Belfast District Policing Partnership has organised a Christmas Crime Prevention and Safety event on Wednesday, 2^nd December from 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. in the Great Hall, City Hall.

The Belfast District Policing Partnership Chairman, Councillor David Browne explained, “the event has been designed to provide members of the public with practical advice, information and support on a range of crime prevention and safety issues, particularly related to this Christmas season. There will be a formal welcome at 10.00 a.m. and the rest of the morning will follow a marketplace format with a number of organisations providing information exhibits”.

“A number of the exhibitors, including the Police, Fire and Rescue Service, Belfast City Council and voluntary organisations, will have stands with specific crime prevention and safety messages and advice on car crime, domestic burglaries, bogus callers, fire prevention, food and consumer safety, the ‘Get Home Safe’ Campaign and drugs and alcohol advice.

Councillor D. Browne continued, “I would encourage members of the public to attend this event. Due to the events format the public will be able to attend City Hall and view the exhibitions from 10.00 a.m. onwards”.

There is no admittance fee and further information can be obtained by contacting the District Policing Partnership Office on telephone: 9027 0556 or email: dpp@belfastcity.gov.uk

Here’s a summary of Bristol’s progress to date. I hope this will
encourage efforts around the country.
It’s November 2009 and Bristol has taken another step towards being a
20mph City. Earlier this year the City Council proposed two pilot
20mph areas comprising about 8% of the urban area. The initial proposals
excluded roads where the speed limit would really make a difference and
mainly included narrow residential streets where speeds are already low.
Campaigners made strong objections and now the plans that will go
forward to the formal consultation stage of traffic regulation orders
include most of the streets in the two areas, including most of the
streets that exceed 24mph average speed at present.
While arterial roads are still left at 30mph or higher, the proposals
represent a major success for campaigners and set an important precedent
for going beyond the DfT guideline of limiting the change to 20mph to
streets that already have recorded average speeds of 24mph or less.
Political circumstances have brought this about. The initial proposals
were the initiative of the then ruling Labour controlled council. Local
elections brought a change to Lib Dem control and a new executive with
another energetic executive councillor Dr Jon Rogers became the
executive member responsible for transport. Dr Rogers pushed the 20mph
agenda to new limits by supporting and pursuading highway officers to be
less tentative. The 20’s Plenty campaign has had a vital role in
demonstrating public support for the move and making it clear we wanted
"Total Twenty".
Campaigning in Bristol does not stop here. The City Council has
expressed its willingness to look at other areas in Bristol for the
20mph treatment. Even before the first 20mph signs go up Campaigners
will have picked up the baton and be pressing for more of Bristol to be
20mph.
Steve Kinsella
20’s Plenty for Bristol

AbilityNet Podcast no 9 now released

The latest Podcast from AbilityNet is released and ready for free download.

• Mike Williams discusses AbilityNet’s AAC project
• Jo Greenwell’s usual tips – this month DSpeech and adjusting the mouse double-click
• Greg Mumford discusses the best of the AbilityNet Youtube channel
• Joe Chidzik’s regular web accessibility news roundup
• David Banes explains AbilityNet’s involvement in the Telecentres Europe project
• Alex Barker’s usual dates for our diaries

Available from http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/podcast/ and iTunes

New Web Access Courses Launched

AbilityNet up-coming winter courses – all in central London:

Understanding and Testing with WCAG2.0 – 11 Dec
Creating Accessible PDFs – 20 Jan
Accessible Flash – 17 Feb
For more information and to book your place today please go to

www.abilitynet.org.uk/webopencourses.

Access IT website updated with winners and best practice nominees

www.access-it-events.org has been fully updated with all the details from septembers awards and the best practice guide of 40+ initiatives on digital inclusion. The website will of course be the place to spot all the latest news in preparation for th 2010 awards.

Access News

IT Can Help are there to help disabled users

IT Can Help is a network of volunteers who are able to offer free local computer assistance to disabled people. We can diagnose and fix most computer related problems; Install and set up hardware, software, internet, email and accessibility settings;

You can contact us by ringing the AbilityNet freephone number (& textphone) – 0800 269545 or email us – enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk

Self-checkout now more accessible with IBM

Some people shop for pleasure and some for necessity only. But everyone shops. For individuals with disabilities shopping can be challenging, and retailers want to provide them with an easy, accessible shopping experience. IBM have been developing a more accessible self checkout system for retail

http://www-01.ibm.com/software/ucd/gallery/selfcheckout_systems.html

RJ Cooper launches accessible Guitar Hero !

