BCODP N ewsletter N ovember 2002– Issue 51 A CALLTO ARMS! Andy Rickell,Chief Executive,BCODP Your Movement needs you ! Whatever else you were going to do on December 10th, cancel it ! If you want proper rights for disabled people then you and every disabled person you know needs to be at Westminster Hall, part of the Houses of Parliament, at 2pm on December 10th . A mass lobby has been arranged on that day, which is Human Rights Day, to object to the lack of a Disability Bill in the Queen’s Speech, and the consequent lack of a sound legal basis for disabled people’s rights. The government is making a political judgement that disabled people’s rights is not as important as other issues. If we want better laws, we need to get them to change their opinion, and the best way to do that is a show of strength – a mass lobby, with as many disabled people as possible. The mass lobbies of the early 90’s had a major part to play in forcing the government to introduce the Disability Discrimination Act. We always knew, and more and more people are agreeing with us, that the DDA is pretty toothless and we want something much better, and that is why we have put together the Disabled People’s Rights and Freedoms Bill. Mrs Thatcher once said about why she felt she did BCODP-Fightingfor our human and civil rights! Contacts &Acknowledgements Head Office -Derby Chief Executive..............................................AndyRickell PAto Chief Executive.....................................Jayne Foulds Groups Development Manager ...................... Sandy Marshall Administration Assistant to Groups Development Manager ...................... Vicki Stowell Accounts Officer............................................. Bob Crane AdministrationOfficer.....................................Sheila Furniss Administration Assistant ................................. Kevin Towler Information Officer/Editor of Activate..............Anastasia Kelly Information Assistant...................................... Clare McGrath Research Officer ............................................ Margaret Bordogna Crane National Centre for Independent Living -London Director Vacant Information Officer Sian Vasey Information Assistant Catriona Nicholson Administrator Barry Clarke Development Officer Laura Luckhurst Finance Administrator Bryan Elkington Contracts Manager Brenda Joyce Address: BCODP, Litchurch Plaza, Litchurch Lane, Derby DE24 8AA Telephone: 01332 295551 Fax: 01332 295580 Minicom: 01332 295581 Email: Activate@bcodp.org.uk or general@bcodp.org.uk BCODP wish to acknowledge ‘CHANGE’ Picturebank and Access First by People First for the pictures used throughout Activate. Disclaimer: The material found within Activate is the opinion of the writer, and not necessarily the opinion of BCODP. Activate is available in other formats on request ‘Activate’ from BCODP BCODP Newsletter November 2002– Issue 51 Inside: ACall toArms................................................................Front Page Contacts & Acknowledgements ..................................................... 2 Inside............................................................................................. 3 AGM and Conference a Personal View......................................... 4 UK Disabled People’s Parliament.................................................. 7 BCODP’s Seminars and Postcard Campaign..............................11 Equalities Workshop at the AGM and Conference……………….12 Events..........................................................................................12 Advert: Saneline ..........................................................................13 Advert: Disabled People and Mental Health Support Needs.......14 Book Review: Mental Health Today.............................................15 Advertise in Activate ....................................................................15 Advert: NCIL Director, BCODP ...................................................18 Change Into Jobs ........................................................................18 Campaigning — Queen’s Speech Day ........................................19 Campaigning — Mass Lobby of Parliament ................................20 Campaigning — European Year ‘Bus’ .........................................20 Campaigning — Copyright Bill.....................................................21 DAN Spoils the Party ...................................................................22 DAN Stages National Meeting .....................................................24 Book Review: Social Work and Direct Payments .......................26 Campaign to close SCOPE’s Segregated Schools/Institutions ...27 Books...........................................................................................28 Disabled Women Conference: Hold Up Half the Sky ..................29 Churches Together In England ....................................................31 Events..........................................................................................31 New Home Study Scheme...........................................................32 New Books and Publications .......................................................34 The National’s Repertoire............................................................35 Letters..........................................................................................36 Disability History Week................................................................38 Inclusion Week/BCODP Membership/DRC Survey.....................39 ‘Activate’ from BCODP A CALLTO ARMS! not have to listen to the Child Poverty Action Group “but they have no soldiers.” If we want our campaign for proper human and civil rights laws to be successful, we need to show how many “soldiers” we have. Whatever reasons you need to have to get to London, like Christmas shopping or sightseeing or visiting a friend, then find them. It is time to give Parliament and the government a wake up call. We need YOUR support , and those of everyone you know. Help us to help you. See you there. AGM and Conference A PersonalView Andy Rickell,Chief Executive,BCODP vast amount of paperwork that is processed by the Derby office. Preparations for this year’s conference began shortly after last year’s ended, and in my opinion the effort put in by those involved showed through. It is an important “set piece” of BCODP’s year, a crucial part of a democratic organisation’s business. As far as possible I let the Conference Business Committee and the staff assigned to it, primarily Sheila Furniss and Kevin Towler, get on with it. My main job is to make sure the resources and funding are in place, and to make any executive decisions necessary to allow the CBC and their staff support to carry out their roles, which I believe this year they did very well. This year we had the AGM first to make sure it was quorate, which was a problem last year when we held it on the Sunday morning. Close to half the voting membership attended this year, which was a remarkable result, and Many trees die so that BCODP can run its annual conference, to produce the “Many trees die so that BCODP can run its annual conference….” ‘Activate’ from BCODP showed the commitment of the membership when there are important issues to debate. The resolutions that got passed were important – to change National Council membership to enable more direct participation by local groups and groups representing multiply oppressed disabled people – which will be implemented when National Council comes up for reelection next autumn. The other resolution passed was to change the area that the constitution says BCODP covered to be the whole of the UK rather than “Britain”, which is the area we have always worked across anyway (I am sure our members in Northern Ireland are much happier now!). Resolutions to increase the voting entitlement of each rep from a multiply oppressed group of disabled people, and to require new member groups to be 100% run and controlled by disabled people were lost. However I expect the 100% issue to return each year – one day it may well be passed. One argument against the 100% requirement is the difficulty of finding disabled people who can be Treasurers. Sounds like BCODP needs to set up a training resource for would-be Treasurers! Delays associated with the auditing of the accounts delayed the issuing of the Annual Report and its availability in alternative formats. The auditors are on notice! Bert Massie, Chair of DRC For the first time ever Bert Massie, the Chair of the Disability Rights Commission, addressed conference and answering some challenging questions. The argument of the CBC in favour of Bert attending was the need for the DRC to be accountable to the disabled people’s movement. I think the DRC is recognising that BCODP and the movement are actually its strongest supporters (our criticism indicates how important an effective DRC is to us), and they need to engage better with us. Whilst conference then attended a number of interesting workshops, there were hastily held meetings of National Council members and others to look at how best to enable the debate on the future of NCIL to be a positive experience. A seven point plan was put together which was then debated and passed overwhelmingly. There was recognition from a number of speakers about the ‘Activate’ from BCODP importance of agreeing a positive way forward in the best interests of the movement and I believe the debate was extremely mature and that the outcome will be seen to be in the interests of