A Rolling Festive Phone-in to Atos 'Healthcare'

"As part of the National Month of Festive Action Against Atos we are calling for a rolling mass telephone complaint to poverty pimps Atos in the run up to Christmas.

Beginning on Monday 12th December and running up until Christmas benefit claimants, disabled people and supporters will be ringing both local and national Atos Offices to complain about their obscene treatment of sick and disabled people.

How To Get Involved

We urgently need towns, cities, groups and individuals to commit to a morning or afternoon shift in the upcoming days and get as many people as possible to ring Atos and complain about their involvement in the Work Capability Assessment.

To maximise the protest we will aim to have as many groups as possible calling Atos at different times in the run up to Christmas. We'll maintain a list here and on facebook to try and help co-ordinate times/dates and see if we can keep the phonelines buzzing daily in the run up to Christmas. Please contact us by leaving details on the wall below or emailing us at: notowelfarecuts@yahoo.co.uk

Either ring your local Atos Offices, or their corporate headquarters, or why not both! Atos's main numbers (including a handy freephone number) are:

+44 (0)20 7830 4444 (Tel)
+44 (o)20 7830 4233 (Tel)
+44 (0)800 783 3040 (Freephone)
+44 (0)20 7830 4445 (Fax)

Atos 'Healthcare' who run the Work Capability Assessment have a main number at: +44 (0) 113 230 9175

If you aren't part of a local group, or even if you are, support the other protests by calling Atos along with them.

Whilst it's well worth trying to speak to a manager or senior individual if possible please bear in mind most people taking calls will be low paid receptionist/admin staff so we call on people to be be business-like and non-confrontational. Be aware that is an offence to make telephone calls which are threatening, indecent or offensive. Keep it fluffy. Why not sing them a carol?

Anyone who manages to get through to Atos CEO Keith Wilman will win the customary prize of a free Crisis Loan*

Some calls may be recorded for the purposes of taking the piss.

Brighton DPAC who will be phoning Atos on the mornings of Monday 12th and Monday 19th of December have produced a script/template which can be read out, or emailed/faxed to Atos. Visit their fb event page (below) for details.

Join in online!

You can also contact Atos via email. Their Head of PR can be reached at: caroline.crouch@atos.net and general enquiries can be sent to: ukwebenquiries@atos.net. Atos 'Healthcare' can be reached at: customer-relations@atoshealthcare.com or to ask for a job go to: jobs@sjbmedical.com

Atos have new facebook groups and pages springing up all the time. Search for Atos on facebook to find them. You can also tweet using the hashtags #atos, we'll be monitoring twitter for any other hashtags Atos use.

Action planned so far

Monday 12th and Monday 19th December from 9am

Brighton DPAC: For details visit: http://www.facebook.com/events/132910660153707/

Please organise and contact us to be added to the list!

If you are planning on braving the cold and holding a protest as part of the month of action please send details asap to: notowelfare@yahoo.co.uk or leave details in the comments.

The main facebook page for the Month of Action can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=122853381158514

Come to the Triton Square Christmas Party and Picnic outside Atos' Headquarters on December 16th from 2pm:http://www.facebook.com/events/197478607000007/

*actually we still can't give out Crisis Loans as prizes. The DWP are bastards like that.


Atos are the French IT firm responsible for carrying out the government’s Work Capability Assessment which has led to tens of thousands of sick and disabled people being forced into poverty after being stripped of essential benefits. Despite the process being dubbed unfit for purpose and an increasing number of suicides due to the stressful and vicious health testing regime, this form of assessment is to be extended to everyone on some form of disability or health related benefit.

http://benefitclaimantsfightback.wordpress.com/"

Disabled people to directly inform new strategy

Back on December 1^st, this government set into train a consultation with disabled people, the aim of which is to gather ideas for a new cross-government disability strategy.

Sniggering, guffawing, chuckling, chortling and roaring with laughter aside; are they serious?  The idea of this government seeking our ideas and suggestions is, in light of their treatment of us thus far, both risible and insulting.

According to reports the government's objective is make possible for disabled people reach their potential and open opportunities for them to more easily access and involve themselves in society.

In order to achieve this government wants tackle barriers to the aspirations of disabled people,grant them individual control and to change attitudes and behaviour towards disabled people.

They intend building upon previous consultations with disabled people, including:

·       Independent Living Strategy

·       Roadmap 2025

·       UK’s report to the UN on implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Disabled People.

The Office for Disability Issues (ODI) has, in conjunction with disability organisations, created a discussion document (see link below). They are hoping to hear from disabled people and their organisations by the closing date of 9^th March 2012.

http://odi.dwp.gov.uk/about-the-odi/odi-news.php#fulfilling

You've got to be in it to win it, innit? As the old saw goes. Yet, somehow I get a nasty taste in my mouth and the strong feeling that I'm being taken for a mug, yet again.

This government is under the impression that putting proposed policy out to consultation is a one-way exercise. They give the punter some proposals and three months in which to respond; then they totally ignore our views and press ahead with their, usually, draconian policies.

