Sunday, 14 August 2011

DPAC: The riots - a disability perspective.


DPAC 


Posted: 13 Aug 2011 03:06 PM PDT
The unrest and violence we have seen across England over the past week is upsetting on many levels: there is upset for the innocent victims of criminality and those hurt and traumatised by events, upset over the prevalence of a lack of morality and empathy within our society, and upset that once again the violation of disabled people’s rights has been eclipsed.

In justification of the welfare to work programme, government and right wing media have played up the existence of a benefit scrounging element bent on fraud and deceit without regard for the consequences of their actions on the rest of the community who pick up the bill for their irresponsible lives. Disabled people have argued that so-called welfare reform is actually targeting the powerless and the oppressed in society and denying basic rights and freedoms. Just as we were being listened to, as the Work and Pensions Select Committee issued their report raising concerns over the Work Capability Assessment Process, just as the Lib Dems announced a vote on 10th September on their position over Employment and Support Allowance, a vision of the disaffected and feckless has been hurled into the lives of the nation, bringing to life the worst Daily Mail stereo-types in a fashion more dramatic and immediate than even shows such as Saints and Scroungers, have managed.

It is too early to say how recent events will impact upon the campaign against the government’s disability policies but our ability to protest is likely to be adversely affected. Last Saturday Disabled People Against Cuts stood with the anti cuts campaigners handing out leaflets in Birmingham City Centre publicising the protest against the Lib Dems on 18th September. It was intended to be the beginning of a mobilisation process to build support ahead of the march. To stand in the same spot this Saturday after the violence and murders that have occurred in the city since, would be insensitive and inappropriate. We had been planning how to oppose Birmingham City Council over the restrictions they are placing on the route for the march. We were hopeful there was room to negotiate. The chance to march down the main high street through the commercial area of the city is very slim, even more unlikely now. 

At the time of the TUC-organised March For the Alternative earlier this year there was some criticism of the demonstration by unsympathetic press and public, accusing protesters of wasting resources and police time. The association between violent disorder and dissent is now firmly etched into the public consciousness and it is reasonable to anticipate greater hostility towards plans for future demonstrations, however peacefully intended.

Without the option of protest, how are we then to raise awareness of the issues faced by an overlooked minority in whom neither the public nor the press nor politicians are interested?  Government cuts are hauling disabled people through fear and distress and robbing them of their dignity and in some cases their lives. The scenes of disorder and violence which the country has witnessed are symptomatic of a bigger picture, a picture where the rich can behave with impunity in the pursuit of material gain, whereas the poor are punished and demonised for the same.   Disabled people are part of that bigger picture but our voices just got smaller as attention is turned to more immediate issues and fears. Moreover there is a danger that government injustices against disabled people will now be justified as unfortunate but unavoidable consequences of necessary measures to deal with the disaffected in society and those dismissed as undeserving.  As emotions run high it is too much to hope that perspective will prevail and it is sadly inevitable that recent events will be exploited to discredit future dissent and protest.
–-Ellen Clifford

Many of us have been glued to news listening with disbelief to riot details as they were spelled out in different cities across the country from London to Birmingham to Manchester etc. For disabled people, there is the extra fear of not having access and added stress and anxiety of being unable to get essentials from local shops in the affected areas. The Broken of Britain set out a hastag #disabledriothelp for disabled people in Twitter who felt the need to communicate about worries about the riots.

We joke amongst ourselves as mobility impaired disabled people that our disability gives us an alibi by default because we are not able to loot, break windows and disguise ourselves with hoodies.
It’s too soon to write about the impact of the riots on disabled people and our ability to protest. We can probably assume that the TUC March of the Alternative, Birmingham will definitely not be allowed to march pass the ICC where the Lib Dem annual conference is held this year.  But will the demo be curtailed further? What about peaceful anti protests against Atos – will these be jeopardised given the mood of the police and rhetoric from the Con Dem government?

Do we see the same type of punitive and swift reaction for the perpetrators? Today (12th August) there was the ‘first’ Battersea riot-related eviction notice served by Wandsworth Council as a result of Monday night’s rioting and looting in St John’s Road and Lavender Hill. In fact we read that David Cameron has said there will be ‘no “phoney human rights concerns” (about publishing CCTV images of suspects involved in rioting) would be allowed to “get in the way of bringing these criminals to justice”. Is it not because of the same disregard of human rights – the shooting of Mark Duggan – that started the whole spiral of violence? Does he care equally about the woman in wheelchair who was stoned in Sittingbourne by ‘yobs’? What about violence against disabled people?


And for those of us disabled people who use the social media to communicate, politicise, campaign and yes, to rant and vent – we will also be affected by David Cameron’s diatribe against social media. A 14 year old schoolboy in Leamington Spa was arrested by police ‘on suspicion of encouraging or assisting criminal disorder. The mind boggles about the reality of the implications that postings to “ incite criminal activity of any kind will be arrested and dealt with accordingly.” Another report of Jason Ulett ‘s arrest adds to my disquiet that the effect of the riot is to descend into some kind of witch hunt.

