With the holidays over everyone is back to work, and we’re no different at East Renfrewshire Disability Action. 

Last month was our first meeting back after our summer break. It was good to welcome back our members, old and new, at the meeting as well and we have a few more meetings coming up before the end of this year.

Next meetings will be on Monday, October 29, and Monday, November 26, from 1pm to 2.15pm in the Eastwood health and care centre.

We are open for new members and new organisations, a disability isn’t a requirement to join. Visit www.erda.org.uk for more details.

We are working on some events to end the year, focusing on International Day of People with Disabilities, and Human Rights Day.

The Big Lunch is coming up again soon. We did the first ever one back in June in Barrhead. The idea behind this event was to bring together different organisations, share important information and have fun on the day. We had live entertainment and updates on what services are provided in East Renfrewshire.

This will be The Big Christmas Lunch this year, as we are holding this on December 7 from 11am to 3pm in Mearns Kirk Parish Church Hall.
Don’t forget the quiet hour still runs at The Avenue in Newton Mearns, to allow people with autism to enjoy shopping. 

The hour is daily from 9am to10am, for children and adults with autism who can sometimes experience a ‘sensory meltdown’, a reaction to feeling overwhelmed when there is too much happening around them.

For some, amusement parks or shopping centres can trigger a ‘sensory meltdown’ and people may experience anxiety and aggression. 

It is good that shopping centres are also following the initiative. Glasgow Fort quiet hour is on a Sunday from 10am to 11am, Braehead on a Saturday morning from 10am to 11am, and Silverburn and Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow are doing it too.