With the popularity of Rock Band and Guitar Hero at an all-time high, RJ decided to allow persons with significant physical challenges to play also!

http://rjcooper.com/guitar-hero/

Best of YouTube

Automatic Captions in YouTube Videos

Not a YouTube Video buit the announcement from Google of automatic captioning for 13 You Tube Channels using Automated Speech recognition is wortha look

Announcement at

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/automatic-captions-in-youtube.html

Communicator PC10 – Overview

Communicator PC10 – Windows based speech aid  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xgc87TprPc

Mind Control Device Demonstration – Tan Le

Tan Le, co-founder and president of Emotiv Systems, gives a live demo of a mind control device that uses a person’s thoughts to input computer commands

http://www.youtube.com/user/abilitynet#p/f/17/40L3SGmcPDQ

Tech Closeup: Google TV Raman, Ken Harrenstien

Google engineers work to make technology accessible to all. TV Raman is developing cell phone software on Google’s Android operating system and Ken Harrenstien is developing closed captioning for online videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3V64JarvXs

All of these, and all of our new playlists can be found on the AbilityNet YouTube channel www.youtube.com/abilitynet.

What’s Hot on Twitter @AbilityNet #Accessibility #a11y

A smart CAPTCHA. "What is ten minus eight minus two?" "nothing". OK for http://rebuildingtheweb.com…

A screen users guide. All PDF creators should read this – http://is.gd/4WP5t

Mobile Accessibility — tweets and links http://bit.ly/3m9O3R

Great accessibility awareness video; tech & people with hearing & visual impairments http://tr.im/Fmk2

Special Offers

E-learning

1 year access to AbilityNet elearning – only £35 per user + VAT

New Courses on AAC added this week

Go to www.abilitynettraining.org for details

Stimulate your Team with ICT Innovation Days

Get your team to look ahead and think about how access technology is going to change during the next 5 years – how will access be happening and what will be the impact. These interactive and hands on days are extremely popular in helping with planning and diversity. Contact David Banes at david.banes@abilitynet.org.uk for further details

Request a free HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ accessibility scan

HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ is an enterprise accessibility validation solution that scans your Web site for over 172 separate issues and delivers the results in a powerful online report.

Request your free HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ accessibility check today.

Need an accessibility speaker for event or workshop ?

Let us know if you would like us to try to speak at your events – we can deliver onsite or remotely across video conferencing email david.banes@abilitynet.org.uk for further details

Courses

The Autumn Course programme is released

Accessibility in Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007

Investigating accessibility within the Operating system and Office Applications

More information and booking for Accessibility in Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007 course

Effective Assessment of Problems at Computer Workstations

Helping those involved in workstation assessments respond effectively

More information and booking for Effective Assessment of Problems at Computer Workstations course

Mobile Access Solutions

Exploring the key issues in selecting portable technology

More information and booking for Mobile Access Solutions course

Using ICT to Support People with Dyslexia

Use technology to help those who have reading and writing difficulties

More information and booking for Using ICT to Support People with Dyslexia course

Web 2.0

Demonstrating how to make the most of web 2.0 technologies

More information and booking for Web 2.0 course

Windows 7

Looking at the new accessibility features available in Windows 7

More information and booking for Windows 7 course

And there’s MORE

Stay in Touch with AbilityNet

Come find us at a number of events in the next few weeks…

Access IT 2009

Technology World 09

23rd and 24th Nov, 2009

Venue: Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK

AbilityNet will be on stand 56 come and find us

Across the Web

Join our daily Twitter channel @abilitynet

Join our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/abilitynet

Read our regular Blog www.abilitynet.org.uk/blog

Join GATE The Global Assistive Technology Encyclopedia

Podcast no 9 released

Aavailable for free from www.abilitynet.org.uk/podcast or via iTunes

Same link will take you to the archive of our regular podcasts  

Newsletter tested for mobile browsing

Dont wait for your AbilityNet newsletter – view it on your mobile – every week we test the Newsletter for mobile access – what more could you ask for ?