BCODP and the future operation of NCIL. A working group will now be set up to plan and oversee the transfer of NCIL to a new independent organisation. I am not a fan of cabaret but the evening’s entertainment from a number of clearly talented disabled performers was very well received in spite of attendees already having had a long day, and the performance area was packed. Those attendees that were still around for the Sunday morning session appeared more subdued than the previous day. The day began with a brief presentation on the proposed UK Disabled People’s Parliament project, and the business plan is now going out to all member groups for consultation and feedback. We then went through the motion-based part of the conference. Most of the motions received overwhelming support. However there was an impassioned debate about further involvement with Rights Now, the issue being that Rights Now includes the Big 7 charities with whom we have serious concerns, before the motion which supported BCODP’s continued involvement was narrowly passed. Also a motion calling for BCODP’s support for all disabled people’s employment was rejected after delegates pointed out that it would cover sheltered employment which BCODP is opposed to. ‘Activate’ from BCODP UK Disabled People’s Parliament Andy Rickell,Chief Executive,BCODP BCODP is currently carrying out a consultation amongst you, our members, on a business plan for what we have called the UK Disabled People’s Parliament (UKDPP). All member groups will be sent a copy of the business plan. If you have not got a copy and would like one then please contact the office. If we could email it to you that would be best but we will send it in alternative formats if required. We are very keen to have your views on the UKDPP, positive and negative, to inform National Council about how they should take it forward. The UKDPP and the business plan comes after a year of work on reviewing BCODP. It takes into account the views of member groups who have been asked twice about their ideas for the future of BCODP. The business plan was put together by a steering group and has been supported in principle by the National Council to go out to you for your views on it. It is not cast in stone and we want to use the plan to get you to think about what BCODP should be doing in the future. The UKDPP was discussed at the Conference and delegates gave their initial views on the business plan. We now want yours. Please can we have your ideas by 30th November, or at least let us know by then if you want to give your views and by when you will be able to do so. We need your views as soon as you can because BCODP needs to be raising money very urgently for whatever we eventually decide to do. This is because a lot of our funding ends early next year, and if we do not raise the money in time we will have to stop doing a lot of things that we do now, and a number of good staff will lose their jobs. Some of the things that we will run out of money for are the Groups Development Project (helping new and existing groups of disabled people), “Activate”, the Conference, a good quality Annual Report, keeping the web- site updated, information about funding, general information enquiries of any kind, policy committees and our regional seminars and we will only be able to work on a few campaigns. I hope you can appreciate how important this is to BCODP. ‘Activate’ from BCODP The business plan looks quite complicated but it is based on some simple ideas and we would like your views on whether or not you agree with them. Idea 1 – BCODP needs to be more effective at campaigning and lobbying Parliament to get full human and civil rights laws for disabled people. Do you agree ? Idea 2 – What makes BCODP most effective at campaigning is because we are the voice of disabled people. Otherwise we are seen as just one more disability organisation by government, and lots of those other organisations have much more money to spend on campaigning than BCODP, so our voices are not heard. Do you agree ? Idea 3 – If we say we are the voice of disabled people, then there should be a way in which every disabled person in the UK can have a say in what BCODP says to government about what disabled people want. Do you agree ? Idea 4 – So we can show that we do listen to all disabled people, the people who represent BCODP should be chosen by all the disabled people that want to, not just those who are currently members of BCODP. Do you agree ? Idea 5 – So that disabled people can get their voices heard in BCODP, BCODP should help existing groups to increase their membership to include all disabled people and support new groups of disabled people in areas that do not have them yet, rather than just involving those disabled people and groups who are already member groups of BCODP. Do you agree ? Idea 6 – If disabled people see that BCODP and its member groups have more say over what government does, then they will want to find out more about their local member groups and get involved. Do you agree ? Idea 7 – If people who could give money to BCODP and disabled people's organisations can see that we are doing our job better at getting disabled people’s views across to people in power, they are more ‘Activate’ from BCODP likely to give us all money. Do you agree ? Idea 8 – Because UKDPP will work together with local disabled people’s organisations, we can make sure that more funding goes to local groups because UKDPP will deliberately point funders in the direction of local groups and not take money that could go to local groups. Other national disability organisations do not care if what they do takes away money from local disabled people’s organisations. Do you agree ? Idea 9 – The UKDPP can support campaigns that local disabled people’s groups are fighting, or groups like Direct Action Network (Free Our People Campaign) and the British Deaf Association (recognition of sign language) are fighting, by giving those campaigns support from all disabled people and putting them across to national government. Do you agree ? Idea 10 – Elected members of the UK Disabled People’s Parliament will be able to attract more publicity and funding interest for their local disabled people’s organisations. Do you agree ? Idea 11 – Other disability organisations which are not run by disabled people are making changes that make them look as if they are more run by disabled people. That will make it more difficult for BCODP to show that it should be listened to more because we are run by disabled people, unless we do something to show that there is no way that anyone can say that we are not representative of all disabled people. Do you agree ? DAN Idea 12 – If the Disability Rights Commission ceases to exist because the government sets up a Single Equalities Commission instead, then there will be an important space for a real national voice for disabled people’s rights, which an organisation that represents all disabled people would be the best to fill. Do you agree ? Idea 13 – BCODP can produce better ideas to government on how to change and improve things if there are more disabled people able to give more time to help put the ideas together. Do you agree ? ‘Activate’ from BCODP Idea 14 – There are still some parts of the disabled community who have less of a say in BCODP than others, and this must be put right. Do you agree ? Idea 15 – It is really, really difficult for BCODP to raise money to do just what we want, so we have to find ways of asking for money that funders are happy with, and unfortunately campaigning is not usually one of them. One way of raising extra money would be by a huge increase in membership fees for groups, say from £40 to £400, and introducing a compulsory fee for individual members, say a £10 minimum with more for employed disabled people. We decided that we did not want to do this, but to raise money by other means. Do you agree ? Idea 16 – If we had a better known name, then we could raise money by sponsorship and by selling things like advertising in Activate and on the website, and this money could be used to help our campaigning. Do you agree ? BCODP One interesting suggestion from one delegate at the Conference was that BCODP should not create the UKDPP but concentrate on lobbying Parliament in London. This certainly costs less time and money than the UKDPP, and ought to be based in London. If we do not widen the membership of the movement so that BCODP represents more disabled people, I am concerned that we will continue to be seen as a relatively small group of radical “users”, which is pretty much how one spokesperson from one of the three main political parties defined us. That would mean that however good our campaigning is, we will be seen as just another voice at Westminster. When one of the Big 7 disability charities has 17 parliamentary officers alone, we will be very much in a minority. How else could we improve BCODP’s voice on behalf of the movement, if we do not do work to expand the movement so that our voice becomes more credible and important ? Your views would be much appreciated on this delegate’s idea, and what could be done to improve it. This consultation is not asking you what you think BCODP should be doing – we have already asked you that and you have told us. What we want to know this time is HOW you think we should be campaigning and supporting the movement. Please use ‘Activate’ from BCODP the business plan as a starting point to say what things you like about it and how things you do not like can be improved. The