ACTIVATE NEWSLETTER OF THE BRITISH COUNCIL OF DISABLED PEOPLE SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 What future for Disabled People? "Independence, Well-being and Choice" The Government proposals for new legislation on social care and community based National Health Service Provision. Independence for Disabled People, or another bureaucratic nightmare: continues on page 4 BCODP - FIGHTING FOR OUR HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS! ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Contacts &Acknowledgments Head Office - Derby Campaigns, Media & Parliamentary . . . . . . . .Simone Aspis Finance Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sheila Blair Research Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Margaret Bordogna Crane Transcriptions Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jayne Foulds Administration Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kevin Towler Address: BCODP, Litchurch Plaza, Litchurch Lane, Derby DE24 8AA Telephone: 01332 295551 Fax: 01332 295580 Minicom: 01332 295581 Email: general@bcodp.org.uk Officers of BCODP Acting Chairperson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Anne Pridmore Deputy Chair (Internal) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Janet Seymour Kirk Deputy Chair (External) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Roy Webb Acting Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Julie Newman Company Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sheila Furniss BCODP wish to acknowledge ‘CHANGE’ Picturebank , Valuing People ClipArt Collection and Access 2 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. Advertisements: BCODP is not responsible for claims made in the adverts published and the publication of any advert does not necessarily signify by BCODP any endorsement of the products or services advertised. Activate is available in other formats on request from Jayne Foulds. E mail: jaynef@bcodp.org.uk SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 Inside this issue.. . ACTIVATE FROM BCODP What future for disabled people? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Contacts and Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 What future for disabled people? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Finding the right pathway through the green paper wood . . . . . . . .5 To be or not to be . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 The (Acting) Chair’s Diary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 What is BCODP? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Access Campaigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 The Parliamentary Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Fighting Back for Inclusive Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Introducing…The BCODP National Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 The Ragged Edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Disability Discrimination Act 2005 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Vulnerable Adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Office for Disability Issues (ODI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP continued from page 1 What Future for Disabled People? Recently, the Government produced a Green Paper, their way of publishing their thoughts, about the future for social care for adults in England. Called "Independence, Well-being and Choice", the paper sets at a new vision for so- called "social care", in which the Government puts forward a vision of the future where support services are available to support every individual to make their own unique contribution to society, are available to everyone who wants or needs them. In many ways, this is really important for every disabled person and BCODP wants to encourage you to get involved in discussing the possible futures. The Government now intends to produce a new White Paper, which usually comes before any new law and describes what it’s going to put in that new law, in December 2005. The paper will cover both so-called "social care", the support disabled people use, and community based NHS services. Now that most local authorities have joined up the administration and management of social services and community centred health services, SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP some local authorities are now getting social workers and health service workers to be based in the same teams, working alongside each other into what is known as Primary Care Trusts. So now the Government are thinking about how to deliver services in the future. Some of the things disabled people want to be in any new system are: ¦ The right to choose to live in your own home. No forced entries to residential care. ¦ To choose for yourself what you need from support services. ¦ Much simpler systems, so you don’t have to keep telling the same things to lots of different professionals. ¦ Money to support groups of disabled people to grow and act independently. ¦ A complete review of funding for social care. Between now and Christmas, we have a chance to shape these talks in our direction. We should also start campaigning with our own local authorities to get them to start talking to us now about the changes we want in the future of our support services. We need to lead the debate about our own futures. Our Future Please talk about these things and come back to BCODP with what you think should happen and get local authorities to talk to us about our future. Over on the next page are some of the things Jane Campbell, once a Chair of BCODP has to say on this paper. SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP 'Finding the right pathway through the green paper wood.' “This green paper Independence, Well-being, and Choice offers a vision for public service support that goes well beyond the boundaries of social care.” By Jane Campbell The first sentence of the paper sums up what disabled people have been fighting for for years. ‘Our starting point is the principal that everyone in society has a positive contribution to make to that society and that they should have a right to control their own lives.’ Jane commented that "It is the greenest green paper I have ever seen – in fact it's like a forest. But the forest has two paths through it: one path leads to the gingerbread house; the other is where the big bad wolf lurks." The uphill path leads to an overhaul of the old system and Jane said "I’d rather drop my wheelchair down a gear and make my way slowly up the hill, then roll downwards to a service world again." Well-Being "The link between social care, equal opportunities, citizenship, community regeneration and economic well-being is a testament to the new vision. However, the pathway to realising this goal will be challenging. For example, the paper promotes the idea of choice and control, full social participation, and individualised budgets – as if they were new concepts to social care. We all know the reality of course, that they have been conceived, designed and developed by the service user movement and some social care providers for decades. However, development of these concepts and user driven approaches, has been thwarted by the barriers of a social care culture which is gripped by service ‘menus’, bureaucracy, fear of losing control and taking risks". Jane welcomes "the radical shift from "practitioner knows best" to respecting that service users are likely to be the experts in their own situation. This means practitioners confronting the thorny issue called risk". Jane said that "For instance no one would dare I hope to suggest I am SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 vulnerable myself, however if you were to reduce my care package, take away access to my home or take away my electric wheelchair, I would indeed be vulnerable. Therefore it would make far more sense to talk about service users in vulnerable situations as this would provide the right solutions, for instance in my case accessible housing, decent mobility aids and personal assistants to provide independent living. In a nutshell a social model approach". Finally Jane commented: "That since the arrival of our new minister Liam Byrne, there has been some discussion as to whether the White Paper should be "One White Paper or Two" or indeed will there be a White ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Paper at all!. The one paper idea will be an amalgamation of health and social care reforms. So far it sounds as if he is inclined to try for a separate social care White Paper, but other ministers may