From: Sean

Dear colleague

As part of our ongoing volunteering programme we have arranged with our partners in Belfast City Council and Conservation Volunteers NI to hold a tree planting event in Dixon Playing Fields as part of National Tree Week. The event will take place on 28 November 2009, from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm and follows on from last weekend’s bulb planting in Victoria Park which was both hugely successful and enjoyable with over 2,500 bluebell and snowdrop bulbs planted.

The event in Dixon Playing Fields will hopefully be as much fun and we would like to see as many people there as possible. It is suitable for all ages and abilities and CVNI will be there to provide expert guidance and assistance with planting a range of native trees. I have attached a poster advertising the event and would appreciate it if you could ensure that this poster reaches as wide an audience as possible.

Sean Brannigan

Sean Brannigan

Community Engagement Officer

Connswater Community Greenway Project

274 Newtownards Road

Belfast

Telephone 90467930

www.communitygreenway.co.uk

"You Cant always get what you want" wailed Mick and the Boys, unless what you want is a regular zingy newsletter of all the latest news and information from the world of accessibility and assistive technology. In which case he should have sung "You can get exactly what you want just by subscribing to the weekly AbilityNet Newsletter ooooooh Yeah" Testify MIck, just testify

Newsletter tested for mobile browsing

Dont wait for your AbilityNet newsletter – view it on your mobile – every week we test the Newsletter for mobile access – what more could you ask for ?

Contents

AbilityNet News

Access News

Best Of YouTube

Whats Hot on Twitter

Special Offers

Courses

Staying In Touch

AbilityNet News

AAC Resouces launched online

AbilityNet’s “Exploring AAC” Website Launched

www.abilitynet.org.uk/aac

Please take a look at our web resource and tell us what you think.  Feel free to tell your colleagues and clients.

AbilityNet at Technology World 09

AbilityNet will be attending Technology World 09 at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK. Technology world 09 is the UK’s larest "Speed dating" event for companies with an interest in technology. If you are attending and would like to meet to discuss any aspect of accessible computing email us asap. Contact kareem.monem@abilitynet.org.uk to organise an appointment

YouTube Playlists Updated

Thanks for feedback on the YouTube playlists and how we could make them more useful

New playlists are being compiled as we speak on specific assistive technologies such as Screenreaders and Magnifiers – Find out more at www.youtube.com/abilitynet

History of AT Presentation on Slideshare

David Banes’ take on the "History of AT" presentation from BCS InclusivITy day can be found uploaded at Slideshare at www.slideshare.net/abilitynet

www.slideshare.net/abilitynet

Access News

Visually impaired gamer sues Sony

Hot off the presses of many major gaming and technical news outlets is a story about a visually impaired gamer who is suing Sony online entertainment for game … accessibility as demanded by the Americans with disabilities act (ADA).

Interesting look at the beginnings of the HTML img tag

Why do we have the img element? An interesting glimpse from 1993 when it was first being discussed

Free browsers for vision impairment

Links to 8 browsers designed with vision impaired users in mind, following on from an article on Disaboom

Using NVDA to evaluate web accessibility

Testing web content with a screenreader is essential for highlighting issues that may not be uncovered as part of a standard WCAG2 review. This guide will help you use the open source screenreader, NVDA, to test your website

W3C Cheat sheet

Useful quick access to W3C accessibility tips

Best of YouTube

Google Wave Made Simple

Google has developed a new open source program called "Google Wave." http://wave.google.com Put simply, Google Wave is just like Google Docs for e-mail

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS9AbePnE08

Using Dragon NaturallySpeaking as an assistive technology

Don Oliver has had multiple sclerosis for 40 years and is wheel chair bound. Dragon is a critical part of his every day life. What does he use Dragon for? "I use it for everything."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsZo1p_5-o4

Android Accessibility

This is just a quick video on where we are with accessibility for Android

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaLQt35H_10

All of these, and all of our new playlists can be found on the AbilityNet YouTube channel www.youtube.com/abilitynet.

