Disabled rights campaigner Phil Miller has been appointed the first director of the Essex Coalition of Disabled People, which plans to open offices in Witham by the autumn.

Phil, who has been an active disabled people's rights campaigner for many years, will head the group which works under the banner of "the united voice of disability in Essex".

He said: "We are a campaigning and civil rights group run by disabled people for disabled people. There is a lot to be done and I am looking forward to the challenge."

The new offices, funded for a three-year period by a £194,265 National Lottery Charities Board grant, would act as a centre for campaigns and issues affecting the disabled, including civil liberties, access and advocacy. Training, including assertiveness courses, will also be on offer.

Opportunities Through Technology, which offers new technology training to disabled people for work, education and social purposes, will be showcasing a new Braille machine as part of a presentation to be held at Colchester Institute on July 1.

The scheme recently won a £10,000 Essex TEC grant to pay for a tutor to set up courses for disabled people throughout north Essex. For details of courses and training opportunities, call Colchester Institute on 01206 718000.

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