well prefer one (for good and bad reasons. Much of our work with service users, as reflected in our recent consultation exercises, provides evidence that they don't necessarily see ever-closer integration between health and social care as being to their advantage - quite the contrary. It reinforces prescriptive medical models rather than the social model. I must admit, when I heard 3000 community matrons were coming to sort out the care packages of people with complex health and social care needs, I hid under the duvet!” So, two papers or one? Two paths – which one to choose? These are the critical questions we need to confront and decipher over the coming months." SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP To be or Not to Be!....The Ongoing Debate About the Future of the Disabled People’s Movement.... Recently, we’ve had much discussion and debates about how best we can recreate some fire and passion in the movement, capturing the radical energy of disabled peoples struggle for freedom. Discussion and debate, difference and diversity are the very lifeblood of our movement and welcome. Signs There are some signs the debate might be moving towards finding a common way of moving forward, combining the best of what we have to offer. Here we print an account of what our Acting Chair got up to recently, as an illustration that, if BCODP isn’t yet up to doing everything any disabled person could want, at least the dedicated few who’ve freely given their time and resources, are actually doing something! SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP The (Acting) Chair’s Diary BCODP alive and kicking! Having heard the rumours that BCODP is dead I felt it might be good practice to let the readers know what the Acting Chair has been up to. Nominated in March it seems to be a roller coaster of meetings or working at the Derby office. Early in March I met with the BIG Lottery to convince them that the project "Moving on Up" membership and services project to support and sustain member groups was worth funding. The bid was successful and the adverts will be in the press by the time you read this. Red Skies April was an extremely busy month where I attended the Red Skies meeting at the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) where we discussed the Disability Bill and the chances of it securing Royal Assent before the Election. Which of course we now know it did. We also discussed the STRATEGY UNIT REPORT ON "IMPROVING LIFE CHANCES". I informed the meeting that whilst the Department of Work and Pension (DWP) were eager to consult with disabled people they had not really considered the financial implications of doing this. The example I gave was that whilst I had received an invite to attend the DWP Forum which had the "Strategy" on the agenda they had to be coaxed into providing hotel accommodation the night before. Breakthrough The Incapacity Benefit and related changes was discussed. Potentially, the recently-announced changes could mark a significant breakthrough for disabled people who are capable of making the transition from "no work" to "normal work" given the right type and level of support. However, it seems to the DRC at least that much will depend in practice on the quality and extent of actual support, advice etc provided to disabled people by JobCentre Plus and related agencies. I feel it also reflects a government determined to get everyone into work. continues over SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP The (Acting) Chair’s Diary Many disabled people have still to receive a decent education let alone support via Direct Payments in order to get out of bed in the first place. The Commission for Equality and Human Rights and the fact that it is unlikely to become "real" until 2007. However I stressed the importance of having disabled people involved from the start. I also attended a conference at the Social Care Institute of Excellence. This was a very interesting event because the topic was "How to include service users on the Social Work degree course". One of the main problems around doing this is the benefit system which when disabled people are on income support doesn’t allow them to receive payment. Change The Universities involved in this were hoping for a change in the benefit system but this hasn’t happened. This of course also stops many disabled people taking public appointments. May saw me in London at the first meeting of BCODP’s women’s committee. I attended a meeting with Bert Massie DRC to see how BCODP could work with the DRC. It was agreed that BCODP would now be on the list which is used to tender for possible pieces of work. I attended my first meeting of NCIL policy committee. This was an interesting meeting where we discussed, the right to independent living campaign, the plans for new legislation, conference plans and the future campaign, review of general election results and finally the meeting NCIL had with the Residential care providers. Finally I assisted the staffing of the BCODP stand at TUC Disability Conference and NAIDEX. As well as the above I have done press interviews re the BIG Lottery and the Bottom Village which appeared in SCOPE and the Sunday Telegraph. I have worked in the Derby office assisting with the audit, manning the phone and staff supervision and of course attended two National Council meetings and one executive meeting. Not bad for an organisation which isn’t supposed to be doing anything! SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP To the Acting Chair’s Diary article, we add another from Roy Webb, Vice Chair, External for BCODP, in which he discusses why we find ourselves in this position and tries to answer the question "What is BCODP?" What is BCODP? Some discussion has been going along the lines of asking why, if everything in the BCODP garden is lovely, has there been such a vigorous debate about the future of the organisation. I think that there may be more than one answer to this. First of all, no-one who has been involved with BCODP over the last few years would, I’m sure, pretend everything in the garden was lovely. In fact, most of the effort recently has been going into keeping the organisation afloat at all, something which is familiar, I'm sure, to many member groups and disabled peoples organisations of every sort. The other point of view, is that rich discussion and debates are themselves signs of the strength and vitality of the movement, rather than weakness. Everyone shares the wish to build a stronger, radical, inclusive and democratic disabled peoples movement capable of taking on the challenges facing us. Winning At a time when, on the one hand, we seem to have been winning the battle of ideas, with Government committing itself to long standing demands from disabled people, such as the commitment to build a CIL, controlled by disabled people, in every local authority area, by 2010, while on the other we see disabled people struggling to get even their most basic needs met in a strange drawing of what once was proudly called direct payments, we need to be able to campaign for our right to represent ourselves and for a basic right to independent living, to rebuild and strengthen our local groups and organisations into radical campaigning, inclusive organisations. continues over SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP What is BCODP? - continued There is now no obvious reason why this work cannot be done through BCODP. If the social model teaches us that disabled people can, working together, change the world, surely we have the power to shape and develop the organisation we built ourselves to meet our own needs?" So, what is BCODP? Everyone knows there is a big debate going on about the future of BCODP. In fact, being a democratic movement, there has hardly ever been a time when disabled people in Britain have not been discussing the nature of their national organisation. Indeed, such lively and continuous discussion and debate are at the heart of the strength of the disabled peoples movement. While some have argued that BCODP no longer represents disabled peoples wishes and desires, no longer speaks for disabled people across the country, this doesn't fit easily with the practical reality of running, sustaining and developing what is, after all, still a relatively small organisation, into the kind of powerful, inclusive, radical and democratic disabled peoples movement we all yearn for and passionately desire. I'm thinking we need to understand the nature of BCODP, what it is and what it can become, to understand this debate. So I want to ask the question, what is