What’s Hot on Twitter @AbilityNet #Accessibility #a11y

Microsoft says speech is the next touch: http://ow.ly/yY6o

Second Life and #Disability: Interview with University of South Australia’s Denise Wood: http://ow.ly/yYaq

Living with Asperger’s syndrome: http://bit.ly/1dP4L6

How to be a leader with assistive technology http://bit.ly/3kvMK4

Special Offers

E-learning

1 year access to AbilityNet elearning – only £35 per user + VAT

Go to www.abilitynettraining.org for details

Stimulate your Team with ICT Innovation Days

Get your team to look ahead and think about how access technology is going to change during the next 5 years – how will access be happening and what will be the impact. These interactive and hands on days are extremely popular in helping with planning and diversity. Contact David Banes at david.banes@abilitynet.org.uk for further details

Request a free HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ accessibility scan

HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ is an enterprise accessibility validation solution that scans your Web site for over 172 separate issues and delivers the results in a powerful online report.

Request your free HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ accessibility check today.

Need an accessibility speaker for event or workshop ?

Let us know if you would like us to try to speak at your events – we can deliver onsite or remotely across video conferencing email david.banes@abilitynet.org.uk for further details

Courses

The Autumn Course programme is released

Accessibility in Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007

Investigating accessibility within the Operating system and Office Applications

More information and booking for Accessibility in Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007 course

Effective Assessment of Problems at Computer Workstations

Helping those involved in workstation assessments respond effectively

More information and booking for Effective Assessment of Problems at Computer Workstations course

Mobile Access Solutions

Exploring the key issues in selecting portable technology

More information and booking for Mobile Access Solutions course

Using ICT to Support People with Dyslexia

Use technology to help those who have reading and writing difficulties

More information and booking for Using ICT to Support People with Dyslexia course

Web 2.0

Demonstrating how to make the most of web 2.0 technologies

More information and booking for Web 2.0 course

Windows 7

Looking at the new accessibility features available in Windows 7

More information and booking for Windows 7 course

And there’s MORE

Stay in Touch with AbilityNet

Come find us at a number of events in the next few weeks…

Access IT 2009

Technology World 09

23rd and 24th Nov, 2009

Venue: Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK

AbilityNet will be on stand 56 come and find us

Across the Web

Join our daily Twitter channel @abilitynet

Join our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/abilitynet

Read our regular Blog www.abilitynet.org.uk/blog

Join GATE The Global Assistive Technology Encyclopedia

Podcast no 9 close to release

It will soon be available for free from www.abilitynet.org.uk/podcast or via iTunes

The bare facts – the top to bottom of walking statistics

Walking, and high quality street environments, links to so many different policy areas it can be quite hard to separate out the information you’re looking for.

We’ve tried to make it as easy as possible by putting our key facts and stats into different categories, linked to below. If you have any other queries, please contact Anna Powell, Press Officer

Statistics for the new Living Streets Website

• General walking
• Walking and health
• Walking and the environment
• Road safety (including 20mph)
• Walk to school

General walking

Nearly a quarter of people (24%) walk for 20 minutes less than once a year, or never Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005

Twice as many women (15%) walk to work as men (7.3%) Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005

69% of commuting trips are made by car and only 11% are made on foot. Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005

On average, commuting trips by car take 24 minutes, by bus 40 minutes, rail 66 minutes and on foot 17 minutes. Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005

Over 1/5 of trips less than a mile are made by car Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005

A quarter of all shopping trips are made on foot Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005

On average, females make 15% more walking trips than males, making 261 trips a year compared with 228 for males. Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005

Walking and health

A third (33%) of adults say walking for more than 10 minutes is their only form of exercise in a typical month Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005

Walking for just 30 minutes a day during the working week means reaching the Government’s recommended level of daily activity needed to transform your health.

An estimated 70% of adults do not do enough exercise to benefit their health Institute of Sport and Recreation Management, 2006

Only 37% of men and 24% of women in the UK are sufficiently active to gain any health benefits Health Survey for Session 2003–04, Department of Health, 2004

Nearly a quarter of all adults in the UK are obese Department of Health, Health Profile of England, 2007

Walking one mile in 15 minutes burns about the same number of calories as running a mile in eight and a half minutes NHS, Walk your way to health, 207

Walking one mile (1.6km) can burn up at least 100kcal (420kJ) of energy and walking two miles (3.2km) a day, three times a week, can help reduce weight by one pound (0.5kg) every three weeks Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005

By 2050 almost 60% of the UK population could be obese with the economic cost reaching £49.9 billion at today’s prices Government Office of Science, Foresight Tackling Obesities: Future Choices, 2007,

95% of adults agree that walking is a good way to stay healthy Department for Transport, National Travel Survey, 2005

82% of adults agree that walking is a good way to loose weight Department of Health