This particular consultation venture is a corker. Let's look at the areas the government is seeking to improve the lot of disabled people.

First, they wish to tackle barriers to the aspirations of disabled people. Would those be the barriers they've helped to construct? Such as not reinforcing legislation that debars disabled people from employment. Taking money out of education that would allow disabled children to participate in mainstream schooling. Impoverishing people by stripping them of benefits.

Next, they talk of granting us individual control. Individual control of what, exactly? Incapacity Benefit (IB), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), decent sized care packages, self-directed care and Direct Payments (DP) as well as the Independent Living Fund (ILF), all these gave us a great degree of individual control.

Migrating severely disabled people from IB to JobSeekers Allowance; making it more difficult to claim DLA and the introduction of PIP in the near future, and introducing annual reviews; scrappingILF. All these measures militate against individual control.

Finally, they wish to change attitudes and behaviour towards disabled people. On this point I would say to them, 'Well done' you've succeeded in this particular area.

Yes, attitudes and behaviour towards us, disabled people, has certainly changed. We're widely demonised and vilified by both the paper and visual media. We're blamed for the deficit by Iain Duncan-Smith. We're all cheating the benefits' system, despite the fact that the government can only account for less than 0.5% of disability benefits being fraudulently claimed. We all drive around in expensive cars provided free by the state.

The print press anti-disability propaganda has hardened attitudes, and as a direct result negative behaviour towards disabled people. Disgracefully, the DWP has been compliant in this propaganda war by supplying rags such as the Daily Hate, Sun and Express with lies with which to fill their pages.

So, when this Tory regime talks of changing the public's attitudes and behaviour towards disabled people, forgive the cynics in our ranks for not taking this consultation too seriously. All we're getting here is, yet another, PR exercise by a government hell-bent on dragging us back to a pre-Welfare State Britain where fear ruled and everybody knew their place in the scheme of things.

Brown envelopes, government lies, sour tastes in mouths, new jobs and DLA

A few weeks ago I started work and as so had to inform the DLA of a 'change in circumstances'. Within a few weeks the dreaded brown envelope met me as I crossed the threshold into my flat. Timidly opening this document of doom I read the words and knew they wanted to review my DLA claim.

On informing Blackpool, I had made it clear that the job was only three-days per week; I told them I wasn't even sure I'd manage this over a longer term, and was testing the water week by week. It was also explained that my conditions hadn't changed since the last review some six-years ago; indeed, some of my conditions had worsened with age; and my care needs would be greater as a result of my working.

So much for the government's insistence that they want to get disabled people into work and will give them all the support they need.

Anyway, after receiving the review the whole thing left a sour taste in my mouth. It even took the sparkle off the new job I was really enjoying (and at heart still am).

So, I did what you do in these situations; I sat down, read the form, over and over; and, began to answer each question ensuring the smallest detail was covered.

Proof-reading the finished article I realised how much of my personal life was poured into those pages; just how much of my soul was bared in order to keep hold of a benefit. I wasn't trying to win a competition for a trip on a luxury cruiser; nor was I expecting to succeed in the lottery. No, I was putting my dignity and pride on hold in order that I could retain a benefit that doesn't even pull me up to the level of most non-disabled people in being able to live a 'normal' life.

What do I get out of DLA? The Mobility Component is swallowed up by a Motability car (plus a hefty downpayment); the Care Component used to be wholly subsumed into my care package (plus an extra £18 per week), now props up my laundry and heating bills, as well as those highly-priced disability extras, the ones that don't attract 20% VAT but seem to cost four or five times their non-disability equivalent.

Does anyone really materially gain from DLA? Most people I know either get by on this benefit or it goes some way to helping them get by. The idea that people on DLA are pulling a fast one; that they're somehow gaining an advantage over the rest of society is both risible and insulting.

As for the outcome, I pleased to say that my entitlement remains unchanged - well, until they tear me apart body and soul when I apply for PIP!

Hardest Hit Saturday - 22 October 201

I Attending the Hardest Hit event today in London. Our venue was the amphitheater adjoining the iconic GLA building on the Thames, near Tower Bridge. Though being in the 'pit' of the amphitheater it in no way felt like a 'lions versus Christians' event.

The day was bright and sunny; and, as though divined by architects, the surrounding glass buildings reflected the sun down, thus warming us against a chill wind gently whipping us from the river.

There was a good turnout, around 350, as I was informed. Forgive me for not recalling the names of all the speakers, there were about eight or nine in all - three of whom were politicians. Kirsten Hearn, Chair of Inclusion London, MC'd the event. Chivvying us along by urging us to chant a few, by now standard, slogans - so standard indeed, that I've forgotten the words. But reader, you'll guess the kind of thing: "No ifs, no buts, no benefits' cuts!"...

Sadly, the message from most speakers was the same as that on March 26^th, May 11^th and at the scores of cuts rallies, pickets and protests I've attended since this mob came into government 17 months ago.

