Pictured above: (l-r) Alison Smith, James Morgahan, Geoff Forgie (Chair), Val Lewis, Julie Stealey, Dave Heweton, Ruby Hartshorn, and Tom Memery

Today's exciting launch of the brand-new Shropshire Disability Network website, will see some of the 28,000 people with disabilities and those with long-term illnesses in the county given a central point of information, support and guidance for the first time ever.

www.shropshire-disability.net is the brainchild of a local, not-for-profit organisation and has taken over a year to collate and design. "There was nothing like this available before our launch, so while people with disabilities in the county could access information via general search engines, they had to know what they were looking for and it often took multiple visits to a variety of organisations to gather all of the details required" explained Shropshire Disability Network's Chair, Geoff Forgie.

"The new site has been designed with the end user very much in mind, and is a central point of information, but also offers the chance for people with disabilities, their families and carers to share their experiences, and to support each other."

"We formed the Network in 2008 to provide a friendly and supportive network for people with disabilities, their families, and carers, and we cover the whole of Shropshire, as well as Telford and Wrekin" Geoff concluded.

As well as details of local organisations, the site links people and organisations from across the UK that can offer support to those in the region, and its aim is to empower individuals to manage their condition and be more in control of their lives. "We want to provide a network for people with disabilities and ultimately represent their views to government agencies and organisations" added Geoff. "And through our collective voice we hope to secure improvements for people with disabilities by negotiation."

The Group is FREE to join, and membership allows access to a whole host of benefits, not least unlimited access to the new www.shropshire-disability.net website, but also a regular newsletter and updates about hot topics and legislative or best practice changes which might affect people with disabilities.

"Our vision is that by 2025 people with disabilities will have the same opportunities, choices and responsibilities as non-disabled people to be respected and included as equal members of society" added Geoff "and the new site is a great first step in achieving that."

Officially launched at the Shropshire Disability Network AGM this afternoon, the site is set to revolutionise the way that information is accessed, and may well prove a model for other regions across the UK to follow. Funding for the website was kindly provided by the Big Lottery Fund, and the development of the Network has been supported by the Community Council of Shropshire and the Shropshire Partnership without whom none of this would be possible.

Shropshire Disability Network is aiming to encourage 1,000 people with disabilities in the county to sign-up for FREE membership in the next three months, and on launch day alone is already well on its way to achieving the goal. "The more members we have, the more of an influential voice we have" explained Geoff, "in fact we use 'your voice, your connections' as a way of describing what we do, so I'd urge anyone with a long-term illness or disability - or indeed their carers or family members - to visit www.shropshire-disability.net and complete the simple registration form. We also have membership forms being distributed through partner organisations across the county, and anyone interested in learning more is welcome to email membership@shropshire-disability.net or call the group's Chair, Geoff Forgie on 01691 830662  for more information.

Shropshire Disability Network is the place for information on disability throughout Shropshire, and organisations are also being encouraged to join for a small fee where they'll be able to access advice and guidance about making their own businesses more accessible.