National Council and I look forward to your good ideas. Several people joined the Equalities workshop at this year’s conference. Unfortunately Suresh Grovor (chair of the national Civil Rights Movement) didn’t attend the Conference. The workshop was supposed to discuss the practical steps that BCODP must take if we can truly claim to be a credible force, taking into consideration the presentation from Suresh. BCODP Seminars And Postcard Campaign SandyMarshall,GroupsDevelopment Manager,BCODP The Group’s Development Programme is half way through the seminar programme for this year, we have so far visited the South East, Greater London, The South West, North East, The Eastern Region and East Midlands Region of the country. We still have to make plans for the North West, Yorkshire, Humberside, West Midlands, Scotland and Wales. The theme of the Campaign trail has been around the “No Charges” for community care, the recognition of British Sign Language, the work of Direct Action Network and how to campaign in your own areas. BCODP have now produced a postcard for member organisations to send out to their members to bring pressure on local MP/MEPs. The post card also includes issues around the possibility of a single commission and the forthcoming Queens Speech. Please send these to all you members, if you would like further copies to send out please let me know and I will get these to you, we have also got some copies in Braille. At the end of our “Campaigning Year” BCODP Group’s Development Programme will report back to its member groups. If your member group can help in the areas BCODP hasn’t visited or has offered help already please can you give Sandy a call as soon as possible. Don’t forget send out your post cards. ‘Activate’ from BCODP EqualitiesWorkshop At theAGMandConference Unfortunately, the meeting was taken up looking at the inequalities and there was insufficient time to even start to consider a plan and way forward. A suggestion was made for BCODP to arrange a day’s workshop on equality and inclusion issues in BCODP. This will not be arranged until the New Year — due to time. A full report of the workshop is available, please contact me if you would like a copy. When the workshop day details have been put together, invitations will be sent to BCODP member groups and other interested parts of BCODP. Events De Montfort University Please contact the university for a brochure on 0116 250 6199) Disability & the Holocaust: A History Revealed 7pm, November 18th, Phoenix Arts, Leicester (0116 255 4854) During the holocaust, Dr Josef Mengele, the infamous doctor of Auschwitz, conducted notorious 'scientific'experiments on thousands of victims of the Nazi regime. Amongst these were the members of a Hungarian Jewish family of actors and musicians, all people of short stature. Fifty years later this story is revealed in the award winning film Liebe Perla. Chaired by Dr Simi Linton, the programme will consist of an introduction, screening and panel discussion about a lost history, that of disabled people in Nazi Germany, and consider its relevance for contemporary society. ‘Activate’ from BCODP Disability Studies: Research Seminar 11 am, November 19th, Clephan Building De Montfort University (0116 250 6199) . Disability Studies is explored and examined in this seminar by Simi Linton, who is a long time disability rights scholar and the author of Claiming Disability. All are welcome! There is a charge for the first event (£3 I think), the second is free but please book. Hope to see you there Diana Walters Senior Lecturer Tel: 0116 250 6132 email: dwalters@dmu.ac.uk SANELINE x . FEELI NG LOW ? NEED TO TALK ? x . CONCERNED ABOUT SOMEONE ? Did you know that : ¾1 in 4 people has a mental health problem each year ¾90 million working days are lost each year due to “Stress” ? ¾65% of people with a mental health problem have experienced some form of discrimination SANELI NE: is a national telephone helpline giving support to anyone affected by a mental health problem, whether they are suffering themselves or are caring for a family member or friend. Primarily a listening service, SANELI NE offers callers emotional and crisis support. In addition, we can provide practical information on mental health problems, the symptoms, medical and psychological treatments, support groups and services as well as mental health law. If a caller needs on going support, we can provide this through our “Caller Care” service. The helpline is open from 12 midday – 2 a.m. 365 days per year on 0845 767 8000. ‘Activate’ from BCODP Disabled People And Mental Health Support Needs Jenny Morris, Researcher Over recent years, more attention has been paid to the support needs of mental health service users and of disabled people with physical impairments. However, the experiences and support needs of people who fall into both these categories have been overlooked. There is insufficient knowledge about how best to support people with physical impairments who need to use mental health services. This is all about to change as a user led research project funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation gets underway to explore these issues. The first stage includes a literature review and a booklet to help and support disabled people who need to use mental health services. There is little recognition that some people with physical impairments, as part of the general population, will experience mental health difficulties. Neither is there much recognition that people with mental health difficulties may acquire physical impairments, and that, in particular, those with long- standing mental health difficulties may be more likely to acquire physical impairments. What research there is tends to assume that impairment in itself is a cause of psychological distress. There is little recognition that the disabling barriers of negative attitudes, inaccessible environments, segregation, and experiences of violence and abuse have consequences for disabled people’s mental health. The project will use a postal questionnaire and in-depth interviews to find out more about how services could be improved. The information booklet for disabled people who need to use mental health services, and the postal questionnaire, are available from Mind Publications. 020 8221 9666, 15-19 Broadway, London E15 4BQ. A copy of the research literature review can be obtained from: Jenny Morris, 101 Calabria Road, London N5 1HX. Tel. 020 7359 2935; email. jenny@ jmorris.demon.co.uk ‘Activate’ from BCODP Book Review Mental HealthToday Furious with the years of struggling with manic depression, author Jason Pegler faced himself with two options, suicide or changing the world he lives in by writing a book about his experiences. The account of his life ‘A Can of Madness’ has shocked some people with the frank accounts of a young man’s sexual hedonism and violence, while inspiring others with his openness and honesty. Now aged 27, and ten years after his first episode, he talks for the first time about the reasons behind his writing, and what he hopes it will achieve. Writing the book was the most difficult and rewarding experience of my life. Putting it on the computer was like re-living it. It was vital that I was honest about the way I felt. To be half-hearted was like lying to myself. I’d been so low during my episodes that whatever some people thought of the book didn’t matter. I knew that it would help a lot of people who had the illness. When I started writing it in Manchester I showed it to my girlfriend at the time, who also had manic depression, and some of her friends who had schizophrenia. They loved it because I felt how they felt. They’d also experienced the humiliation because of the stigma of mental illness. They too were unsure about how their medication worked. They too felt like aliens instead of people and they too were bullied by some of the inhumane and under seemingly unqualified nurses in hospitals. I wrote 20,000 words and ran out of courage. It took me two years to pluck up enough courage to start the book again. I was still bitter with society and this showed in my writing. However I was going through cognitive treatment with a psychologist at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London and the two activities seemed to compliment each other. Continued page 16.. Advertise inActivate Advertise your job vacancy, event or report in Activate to over 130 organisations and 800 individuals for as little as £200. For more information contact Anastasia Kelly on 01332 295551, fax 01332 295580, Minicom 01332 295581 or email activate@bcodp.org.uk ‘Activate’ from BCODP Continued from page 15.. . As I picked up coping strategies and warning signs to avoid going high my thoughts materialised onto the screen. One of the most amazing experiences for me after I had published the book was going to The Mind Conference in Scarborough. It changed my life. For the first time I saw fifteen hundred people with mental health issues outside hospital wards. There was a whole community of pro-active people fighting for their rights. I felt a sense of empowerment that I had only previously imagined. I knew I wanted to be at the centre of the mental health movement so I could save lives. A few months before I had failed to save one of my best friends from committing suicide and I wanted to keep going for him as well as myself. I’d gone too far to turn back now. Now I receive emails, phone calls and meet people most days who thank me for being so honest and brave in writing my book. Each message