It’s been a busy few days for DPAC gathering evidence on the
cumulative impact of cuts on disabled people, and on the crisis in independent
living. On the 25th we heard moving and powerful
testimonies of how the Government are ruining lives through their austerity
regime. Disabled people are faced with a range of cuts and so called ‘reforms’
which are contravening our basic human rights. We are faced with stark choices
between eating or heating while having our dignity stripped by a range of
psychological attacks at the same time as having support removed.
Testimonies will be sent to the UN rapporteur
on disability-thanks to everybody who came to London to tell their stories and
to those that submitted their experiences through email. This event was
originally arranged by Just Fair, however due to the rapporteur being unable to
come to the UK due to illness DPAC and Inclusion London stepped in to run this
at the last minute, so we could get these important stories out to the UN.
On the 26th the morning saw a hugely successful
protest on fuel poverty organised by DPAC, Fuel Poverty Action, the Greater
London Pensioners and UKUncut: ‘Bring down the Big Six – Fuel Poverty Kills!’ against the increase in fuel poverty deaths and increasing profits and prices of
the big 6. Supporting groups included No Dash for Gas, Campaign Against Climate
Change, Climate Revolution, Young Friends of the Earth, Frack Off London, Power
for the People, Barnet Alliance for Public Services, Lewes Against the Cuts,
SOAS Energy & Climate Change Society and Southwest
Against Nuclear. There were also protests in Oxford, Lewes and Bristol.
In the afternoon of the 26th the Emergency meeting
on the crisis in independent living took place at parliament hosted by DPAC and
Inclusion London. An event originally planned by Just Fair to
launch their report to the UN rapporteur which DPAC and Inclusion London stepped
in to run with a new focus on the crisis in independent living.
This was in response to the successful appeal outcome at the
courts on the Independent Living Fund-and the continuing awareness of the crisis
for ILF users, those trying to access local authority support and the
Government’s apparent non-compliance with article 19 of the UN Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The afternoon launched DPAC’s report on the crisis in
independent living and cumulative impacts of the cuts, one of many that DPAC is
working on, as well as the film by Mary Laver an ILF user. The afternoon was
complimented by speeches from John Evans and reflection on the past battles for
independent living. We heard from the brilliant Louise Whitfield
(one of the solicitors in the ILF case) and were treated to an excellent DPAC
theatre performance which brought to life the reality of impacts on disabled
people and the different barriers we face.
Despite extremely short notice the event was well attended by
MPs and those from the Lords. Kate Green , Hywell Williams, Katy Clarke, Anne
Begg, John McDonnell, Jim Shannon, Andy Slaughter, Baroness
Campbell, Baroness Wilkins and a host of others
including Mary Laver’s MP. Apologies were sent from Anne McGuire,
Caroline Lucas, Lucy Powell, Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa Pierce
Mike Penning ‘our’ new minister for disability was invited
but did not respond or send apologies!
Many thanks to all that attended, supported and worked so
hard towards the afternoon-especially the many DPAC members and supporters that
wrote to their MPs and publicised this. Some may ask why English national formal
disability organisations with much more money and resources than us aren’t
putting their energies into these types of activities all the time- we don’t
have any answers or understanding on that.
We will have a more detailed report on the Emergency meeting
on the Crisis in Independent Living event in Parliament with film and photos
soon
Download DPAC report Crisis
in Disabled People’s Independent Living
See Mary Laver’s film on ILF View the
movie