BCODP? Is it those 26 disabled people who form the National Council? Is it the four elected officers currently in post? Is it the ten or so disabled people who form the BCODP Campaigns Committee? Or is it something more than just this administrative structure? Diverse BCODP is for me the administrative structure which must attempt to connect all our different, diverse and creative strands together. Through this we can SEPTEMBER 2005 ISSUE 56 support each other, learn from each other and work together in united action, when we need to do that. This is a task, in which every disabled person has a crucial, active role to play. Twenty six people on the National Council can't do this job. Neither can four elected officers. The liberation of disabled people remains a task for disabled people themselves. This vision of a mass movement should be what underpins our work in creating a radical, inclusive, democratic disabled peoples movement. Committed The current National Council of BCODP is committed to developing the organisation into one which involves its member groups in its activity and decision making. That's why we've changed the structure of the NC to give a majority to delegates directly elected from member groups. It's why we have created a Campaigns Committee and employed campaign officers to support and drive forward the work of this committee. ACTIVATE FROM BCODP It's why we will be recruiting a new Members and Services Manager and are fund-raising to begin our new "Moving On Up" project, aimed at providing specific, detailed support to develop new organisations of disabled people and strengthen existing ones. It's why our AGM this year is on the topic of "Moving On Up". I've said this before and I'm happy to say again, that any one who wants to be involved in this project is welcome to come and join in. If we want to build the movement we all desperately desire let us begin building a movement whose unique characteristic is that it depends on and draws its inspiration from the inexhaustible creativity of the self activity of its members. Roy Webb Want to Join the Debate? On the BCODP web site we have a section called FORUMS, where you can post messages and read contributions from other members or member groups. This is an excellent way to continue the discussions and debates which you read here in "Activate"! BCODP encourages everyone to use this facility to get involved in discussion, organising, sharing information and working together for change. SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Access Campaigns.. . All over the country, disabled people are campaigning for access to buildings, to transport, to society as a whole. Recently Manchester Disabled Peoples Access Group appealed to others to help join a national network of campaigning access groups, run by disabled people. Manchester Disabled People's Access Group (MPDAG) is trying to set up an informal network of UK-based access groups to exchange information, campaign together, share best practice and actively support each other. If you are in a group which is interested in access issues we invite you to join this network. We are particularly looking for groups which are like MDPAG, that is: ¦ Controlled by disabled people ¦ Committed to the aim of campaigning for and promoting full access for disabled people ¦ Subscribe to the social model of disability. MPDAG have set up a members-only Smartgroup which provides a Web based discussion board to exchange ideas, deposit files of interest and ask questions of each other. For example, we could try to work together to set up national level of access standards so we are all working to best practice standards. If this e- community works well, we will later hopefully move towards having face-toface meetings and events. Email Bernard if you are interested (admin@mdpag.org.uk), or for more information go to the website at http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/agnetwork Regards Bernard Leach Manchester Disabled People's Group www.mdpag.org.uk SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 Access Campaigns.. . ACTIVATE FROM BCODP SENSE-Technology and the Needs of Deafblind People Some groups within the diverse disabled people’s community experience more discrimination in relation to access issues than others. One section of our community which has received little support and attention in this area of our struggle for liberation has been the deaf-blind community. Recently, a research project sponsored by SHAPE, an organisation for disabled people, which does have some disabled people on its board and has worked closely with the deaf-blind communityproduced a research report highlighting the issues. Our own contacts with the deaf-blind community support this campaign and themselves want these issues to be raised and campaigned for. If we are going to build a genuinely inclusive disabled peoples movement, we need to be aware of and involved in this campaign. Technology has become an essential part of everyone’s lives. For deafblind people, technology can enable them to access information, with communication and mobility. However, many deafblind people are experiencing problems accessing technology. For this reason Sense designed a survey in June 2004, to find out about deafblind people's experience of using technology SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 in their everyday lives. The survey was designed so that deafblind people could tell us about themselves and their experience of technology. It was the first step to helping Sense learn about deafblind people's access to technology and to finding out how manufacturers and others can make technology more accessible. The questionnaire was sent to members of Sense and Deafblind UK and also to some contacts of RNIB and social services. If you would like a copy of the report, the summary and/or the postcards please email Lucy Drescher at: Lucy.Drescher@sense.org.uk or telephone on 020 7561 3400. ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Access Campaigns.. . Independent Living Finding personal assistance and beginning on the road to independent living has never been easy. Here we reproduce information about a London based organization of disabled people who have been supporting disabled people to do this for many years. Independent Living Alternatives are one of the oldest organizations of disabled people around in Britain today. They have been working with disabled people interested in living independently for many years before we even started dreaming of direct payments and have supported many disabled people into discovering independent living for the first time. While many will rightly argue that direct payments are better than the services which ILA provide, for many disabled people this has been and remains a positive way to begin the independent living experience. This is information about what disabled people can expect from the project. Here ILA explain their new project. ILa a non-profit making organization of disabled people, called Independent Living Alternatives (ILA). They have 15 years experience of promoting the rights of disabled people to live independently. ILA have received funding to support a new project called Personal Assistance Services working across London for the next three years. In this new project the role of a PA can be tailor-made to suit the lifestyle of the user who may have varying disabilities, including; learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health difficulties. PAs may also support children and families. If you would like any further information contact: Independent Living Alternatives (ILA) Trafalgar House, Grenville Place, London, NW7 3SA T 020 8906 9265 F 020 8959 1910 www.ILAnet.co.uk Registered Charity No:802198 SEPTEMBER 2005 ISSUE 56 The Parliamentary Front.. . ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Things are incredibly busy at national level. We’ve got some reports on work BCODP is involved in. At the moment much new is being developed about disabled people, so it’s critical we keep our eye on this. By Simone Aspis Just before Parliament ended in July this year, breaking for the summer, the Government began discussions about an important piece of new legislation. The Equalities Bill was placed before the House of Lords, where it has been in Committee Session, before it comes back to the Commons for final debate. The Bill gives the Government the power to establish a new Commission for Equalities and Human Rights to replace the existing Disability Rights Commission, Commission for Racial Equality and the Equal Opportunities Commission. The new Commission will have the responsibility of making sure that all anti discrimination legislation in all these three areas is properly followed and implemented. It will also have SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 responsibly to make recommendations about future legislation in these areas. In addition, the new Commission will also be responsible to keep checking on the implementation and enforcement of new legislation, recently introduced or being introduced, on anti discrimination on the basis of age, sexual orientation and religious beliefs, bringing these three new areas into the area of antidiscrimination legislation. It will have a Disability Committee, which will have a majority of disabled people on it, which will advise it on issues relating to disabled people. There is also a possibility a new Single Equality Bill will be introduced, to bring together the different parts of the law on this Issue. Here’s what BCODP thought of the Bill. continues over ACTIVATE FROM BCODP The Parliamentary Front.. . British Council of Disabled People’s Proposed Amendments to the Equality Bill during committee stage BCODP welcomes the Equalities Bill but we are seeking the following amendments in order to improve the functioning of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR) or to establish what the Secretary of State had in mind. Our amendments cover: 1) Disability Committee and CEHR commissioners 2) Promotion of good relations within and in between communities 3) CEHR to initiate human rights legal proceedings 4) A proposed Single Equalities Act. Disability Committee feeding into the CEHR Commission BCODP would like the Disability Committee to be a permanent feature of the CEHR. Why is the amendment needed? Disabled people only achieved civil rights ten years ago with the Disability Discrimination Act. And it was only in 1997 that the Disability Rights Commission was established to oversee the monitoring of the Disability Discrimination and subsequent legislation. Thus, the implementation of civil rights for disabled people is still relatively young compare to other antidiscrimination legislation. And further, disability discrimination has inherit complexities and for it to be eliminated requires extensive input from disabled people on how this can be achieved. This approach has been acknowledged as this Government and previous ones have sought to include disabled people in their current and on-going policy work. The proposed 5 years life of the Disability Committee does not give sufficient guarantee to ensure that its members can strategically plan for the inclusion of disabled people in society. After all, Government has allocated 20 SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 The Parliamentary Front.. . ACTIVATE FROM BCODP years for this to happen. By this logic, the Committee ought to run for 20 years and longer. Disabled people expect part of the Committee’s remit is to promote and oversee the spirit of the Improving Life Chances for Disabled people to be implemented. In addition BCODP supports the DRC’s amendment for disabled people to be explicitly mentioned in any review of the Disability Committee. The Commission must represent the constitute groups it will cover BCODP would like to see each constitute group (e.g. Disabled People, Black and Ethic Minority and sexual orientation) to have equal representation on the Commission. Amendment The Secretary of State shall ensure the Commission includes 12 Commissioners representing who are 2 Disabled 2 from a Black and Ethnic Minority community 2 Sexual orientation 2 affected by their age 2 affiliated to religious domination 2 man and woman affected by sex discrimination. SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 Why is this amendment needed? BCODP does not think having at least one commissioner representing Disabled Peoples interests is sufficient. Similarly having only one commissioner representing BME communities is just as problematic. These equality issues are not straight forward which one commissioner can be expected to champion. Having more than one commissioner allows for a wider range of experience associated with promoting disability or other single equality issues which can only contribute to the diversity and depth of understanding of equality which the CEHR seeks to achieve. To secure minimum financial resources so that the DRC can continue doing it’s work BCODP wants the Disability Committee / CEHR to allocate a minimum budget each year for its work on promoting Disability Equality. ‘The Secretary of State will allocate no less than the budget given to the Disability Rights Commission on it’s dissolution to the CEHR to undertake it’s work to promote disability equality. And further the Secretary of State will increase this budget in line of inflation every year." ACTIVATE FROM BCODP The Parliamentary Front.. . Why is this amendment needed? Whenever there are merges of organisations or functions within organisations this often leads to savings. As such we are concerned that the merging of three commissions together with extending its remit to cover other equalities issues may adversely affect the budget allocated for the needed work around promoting disability equality. We want to secure the DRC’s current budget together with guaranteed inflationary increases. Such a guarantee is needed as budget cuts usually affect disabled people. We have seen this with Social Services Departments budgets, the phasing out of disability units within statutory bodies, the reduction of college courses for disabled youngsters (Learning and Skills Councils) and the Government’s flagship Supporting Peoples initiative. To ensure all transitional commissioners are treated the same BCODP wants all transitional commissioners to have the same terms and conditions which includes being involved from the beginning to end of the transition from the Disability Rights Commission, Commission for Race Equality and Equal Opportunities Commissions. Amendment We support DRC’s amendment. Why is this Amendment needed? We think it is important for all the transitional commissioners to be involved with the strategic management of the CEHR. The DRC transitional Commissioners will be required to vacate their roles by 2007 whilst for EOC and CRE transitional Commissioners will continue until 2009 and 2011 respectively. We think it is vital that the DRC’s commissioners are there from the beginning to the end of the transition of the three commissions to the CEHR. The DRC commissioners will ensure that disability is included in the strategic planning. Independent Living Disabled Peoples organisations will be proposing legislative measures on how to promote disabled peoples independent living so that disabled people can enjoy the same opportunities that non disabled people take for granted. In good spirit we will support the DRC’s proposed amendment to section 8 (Promote diversity and equality) to seek the Minister’s commitment to independent living based upon the philosophy developed by disabled people themselves. SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 The Parliamentary Front.. . ACTIVATE FROM BCODP To promote good relationships with disabled people within their local communities in order to eliminate disabilism BCODP wants to ensure that CEHR has the powers to undertake work which improves relationships with disabled people in their local communities. Why is the amendment needed? Disabled people are often victimised by members of their local communities who are also experiencing other forms of prejudice. Many disabled people, particularly those with learning difficulties are subjected to name calling by children, bullying by neighbours and at increased risk of being a ‘victim’ of crime. This has finally been acknowledged with a recent introduction of hate crime against disabled people, and as such giving it equal status as hate crime against black people and alike. Whilst we welcome this initiative, it isn’t the whole solution. Just criminalising a person’s behaviour isn’t sufficient. There is a need to support communities to become more inclusive which ought to include work undertaken which will assist with changing communities behaviour for good! Disabled People face multiple discrimination, because of being maybe a member of the Black and Ethnic Minority SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 Community, and as such multiple discrimination will need to be tackled within their local communities. At the moment part of the Bill will not promote good relationships with disabled people within their local