gives me strength to carry on my mission to bring down the last taboo of the twenty first century. I see the mental health movement developing as the gay and lesbian movement did when I was growing up. When I was growing up from the age of 10-15 there was a shift in attitude in favour of gay people. They started to be accepted more by society. Within the mental health movement there are many debates going on. I do not profess to have all the answers but I do recognise the importance of people working together. I’ve spent the last year networking with user and professional groups in the borough of London where I live, Lambeth, across the country and in the United States. I see myself as having a key position in the future of the mental health movement. There are enough good arguments going on without me taking sides. I aim here to raise awareness more than anything. Whether you are totally opposed to the medical model, you accept it or you believe that mental illness is a social construct it doesn’t matter. What is important is that there are 1 million people committing suicide in the world every year and it needs to stop, attitudes need to change. ‘Activate’ from BCODP I know that I am not the greatest writer in the world either but I am honest and wrote what was in my heart. I am writing again, exhibiting and speaking at conferences throughout the United Kingdom. The rawness and strong language in the book was as much as a result of society alienating me rather than me being an uncouth yob. I went from victim to ambassador and I intend to remain this way working 24-hours seven days a week to help people fight for their rights through the two companies I’ve set up Chipmunkapublishing to make sure authors who have experienced prejudice and discrimination get their work published, in the hope that the more people read about the issues we face, the more chance there is for change. I also set up Equal Lives when I realised the importance of helping sufferers through other creative mediums such as art, photography, film, documentary and music. We are always on the look out for new work. Our most effective contribution is made through the networking we have established in the mental health community. We are extremely well organised from the printing side and have good sales, marketing and business plans. Any kind of investment at this stage from a larger organisation would have a massive impact on the future of the company. Even five thousand pounds would mean that we could publish several more authors by the end of the year. It just remains for me to say that none of this would have been possible without the continued support of Mind and other mental health charities. It’s my hope to make as positive a contribution to the mental health debate, as they and there talented band of volunteers has already done. If you wish to purchase any books, learn more about Chipmunkapublishing or Equal Lives please go to www.chipmunkapublishing.com, email us at info@chipmunkapublishing.com, phone 0207 735 7208 or write to the following address: PO Box 6872, Brentwood, Essex, CM13 1ZT. Please make all cheques payable to Chipmunkapublishing. ‘Activate’ from BCODP BRITISH COUNCIL OF DISABLED PEOPLE (BCODP) NATIONAL CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING (NCIL) NCIL is currently a project of BCODP. The successful candidate will manage NCIL’s transition to become an independent organisation. NCIL is funded mainly by the Department of Health to promote direct payments nationally. NCIL does this by campaigning, and providing information, advice and support to direct payments and personal assistance schemes. NCIL DIRECTOR Salary c£32500 (incl. ILW) We want a disabled person to run NCIL into the future and to manage the transfer from BCODP. Substantial knowledge of direct payments issues and experience of management essential. The post is 35 hours pw, with job share available. Based in central London. Closing date – 22nd November. Application packs from Jayne Foulds, BCODP, Litchurch Plaza, Litchurch Lane, DERBY, DE24 8AA. Phone 01332 295551/Fax 01332 295580/Minicom 01332 295581/Email jaynef@bcodp.org.uk. Change into Jobs At the moment there is not much accessible information about jobs for people with learning disability. My name is Andrew Gayle and I work with Miles Thomas. We are both working on a project about people with a learning disability and work. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has given us the money to do the work. We are looking at the experiences of people with learning disabilities in work. We are looking at Ø Ø Recruitment – getting a job. Ø Ø Access needs – understanding information. Ø Ø Communication needs – being able to understand each other. Ø Ø Day to day practices – ideas for making office equipment and computers easier to understand. ‘Activate’ from BCODP Ø Ø Support and supervision – how it can be made easy to understand and useful. We are going to make a pack that will be for employers to help them make work more accessible for people with a learning disability. At the moment we are looking at what is good that is happening around the country. If you want to tell us about your experiences please; Ring us on 020 7639 4312 Fax us on 020 7639 4317 Email us at londonoffice@changepeople.co.uk Campaigning — Queen’sSpeechDay There will be a poster and leaflet activity around the Houses of Parliament on the day of the Queen’s Speech, which is Wednesday 13th November. Demonstrations are not allowed, so instead individual disabled people will move amongst the crowds, wearing “sandwich boards” which call for full civil rights for disabled people, and handing out leaflets. The posters and leaflets say something like “Wot no Bill ? We want full rights now for disabled people”. The cost of the posters and leaflets is being paid for by Rights Now. If you want to get involved, you must be prepared to move around amongst the crowd wearing a “sandwich board” or carrying a poster and/or hand out leaflets to the crowd. In particular we are trying to grab the attention of members of both Houses of Parliament as they enter Westminster to hear the Queen, so we will be starting at 9.30am. Posters and leaflets will be handed out to disabled people who turn up in order to take part, from 9.30am (till say 11am) at the south end of Westminster Bridge (over the river from the Houses of Parliament). ‘Activate’ from BCODP Campaigning — MassLobbyof Parliament For those who like to campaign in numbers, there will be a mass lobby of Parliament on Tuesday 10th December between 2pm and 4pm in Westminster Hall, which is part of the Houses of Parliament – and the more disabled people there the better. The purpose of the lobby is to highlight the lack of priority given to the rights of disabled people, highlighted by the lack of a disability bill of any kind in the Queen’s Speech, and will be a chance to promote our Disabled People’s Rights and Freedoms Bill. We hope to get senior parliamentarians who support our cause to speak at the meeting, and it will be a chance to demand a meeting with your MP to make the case, by completing a “green card” which the MP must respond to if they are in Parliament. People going will have to make their own arrangements and pay their own costs. We intend to hand out copies of the Disabled People’s Rights and Freedoms Bill to MPs. If you would like to make a contribution to the costs of leaflets etc then please send a cheque in to BCODP towards the costs of the campaign. Rights Now is supporting the lobby. Campaigning — EuropeanYear “Bus” As part of the activities of the European Year of Disabled People 2003, a “bus” (which is actually not a bus at all but a large lorry with a mobile stage and facilities), will visit all the EU countries. Its purpose is to provide a focus for campaigning activity for disabled people’s rights. The bus will be in the UK between 2nd and 21st June 2003 and then 30th June and 10th July 2003. The route of the bus is being sorted out by Anne Pridmore, Chair of the UK Disability Forum for European Affairs. Please contact her if there are any activities you are doing which would be a good occasion for the bus to visit. We will keep you informed of the final route and dates of where the bus will be. ‘Activate’ from BCODP The bus will tend to attract national media attention on the day it arrives in the UK, and then local media attention on the day that it arrives in a particular location. We encourage you to take that opportunity to try to get media coverage of any campaigns you are working on. We think a particularly good campaign to highlight would be your local campaigns against charging. This is the sort of issue that attracts media attention. If every local organisation keeps on raising the same issue of charging and how it denies disabled people’s rights, BCODP can then point out that charging may be a local authority issue but it is also a national issue because of central government’s behaviour that encourages charging. BCODP will try to get media attention for the disabled people’s rights generally, and the Disabled People’s Rights and Freedoms Bill particularly, throughout the European Year. Campaigning — Copyright Bill A barrier to getting many publications available in accessible formats has been the law of copyright which makes it illegal to copy written material without permission. The law is about to be changed so that copying into accessible formats can be done easily without being illegal. The Bill proposes that single copies, in accessible formats, can be