A delegation of disabled people and allies will be meeting Anne McGuire, Shadow Minister, on 10 September.
This meeting came about because both she and the Minister failed to attend National Disabilities Conference on 4 July 2013,despite being on the programme.
We have 5 demands to discuss with both the Minister (later in Sept) and Shadow Minister, that were devised at the conference. These are:
- Delegates were dismayed that both the Minister and the Shadow Minister pulled out of speaking at this major event and hearing it ‘like it is’ from disabled people. Parliamentary business may mean moving appointments - but with a venue 15 minutes from Westminster Esther McVey and Anne McGuire could have come later or earlier.
- Political leaders should spend more time with disabled people, to understand what our lives are really like, with the combined impact of cuts and extra costs, which are hitting disabled people even harder than other citizens.
- Disabled people do not want to be wrapped in cotton wool. We want to work, to be apprentices, parents, to contribute. With peer support we can share skills with each other – everything from changing a plug to support with independent living and recovery – and we don’t always need a support worker. We call for a massive expansion in peer support. This cannot be done for free but would be more effective than the way money is spent now (for instance, peer job clubs rather than the ineffective Work Programme).
- We want dignity in how support is provided. That means no 15 minute social care slots except where that is the disabled person’s own choice. In 15 minutes you have to choose between a meal or going to the toilet – what choice is that? We must overcome the culture whereby disabled people are afraid to raise concerns with social services in case we are labelled as trouble makers or have our support further cut.
- We want leadership from our politicians in ditching the divisive narrative that says people are either ‘hard working families’ or ‘scroungers’. Disabled people are often out of work because of employer prejudice or missing out on skills and education. Instead politicians should adopt a serious strategy to challenge employer fear and stereotypes.