communities. Without such important work, disabled people will continue to stay marginised within their local communities and society as a whole so therefore undermining Government’s intention to promote disabled peoples active citizenship. Disabled Peoples’ organisations involvement in Promoting Good relationships within their local communities. BCODP would like to see disabled peoples organisations involved in any work to promote good relations within their local communities. The Commission when undertaking work to promote good relationships within and between communities will ensure organisations representing these communities are involved as partners. Organisations representing these communities are ones which have a) For a disabled peoples organisation, 75% members of their management committee being disabled. continues over ACTIVATE FROM BCODP The Parliamentary Front.. . b) For other organisations the minimum standard required of representation from their local communities on their management committee set by their respective national umbrella organisation. c) And when such an organisation does not exist then the CEHR will assist with establishing one. Why is the amendment needed? Too often regeneration funding which is supposed to get local groups who are directly affected by the economic and social deprivation to actively improve their conditions has not always worked. Too often local community groups are not involved in such a way which will influence how the local community develops. We want to be sure that the CEHR will involve disabled peoples organisations when actively promoting good relationships within their local communities. The advantage of working with disabled peoples organisations is that they have had direct experience of development work which the community as a whole could benefit from. Further, they will know how disabled people are affected by other peoples’ actions. Human Rights BCODP wants the CEHR to have the power to take on human rights cases affecting disabled people. Amendment Support DRC’s amendment Why is the amendment needed? The Human Rights Act gives extra protection for disabled people to enjoy the same ‘human’ rights which non disabled people take for granted. Many disabled peoples human rights are violated on a day to day basis. And it is only when going to court will standards be set on what public bodies must do in order to promote disabled peoples rights. Such challenges advance the rights for all, and therefore serve the public as a whole. And further, seeking legal aid for such human rights cases are not easily to come by or indeed qualify for. Whilst we welcome the proposal for CEHR to promote good practise when promoting disabled peoples human rights. Education isn’t sufficient as disabled people know. It was not so long ago when Government considered education and gentle persuasion was going to be enough for service SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 The Parliamentary Front.. . ACTIVATE FROM BCODP providers, employers and public bodies to promote equality through eliminating any discriminatory practises. The Government finally acknowledged that this would not work without antidiscrimination legislation and legal enforcement measures. Similarly, such approach will not work without legal enforcement, hence why the CEHR must have the power to represent individuals in legal proceedings when their human rights are being violated. Single Equalities Act BCODP would like a commitment to ensure all groups of people who experience discrimination on the grounds of disability, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, age and gender are all afforded the same rights not to be discriminated against. BCODP are proposing an amendment to the Bill so that the Secretary of State will propose a Single Equalities Bill within three years of the enactment of the Equality Act 2005. Why is this amendment needed? Each group of individuals enjoy different sets of rights not to be discriminated against. So for example anti-discrimination provisions only protect homosexuals and ‘older people’ in employment issues. This can be contrasted with the wide range of rights disabled people enjoy when accessing employment, services, education and alike. SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP The Parliamentary Front.. . Campaign On New Mental Health Act! The Government are thinking about putting a Mental Health Bill before Parliament during Autumn. We are expecting the Mental Health Bill to be bad news for many people who are seen to behave or deal with their feelings differently from non disabled people. We want to set up a network of groups and people who want to campaign on and against this Mental Health Bill. We need to make sure that Mental Health System Survivors human rights are not being stopped by other people like Doctors, judges and the police. It would be great if this network could be set up before we know what’s in the Mental Health Bill Please make contact with Simone Aspis on simone@bcodp.org.uk Or on 0208- 459-2998 SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 The Parliamentary Front.. . ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Fighting back for Inclusive Education Baroness Warnock, Labour’s spokesperson in the House of Lords, recently argued that the Government believes that there is a continuing need for segregated education! She has been teaming up with disgruntled parents and was famously debated on the Issue by Richard Reiser and Michelin Mason, both supported by BCODP, at a public meeting heavily lobbied by disabled people and parents campaigning for inclusive education. We’ve obviously got work to do on this most essential campaign front and BCODP urges all its member groups to affiliate to the Alliance for Inclusive Education and Disability Equality in Education. Consider We also ask you to consider appointing someone in your Executive or Management Committees to concentrate on co-ordinating campaigning activity on inclusive education and particularly support the Alliance in their efforts to establish local campaigning groups of disabled people and parents of disabled children, plus allies, in the essential campaign to include all disabled children and adults into the education system, changing and radicalizing the system to ensure a healthy, progressive, inclusive and constructive education system for all. Here’s an extract from a recent BCODP briefing to the All Party Disability Group in Parliament on the issues. Get involved. Negative "BCODP recognises there are problems with the inclusion of disabled children into mainstream schools. continues over SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP The Parliamentary Front.. . Fighting back for Inclusive Education - continued Warnock’s negative observations about disabled children into mainstream schools are linked to BAD INTEGRATION not inclusion. Integration focuses upon disabled children entering into mainstream schooling with as few adaptations as possible to the existing education system. Unlike Warnock, BCODP considers the problems lay within our education system not the pupils’ impairments. Perception New special schools are being created based on the medical model of disability, where there is a perception that barriers can not be removed so that these disabled children can benefit from mainstream schooling. What’s being ignored is the creative thinking of children, parents and teachers who are trying to make inclusion work through the removal of the social model of disability barriers (attitudinal, organisational and environmental) which disabled children face when accessing mainstream schooling. Many young disabled people have become valued members of their communities and pursing a range of interests because of their mainstream educational experiences (Alliance for Inclusive Education have many good examples in their "Where Are They Now" publication). What’s needed is an Education law which will give every disabled child a right to attend a mainstream school with appropriate support and the phasing out of special schools by 2020. After all, if for example black or Jewish children face racism or anti-Semitism no one would suggest segregated education for them, so why should it be any different for disabled children? SEPTEMBER 2005 ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Introducing the BCODP Council.. . Recently, BCODP agreed to invite NC members to introduce themselves to the wider membership. We would like to hear more from you and we hope you enjoy finding something about who are the people who give their time to supporting the National