made of documents without permission from copyright holders, as long as this is done on a non-commercial basis. Similarly, multiple accessible format copies can be produced and distributed, but must comply with a licensing scheme if one exists. There will be safeguards to prevent licensing schemes from imposing excessive conditions, but also safeguards to ensure that authors and publishers are given due acknowledgement and that material is supplied only to those entitled to it. The Bill is now off to get Royal Assent, which should take place on 7th November. Once Royal Assent is given the Act will then have to come in to force. ‘Activate’ from BCODP DAN SpoilstheParty Alan Holdsworth,DisabledActivist,DAN On Saturday 5th October over a 100 disabled people from DAN from al over the country came to Manchester. They were enraged that the Leonard Cheshire Foundation, the worlds leader in putting disabled people into institutions were holding a "Celebrity Ball" to raise money, no doubt to pay for the 1.3 million budget they have for public relations. Apart from being the world's leader in incarcerating our sisters and brothers they now believe that disabled people are so stupid so ignorant that we couldn't run independent living services ourselves and are promoting themselves as experts on Independent living. This is taking needed money out of our powerful disabled community. Not for the first time has the oppressor tried to steal our ideas. The ball was taking place in a plush hotel in Manchester, the Renaissance; tickets were £95 a head. Tables were £800 a head. A red carpet was laid to welcome the suckers (guests) . An hour before the start DAN checked into the hotel and took 6 friends up to the DAN room. Meanwhile our deaf sisters and brothers and Claire from Manchester popped into the hotel bar for an aperitif. Shortly afterwards the whole crowd of us arrived and preceded to occupy the lobby and attempt to go to the Ball. After about ten minutes the Hotel security kicked in and blocked the lifts. Meanwhile DAN checked out of its hotel room and the Danners who managed to get upstairs began to cause a stink at the Ball. We let off over 60 stink bombs in the Ballroom to welcome the "honoured guests" of Leonard Cheshire. Downstairs in the foyer and outside Danners were blocking the main entrance to the hotel when the police arrived. Instead of diverting people to the many other exits and entrances the police decided that they would make an example of us. ‘Activate’ from BCODP In the ensuing struggle many Danners suffered cuts and major bruises. Handcuffs were torn from wrists rather than using the bolt cutters available, passive resisters were roughly grabbed without warning. Wheelchairs were tipped over and many Danners suffered injury. Rather than try to work through the situation the police were intent on moving us as quickly as possible even though guests to the ball were getting in and out. One Danner with Cerebral palsy had both his hands immobilised by policemen's boots and was being kicked, he tried to bite the policeman's leg. In the end the police cleared out both the Danners in the Ballroom and those blocking the entrance inside and out. Three people were arrested. One person had the charges dropped, another, a deaf person is bailed to appear later because the police had no interpreters and one has been charged with assaulting a policeman whilst six policemen pinned him down immobilising his arms with their boots. DAN had met an untrained police force that had no idea of how to deal with or even work with non-violent protesters. Upstairs of course the supporters of Leonard Cheshire did nothing to stop the police tactics. Huddled in their empty Ballroom the 30 people out of 800 invited tried to make the best of it. The Lord mayor of Manchester told the Cheshire Foundation they were no longer welcome. The Renaissance hotel said they wouldn't take bookings from them again. Sounds like a great party upstairs doesn't it? Outside the hotel we made sure that anyone going in and out of the ball got a stinking reception. We occasionally blocked doorways just to keep the police on their toes and away from their coffee break and lit candles for our brothers and sisters still locked behind their walls. By midnight no one was left in the ball and we pulled off. Our three people arrested were released by 4 am. DAN scored a major victory by denting Cheshire's credibility. DAN has announced to the world despite their million pound PR budget that the Leonard Cheshire Foundation abuses disabled people's fundamental human rights. We struck a blow for every person in a Cheshire home and for every one of us threatened by their very existence that we too might end up there. We struck a blow for independent living services controlled by us not the ‘Activate’ from BCODP oppressor of the past (and present). We sent a message to the corporate givers including the so-called "ethical bank, the Cooperative," that Leonard Cheshire is far from ethical. We would like to thank all the people who supported us the Danners, members of the public, the hotel staff and the people who turned away from the Ball. This was a hard action with many of us still suffering the physical wounds of battle. But spiritually, whatever that means for you who were there, we want to say we all did a great job in the struggle for all our freedom. We were united we were strong and we won. Free our people! DAN StagesNational Meeting 15th,16th,17th November,Novotel,Birmingham The BCODP Groups Development Programme is pleased to support DAN with staging its National Meeting in Birmingham. It’s time to bring the movement together around "Free our People." It's time to unite and fight as one movement and one voice. We are stronger when we support each other's campaigns and work together. We need to take stock of what we've achieved and what we need to do. We need to create a Bill for parliament that will address all our key issues and build a strategy around campaigning for the Bill. We call on all major campaigning groups on disability issues to join DAN in Birmingham to decide a strategy for 2003. Lets get a Bill together. Lets work together. Lets organise together. Lets kick ‘Activate’ from BCODP ass together. The meeting in November will produce a plan of action for next year with disabled people from many organisations and campaigns working together under a common flag. We also hope that it will inspire new people to join with DAN in Freeing Our People from institutions. Friday form 7pm to 11pm will be a social get together where we can discuss informally the plan of action. Saturday from 10am to 7pm will be the day when all the organisations get together to plan the years campaign and decide who is going to do what and when. Other groups already invited are BCODP, and the Deaf Liberation Front. If you know of a campaign group we should invite for Saturday let us know. Campaign On Saturday their will be workshops on :-How to get involved in non violent Direct Action, Who is going to help us draft the legislation? Who is going to coordinate the lobbying of MP's etc? Who is going to get our campaign into the media? And how are we going to make sure that we network with each other and communicate well? Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm will be for DAN to hold its national meeting and decide on its plans for next year. On Sunday there will also be workshops on building local groups, explaining the Free our people campaign and what is an independent living centre. How do I get there? Cost is £5 for Friday £15 for Saturday and £10 for Sunday. This includes refreshments lunch and cost of the room. We have 40 places for Friday 80 places for Saturday and 40 places for Sunday. All these places are subsidised so donations above the costs above are welcome. We have only reserved 5 accessible rooms. ‘Activate’ from BCODP If you need accommodation you can either book it yourself or contact Sandra Daniels on 0121 603 6443 to either book it for you or find a DANNER to put you up. If you need accommodation you are advised to make arrangements quickly. You can come for part or the whole of the 3 days. Please contact the National Office if you need more information. National Office at 254 Pineapple Rd, Stirchley, Birmingham B30 2TY Or telephone 0121 247 4424 or email freeourpeople@blueyonder.co.uk IF YOU HAVE EMAIL YOU CAN BE KEPT UP TO DATE DAILY BY SENDING AN EMAIL TO freeourpeople@blueyonder.co.uk just put you name on the email and send. Book Review Andy Rickell,Chief Executive,BCODP “SOCIAL WORK AND DIRECT PAYMENTS” by Jon Glasby and Rosemary Littlechild The publishers of this book, The Policy Press, they have offered to sell the book to you, our members, at a discount, though I do not know the full price! Their phone number is 0117 954 6800 and their email is tppinfo@bristol.ac.uk. 1. If you have any responsibility for supporting direct payments users then this is a MUST READ – there is indeed no other publication as comprehensive on the issue 2. As Chief Executive, I am pleased that the role of BCODP in campaigning and developing direct payments has been recognised in the book. My only qualms are that NCIL was written about on some occasions as if it was something separate to BCODP, and I personally prefer to think of the Independent Living Movement as part of the Disabled People’s Movement within the UK context. 