My contribution was well received. First of all I delivered a message from Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary; he'd sent a message of support from the TUC's General Council to all the cities that held events today.

Continuing from this I assured the crowd that the trade union movement was, as it proved in both March and May, 100% behind the Hardest Hit and campaigning against cuts in benefits and services for disabled people.

Remembering where I was I sent a message of warning to Mayor Johnson; telling him we were on his lawn and if necessary would be back on it again to protest against his party's vicious cuts if things didn't change.

The remainder of my speech touched on various areas of the cuts. At the end of the speech I gave a plug to the excellent document by Demos 'Coping with the Cuts, 2011', a title laced with irony, I hope! Incidentally, I'd recommend this to my reader; follow this link from Scope:

http://www.scope.org.uk/help-and-information/publications/coping-cuts-2011

Hardest Hit Event 22 October 2011

London

Saturday 22 October, 2011
Rally 11am – 1pm
Outside the GLA Building (City Hall), Queen’s Walk

Disabled people in London, along with their families and friends, are taking to the streets in London to protest against Government cuts to disability benefits and services.  Join us and help to make sure all our voices are heard.

The rally is taking place outside London’s iconic GLA building (City Hall) on Queen’s Walk.  There will be music from Dartford band Rush Hour who will be keeping us entertained from 11am, with speeches from 11.45 plus the opportunity for you to make your voice heard.  We plan to have a range of speakers who will keep us informed and entertained.  Confirmed so far is Chair of Inclusion London, Kirsten Hearn, who will share her views on the proposed changes and Cllr Darren Johnson AM.  There will also be the chance to hear the experiences of local people talking about what the proposed cuts to benefits and services will mean to them as disabled people trying to live independent and fulfilling lives.  If you would like to be one of those having your voice heard there will be a chance on the day for you to tell us what the changes mean to you.

For a detailed map of the area, including public transport links click here.  The nearest tube is London Bridge which is served by the Jubilee and Northern lines.  If you would like help in planning your journey then the Transport for London website has a journey planner that covers all public transport options: www.journeyplanner.org.  Details about the accessibility of different types of public transport can be found here.  There are limited opportunities for parking in central London.  For details of where to park and how the blue badge scheme operates in Westminster click here. 

This gives advice on the different parking regulations in force and has a link to the Blue Badge London website that has a searchable list of the parking available.

As new speakers and contributors are confirmed we will be adding them to this page, so do keep an eye out for any changes.  Please also help us spread the word about Hardest Hit.  London is one of many cities across the South East that have been severely affected by budget cuts.  Across the region people are seeing deep cuts in services such as social care and transport, which they rely on to remain independent.  Please come along, and bring as many friends and family as you can.  Help us to send a clear message to the Government: stop these cuts.

To register your interest in the rally please email: london@hardesthit.org.ukor call 020 8522 7433

Lambeth Pan Disability Forum Thursday 6 October 2011

Lambeth Pan Disability Forum Thursday 6 October 2011

Hello Everyone


The Lambeth Pan-Disability Forum will be meeting next on Thursday 6 Octobern between 2.30 pm and 4 pm. Our meeting will take place, as usual, on the 1st Floor of 336 Brixton Road, SW9 7AA (the Lambeth Accord building).


We'll be discussing issues around the cuts as well as TaxiCard and Care provision. So, please come along and have your say.


Thanks


Seán

Remploy Open Meeting

Dear Comrade

The Remploy London Union Reps would like to invite you to an open meeting to discuss the findings of the Sayce Review on Supported Employment and its implications for Remploy factories and disabled workers.

Speakers to include, Len McCluskey, Unite GS, Paul Kenny, GMB GS, Kevin Hepworth, Unite Remploy Consortium Officer, Julie Haynes, Unite Remploy Consortium Rep, Mark Holloway, GMB Remploy Consortium Rep. The meeting is taking place on Tuesday 20th September from 6.00 pm to 8.00 pm in Unite House, 128 Theobalds Road, Holborn, WC1X 8TN.

http://mt0.google.com/vt/data=bZeqZHWrDiUHwiocUvPX9dNL263E5FUG30MlogJhYdOmBREGy1aZ0kUgssnDLvF3XRPP5Px_HiqXNG1sUsDb9oG15EZohwU_7XN_bXA


Public Transport links:

Buses
The following bus routes serve the Holborn area:
1, 78, 19, 25, 38, 55, 59, 91, 68, 98, 171, 168, 188, 242, 243 & 521

Tube Stations
The following tube stations serve the Holborn area:
Holborn & Russell Square

Railway Stations
The following main line stations are within a short distance of Holborn:
Euston, Kings Cross and St Pancras

Seán McGovern

More Contempt from ATOS Healthcare 'Professionals'!

In the past few days information has come to light of just how contemptuous some ATOS healthcare workers are of the people they're charged with giving independent medical assessments. These assessments, to determine qualification for different levels of benefit, should be carried out both honestly and objectively. Indeed, the quality of a person's future existence hangs on the assessment.

In one case an assessor has been posting her feelings of sick and disabled clients on her Facebook page in Middlesbrough.

