London Hearing Voices Network, UK

Launched in 2005, as a London-wide capacity building project to increase the quality and quantity of peer support groups for adults who hear voices or see visions, the London Hearing Voices Project has grown from strength to strength. It has developed an excellent local, national and international reputation for its work and is part of the wider international 'Hearing Voices' movement.

'Hearing Voices' is used as a generic term to include people who hear, see or sense things that others don't. It is a relatively common human experience – between 3 and 10% of adults hear voices, this figure rises to over 75% if you include one off experiences like hearing your phone ring when no-one is calling you. Whilst the majority of people who hear voices do not have a problem with this – in fact their experiences may be beneficial or at least neutral. However, a significant minority (roughly a third) of voice-hearers struggle to cope and may be diagnosed with a mental health problem.

More information here.

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New book - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Interdisciplinary perspectives

Amazon: 'Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) have emerged as a major phenomenon within the education, health, criminal justice and social care systems of many countries... In this publication, academics, professionals and families from around the world have shared expertise and insights on FASDs.

'Their combined interdisciplinary perspective makes an invaluable contribution to how we understand and address the complex social, educational and health needs associated with this growing group of children and young people.'

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Interdisciplinary perspectives

Barry Carpenter et al editors

On Amazon

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Cooperation between parents and schools: preventing early school leaving. A conference in Brussels

coface3 Schools are where children socialise, learn, develop their competences and personalities and are therefore at the heart of parents’ concern.

At the same time, parents do not always find it easy to interact, be represented or get involved in schools even thought an active cooperation between parents and schools is essential to tackling issues like early school leaving, absenteeism, orientation and so forth.

This conference will touch upon all these aspects, pointing out the benefits of cooperation between parents and schools, identifying the obstacles for a successful cooperation and presenting existing good practices. On the 9th of December 2013 at EESC, Rue de Trèves 74, B-1040 Brussels.

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Disability Research Consortium is asking disabled people in UK, 'What needs to change?' – a very big question!

drc3 DRC is asking disabled people to tell them what needs to change for disabled people. Which barriers need to be overcome in the long term? How can we make this happen together?

DRC includes a range of partners from active disability user-led organisations and grass roots groups. These include Inclusion London, Equal Lives (previously NCODP), ALLFIE (Alliance for Inclusive Education) and DPAC (Disabled People against Cuts).

DRC believes that disabled people need to lead the change and take the issues forward. The questions here will help towards that process, and towards the fight-back on disabled people's lives and independence. Find the survey here.