3. I thought the critique of direct payments was very good, though nothing about the culturally-specific nature of direct payments and independent living. If you care about the successes of the Movement, then this is a book you should have on your shelf, after you have read it! ‘Activate’ from BCODP Campaign To Close SCOPE’sSegregated Institutionsand Schools Dr LaurenceClarkJoint ChiefSecretary,BCODP Last week disabled people launched a new website to campaign against the segregated schools and residential institutions run by SCOPE, the UK charity for disabled people with cerebral palsy currently celebrating its golden jubilee. Using facts and figures derived from their own publications, it show how they have oppressed disabled people time and time again, by taking public money to run out-dated segregated services. Facts from the website include: In 2002 SCOPE still run 17 residential institutions in England and Wales, incarcerating up to 367 disabled people. During the financial year 2000/1, SCOPE received £11,545,000 from local government to run "non-community based" residential services. They spent £11,456,000 running these services, meaning that they made a net profit of £89,000 from the incarceration of disabled people in residential homes. Currently only 2.98% of Scope's 3,789 employees are disabled people. SCOPE are currently not even eligible for the "two tick" system, the government's kite mark for employers who are positive about disabled people. Cases of child abuse are not uncommon in segregated schools, including those run by Scope. For example, in November 1997 Scope closed Hawksworth Hall School under allegations that children "were thumped, force fed, made to walk upstairs and held in chairs. ” The only money received by SCOPE to go directly to disabled people are their grants, which account for 0.75% of their £90 million annual income. In other words, out of every pound that you give them, less than one penny will go directly to a disabled person. Responding to the website on Yourable.com, a spokesperson from SCOPE admitted that: “there were many people working for the charity who would agree with some of the website’s views. ” ‘Activate’ from BCODP SCOPE have often said that they look forward to a day when their organisation is no longer needed. Our website asserts the belief that the day has arrived, since we now have organisations, such as the British Council of Disabled People, competently run and controlled by disabled people themselves. The days of disability charities are over. Visit the website at: www.spastics-society.com For more details contact: Dr Laurence Clark at lc@laurenceclark.co.uk Books Information and Joining Up Services: The Case of an Information Guide for ParentsofDisabledChildren The Policy Press has just published the above title in September the authors are Bridgette Wessels and Val Bagnall, ISBN: 1 86134 429 5 Price: £ 14.99 Summary There have been numerous government initiatives in relation to providing quality services for disabled children and their families. One key area in need of further development, identified by both service professionals and service users, is the provision of accessible information for parents, carers and others who work with disabled children. Easily accessible information is particularly important in the context of changing services and multi-agency working. This report is an invaluable resource for anyone involved in providing information about services to disabled children and their families, including staff in social services departments, local education authorities, voluntary organisations and policy makers in local and central government. It will also be of interest to academics and students of social policy, social work, health and social care, and to professionals wishing to develop information resources in other service areas. ‘Activate’ from BCODP To place an order, please contact: Marston Book Services on Tel: 01235 465500, Fax: 01235 465556 or E- mail: direct.orders@marston.co.uk For further information, visit us online at: www.policypress.org.uk THE POLICY PRESS IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT PUBLISHER DisabledWomen Conference — ‘Hold Up Half the Sky’ Thursday 19th September 2002 — London, GLAD, Brixton Road Janet Seymour Kirk,NationalCouncil,BCODP This was the first women’s conference held for ten years; it was unanimously voiced as needing to be organised on a regular basis. It was pointed out later that being opened by a man; who had a male language interpreter was not a prestigious start, this would be taken on board to discuss at a later stage! Reg McLaughlin, Director of GLAD explained how the organisation had recently started a postcard campaign against the proposed (even though he implied to those there the decision had been made already by Government) Single Equality Commission. Stating that unless five tests were met they would not support it at all. Rachel Hurst talked about World Disability Rights; informing conference that Africa held its last Disabled Women’s Conference in 1988 — chaired by a man who eventually was “chucked out”! But he kept popping his head around the door in disbelief that women could manage without him. Men ruled in Africa, in all sections of life. With her knowledge she informed the women how they could organise themselves without men and they have! How they are more empowered and have slowly dis-empowered men. Over fifty-one per cent of disabled people in the world are women and therefore doubly disadvantaged. Women and children are fed last, so they often starve to death or due to lack of nutrients and essential vitamins in the food they develop disabilities there by compounding the problem. Continued on page 30.. ‘Activate’ from BCODP The start of Disability Awareness in Action left most women disenfranchised, so much so that two delegates walked out of the Conference because they were unable to speak. No recognition of equal opportunities! Eventually they adopted equal opportunities within their committees and conferences and now of course the women have to work hard to ensure this policy is upheld. Violent abuse aimed particularly towards disabled women is perpetrated widely. Marriages that are mixed (abled and disabled) not easily accepted or understood. Yet there is still a belief that to have sex with a disabled woman or a virgin cures Aids. Consequently, rape on these grounds is acceptable because it is understood why it happens. Ann Pridmore Chair of the UK Disability Forum spoke of her achievements over the years in achieving this post, giving a description of the history of the organisation and informing delegates of the forthcoming development of a dedicated website for disabled women. Due to funding from Comic Relief a consultant has been appointed to develop a fully accessible website. You can find out more by looking at www.edfwomen.co.uk. Nasa Begum was an excellent speaker on a subject she believed disabled people kept well away from. The subject was ‘The emotional price we pay’ and therefore called her presentation ‘Burst into tears or burst into Flames’ . She was informative, funny and put the whole issue over extremely well. I related often with the content of her presentation. The highlight included issues such as; x . Women continue to struggle to assert their reality and self definition. x . Live up to other people’s normality. x . Avoid spoiling other people’s fun. x . Personal strategies to work out their own anger and frustrations. x . Non disabled people do not know how to react when you get upset. x . Keith Bailey described the emotional price we pay as ‘a stripping of souls’. x . Not much recognition of the emotional legacy that disabled adults experience of their separation in childhood. x . Little acknowledgement of the long term consequence of the denial of ‘Activate’ from BCODP physical affection, intimacy, closeness and love. I attended workshops on subject such as ‘Women in the Workplace’ and ‘Women’s Right to Choose and Disabled Children’s Right to Live’. But I was disappointed. There was no strategy to achieve an aim at the end of the two workshops I attended; they ended up being arenas for complaints, a voicing of one’s own agenda and all of them very negative with no acknowledgement that anything good has been done, about to be done on behalf of them. I felt very depressed by the end of the day, something I never expected at a Conference like this. Except for the last speaker. I met some very interesting and devoted people to their cause, but I remain on whole disappointed that few diabled people acknowledge the good work achieved by others. I hope they will learn by this Conference and continue to hold Women Conferences. The food was good! A recent paper has been published out of a partnership between CHAD and ChurchesTogether In England Churches Together in England as a consequence of the 2001 Forum. Its purpose is to help those in churches and related organisations to be more inclusive of disabled people when co-ordinating events. Available from Churches Together in England, 27 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9HH, Tel 020 7529 8141, www.churches-together.org.uk. Events If you want to publicise your event write to or email us with details and we will try to include it (see Page 2). Event Venue Date International Day of Disabled People Birmingham 3rd December Count Us In — Seminar London 21 November International Day of Disabled People Swindon Haydon Centre 3rd December DET/DAT Trainers East Sussex Disability Association 9th December London DEE Office 10th December Contact DET@southamptoncil.demon.co.uk ‘Activate’ from BCODP New Home Study Scheme — DisabledPeople andCarersBackintoLearning