This paragon of the caring profession, Debbie Carr, talks about sick and disabled people in terms of: "Oh god another day here with the down and outs arggggg!" Adding: "Well that's the end of my holidays! Back to work tomorrow with the down and outs I suppose..." And: "Thank god it's Friday last day in this god forsaken place with the down and outs!"

Whatever her personal views of people, this kind of behaviour is unacceptable. ATOS is looking into this breach of...ethics?

Another pearl of professionalism from ATOS's jewellery-box of employees is one Richard Treasure (now there's a name to live up to), an administrator for the outfit. Mr Treasure, somewhat of the minimalist school of insults, simply dismisses sick and disabled people as 'parasitic wankers'. Mr Treasure has been reported to NWCAC.

Stop Disability Discrimination in Lambeth!

Equal rights are NOT special rights

Demonstration outside 2-7 Town Hall Parade in Brixton
Friday 29 July - 1-2pm

Disabled colleagues in HRE have been treated appallingly by senior management and HR during the recent housing restructure. They have been denied appropriate opportunities over the years for development and training and were then expected to compete in interviews with their peers in a process in which they were clearly disadvantaged as a result of their being Disabled. The result unsurprisingly is that these colleagues are now at risk of redundancy. We believe that management and HR have used this restructure to deliberately remove these colleagues from their posts. We believe the current budget reductions and cuts are being used as a smoke screen to allow managers to get rid of staff they see as being difficult, underperforming or problematic to manage. We will not stand for such blatant disability discrimination.

UNISON Stewards in HRE and Disabled and non Disabled UNISON members and others have called a Demonstration to expose this unfair and discriminatory treatment of our members.

We urge you to attend this demonstration on Friday to stand in solidarity with your colleagues so we can send a strong and collective message to Lambeth Housing management and HR that we will not accept such appalling treatment of some of our most vulnerable colleagues!

Stand against disability discrimination – don’t let this happen!

What Price Dignity?

ILF can be applied for if you have a local authority care package of at least £320 per week. Unfortunately, the scheme closed its books to new claimants earlier this year; and, those currently in receipt of this resource have only until 2015 when funding stops - I've not heard of a replacement scheme coming into operation.

The borough in which I live has a set rate for overnight care, around £65 per night. Therefore, the annual bill for this portion of a care package would amount to around £23,660, plus additional statutory costs.

To have turned down ILF one must assume that Elaine McDonald qualified for the resource. Given that ILF pays up to a maximum of £475 per week (this is for Group 2, people who've applied after April 1993) this would not have fully covered the costs of Ms McDonald's night care needs - add-ons such as Income Tax, NI and other costs would increase the amount.

This case interests me on a couple of levels. First of all there is the inhumane aspect of expecting people to lie in their own bladder or bowel waste for periods of time as high as 12 hours.

Second, I too have a neurogenic bladder, as a result of a head injury, that forces me out of bed sometimes five or six times a night; luckily I have a commode within a short lurch of my bed, though I've also fallen over and at times failed to reach the commode and peed myself. If I fall or pee myself I phone one or other of my PA/carers to come and help - but this means I have to renegotiate their hours for the rest of the week, or week after, in order that they don't exceed their contracted hours.

The commode was given to me instead of night cover I'd requested.

My BB (bladder and bowel) nurse is trying out a range of aids to assist me. My main problem is leakage and wetting myself because I'm not fleet enough of foot to get to the loo on time. So far self-catheterising has failed; also, a sheath with a bag attachment for night time use didn't work (I did as suggested, that is put the sheath under my pillows when I'd used it - two problems with that a.) my pillows stank of pee within a couple of days, and b.) the sheath fell down the back of the bed and stayed there until my PA/carer arrived the next morning.

My BB nurse, and earlier my Urologist, suggested a suprapubic catheter. This is a device surgically fitted which allows the self draining of the bladder. Whenever I can I keep away from intrusive surgery. My life has been one full of doctors prodding, feeling, injecting things and cutting into me; enough is enough, I've reached a stage in life that says 'leave my body alone!'

What the future holds for Elaine McDonald is uncertain, as it is for me. It is a safe bet though, that somewhere along the line the price we'll pay is first the surrender of our dignity followed by illnesses and disease brought about by urinary or faecal contamination.

Well, at least we now have the answer to 'What price dignity'...at the most £22,000, but I suspect there are people out their who have had theirs taken away for a lot less.

Lambeth SOS Meeting

Thursday 7th July – 6:30pm at the Vida Walsh Centre on Saltoun Road, just south of Windrush Square. Everyone is very welcome!

The agenda is below. If you have anything to add please join our email discussion list and let us know.