Council. We start with an introduction from Janet Seymour-Kirk, our hard working and industrious Deputy Chair for Internal Affairs. Janet, in her usual style, is unbelievably modest in disclosing her achievements and the amazing amount of work she does. She’s still one of those few people who can remember everything in a document she reads and is known as a powerful, strong campaigner for disabled peoples’ rights by everyone who knows her. Here, she illustrates how NC members struggle to keep things together in their everyday lives. We’re just like ordinary crips! Deputy Chair for Internal Affairs, Janet Seymour Kirk. When I was younger I fought for my rights as a disabled child, the right to speak for myself to the Doctors and especially the Surgeon, the right to join a swimming club with other children, the right to go to college and be educated on the course of my choosing and not be told that I would be incapable of achieving because of their prejudices. Unbeknown to me I was fighting for would be, I was devastated, but 6 months my Civil Rights from Junior School later I picked myself up and went for onwards and unbeknown to me the interviews to be a Nursery Nurse – NNEB equality that I gained I also gained for all – at the interview I was told the board those who came after me. did not educate disabled people, they Devastated would not look good looking after other I was told that I was incapable, due to peoples children and anyway they did my disability, of becoming a nurse when not think me capable of the job. I had been told by all how good a nurse I continues over SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Introducing the BCODP Council.. . From a further 6 interviews I was offered 4 possible courses, of which I chose to enrol at Kirby College, Middlesbrough out of which I received a Distinction in Child Care. After working for Social Services for 6 months I decided to be a private Nanny. First job My first job was working for Roger Whittaker and his wife and their 2 children, then travelling round the country working ending up in Datchet outside of Windsor before I was in need for surgery which ended my career. I met my future husband Chris in the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton and after staying at home to bring up our 2 sons I found time on my hands. My husband persuaded me to join his union and I soon found myself involved in the disability sector. From there I got involved with the Labour Party, the TUC, myself appointed onto a Transport Commission, a Parish Councillor, Governor of a local Primary School, Member of the Public Patient and Involvement Forum Commission, elected General Secretary of the Labour Party Disabled Members Group and after 4 years of involvement elected Deputy Chair Internal of BCODP. Like many others in the movement there are local issues I am involved with, as well as the crafts I achieve, which kept me sane while being laid on my back for years. I also decorate cakes; making everything out of sugar - flowers, people, houses, animals, cards…. So no doubt like many of you reading this have found ~ if you want something doing ask a busy person! Janet Seymour-Kirk. SEPTEMBER 2005 ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP The Ragged Edge...Have your say.. . BCODP believes radical discussion and debate is the very lifeblood of the movement, and we reserve this section of the magazine to this purpose. Views and opinions expressed here don’t necessarily represent BCODP policy and practice, but do highlight topics of discussion which are important to our movement. Members are encouraged to make contributions. The Bombings in London Ever since the 7th July 2005, when bombers on London’s transport system killed 56 people and injured many other, innocent people, simply trying to go to work or get on with their daily lives. BCODP gladly lends its voice to those Information about disabled peoples who have unreservedly condemned the organisations in Iraq can be found by terrorist attacks on London’s people. contacting Disability Awareness in Below, we reprint a message from the Action, through info@daa.org.uk independent Iraqi Trade Union Following the appalling murder of Federation, made shortly after the Anthony Walker, a young black man in attacks took place. Liverpool, attacks on mosques and The IFTU is an independent increasing attacks on individual Muslims organisation of working people in Iraq, in the streets, there is much work for us formed after the fall of Saddam. They to do to combat the racists within our clearly feel they have to contend with, own communities. Disabled people have not just the British and American forces, every reason to be at the forefront of but the provisional government and the work to create more inclusive extreme right wing fanatical armed communities, stronger and safer gangs within their own communities. communities, with a real active place for Anyone interested in finding out more everyone. can contact the links we’ve given here. continues over SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP The Ragged Edge...Have your say.. . We can contact other organisations representing other excluded minorities, especially Muslim organisations, and begin creating the links which will allow us, together, to work to build tolerant, inclusive communities where difference is recognised and celebrated. Building links with other groups within our communities sharing our struggle to create a truly inclusive society has always been a priority for the disabled peoples movement. Now it’s more urgent than ever. IFTU statement of solidarity with victims of the London bombings and the workers of London Condemns "The Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU) London office strongly condemns the terrorist attacks in London that took place yesterday (7 July, 2005) against innocent defenceless working people going about their daily routine. We mourn the loss of life and pray for a speedy recovery of the injured. These are unprovoked attacks, which lack any justification whatsoever. We Iraqis know very well the sorrow Londoners are going through at the moment and feel their pain as Iraq today battles against extremism for democracy and human rights in a federal and united Iraq. The perpetrators of these vile acts of barbarism must be brought to justice and receive the deserved punishment. We salute the brave, calm and tireless humanitarian response of workers in the transport, emergency services and media who have demonstrated the instinctive and universal duty of love and care to their fellow Londoners, that is an example to trade unionists everywhere. Finally our sympathy with families and friends who lost loved ones. Posted by Abdullah at July 8, 2005 02:23 PM We also reproduce on the following page a statement from women’s organizations in Iraq. SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP The Ragged Edge...Have your say... Statement by Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI) - UK Branch on the terrorist attack in London "What happened in London is another hideous crime of global terrorists against humanity! Through occupation of Iraq and So called "War on terror" USA and its allies cannot bring terrorism into an end! The news of the horrific terrorist attack in London on 07/07/2005 has added one more tragedy against humanity. We are living in an era where terrorism has become a daily threat to everyones life. The organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq- UK branch gives its most heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of this calamity. Jihad The political Islamists, who have declared their "Jihad" on the world, started from countries in the Middle East by imposing Islamic Sharia Law, forcing women to wear the Veil, stoning them to death in public, and many more oppressions, were made a way of life for nearly three decades now. Unleashed When this "Jihad" for killing "infidels "reached the US its "war on terror" response only unleashed further the most reactionary Islamist forces onto the scene, giving them a "reason" to attack, kill, behead, and murder civilians wherever it is possible for them. The London attack is part of a sequence of terrorist actions in the world; we still haven’t forgotten the tragedies that took place in New York, Madrid, Baghdad, Bali, Turkey, and many other places. continues over SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI) - continued The so called "war on terror" has brought immense miseries to the people of Iraq. It has turned it into a battleground for various terrorist networks to terrorize people of Iraq