Press Release from Learning and Skills Council The Learning Skills Council (LSC), is backing a tutor-supported home study pilot project to help people get back into learning who cannot access mainstream college courses because of impairment, ill-health or because they are full-time carers. This pilot project, being run by the National Extension College (NEC), is aimed at disabled people and carers and is running throughout England. Over 80 students have already signed up and are taking courses chosen from among 45 GCSE and A level subjects, IT courses, study skills, professional courses in child care, bookkeeping and counselling and creative writing and arts courses. Distance learning is the only way in which these particular students, who include young disabled people and carers as well as adults, can take part in education and training. Participating students pay just £50 towards their course materials and the cost of any examination. The LSC meets all other costs. The pilot programme builds on a groundbreaking Lottery-funded project, which ran from 1998 to 2001. Its launch coincides with publication of a report on the earlier programme. This report, Equal Access to Open Learning, gives a detailed picture of the challenges faced by 292 disabled students and carers as they studied by distance learning while dealing with difficulties such as severe pain or fatigue, mobility impairments, spells in hospital, or mental health impairments. The main finding of the report is that traditional definitions of educational achievement used by funding bodies do not necessarily work for these students. Disabled students and carers can take much longer than usual to complete their courses and, for many, completing just a target proportion of a course is a realistic and demanding learning goal. For others, the growth in self-confidence and self-respect that comes with successful study is more important than taking and passing an exam or gaining a qualification. ‘Activate’ from BCODP The report also found that this student group needs high levels of support to achieve their learning goals. John Harwood, Chief Executive of the LSC said: ‘Disabled students and carers — all too often excluded from educational opportunities — are an important priority for the LSC. Distance learning overcomes many of the barriers which prevent them from taking part.’ Gillian Moore, Director of Study Programmes at NEC said: ‘We are delighted to be working with the LSC on this important project and we are optimistic that the results will allow the LSC to continue funding the programme. The project will also help the LSC understand the needs of this student group and the role that high-quality home study can play for all learners unable to take advantage of conventional education and training opportunities.’ The Learning and Skills Council was launched in April 2001 and is responsible for all post-16 education in England other than the university sector. Its remit includes the planning and funding of Further Education colleges; school sixth forms; work based training for young people; workforce development; adult and community learning; information, advice and guidance for adults; and education business links. NEC is a charitable trust dedicated to widening educational opportunities through open and distance learning. Founded in 1963 as a pilot for the Open University, it is the UK’s leading independent college specialising in home study. It offers a large programme of over 100 tutor-supported home study courses, designs tailor-made distance learning programmes for employers and publishes a portfolio of learning materials to support colleges and trainers. Contact the National Extension College (NEC) The Michael Young Centre Purbeck Road Cambridge CB2 2HN Telephone: 01223 400399 e-mail: info@nec.ac.uk Home Page: www.nec.ac.uk ‘Activate’ from BCODP New BooksandPublications Charges for Community Care Services A Guide for disabled people and carers in England and Wales From October 2002 local councils have to follow new Govern ment Guidance when charging people for community care services such as home helps, personal care, day centres and meals-on-wheels. Many people will not have to pay anything, but some may be asked to pay more. Further changes come into effect from April 2003. This comprehensive guide explains what the law says about how councils should calculate charges and what to do if you think you are being overcharged or cannot afford to pay. And, since local authorities should take your existing extra costs into account, the guide contains a handy table to help you work out your weekly disability-related expenses. It includes a full list of all the social security benefits available to disabled people and carers as well as information about organisations to approach for further help and information. Written in a user-friendly style, the guide aims to assist disabled people, their carers and advisers make informed choices about the options available to them. Also available on audio tape. ISBN 1-903335-09- 4 Price £4.00 per copy Concessionary rate (for individuals on benefit) £2.50 Order from Disability Alliance, 88-94 Wentworth Street, London, E1 7SA Telephone 020 7247 8776, Fax 020 7247 8765 The General Social Care Council Codes of Practice for Social Care Workers and Employers These two publications are the first ever codes of practice for social care workers and employers. The two codes — one for workers and one for employers — set out the standards of conduct and practice for social care workers and employers. The codes are a key step in the introduction of system of regulation for social care in England. Everyone is working in social care should have a copy, service users, carers, or members of the public may also wish to have a ‘Activate’ from BCODP copy. You can order copies from the General Social Care Council, FREEPOST LON29664, London SE1 2ZX, or on the website at www.gscc.org.uk The codes are also available in alternative formats: Braille, audio tape, sign language video, large print (16 point), Makaton, in pictorial format, and in different languages. The National’sRepertoire Royal National Theatre Press Office Telephone 020 7452 3333 or Fax 020 7452 3230 Audio-Described Performances supported by The Sobell Foundation A Streetcar Named Desire 21 November at 7.30pm, 23 November at 2.15pm. The Talking Cure 10 January at 7.30pm, 11 January at 2.30pm Anything Goes 31 January at 7.15pm, 1February at 2.00pm Sign Language Interpreted Performances A Streetcar Named Desire 13 November at 7.30pm The Talking Cure 14 January at 7.30pm Anything Goes 30 January at 7.15pm EXHIBITIONS www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/exhibitions PORTRAIT OF ISLAM: photographs by Robin Laurance 23 September – 9 November An exhibition that brings the British photographer Robin Laurance back to the National with these timely and revealing images of the Muslim world. DAZZLE 18 November 2002 – 18 January 2003 With over 80 designers and 3000 pieces, Dazzle is now Europe’s leading exhibition of jewellery and applied art attacting new followers each year. The work is for sale. For further information, please contact Gemma Gibb on 020 7452 3233. ‘Activate’ from BCODP Letters This is your chance to have your say on anything about disabled people. It might be about a news item, something that makes you angry, a response to a previous letter or perhaps something about BCODP? Please send your letter to activate@bcodp.org.uk or see Page 2. ‘Activate’ from BCODP ‘Activate’ from BCODP Dear BCODP I am a totally blind person. The BCODP has been brought to my attention only recently. It seems to me a bit of an anomaly that so many organisations almost entirely manned by able-bodied people profess to work on our behalf but in reality promote their own goals and seek their own survival. I am especially concerned about the issue of devolution where power by so called organisations for disabled people -especially the long established one -is being devolved to the regions. In Wales, so it seems to me, there is a very weak contact between RNIB Cymru and its visually impaired members. It is also a mystery to me how the RNIB has suddenly become the Royal National Institute OF the Blind rather than what it always has been Royal National Institute for the Blind without actually asking our opinion. It is an underhand development which nobody has endorsed. I know that RNIB Cymru is mostly concerned with its own political aims and separatist agenda as it is struggling to make itself independent of the main RNIB. This is hardly representative of the community of visually impaired people in Wales. I have not got a clue how to make this problem known to other disabled people who wrongly think that the RNIB is acting on their behalf while it actually works toward its own goals unrelated to our needs. I would welcome your advice as to how to commence a dialogue which might inform other people with disabilities in Wales of what is actually going on. I think that there is a lot of abuse happening by the so called established organisations pretending to represent disabled people which in reality use ‘Activate’ from BCODP people with disabilities to promote their own political goals and survival. I look forward to some advice as to how to make this issue known to the unsuspecting suspecting public. Regards Name and address withheld Have your say. Write to Activate@bcodp.org.uk or use our usual contact details (Page 2). Save Our Services MikeSmith,Chair,Tower HamletsCoalitionofDisabledPeople As