• Brief Report from J30 events, Streatham festival and others, specifically is there anything we can improve on for next time and is there anything that has come from it in terms of action going forward.
• Prep for cross union planning meeting on the 14 July.
• Need 3 people (or less if doubling up) to right 150-200 words for the next newsletter. Suggested topics are: what next after J30, health group update, welfare group update.
• Action to support unison with axed call centre staff whose jobs are getting cut and outsourced to Southampton. Suggestions so far include
morning stalls at office and cold calling the centre repeatedly with anti cuts advice.
• Start planning a meeting in Vassal ward - arrange a date with Kingsley?
• Lambeth county show and the urban green fair - arrange volunteers.
• What to do with the "i love my library because" posters
• AOB

Direct Payments

I've been in receipt of direct payments for around five-years. At times I will have several thousand pounds in the DP account. Living on a low waged income money is tight; and, so on occasions I've been tempted to dip into the care account for some short-term financial relief. Thankfully, these instances have never gone beyond the temptation stage - nor, I'm certain will I succumb.

What keeps me vigilant is the fact that my LA can at any time ask to see my care account 'books'; and I must be available to present them with an up-to-date reckoning of all receipts and expenditure - maybe not an up-to-the-day record as I only submit returns on a quarterly basis.

My advice on DP's is to keep on top of the paperwork. If you're unable to handle the payroll end of business, engage a company that delivers this kind of service; though be careful here as some offer a more comprehensive service than others do - after all there is no point in paying for a service that expects you to complete, for instance your employees tax returns.

Most local authorities give advice on DPs either directly or through third-party voluntary sector set-ups. I'd advise any DP users, if they begin to get into difficulties, to look for help sooner rather than later. Issues financial have a horrible habit of compounding; and, what starts in month one as a few pounds gone adrift may end up in month six as a substantial amount of money.

Lambeth Pan-Disability Forum AGM

Dear Colleagues

The Lambeth Pan-Disability Forum (LPDF) is holding its AGM on Thursday 14th July. This event will take place at the Lambeth Acord Building, 336 Brixton Road, SW9 7AA from 1pm - 4pm - lunch will be provided from 1pm.

The AGM is open to all members of the Forum; and, you will be receiving a letter through the post with your invitation. So, I look forward to seeing you all on the day.

In the struggle

Seán McGovern

Chair of the Lambeth Pan-Disability Forum

Daily Hate Plumbs Greater Depths of Depravity

Just when we thought the Daily Hate had sunk lower than a Tory's sense of compassion so they show there are even greater depths of depravity yet to plumb. According to the Daily Hate the teachers' strike is to blame for girl being hit and killed by a tree - in reference to the tragic death of a young girl hit by a falling tree branch whilst in the park yesterday.

When I picked up this story from 'urban 75' (U75) it didn't surprise me. For that matter I imagine there's a lot of us out there, disabled people, that look at this kind of headline, and while we're saddened at the context of the story, we're not overly shocked that a newspaper can have the gall and insensitivity to present a piece in biased a way.

Maybe we've become inured to scum like the Daily Hate misrepresenting us as a group. In the past few years they, with a little help from their friends in high places, have done such a hatchet job of demonizing us that the shock value from other stories has become devalued.

About 6 months ago Ian Duncan-Smith blamed IB claimants for the financial deficit we're in. A situation brought about by bankers and the elements within the financial sector losing control; and, governments happy to play along with casino capitalism as long it was aces being turned over and not deuces or treys.

ADS was widely criticised within disabled circles, and as I recall quite a few voices from the political Left joined in the condemnation. However, once again someone high in the echelons of authority managed to walk away from an outrageous slur on a group of, mostly, innocent people, unpunished.

The story of the girl's death led a U75 user to ask "Hopefully this will awaken people to the role the media are playing in pushing an anti-union agenda." And, I say 'Amen' to that sentiment; and, while this awakening is taking place they could also look at the role the media is playing in the demonizing of disabled people.

Activity in Windrush Square 30 June 2011

Hi all, and, thanks Richard

Sorry I haven't been in contact sooner on this. However, I have just got
back from my National Union conference where we were discussing the cuts
and how to fight back and protect our jobs and our services.

I am pleased to say I was able to speak at the conference in front of
delegates from across the whole country.

I talked about what is happening to Disabled people both those who are
at work and those who are not and the devastating effects the cuts are
having on us. I also spoke about Disabled People Against Cuts both here
in Lambeth and Nationally and how we are organising. I got a good round
of applause when I said we would be supporting the Teachers, College
|Lecturers etc on June 30th.

Which brings me to what is happening in Windrush Square on June 30th.

We will be gathering in the square at around 10.30am to greet the
Teachers and Lecturers who will be marching down into Brixton from their
picket lines.

There will be people from several organisations including Pensioners
groups, Childrens services, Librarians, and, ourselves.

There will be music and some speakers.

It will be an opportunity for us to demonstrate our opposition to the
cuts to the People First group from 336, the cuts to Taxicards, Freedom
passes, the Contributions policy the moves to privatise services, cuts
to Legal Aid and the attacks on our benefits.

South London Disabled People Against Cuts welcomes everyone who wants to
join in on the day and to be part of joining the whole community
together to stop the cuts.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible there on the day!

