairfield-review-wants-to-hear-your-experiences-of-the-met-police/

  • KAB 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM)

    The following is shared on behalf of Kingston Association for the Blind

    KAB 2026 Annual General Meeting 

    Notice is hereby given that the 2026 KAB Annual General Meeting will be held at the Kingston Quaker Center on Thursday, 28th May 2026 at 11am. 

    The meeting will be followed by a free lunch and a chance to catch up with friends, chat, and mingle in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. 

    Important Information: 
    Official AGM materials, including your invitation and proxy form, will be sent out by email and post during the week commencing Monday, 13th April 2026. Please keep an eye on your inbox or letterbox. The AGM information will also be available on our website. 

    If you are unable to attend, we kindly ask that you complete and return the proxy form, as this helps us reach the quorum needed for the meeting to go ahead. Alternatively, you can phone the office.  (Note for KDN members – if you are not signed up to KAB emails, you will need to contact them directly to receive these)
     

    Special Guest Speakers: 

    We are delighted to welcome two guest speakers to this year’s AGM: 

    George Phillips, Trustee and Chess Champion 
    George is passionate about bringing chess to visually impaired people. He will speak about how the game can be made accessible to everyone and explain how visually impaired players enjoy and play chess through a range of adaptations. George’s story, along with his commitment to making chess more inclusive, is truly inspiring. 

    Sanja Djeric Kane, CEO, Kingston Voluntary Action (KVA) 
    Sanja will share an overview of KVA’s work and outline the ways in which our members may be able to benefit from their services. We are very pleased to have Sanja join us at this year’s AGM. 

    We hope you will join us for what promises to be an informative, enjoyable, and inspiring event.