Regular physical activity improves mood, helps relieve depression, and increases feelings of well-being. A survey carried out by the charity Mind found that 83% of people with mental health problems looked to physical activity to help lift their mood

Walking and the environment

The school run accounts for 18% of car trips by residents of urban areas during term time at 0845am Department for Transport National Travel Survey 2006

Cars consume most fuel and pollute more at the start of their journey when the engine is cold, therefore, walking for short journeys will reduce the amount of CO2 emissions by a disproportionate amount Institute for European and Environmental Policy 2007

The average commuter driving an average car, covering the average commute distance will produce almost one tonne of CO2 per person per year. With 25 million people in the UK commuting, that is the equivalent CO2 emissions that would fill almost 50 billion one litre water bottles every day, or enough to fill 89,000 typical three-bedroom homes, which is a city of some 200,000 inhabitants Workwise UK, 2007

If all commuters left the car at home one day a week this would save enough miles in a year to drive to the moon and back 35,000 times. This is the equivalent emissions reduction of taking over 1.7 million cars off the road and would reduce the UK’s total CO2 emissions by almost 1 per cent. Energy Saving Trust

Road safety (including 20mph)

Britain has one of the worst road safety records in Europe for child pedestrians and almost 20% of casualties occur on the way to or from school Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, ‘School Assembly Plans Using Road Safety Themes’

People living in the 10% most deprived areas of England are almost one-and-a-half times as likely to be killed or injured on the roads as people living in the 10% least deprived areas. Department for Transport Road Casualties Great Britain: 2007

A pedestrian hit by a car at 40mph has only a 15% chance of surviving. At 30mph this chance increases to 55%. But at 20mph the chance of survival increases to 95%.

In 2008, 572 pedestrians were killed and 28,481 injured on our streets Department for Transport, Road Casualties Great Britain, 2007

20mph schemes in Europe and the UK have cut the number of adult pedestrians killed or seriously injured by 50% and child pedestrians by 61% Transport Research Laboratory, 2003, Review of 20mph zones in London Boroughs

The equivalent of 60 classrooms full of children were seriously injured or killed on our roads last year. There were 1784 child pedestrians killed or seriously injured in Great Britain last year. Based on the average of 30 children per classroom, the number of classrooms of children killed or seriously injured is 60.

In 2005, the National Centre for Social Research found that 74% of people wanted 20mph in residential areas, including 72% of drivers.

Driving at 20mph rather than 30mph reduces stopping distance by 134% and therefore reduces the risk of collision considerably. DfT, 2001, Calculation based on thinking and braking distances taken from Think! leaflet

In the UK, 20 mph zones have been found to drastically cut the number of pedestrians killed and seriously injured (KSI) on our streets. Pedestrian KSIs as a whole are reduced by 50%, and child pedestrian KSIs are reduced by 61%. Transport Research Laboratory, 2003, ‘Review of 20 mph zones in London Boroughs

Road deaths and injuries cost the NHS £470 million and the UK economy £18 billion every year. DfT, 2005, Highways Economics, Valuation of the Benefits of Prevention of Road Accidents and Casualties

The Commission for Integrated Transport’s 2001 study found that where cities have 20mph speed limits covering between 65% and 85% of the urban network, they are transformed “from being noisy, polluted places into vibrant, people-centred environments”. Commission for Integrated Transport, 2001, Study of European Best Practise in the delivery of integrated transport

Child pedestrians from our lowest socio-economic groups are currently a staggering 21 times more likely to die on our roads than those at the top.6 Department for Transport, Trends in Fatal Car-occupant Accidents: 2007

Walk to school

Among primary school children, 54% of girls travel to school on foot, compared with 49% of boys Department for Transport, National Travel Survey 2006

A higher percentage of boys go to school by car, with 44% travelling by this method compared with 38% of girls Department for Transport, National Travel Survey 2006

An 11-year-old starting secondary school is almost twice as likely as a 10-year-old at primary school to be killed or seriously injured in road collisions Department for Transport, Road Casualties, 2006

In 1971, 80% of seven and eight-year-olds travelled to school without an adult, in 2006 it was down to 12% of seven to 10-year-olds Department for Transport, 2006

Nearly 30% of children aged two to 15 were classed as overweight or obese in 2006 Department of Health, Obesity General Information

The average cost of the school run by car per primary school child is £367, which equates to £612 million for transporting all primary school children to school per year. Centre for Economics and Business Research (cebr), 2008, based on ONS, DfT, and AA figures

Two recent tragedies where pedestrians have been killed by car drivers mounting the pavement, have highlighted the need to take action to make our streets safer for all road users.