Regards and solidarity

Roger

Roger Lewis
South London Disabled People Against Cuts (SLDPAC)

The ‘Protest and Survive’ Meeting

The ‘Protest and Survive’ meeting was possibly small in number; I counted 30 in all. We had some good speakers, people representing different age groups and strands of the disability community in Lambeth.

The speakers’ broached subjects ranging from how Tory-led policy on social housing was, and would in the future, discriminating against the poorest, including, of course, disabled people.

Ellen Lebethe spoke of how the cuts were hitting older people. But more importantly, she told us the importance of unity and solidarity.

Roddy Slorich presented his case from the perspective of mental health service users.

A representative of People First Lambeth told of how their funding was cut earlier in the year. She and her ex PFL workmates were finding it very difficult to find work. But, she was still willing to fight.

A motion was moved by Roger Lewis, seconded, and agreed by the meeting to resolve:

1. To convene a South London Disabled People Against the Cuts campaigning group and affiliate to the national Disabled People Against the Cuts network. 
2. To agree to support local trade unions and others taking industrial action on 30^th June in defence of their jobs and services, particularly in Education, and to use the day of protest to highlight the effects the government cuts are having on Disabled people generally.
3. To hold an event in Windrush Square in Brixton on June 30^th alongside Childrens Adventure Play services and others to support the services that have already been cut locally or which are in danger of being cut, including the cut in funding to People First Lambeth, a voluntary group for people with learning difficulties.
4. To support similar activities in other boroughs in South London in conjunction with any activities being organised through local anti cuts organisations.

A slightly discordant note was struck towards the end of the meeting when two people criticised the cuts movement for not achieving anything and leaving things too late, a reference to the three poorly attended consultations on Care, TaxiCard, and the Freedom Pass.

However, these criticisms were countered as speakers who followed gave a more positive view of successes such as Birmingham Council being defeated; others spoke of the recently successful marches, the Lambeth Assembly, etc.

Declaration By Lambeth SOS

This declaration was agreed at our Peoples Assembly on May 21 2011. Please bring amendments to our next assembly.

http://lambethsaveourservices.org/2011/05/24/we-agree-our-declaration/

The Lambeth ‘People’s Assembly’, 21 May 2011

The Lambeth ‘People’s Assembly’ showed that there is a lot of controlled anger in Lambeth ready to be harnessed into action/s. As a 'people's assembly' it lived up to its title. There was a wide cross-section of people and groups from, mainly, across the borough. 

John McDonnell gave a contemporary take on the deficit and how this government was mismanaging the recovery. While Ted Knight made a very good contribution from a historical perspective.

Kingsley Abrams received a rapturous welcome when introduced as the only Labour Councillor to make a stand against the cuts. Councillor Abrams was swiftly punished by the Labour Group in Lambeth and suspended for three months, ostensibly for comments alleged to have been made; but, in reality for breaking Party discipline.

Councillor Abrams

Ruth Cashman, a librarian and trade unionist working in Lambeth, drew a picture of the range of cuts across the borough going on to explain the wider implications surrounding the closure of libraries, the elimination of park rangers and the sacking of park rangers.

Anita Wright spoke passionately on education. She also flagged up the importance of the Lambeth Trades Council within the SOS and across the fight against the cuts.

I chaired the disability workshop. Sadly, we didn't have time to cover all 17 or 18 areas of cuts; and, by agreement we focused on how we as a group could pull together and fight against and assist one and other on benefits' cuts.

Future events for disabled people in Lambeth include the Lambeth Pan-Disability Forum’s ‘Protest and Survive’ meeting. This is an open meeting for disabled people in Lambeth, and interested parties, to meet and discuss how we as a group can resist the Tory cuts. It was also agreed that we fully support whatever action was taking place on 30th June.

Seán McGovern speaking

Left to right seated at table

Ellen Lebethe, Anita Wright and Richard Farnos

Ellen Lebethe, Lambeth SOS and Lambeth Pensioners Action Group, gave a grave account of the services elderly people in the Borough were losing; however, this gloomy news was tempered by Ellen’s indomitable fighting-back attitude.  

Queers Against the Cuts spokesperson, Richard Farnos, told how the LGBT community was disproportionately dependent on resources, including health. Communities should not be divided to “fight for the crumbs from the table,” he said.

The assembly was encouraging. There is a real passion out there for action. Hopefully, future assemblies will attract more people; hopefully we can get across to those thousands of people who think they're not political, yet if the surface were scratched deep enough their political soul would be bared.

Lambeth Pan Disability Forum Thursday 9 June

Hello Everyone

The Lambeth Pan-Disability Forum will be meeting next on Thursday 9 June between 2 and 4 pm. Our meeting will take place, as usual, on the 1st Floor of 336 Brixton Road, SW9 7AA (the Lambeth Accord building).

We'll be discussing issues around the cuts as well as the Lambeth Country Show. So, please come along and have your say.

Thanks

Seán 

Direct Action, yes. Reckless behaviour, no!