But we would want to question the reaction to the riots, undoubtedly disruptive and hard on those who have lost property and work, in comparison to the carnage wracked on disabled people’s lives as a result the result of the cuts. How many will give (media)attention and mourn for those who gave up in despair and committed suicides (eleven at last count)? Who counts the stress and worry the real cost of the havoc on disabled people’s lives – those who have to submit to Atos assessments? There was some uproar over the abuse handed out to disabled people in care homes after the Panorama programme but people in care homes are still systematically neglected and left unattended for hours in end. 

  • —Eleanor Lisney

    Posted: 13 Aug 2011 02:19 PM PDT
    Disabled People Against Cuts are writing to all Lib Dem MPs to urge you to vote in favour of a motion at the Lib Dem annual conference in September calling for fundamental changes to the Employment and Support Allowance assessment system.
    The Lib Dem motion, to be proposed by Liberal Youth, will make five key demands including calling for a clearer and less stressful assessment process, greater accuracy in assessment, particularly for those with fluctuating conditions, ensuring disabled people get the support they need and all claimants on appeal to be given access to adequate representation.

    It is essential for the rights and welfare of disabled people that this motion is passed. The current system causes undue distress and trauma for those going through it while wasting resources through an inefficient and inaccurate process.

    • Ministers have admitted that the Work Capability Assessment was poorly designed at the outset and in July the Work and Pensions Select Committee issued a report which cited serious failings in the service provided by Atos Healthcare, the company  hold the contract for carrying out the assessments.
40% of decisions where a claimant has been found fit for work are over-turned on appeal, and for appeals with representation, that figure rises to 70%.

This is a highly inefficient system which removes income from genuine claimants placing it instead in the hands of the profit-making company paid by the government in return for getting sick and disabled people off benefits.

It also has critical consequences for people in genuine need, including those who require 24 hour personal assistance, people with terminal illness, soldiers returning from war with severe mental illness. Disabled People Against Cuts have examples of disabled people who have taken their own lives in despair after being assessed as ineligible for Employment and Support Allowance yet knowing they were realistically unable to work.

At the same time as forcing disabled people off benefits, the government has cut funds to Access to Work, the programme designed to help meet the support needs of disabled people going into employment. Without income, ill and disabled people are being forced into increasing levels of poverty.

We would also like to ask you to support George Potter’s amendment to the motion as disabled people placed in the Work Related Activity Group many of whom have fluctuating conditions which may vary widely from day to day further face the ongoing  threat of having their benefits sanctioned if they fail to fully comply with conditions imposed on them regardless of how difficult this may be for them.

We therfore urge you to support the removal of this terrifying threat of sanctions and instead simply provide disabled people with adequate support to try to enter the labour market if and when they feel able to. It is wrong to take the view that disabled people prefer a life on benefits and that this is in some way a life-style choice.

Disabled people should be entitled to live in society as equal citizens and with the same life chances as other people. In calling for this motion on Employment and Support Allowance to be passed we are merely asking to be allowed to survive without having to live in constant fear.
We would be very willing to discuss these matters further with you either before or at your forthcoming conference.
For contact: mail@dpac.uk.net


Posted: 13 Aug 2011 01:25 PM PDT
Don't Get Mad Get Political!

The new Mental Health Resistance Network is hosting a half day meet for us to get more organized.
The Public Law Project has been supporting the Network in trying to get a Judicial Review of the Work Capability Assessment which is designed to get sick and distressed people off benefits.

Friday 19th August 2011 from 12.00pm to 4.00pm
at Goldsmiths Student Union (Student Union Bar) Goldsmiths, University of London,
Dixon Road, London SE14 6NW
(Near New Cross Gate and New Cross Rail stations)


All Survivors, Disabled People and Allies welcome on:
The Network's solicitor, Ravi Low-Beer, will be speaking about Judicial Reviews.

A Half Day conference

Facing enormous cuts to benefits and services, we mental health Survivors are stressed out bigtime.
We find ourselves demonised by the right wing press (again) and the ConDem government. How stupid and cruel politicians of all parties are being beggars belief. Or do they believe we should all be beggars?

The Mental Health Resistance Network invites you to...
12.00 - 12.30 Tea and Coffee (50p donation appreciated)
12.30Introduction by Denise McKenna History -
What we have been involved in -
Where to now by Stefano Peria
12.45 Judicial Review of a the Government policy on changes to benefits, by Ravi Low-Beer (of the Public Law Project).
Questions.
1.45-2.00pm - Refreshment Break
2.00-3.00 Workshops. Organizing and going to Demos and Direct Action. Campaigning and Lobbying. A new Arts Project themed How We Feel About the Cuts? Networking and Personal Support.
3.15-3.45 - Feedback4.00pm - Close
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