A small group of BuDS volunteers who are passionate about neurodiversity and learning disability issues came up with some ideas of what we could do to mark Learning Disability week this year. In the end, it was agreed that we would visit a couple of local services to showcase what they offer to people with a learning disability. The purpose of our visits was to find out what the services had to offer before the Covid-19 pandemic began, what happened during the early days of the pandemic, and how the service has evolved and changed since. Below is the first of our reports.
Read MoreArticles in Our Work
Articles in Neurodiversity and Learning Disability
- Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 12 April 2026
- Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 5 April 2026
- Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 29 March 2026
- Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 22 March 2026
- Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 15 March 2026
- Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 1 March 2026
- Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 22 February 2026
- Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 18 February 2026
- Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 11 February 2026
- Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 1 February 2026
- Bird Flu
- BucksWorkability
- BuDDies
- Card Only Payments
- Comms and Social Media
- Covid-19
- Enquiries
- Fair4All Attitudes and Hate Crimes
- Fair4All Card
- Fair4All Education
- Fair4All Events
- Fair4All Public Spaces
- Fair4All Services
- Fair4All Visitors
- Neurodiversity and Learning Disability
- Offers and Discounts
- Reach4Work
June Update – IAG Enquiries
So far this month, our small team have helped with 11 queries that have come in. Some are still on going due to the complexity of the issue.
The queries vary from accessibility issues that the public have raised to us, help with disability case law and assistance in dealing with work issues that fall under the Equality Act 2010.
If we can’t answer ourselves, we will always signpost you to a local or national service we know will be able to help you.
We are in need of volunteers to support this service, if you have knowledge of disability laws, housing, accessibility or benefits, we could use your support. Please email volunteering@buds.org.uk
School Checklist for Parents and Carers
Do you have a child who has special educational needs or an EHCP? The BuDS Fair4All Education team have put together a list of questions which parents and carers may find useful when visiting schools to decide which one is best for your child.
Read MoreWhizzFizzFest 2022
BuDS’ Fair4All Events project is helping Buckinghamshire Council to make WhizzFizzFest 2022 more accessible and inclusive for disabled people. Read on to learn more.
Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 27 June 2022
The THIRD wave of 2022 continues to impact Bucks. Although cases have remained roughly the same, the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 has SOARED, and the risk level remains EXTREMELY HIGH. You need to continue or start being Covid-Careful.
The new variants of the Covid virus making up this third wave have evolved to avoid any immunity you may have from vaccination or having caught Covid-19 before. Even if you are fully vaccinated, or have had Covid-19 before, you are still vulnerable to catching it again. Every time you catch Covid-19 increases your chances of being very ill or developing Long Covid, so it is IMPORTANT to protect yourself now, even if you haven’t been Covid-Careful up until now.
Our advice is to wear a FFP2 or N95 filter mask in public places, breathe clean air, avoid crowds and busy places, work from home if you can, and protect your older and vulnerable relatives and friends. These simple precautions may save you and your family from serious illness or possibly long-term disability.
Read MorePreparing To Transition To University
Written by Cary Hobbs
Disclaimer: this is a personal blog by a BuDS member. The views expressed are personal and don’t necessarily represent those of BuDS or our Trustees.
“Making the change from sixth form or college to university can be quite daunting, especially as it is often the first time you’re moving away from home.
I’ve done first year twice, doing two different courses at two different universities so I’ve got a lot of experience of what did and didn’t work for me when I went to university as an autistic student. Here are my five top tips for things you can do now to start preparing to transition to university.
Read MoreVideo Transcript 20th June 2022
The video version of our latest weekly Covid-19 update can be found below with an attached transcript suitable for screen readers.
WORRYING news, as Bucks sees a massive 44% increase in Covid-19 infections in only a week. The next wave of Covid-19 is arriving much quicker than expected, and BuDS has raised the risk level back up to EXTREMELY HIGH. 1 in every 39 people in Bucks had Covid-19 as of 11 June, and the risk is almost certainly even higher today.
This video and transcript explain the full risk post for the week ending 20th June which can be read here: https://buds.org.uk/covid-19-risk-assessment-week-ending-20-june-2022/
Read MoreDPO Conference 2022
On Friday 24 June 2022, BuDS addressed the inaugural DPO (Disabled People’s Organisations) Annual Conference about the Covid-19 pandemic and its implications for DPOs. The conference was online, open to all, free of charge, and accessible for all disabled people, with subtitling, BSL interpretation, and other access features.
You will need to read the speaking notes alongside the PowerPoint presentation slides. We are working on producing an integrated presentation, which will be easier to use. If you need material in another format, or support accessing it, please contact us.
Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 20 June 2022
WORRYING news, as Bucks sees a massive 44% increase in Covid-19 infections in only a week. The next wave of Covid-19 is arriving much quicker than expected, and BuDS has raised the risk level back up to EXTREMELY HIGH. 1 in every 39 people in Bucks had Covid-19 as of 11 June, and the risk is almost certainly even higher today.
Even if you have had Covid-19 recently, you can still catch it again. Having had Covid-19 before is only weak protection against the new variants making up this wave. Even vaccination will not prevent you from being seriously ill at home if you catch one of these new variants. Unless you want to take the gamble of being infected or reinfected with Covid-19, you need to start being Covid-Cautious.
Our advice is to wear a FFP2 or N95 filter mask in public places, breathe clean air, avoid crowds and busy places, work from home if you can, and protect your older and vulnerable relatives and friends. These simple precautions may save you and your family from serious illness or possibly long-term disability.
Read MoreCovid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 13 June 2022
Last week, we reported the end of Omicron BA.2 wave that has caused so much illness and death in the UK in May. This week, we are sadly reporting the START of the NEXT WAVE, made up of new Omicron variants including BA.5.
The number of infected people is now going up all over the UK. Here in Bucks, we now have 1 in every 61 people infected with Covid-19. This means the risk of catching Covid when out and about in Bucks continues to be VERY HIGH.
With cases on the upturn, BuDS urges everyone to be Covid-Cautious and keep taking sensible precautions against catching Covid-19. To repeat: the chances of coming across a person with Covid in your everyday life is VERY HIGH. Wear a FFP2 or N95 filter mask in public places, breathe clean air, avoid crowds and busy places, work from home if you can, and protect your older and vulnerable relatives and friends. BuDS will continue to update you every week.
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