chair of Tower Hamlets Coalition of Disabled People I have been heavily involved in organising the campaign against the London Borough of Tower Hamlets proposed Social Services budget cuts. In short these will strip community care.services from up to 30% of physically disabled people and, through their usual cost review policy, up to 50 people may be forced out of their homes and into residential institutions. A number of local organisations have joined forces under the banner of SOS -Save Our Services. This alliance includes Tower Hamlets Coalition of Disabled People, Age Concern Tower Hamlets, Disability Advocacy Network, Social Action for Health, MIND in Tower Hamlets, the Community Health Council, the Community Organisations Forum (representing over 700 community organisations in Tower Hamlets), Wapping Pensioners Group, and is supported by a number of other local organisations. We are writing to all Tower Hamlets councillors to express our extreme concern over these proposed new policies and the impact they will have upon some of the most vulnerable people in our society. The Council should protect its most vulnerable residents by meeting the shortfall from across existing budgets and reserves, and then the new money due to Social Services. According to the Council’s figures around 50 people will be forced into residential homes against their will following the changes in the Usual Costs policy. Even the Acting Solicitor to the Council stated, “care for a service user in her/his home is to be preferred to care in a residential or nursing setting”.The ‘Activate’ from BCODP proposals will lead to further social exclusion, and double exclusion for those from black and minority ethnic groups and the proposals will only store problems up the future, leaving people with ultimately greater needs and hence a heavier future burden on the Council. If the council seeks to continue with these proposals we will do everything in our power to lobby against them and bring this issue fully to the attention of the electorate. It is hard to see how the council could defend its position of cutting services in an environment where the government has given the largest ever sustained increase to facilitate Social Services provision. This problem could be resolved without cuts in service if the Council has the political will to deal with it. In preparing a response we sought input from The Department of Health (both via their website and through direct contact), (National) Age Concern, the National Centre for Independent Living, The Disability Law Service, and a number of other interested parties. Our detailed responses quote from Local Authority Circular (LAC(2002)13) on Fair Access to Care Services, issued on 28 May 2002, together with its associated guidance notes. Further quotes have been taken from the more recent practice guidance, issued on 2 August 2002. Responses included the following: These proposals are particularly pernicious. If someone needs assistance with bathing, and that need will no longer be met, what are they meant to do, smell? If without assistance it would be very difficult to access or maintain a principal daytime activity such as working or learning, is that person destined to become unemployed, or drop out of college? These statements may sound emotive, but these are exactly the issues people will face if the current proposals for the threshold for the provision of services are implemented. Many disabled and older people are already the most marginalised and socially excluded people within society. Making these people suffer in the ways described above is not only unjust but can only succeed in further socially excluding them. Disabled and older people from black and minority ethnic groups already have to face double discrimination. Not addressing needs such as those described above should absolutely ensure those people never achieve equality of opportunity in life. ‘Activate’ from BCODP InclusionWeek Inclusion Week, November 11-15 2002: Celebrating CSIE’s 20th Anniversary There are 115 events being put on around the UK and overseas during Inclusion Week are listed on the website, www.inclusionweek.net. Also details of new publications can be found on www.inclusion.org.uk. BCODP Membership BCODP staff would like to thank our members, Full Member Groups, Individuals, Supporting and Affiliate members for responding to our recent survey regarding the state of membership. In particular, many thanks for the responses we have received from our individual members for their kind donations to the Disabled People’s Movement and for our Full Member Groups who have renewed their subscriptions. So far donations from Individual Membership amount to over £500. We will be publishing an updated list of our Member Groups on the website and the new BCODP Membership Directory. DRC Survey BCODP recently held a meeting with a couple of representatives from the DRC Helpline/Information Office. They have asked BCODP members for help with a quick survey. If anyone has any experiences they wish to relate of using the DRC HELPLINE could they please send in any information to the: Information Office BCODP Litchurch Plaza Litchurch Lane DERBY DE24 8AA Email: info@bcodp.org.uk ‘Activate’ from BCODP EDF PressRelease Animportant decisioninrelationtotendersfor direct payments European Commission challenged by European Court of Justice European Commission's position on EU internal market rules challenged by the European Court of Justice Brussels, 17 September 2002 -Integration of environmental and social concerns into the award phase of public contracts is currently considered by the European Commission as an infringement of EU the internal market rules and can lead to legal pursuits. The European Court of Justice rejected today Commission's interpretation on public procurement legislation, in its decision over the "Helsinki Concordia Bus case" (C-513/99). This decision is very much welcomed by the European Disability Forum as it makes a critical contribution to the current debate on sustainable development and could serve as an important catalyst for social inclusion for people with disabilities. The City of Helsinki's decision to award a call for tender to a bus company producing vehicles with less polluting emissions and lower noise was challenged by a competing tenderer (Concordia Bus). During the proceedings, the European Commission argued that the City of Helsinki's decision did not comply with the most advantageous economic offer for the contracting authority rule. However, the Court argued that when considering a tender, the overall economic benefit for the local community can be taken into account in the final choice of the contract to be tendered and does not have to be restricted to "the direct economic advantage for the contracting authority". The provision included in the public procurement legislation in force "cannot be interpreted as meaning that each of the award criteria used by the contracting authority to identify the economically most advantageous tender must necessarily be of a purely economic nature", states the European Court of Justice. "It cannot be excluded that factors which are not purely economic may influence the value of a tender from the point of view of the contracting authority" ‘Activate’ from BCODP EDF believes that any authority has an obligation to protect the public interest, including ensuring equal access to employment for disadvantaged groups, such as people with disabilities. "Today's Court of Justice's decision states clearly that benefit should be for 'society as a whole', and not only for a few", says Yannis Vardakastanis, EDF President. "Public authorities must be socially responsible when they award contracts. Companies developing social practices, such as the employment of disabled workers, should be encouraged and not penalised when tendering for a public contract". The Council of the European Union is currently discussing its first reading on the proposal for revision of the EU directives on public procurement. The European Disability Forum strongly supports today's Court's decision, which implications go beyond environmental considerations, and confirm the need for social considerations to be included in the award criteria for public contracts in the current revision of the directives on Public Procurement. For more information contact: Carlotta Besozzi, Membership and Policy Officer: Tel: +32-2-282.51.81 E-mail: membership@edf-feph.org ; Helena González-Sancho, EDF Information and Campaign Officer: Tel: +32-2-282.46.04 E-mail: communication@edf-feph.org The European Disability Forum (EDF) is a European umbrella organisation with 70 European NGOs and 17 National Councils from all of the EU and EEA as members. EDF represents the interests of 37 million disabled citizens in the EU and EEA. Our mission is to advance disabled people's human rights and promote equal opportunities in the EU Institutions and Member States in accordance with principles of non-discrimination. ‘Activate’ from BCODP Activate is available in a range of alternate formats on request. Please let us know what format you require by telephone 01332 295551, fax 01332 295580, Minicom 01332 295581 or email to: Activate@bcodp.org.uk © Copyright The British Council of Disabled People 2002 No items in this newsletter may be copied or reproduced without written permission from BCODP. BCODP, Litchurch Plaza, Litchurch Lane, Derby DE24 8AA Telephone 01332 295551, Fax 01332 295580, Minicom 01332 295581 Email general@bcodp.org.uk www.bcodp.org.uk