Kenny Shand, who lives in Pilmuir, was disabled seven years ago following an industrial accident. He found it difficult to get help and advice on the web so he set up his own website, which contains a wealth of information about disability issues and local groups, with links to various charities and organisations, both local and national.

He is also a member of the Forres Community Web group and volunteers for Leonard Cheshire Workability, working with people with disabilities, helping them to learn how to use a computer, which puts them in touch with groups and individuals in a similar situation, even going so far as to help adapt their computers for them.

"Making the computer more accessible for them makes such a difference," he said.

"It can change their lives."

He also encourages people with disabilities to contact him if they have encountered any particular problems, so he can follow them up.

"I found it very hard to find information on the web about disabled living, so I set up my own website and started adding information to it to help others, and it has grown from there" he said.

"I have had a lot of positive comments about it."

There are links to his website from other sites, which he has been in contact with about disability issues.

He has also been campaigning to get better access at various places around Forres and has been persistent in his efforts to take issues forward.

Among the things he has been involved with is a project to get disabled access to the viewpoint at Califer Hill. He brought the issue to the table of the Forres Neighbourhood Forum, who have finally established that Moray Council own the land on which the viewpoint is located. The Forum are now hoping to move the issue forward.

"I thought it was really bad that there was no access onto the viewpoint for disabled people," he said.

"At first the council said they didn't own the land, but now we have established that they do."

Chairman of the Forum, Ian Brodie explained that although it was in the early stages and would be subject to the necessary planning procedures and agreement from Moray Council, they were hoping to access funding which would pay for any necessary works at the viewpoint.

"I have also been contacted by someone living in the Black Isle who said that there is a lovely view point for dolphin-watching," said Mr Shand.

"It has access right down to the front, but there is no disabled access, and they have asked me to take this issue forward too."

Meanwhile, Mr Shand, who attends the Moray College Learning Centre in Forres, is putting a tick in another box after the college got to work installing a ramp suitable for wheelchair use at the front of their building.

"I use a wheelchair most of the time," he said.

"I sometimes use crutches, but I can't get around on them for very long and thought it was hard to get into the centre."

He explained that there had been a wooden ramp available which staff could put out to make access into the Moray College building possible for wheelchair users, but that it wasn't always put out.

"The situation was if staff were too busy, it wouldn't always be put out," he said.

"It got so I would phone to see if the ramp was out before I decided whether to go to college or not."

Forres man Kenny Shand encourages people with disabilities to contact him if they have encountered any particular problems, so he can follow them up.

After lots of incidents where the ramp was not available, and after he raised the issue with staff, he decided not to go back to college as protest unless a proper facility was put in place. He said he was delighted it was finally happening.

A spokesman for the college said that although Mr Shand had contacted them about getting the ramp installed, it was something they had intended to do as part of a package of measures which had been put in place at their sites in Moray to bring them into line with the Disability Discrimination Act.

The college was also recently presented with an award by the Moray Access Panel for the measures that they have taken to date to provide better facilities for the less able-bodied.

"We are planning on carrying out a feasibility study in the future, looking at further measures to improve disabled access," he said.

Meanwhile, Gillian Smith, who lives in Califer Road and is registered disabled, said that she was impressed by all the things that Mr Shand has helped achieve, with little or no recognition for his work in the town.

"He has managed to achieve so much for disability issues," she said.

"He should be nominated for an award."

Mr Shand is also trying to win support to establish an independent resource centre in Forres, with full disabled access and information available for local groups.

"We already have a community Hub and the community centre," he said.

"There is no disabled access to the Hub, and the ramps into the community centre are extremely steep. I would like to see something purpose-built which is all on the ground floor and not modified.

"It need not just be for people with disabilities, but a resource that everyone could use."

He also raised the issue of better access for the less able-bodied to the first floor of Forres House Community Centre.

Mr Shand himself cannot get out in case of an emergency as he is unable to use the stairs, which is contrary to council policy The issue has been brought forward by the Forres Neighbourhood Forum, of which he is a member.

After they raised the issue with Moray Council an EVAC chair was installed at the centre which provides a way down the steep stairs of the centre for wheelchair users in the event of an emergency. Installation of the facility does not completely solve the problem as it relies on trained staff to be on hand at the time of an incident to operate it.

Miss Smith added: "Last year an elderly person collapsed upstairs at the community centre.

"They couldn't get the person downstairs. If they had this chair then, it wouldn't have been a problem.

"Kenny has worked his heart out on some of these issues, and still he finds time to work two or three days a week as a volunteer at Cheshire House in Inverness."

Anyone who wants to raise any issues about ­access for disabled people or support the community resource centre project should visit Mr Shand’s website www.kennyshand.co.uk

t.mclaren@forres-gazette.co.uk

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