and foreigners as they wish. Today throughout Iraq suicide bombings, beheadings, hostage taking, murdering innocent civilians, killing women, and beheading them has become the norm. Codemns The OWFI strongly condemns the carnage and crimes committed by Islamists. They should be condemned by all. The Islamists should be denied any support or sympathy. Task But it is the task of the progressive and secular forces across the world to stand up to these atrocities which have been committed against humankind all over the world for causes that are not ours and have nothing to do with our aspirations." Letters to the Editor.. . Wonderful Manifesto Dear All I have just received a phone call from Rhonda Reekie (Green Party) she wanted to tell us how wonderful our manifesto was. She said "I received lots of Manifesto's, all tending to be rather weighty and wordy. Your Manifesto was a joy to read and so clear and easy to understand." She sends her congratulations to the team involved. She said other organisations could learn from BCODP about producing literature that is easy to understand." SEPTEMBER 2005 ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Disability Discrimination Act 2005 Update Earlier this year the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 became law. One of its most important sections introduced a new duty on every public body to look ahead and anticipate where its current plans, policy, services and activities might discriminate against disabled people and plan to eliminate discrimination and promote equality of opportunity for disabled people. At last a piece of legislation based on the social model of disability! While the definition of who a disabled person is remains the same as in the original 1995 Act, something which might yet change, following this governments commitment to discussing a social model definition, at least this part of the Act commits everyone to identifying those disabling barriers and removing them! Better still, the Act demands, insists, that this must be done with the full involvement of disabled people! They must involve us throughout this process. Here we reproduce some guidance from the DRC about what the new Act means. The General Duty ¦ The overarching goal of the general duty ¦ The need to promote equality of SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 opportunity between disabled persons and other person ¦ The underlying principle of the general duty ¦ The need to take steps to take account of disabled persons disabilities, even where that involves treating disabled person more favourably than other persons As well as the General Duty, which applies to every public authority, the Act contains a specific duty, which applies only to those public authorities named in the Act itself. These include local authorities, health authorities, education authorities, housing authorities, police and emergency services, government departments and everyone we would ordinarily think of as public authorities. continues over ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Disability Discrimination Act 2005 Update - continued The need to eliminate harassment ¦ A teenager with chronic fatigue syndrome asks if she can sit in the seat for disabled people on a bus. The young man who is sitting in it tells her in no uncertain terms that he won’t move. ¦ A person of reduced stature has a blue badge and wants to park in a disabled parking space outside the housing office. For the third time the council employee who looks after the car park tells him to ‘bloody well stop using the space as he is preventing others who are more deserving from using it’. ¦ The colleagues of a hospital cleaner who has lupus syndrome constantly imitate her uneven gait and call her ‘hop along’. Harassment ¦ What do we mean by harassment? ¦ What can we do to eliminate harassment? ¦ Pre-emption ¦ Elimination ¦ Connexion between this duty and the duty to promote positives attitudes ¦ How do we know if we are eliminating it Positive Attitudes ¦ How will public authorities promote positive attitudes towards disabled persons? ¦ In schools the citizenship component of the national curriculum should include positive messages about disabled people. Parent’s evenings and school events should be made accessible to disabled parents. ¦ What steps can public authorities take beyond an audit of their services and communication strategies to ensure that what they are currently doing is SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 not inadvertently promoting negative attitudes towards disabled people or promoting positive attitudes about one group of disabled people at the expense of another? ¦ If it involves changing the culture of public authorities how can this be done. Public Life ¦ How can public authorities encourage participation by disabled persons in public life? ¦ What do we mean by public life, tenants forums to the House of Lords ¦ What steps could be taken for example to encourage participation of disabled persons to become school governors beyond stating that their application would be welcome. ¦ Once disabled persons have been recruited into public life what further issues may need to be addressed. How will this duty relate to the duty to eliminate harassment and promote positive attitudes?" There is plenty of room for local campaigning work here and BCODP urges all its member groups and individual members to get involved in local campaign work about defining ACTIVATE FROM BCODP exactly what these terms mean and exactly what local authorities should be doing about it. One very important aspect of this Act is that it requires every local authority to draw up a Disability Equality Plan, beginning in 2006. They must do this with the full involvement of disabled people. BCODP believes this must mean working with organisations of disabled people. Every BCODP member group should immediately begin negotiations with their local authorities to see what they are putting in their budget for 2006/2007 to cover the cost of doing this work and implementing the recommendations of the plan. Even more importantly, member groups must ask their local authorities to set aside money to pay for organisations of disabled people to co-ordinate and develop disabled peoples participation in the process. This could be an excellent opportunity to get some secure funding for openly political campaign work. We recommend everyone gets right to it! SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP "Vulnerable Adults" - yes, folks, that’s supposed to include us - a response. In Scotland, legislation is threatened to cover the so-called "protection of vulnerable adults", which, of course, you’ve guessed it, is intended to include disabled people, although the only once we think we’re vulnerable to are those who discriminate against us! BCODP’s former General Secretary, Jim Elder- Woodward has written this excellent, well researched and hard hitting response. The same Issue is referred to in the governments Green Paper on social care and, following the incidents in the Soham murders, some in England want similar legislation introduced there, also. This Issue affects us all as disabled people and we’re pleased to reproduce Jim’s Executive Summary. Protecting Vulnerable Adults-consultation response Vulnerable adults and related matters. Initial thoughts for discussion Executive Summary SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 I have three basic concerns over this consultation paper: 1. It is disablist in nature – unnecessarily stigmatising and disempowering disabled (including those with learning difficulties) and older people in receipt of community care 2. By labelling all disabled and older people in receipt of community care as ‘vulnerable’, any future legislation, guidelines and procedures could give even greater powers to social care workers, which would consequently impinge on disabled and older people’s human rights and civil liberties 3. If made law, the underlying assumptions and recommendations of this consultation document could undermine the principles of independent living and emancipatory social services. In particular, they could limit the power of PA employers to choose and manage their employees; and live the lives they want to live The general thrust of this consultation paper is to further ‘commodify’ disabled and older people, treating them as objects of ‘care’ rather than protagonists. The document does nothing to highlight and suggest ways to eradicate the systemic causes of abuse and exploitation within the social care system itself. SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP