Thomas from the Newry and District LiveNet ICT Club tells us all about his favourite Ninteno DS game, Super Mario Kart.

If you would like to tell us about your favourite game, website, youtube video or iPad app contacts us via email livenet@mencap.org.uk  

More details to follow soon!

What is Spellathon?

Start practising now, as the world will compete in the first ever global English language digital Spellathon championships in May!

Spellathon is presented by The Professor’, an amazing 3D bee character voiced by Stephen Fry and is set in a futuristic digital universe where the Spelling Bees guide you through spelling games.

Entrants are given the opportunity to practise spelling while asking family, friends and carers to sponsor them to spell a pledged target number of words ahead of the championships in May 2012. As they practise, they’ll be raising funds for Mencap and, if applicable, their school or university union.

Practice will be fun with fast moving, highly visual, free interactive online spelling games, playable on a whiteboard, a mobile phone or tablet, at home or at school!

Join the Buzz and Bee part of something special

Mencap fun day poster

More details to follow soon!

The Carrosyl Community Association, in partnership with Mencap’s LiveNet project and Youth Action’s Community Leadership Programme proudly launched their e-safety comic book as part of world Safer Internet Day 2012. 

The group was made up of young people with and without a learning disability who attend the LiveNet ICT club and members of the Carrosyl Youth Club working on the Youth Action programme.

The groups came together last summer for 5 weeks where they took part in Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) “Think You Know” workshops promoting safe practices online. 

After the initial workshop the group identified that safe social networking was a huge issue and they wanted to do something to get that message out there in a way that could be easily understood by other young people in a fun and educational way. 

The group decided to create a comic book.  The created a storyboard and picked out the key information that they wanted to include in the comic book using Comic Life software. 

Everyone had a role in the making the comic from researching the content, bravely stepping in front of the camera to take on one of the character roles, such as the young person using a social network site, the baddie, or the police officer who came to the rescue.  Those who were camera shy took the photographs and helped with the editing of the comic. 

The Comic was officially launched on 7^th February 2012 as part of Global Safer Internet Day (SID) 2012 which is takes place in more than 70 countries worldwide, and across 6 of the world’s 7 continents.  This year’s theme is connecting generations, and families are asked to “discover the digital world together… safely”.

Click on the image below to download a copy of the esafety comic book

The Bamford Action Plan lays out what the government is doing to make sure that people with a learning disability and people with a mental health difficulty get the extra help and support they need, such as help with being healthy, learning new things, finding and keeping a job, and getting a house.

On 6 October 2011 Mencap held five consultation meetings across Northern Ireland which 97 people participated in, including children and adults with a learning disability, families, carers and professionals.

LiveNet facilitated four groups across Northern Ireland by bringing them together using online video conferencing technology to create one large interactive event. 

Each person joined a group discussion to have their say on what they want to see in the new plan so they get the extra support they need to have a full and equal life. 

A nominated speaker from each group shared the key topics and issues important to the group with the other groups via video conferencing technology.

One parent commented “It’s good to know we’re (Belfast people) not alone.”

The LiveNet team were able to provide equipment such as laptops, mobile broadband, projectors, webcams, speakers, digital cameras, digital video cameras and advice and guidance as required by each of the four locations. One member of the LiveNet team was on hand at each venue to set up the conference and provide technical support during the event.

The LiveNet team used images and notes captured from each of the four locations to create a fun comic style record of the Bamford consultation.

Click on the image below to find out what people with a learning disability, their family members, carers and professionals want to see in the new Bamford Action Plan.

The conference will bring together organisations, groups and clubs, self-advocates, people with a learning disability, families and professionals - everyone with an interest in improving the lives of children, young people and adults with a disability.

The conference will be an opportunity to share, discuss and learn about new ways to build inclusive communities and services and ensure that disabled children and adults enjoy equal lives.

The event will include plenary speakers, workshops on topics such as challenging the cuts, dance and drama, education, being part of my community, entitlement to services and planning for the future. There will also be a community exchange at the event which will be a mix of poster presentations, consultations, information stalls and demonstrations.

Have your say!  

You can help shape how we work for you. 

Throughout the conference there will be lots of opportunities for you to have your say – share your ideas, comment on topics of discussion and post your videos and pictures.

How to Get Involved

There are lots of ways you can get involved:

Leave a comment below

Twitter

We will be using twitter and would encourage you to do the same.
Switch your phone to silent and tweet throughout the conference.

Share your opinions, upload photos, ask us questions and tell us what you find interesting about the conference.

Remember to use #WT4C to have your tweet included in our live twitterfall that will be on display throughout the conference.

LiveNet’s Roving Reporters

Keep an eye out for LiveNet’s roving reporter teams. They will be out and about and looking forward to hearing what you have got to say.

Talking Photo Wall

Not on Twitter? Don’t worry; you can post your comments and images on our talking photo wall and we will share them online for you.

Video Diary

Take time out from the hustle and bustle and nip in to the video diary room to leave us a message.

Social Media Hub
Pop along to the social media hub:

• Post your comments on FaceBook and connect with other people who have an interest in our conference
• Message Boards
• Sign up to BeMencap NI
  Subscribe to BeMencap NI today and we will send you a monthly e-newsletter with the latest Mencap and learning disability news in Northern Ireland.

Young people and adults with a learning disability from local day centres and schools took part in an ICT Fun Day organised by Mencap’s LiveNet Project, 22nd February at the Grove Wellbeing Centre, Belfast. With 20 exhibition and interactive stands offering fun and games there was lots on offer. Around 100 participants had an opportunity to experiment with various types of technology. Including how to use different apps on iPads, show off their talent in the LiveNet rockband, get active using the Playstation move and get involved with IGym and ITeach online resources to support learning and keep fit.

IT Can Help who work in partnership with Mencap’s LiveNet project providing FREE IT help for people with a learning disability were also on hand to offer advice on IT equipment. But no need to worry if you missed them because IT can Help can visit you in your home for FREE and help you install and set up your new technology or help you with an problems you are having. Just contact IT can Help on Free phone (and Minicom): 0800 269 545 or email: help@itcanhelp.org.uk (quote: LiveNet)

LiveNet are looking for volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering with the project, taking part in the workshops or finding out more about LiveNet then please contact the LiveNet team.

ICT fun day photo competition poster

ICT fun day photo competition - Winner

Unfortunately Neil was unable to attend the presentation but some of his classmates where available to accept the prize on his behalf.

Young people and adults with a learning disability from local day centres and clubs joined by their family members and carers came to the Newry Sports Centre, on Wednesday 14th December to take part in an ICT Fun Day organised by Mencap’s LiveNet Project.

With 14 exhibition and interactive stands offering fun and games there was lots on offer. Everyone who came along had an opportunity to speak to professionals and providers of sports and health related programmes, play around with the games including Xbox Kinect and Nintendo Wii Sports, and experiment with various types of technology.

IT can Help who work in partnership with Mencap’s LiveNet project providing FREE IT help for people with a learning disability were also on hand to offer advice on IT equipment. But no need to worry if you missed them cause if Santa gives you a new IPad, computer or laptop this Christmas IT Can Help can visit you in your home for FREE and help you install and set up your new technology. Just contact IT Can Help on Free phone (and Minicom): 0800 269 545 or email: help@itcanhelp.org.uk (quote: LiveNet)