Was the driver of the bus aware of two people handcuffed to the rear of his vehicle? Can anyone imagine the horror of two protestors being dragged behind a bus; because, I doubt the driver could see the wheelies below window level and in effect in a ‘blind’ position, as they don’t have mirrors there.

While I applaud direct action; and fully agree with the right to a fully integrated and accessible transport system, I don’t agree with what could result in reckless behaviour.

As a trade unionist in a union that organises bus drivers I’ve had some approach me with their concerns on this very issue. No bus driver would drive off knowing there were people attached to his or her bus. And, the ones I spoke to feared that one day someone may carry out this form of protest without their knowing; and, they are terrified of the consequences.

So, may I suggest when you are carrying out this kind of action, please, let the driver know. It isn’t fair to put other workers on the spot like this. 

Oh, My God!

While chairing the TUC Disability Conference this morning one of the staff quietly spoke to me on my use of offensive language. As you might imagine I was mortified and began wracking my brain(s) as to what I’d said to offend someone, or people.

Probably blushing, I asked the official what exactly I’d said that had excited the complaint. “You said, ‘for God’s sake’” she replied grinning broadly. Of course, relieved, I laughed explaining that as a Catholic atheist some vestiges of my formative years of indoctrination had, sadly, stuck with me.

This conversation took place off mike. However, I was a little disconcerted not wanting a protracted off-agenda debate to take place; and asked whether I should apologise. ‘No’, was the response. Just as well really, for I may have apologised by saying “Good Lord. Did I really say that? I’m very sorry.”

This post isn’t an attempt to make light of the fact that language can offend and perceive to be offensive. Had I used ‘thank Christ for that’ or used the term ‘Jesus, Mary, and Joseph’, which I often do when expressing my sadness and anger at some act of injustice or another, then fair enough; though, these were the Irish Catholic mild oaths with which I grew up.

They weren’t spoken in order to offend, but rather as an expression of exasperation or even sadness of a given event or happening.

As far as I recall on the issue of ‘disability language’ the only word of contention that I recall from the two-day conference was ‘vulnerable’. Although it was used on several occasions the context tended to be in and around two of the guest sessions, one on disability hate crime and the other was the BlackTriangle FaceBook social networking site.

Language can be a tricky tool; and, in the wrong hands quite dangerous. However, we need to be careful how we get our message across to other people. When someone uses explicitly offensive or hurtful language they need to be pulled up straight away and told they’re out of order.

Tell me, what we do when people use language, which to all intent and purpose is inoffensive, yet different groups within the disability ‘community’ find offensive. An example I’ve come across is ‘disabled people’ versus ‘people with disabilities’ (phrases that I interchange in speech). People have told me off for using ‘vision impaired’ instead of ‘visual impaired’ – I’ve use the former ever since a blind friend of mine objected to the latter on the basis that he regarded ‘visually impaired’ suggested he was ugly; and, he is of the opinion that ‘vision impaired’ is a more accurate description.

Recently, while taking part in a breaking down barriers education course another of the class members complained about the use of politically incorrect language and terminology. Considering we were all disabled and activists, the protestations seemed inappropriate. When challenged all she could come up with was the use of ‘disabled people’ instead of, in her school of thought, ‘people with disabilities’.

At this point I told the tutor that if we’re going to have every single thing we say dissected and politicised that I’d be off. Who wants to take part in a course where one person attempts to gag the majority on what are quite frankly issues of personal preference. Yes, there is a fine line between proper and improper language. And, where it is patently obvious that someone is being offensive, especially in a group of disabled people, in my experience, they’ll be brought to book in double quick time.

As things are with us now, we need, more than ever before, greater engagement with other groups of people under attack by this vicious Tory regime. Whatever alliances we forge must be on equal terms. And for this to happen we’re going to have to educate many people, especially in language and phraseology. My fear is that if we become overly proscriptive with people who wish to join forces with us, we could be in danger of, not so much alienating ourselves, but more putting others on the defensive, scared to say things in case they inadvertently ‘offend’.

So, going back to the ‘god’ expletive; was I the sinner or sinned against?

Protest and Survive!

Dear Comrades

The Lambeth Pan-Disability Forum is holding a 'Protest and Survive! meeting on Thursday 2nd June, 2011. The meeting will be held at the Accord Centre, 336 Brixton Road, London, SW9 7AA from 6 pm to 8 pm. Disabled people, friends and family are most welcome. So, come along and lend your voice to an ever-growing protest movement against these savage cuts and the dismantling of OUR Welfare State!

Speakers include:

• Councillor Kingsley Abrams (Independent Labour)
• Roddy Slorich Disabled People Against the Cuts
• Ellen Lebethe Lambeth SOS and Lambeth Pensioners and Lambeth 
• Ray Ludford Lambeth Trades' Council

Seán McGovern

Chair of the Lambeth Pan-Disability Forum

Yes, Atos does kill!

On another site someone wrote in defence of Atos Origin the following:

“Guys I would advise caution…. Atos kills no-one! It’s the impact of their assessment that has such diabolical results but the decisions to alter benefits is down to the DWP – that leads to the dispair etc.”

