Around 80 members attended the first AGM of Disability Powys

The number of organisations currently providing services has been described as a 'minefield' by Disability Powys.

The disability rights group is to try to set up a single phone information line for disabled people in the county.

The idea was one of many which emerged from Disability Powys' first annual general meeting.

The group was set up six months ago to provide training and information as well as act as a lobbying body.

"A key issue that emerged from the AGM is that our members want to call up one phone number to give them information about the services they want," said development worker Lisa Parker.

What our members told us is they want to ring one number to get all the information they need Lisa Parker, Disability Powys

"There are so many organisations providing different services it can be a minefield to contact them," she added.

"For example, how do people find out when are low level buses available in their areas or where do they get a disabled ramp?

"What our members told us is they want to ring one number to get all the information they need."

Another campaign which Disability Powys is getting involved with is one to make sure that railway timetables can be more easily read.

"Timetables are very difficult for visually impaired people to read and we need to do something about this," said Ms Parker.

"What people need to do is complain more and know that it's fine to complain, otherwise nothing gets done."

Disabled people in Wales are less likely to complain...and we want to change that. Alun Thomas, Disability Rights Commission

The last census showed that one in five people in the county is limited by long-term illness and almost half were people of working age.

Alun Thomas, communications manager of the Disability Rights Commission told the Disability Powys' AGM that it would step up its campaigns before the introduction of The Disability Discrimination Act in October 2004.

"From next April we will campaign to get more people to complain effectively so that organisations respond quicker to providing a second rate service," he said.

"Our research has shown that disabled people in Wales are less likely to complain compared with people in other parts of Britain and we want to change that."