In Ashford, Kent, on Sunday 27th September, two pedestrians were killed and several injured.  On Friday 25th September a group of schoolchildren in Worlingham, Suffolk, were knocked down by a car as they walked on the pavement: nine required hospital treatment, including a broken leg and pelvis.  These incidents highlight the human cost of lack of respect on our roads, and Living Streets calls upon the police and CPS to do everything to ensure that the culprits are brought to justice.

While incidents like these are fortunately rare, they are symptomatic of a more general imbalance in the protection afforded to pedestrians, as the most vulnerable road users.  This is why Living Streets champions 20 mph speed limits in all areas where people live, work and play. A default 20mph limit would have an immediate impact on the community, drastically cutting road casualties and helping to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets for all.

A pedestrian hit at 20 mph has a 97% chance of survival.  As speeds increase that chance falls steeply, and by 35 mph half of all pedestrians hit will lose their lives.

Now is the time for government to take action to improve road safety in England and Wales, and you can help by taking part in our 20 mph campaign. You can download our free campaigning pack from our Resources section today, and get 20mph made a reality where you live.

Published on: 29/09/2009

Rob Cann

Volunteers dedicated to cleaning up Northern Ireland’s coastline were honoured at Stormont when they were presented with prestigious Clean Coast Awards by Environment Minister Edwin Poots. The inaugural Coca-Cola Clean Coast Awards, managed by TIDY Northern Ireland, are part of the Clean Coast Programme and are designed to recognise the outstanding contribution of individuals and groups involved in cleaning and protecting our rural beaches, from Benone on the North Coast to Cranfield Beach in the shadow of the Mournes.

Since the beginning of 2009, 875 volunteers have registered on the programme, spending almost 1,700 hours removing 540 bags of rubbish from our beaches.  In addition to the commonly encountered plastic bags, confectionary wrappers and marine debris, items removed have included trousers, cutlery, fridges, a bed and even a boxing glove.

See the winners and read more at www.communityni.org/news/minister-rewards-coastal-clean-volunteers.

Neglect is the biggest reason for a child to need protection ahead of both physical and sexual abuse. While no-one knows exactly how many children in the UK are neglected, studies suggest that it is up to 10% or almost 1.5 million.

The vast majority of us are unaware of neglect, and that it’s happening on our doorstep. Action for Children surveyed almost 2,000 primary school, pre-school, nursery and health professionals who come into regular contact with children and young people, to gauge their understanding of child neglect and its causes. The results reveal some key clear signals for frontline professionals working in schools, nurseries and hospitals throughout the country.

In Northern Ireland Action for Children is calling for a debate in the Assembly on the neglect of children and a shift to services that intervene early.

Read more and join the call for action at www.communityni.org/news/uk-wide-campaign-focusing-child-neglect.

Spread the Word about Rare Histiocytic Disorders.

Disease Quick Facts:

· Juvenile Xanthogranuloma (JXG) is a rare benign histiocytic disorder.

· JXG is characterized by groups of yellow, red, or brown papules or nodules (known as lesions).

· JXG may be present at birth, but most often arises in infancy.

· Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare form of non-Langerhans-cell histiocytosis.

· ECD is also known as Erdheim-Chester syndrome or polyostotic sclerosing histiocytosis.

· The first case of ECD was reported by W. Chester and Jakob Erdheim in 1930.

· ECD affects predominantly adults, with a men age of 53 years.

· Rosai-Dorfman (RD) disease is a rare disorder characterized by over-production and accumulation of histiocytes in the lymph nodes of the body.

· RD most often affects the lymph nodes of the neck (cervical lymphadenopathy) however, in rare cases can affect the following: central nervous system, eyes, upper respiratory tract, skin, and head and neck.

· The exact cause of RD is unknown. Some researchers suggest that the disorder may be caused by an infectious agent.

· Symptoms of RD are large, painless lymph nodes in neck, underarms, or groin (can be the size of a grapefruit), along with a fever.

It’s time to spread the word about these diseases and we need your help!

To learn more about histiocytosis visit www.histio.org