We know from people who have worked for Atos, used their systems and been instructed to find in favour of the DWP, that an Atos assessor is a key part of the whole process.

If Atos had any scruples or professional integrity it would point to the short fallings of the computer questionnaire and refuse to operate a system that has such obvious built-in bias. The fact that they continue to assist with an obviously flawed (even the designer of the system believes it is not fit for purpose) system makes them as guilty of the deaths of poorly assessed people as their paymasters the DWP.

Thanks AfterAtos

After Atos, thanks for doing what you do; by exposing this scum, Atos Origins, and all the other poverty pimps out there snout-deep in the spoils of our Welfare State, you’re carrying out a real service to disabled people.

If they do close you down. Fuck them; we’ll open up another site; and another. They may have the power to manipulate our medical tests to boost their own bank balances; but as long as we have the strength to shout ‘Foul!’ and ‘Killers!’ the profits they make will stink and our words will ring in their ears as they spend it.

Atos Origin Launch Legal Threats

Atos Origin is threatening an anti-Atos site, ‘After Atos’ with legal action. The administrators of the site received a copy of ‘Cease and Desist’ notice (link below) from the organisation who ‘carry out’ ‘medicals’ on behalf of the DWP.

http://afteratos.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Cease-and-Desist-Letter.pdf

‘After Atos’ hasn’t yet decided whether to comply with the notice or take another stance. Please, visit their site (link below) and bolster their fight against the forces of neo-con evil with a resounding message of solidarity and support!

http://afteratos.org/2011/05/20/atos-receive-cease-desist-letter-atos-origin/

Birmingham City Council care funding cuts unlawful

web ref: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-13455068

19 May 2011

Birmingham City Council acted unlawfully over a decision to reduce its provision of care for disabled people, High Court judges have said.

The judgement has implications for local authorities in England and Wales.

Thursday's ruling said local councils must abide by existing disability laws to eliminate discrimination.

It said councils must take account of people's disabilities, even where that involves treating disabled persons more favourably than others.

Karen Ashton of Public Law Solicitors: "Disabled people have a voice

'Climate of cuts'

Across the UK there are 122 councils, as well as Birmingham, that currently only provide care to people with either substantial or critical care needs.

The judges said all public bodies had a duty to follow the disability discrimination law, while acknowledging that placed "significant and onerous" obligations on local authorities.

Nick TriggleHealth correspondent, BBC News

The social care system is creaking at the seams. A combination of the ageing population and squeeze on spending means Birmingham is not alone in needing to make cuts.

One of the easiest ways for councils to do this is to raise the eligibility threshold at which people are entitled to help. There are four levels of need - low, moderate, substantial and critical.

Most councils are already at substantial - 116 out of 150 to be precise - leaving them with only one option - restricting support to only those with the severest need.

This, of course, excludes many people who have for years been relying on social services and raises the question whether their rights have been infringed.

Many believe this judgement tips the balance back towards the individual by suggesting that councils can no longer take it for granted that they can keep on cutting back on social care - a statutory service after all - just because money is tight.

The families of four severely disabled people fought Birmingham council's spending cuts decision and took legal action against the authority.

Solicitor Karen Ashton represented the families and welcomed the High Court ruling in London saying it gave disabled people a voice in law.

'No new money'

She said the council's proposed policy would have had "devastating" results.

"With consequences of this kind, then councils must look if savings can be made elsewhere," she added.

Birmingham City Council said it welcomed the greater clarity of its duties with regard to the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.

Peter Hay, the council's strategic director of adults and communities, said: "The original dilemma between reducing services in different areas remains.

"There is no new money as a result of the judgement and hard choices about meeting growing needs with fewer resources will have to be made by local authorities."

The Conservative-Liberal Democrat run authority had proposed the cuts as part of a plan to save £212m.

In April a court sitting in Birmingham made an interim judgement that the council had acted unlawfully and this latest ruling is the full finding.

'Strong message'

In a statement Unison said: "The council should rightly be condemned for defending the indefensible. Thousands of vulnerable people in the city would have been put at risk if it were not for the intervention of the courts."

Deafblind charity Sense said the ruling should be a warning to all authorities.

Click to plaIts head of legal services Kari Gerstheimer said other councils in England and Wales may be considering making similar cuts to social care.

"We hope that this judgement sends a very strong message to those councils, that we are in a climate of cuts.

"But even in a climate of cuts there are choices to be made and a civilised society does not choose to cut services to people with the greatest need - that's disabled people."

Previously the council said it had identified £118m worth of cuts by 2014-15 from its adult and communities directorate and needed to save £308m in total in the next four years due to the central government cuts outlined in the Spending Review.

It said only people whose needs were judged to be "critical" would qualify for council-funded care. Following the Adult social care judicial reviewon Thursday, the council said it would revise its plans and re-run the public consultation.

A council spokesman added: "It is important to point out that Mr Justice Walker has said that we were considerate and thoughtful of disabled people, in making our new offer, that our consultation was extensive but that it needed to be fully informed by impact assessment."