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Rica News November 2017
Door handle - inclusive design
Rica's 'Gem of the Month' is our latest guest blog post about developing an inclusive product. The question  'How can I use a door handle if I can't grab it?' inspired student Connor to create his Unity handle using inclusive design principles. Read Connor's blog post below.
Christmas Prize Draw - join RicaWatch
Baubles
We're extending our Christmas prize draw so that anyone who joins the RicaWatch panel or updates their details between now and 1 December will automatically be entered into our prize draw with a chance to win shopping vouchers: 
  • First prize - £100
  • Second prize - £50
  • Third prize - £25
The prize draw closes Friday, 1 December, 2017, at 5pm.
To join or update your details over the phone, ring Ed on 020 7427 2463 on Tuesdays or Thursdays between 2pm and 5pm. Or for more info, email Ed at [email protected]

Sign up to RicaWatch to enter our Christmas prize draw below!
Connected tech - is it any good?
Hive sensor and guide dog
Our recent snapshot research looked at whether connected products - Apple Watch, the Amazon Echo and some Hive home automation products - can help older and disabled people live more independently.  
Three RicaWatch panel members who felt comfortable using technology  were given each of these products for a ten-day period to see how they could be of use. Find out what they discovered below.
Other news
TV subtitles, signing and audio description
Communications Consumer Panel logo
The Communications Consumer Panel (the independent policy advisory body for consumers and telecommunications and broadcasting) has a new report on access services. The report looks at the availability, awareness and use of access services, including TV subtitling, signing and audio description in the UK.
Find out more below.
UK survey finds hostility to disabled people
The charity Leonard Cheshire Disability has revealed the results of a UK-wide survey of disabled adults aged over 18 which shows:
  • one in five (18%) disabled adults who have been a victim of crime say it was motivated by their disability
  • around 1 in 3 (30%) disabled people say they have experienced hostility because of their disability
  • a similar proportion (31%) of disabled people say concern about hostile behaviour has prevented them going out in their local area
The Home Office has also recently published the latest annual figures for hate crime reported to police forces in England and Wales.  Find out more below.
Disability hate crime - help and advice
If someone has been violent or hostile towards you because you're disabled, you have been the victim of a hate incident. Disability hate incidents can happen anywhere. Sometimes you may know the person who attacked you; sometimes hate incidents are carried out by strangers. Find out more and where to go to report any incidents you find upsetting at Disability Rights UK below.
Adult social work survey in England
4 young women smiling from an adults' social friends group
The Adult Social Work Priority Setting Partnership wants to find out what research is needed to improve social work with adults in England. Their survey is for people who've had contact with adult social work services:
  • If you're an adult (aged 18 or over) and you have a social worker or you've been in contact with social workers
  • Or if you're a family member or informal carer (including young carers) of the above
Find out more below.
Mobility Roadshow to close
The Mobility Roadshow is closing after 34 years, due to falling exhibitor numbers. The growth of the Motability One Big Day and other events have had a significant impact. There are talks going on between Mobility Choice, which has run the Roadshow; Driving Mobility,  the charity that represents the UK's mobility centres; and Disability Driving Instructors. They're looking at continuing Get Going Live! events, which provide driving opportunities for young and newly disabled people. Find out more below.
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