It is suggested that labelling disabled and older people as ‘vulnerable’ is irrelevant to the purpose of the proposed legislation. The identifiable marker is the abuse and exploitation, or potential abuse and exploitation, of the social care worker. Behaviour If any social care professional or worker exhibits any such behaviour towards anyone, be they service user or service provider – and no matter how well the recipient of that abuse or exploitation may defend themselves – then not only should the perpetrator be marked as being ‘unsuitable’ as a care worker, but immediate action should be taken against them in a court of law. If the behaviour cannot be substantiated by a law court, then they should be notified to Disclosure Scotland. Nothing in the above paragraph warrants anyone being prejudicially labelled as ‘vulnerable’. Community care recipients, no matter what their communication needs, must be involved in the monitoring and reviewing of social care workers on a regular basis. They also need to be empowered to make criticism and complaints without fear of reprisals; they must be supported to participate in the review and management of their own support systems. continues over ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Vulnerable Adults - continued Above all, they must be the protagonists of their own care – not the commodities. Prevention If there is to be an Adult Protection Committee, disabled and older people need to be part of it; and prevention of abuse should be its key role. The reasons for abuse need to be highlighted and solutions found, which involve disabled and older people along with their allies. Finally, it is noted that the Scottish Executive Health Department has already renamed its Community Care section dealing with disability issues, including direct payments legislation and this consultation exercise, as "The Vulnerable Adults Unit". This pre-emptive action not only questions the veracity and virtuosity of the consultation process, but it is a direct snub to disabled and older people, because it was done without their prior knowledge and consent. It is regrettable that the Health Department, by renaming their section dealing with disabled and older people in such a high-handed and derogatory manner seems to be so out of step with other Government policies and departments – notably the Education Department’s 21st Century Review of Social Work – which seem to be more inclusive of disabled and older people, endeavouring to empower them as protagonists of their own support systems and equal citizens of society. Risks and rights need to be balanced. But policies and practices need to be based on the respect, dignity, rights and empowerment of disabled and older people. Adequate information, training and resources for all those involved need to be developed. Above all, government, service providers, regulators, professional bodies and disabled people need to get together to open a dialogue and resolve our differences1. Flawed This consultation document, although fundamentally flawed in its premise and presumptions, could form the basis for that collaborative work. But, first many, many more disabled and older people must get as angry and upset as I am at being labelled a ‘vulnerable adult’. For a full copy of Jim’s excellent response please contact him at the following details: Jim Elder-Woodward Rosshead Coach House, Heather Avenue, Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, G83 0TJ. Tel 01389 756127 Email jim.elderwoodward@btinternet.co.uk 1 National Centre for Independent Living (2001) 'Briefing on health and safety, risk management and independent living for disabled people' (unpublished) SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP And Finally in this edition: Office for Disability Issues (ODI) One of the major promises in the Government’s strategy to eliminate discrimination against disabled people, is to create a new government department, the Office of Disability Issues, intended to co-ordinate and drive forward governments commitment to include disabled people fully into society by 2020. By Anne Pridmore Here, we reproduce a report from Anne Pridmore, Acting Chair of BCODP, from one of the first meetings called to discuss this new development. "I attended a meeting about the setting up of the Office for Disability Issues (ODI) in June and as the Strategy Unit "Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People" report has such important implications for the future of What should the ODI do? disabled people I felt it worthy of a Make sure the different departments separate report. are delivering on the report’s The establishment of an Office of recommendations (Dept of Health, Dept Disability Issues (ODI) is one of the for Work & Pensions, Dept for Transport key recommendations of the Strategy etc) and to provide the Strategy to Unit report. do this. SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Office for Disability Issues continued The ODI will also report achievements and shaming those government departments who are not delivering. Any report should come from ODI and National Forum which will be made up of disabled people’s organisations. Who should staff ODI? It is likely to be a mixture of civil servants and people seconded in who have particular experience. During the meeting, we learned that adverts for secondments to the ODI do not specify that individuals must only be disabled people. So it is possible that people from the big charities or service providers will be able to apply for these jobs. We were told that this was because "service providers" know what disabled people need and therefore would have the expertise ODI would be looking for. The idea that non disabled people should be employed to work in this office was challenged. The response was that they would think about it next time! Does this mean that if an office set up to look at BME issues would recruit only white people? Or that an office looking at women’s issues would employ only men? To suggest that "service providers" would have expertise on this strategy is not only foolish but contradicts what the Strategy Unit report says about the involvement of user-led organisations in the implementation process. SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 How many "experts" have wasted vast sums of money on aids and equipment etc which have often not only hindered disabled people but have made it impossible to take their equal right in society? No agreed number of how many people should work in ODI figure but of between 6-25 talked about. We told them that to begin with at least 30-40% of employees should be disabled people. How will the ODI work across different departments? ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Where will the money come from to run ODI At the present time the DWP is in discussion with other departments but, they were not hopeful because discussions were not going well. No new money on table. Will be up to the ODI to provide the strategy to make this happen. Links with other departments like Department for Education and Skills (DfES), DOH, Transport and Department Transport and Industry (DTI) already making good progress. We asked why a bid for more money wasn’t being submitted to the 2005/6 spending review? The answer – they would think about it! There is an opportunity through the Treasury but, the feeling was that the Treasury may throw it back at ODI to get it from existing departments. Doesn’t this beg the question if there’s no money to run the ODI or support the newly formed National Forum of Disabled people’s organisations, how the Strategy Unit report recommendations will be delivered? continues over SEPTEMBER 2005 - ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP Office for Disability Issues continued When would the ODI be launched? We were told sometime in September but, we all agreed that although this might suit civil servants, it would be a mistake because it is unlikely that things will be much further forward by then and they would receive huge amounts of criticism if they fail to deliver a clear message about the ODI and the work it will be doing. We all suggested that the revised Launch date should be the 3rd December which is International Day of Disabled People. Let’s hope they remember to invite us to the party!!" Well that is it for this Edition of Activate if you have any articles, news or letters please send them to the British Council of Disabled People’s office in Derby by post, fax or e mail! ACTIVATE SEPTEMBER 2005 ISSUE 56 ACTIVATE FROM BCODP • DESIGN • PRINT • PRINT MANAGEMENT • STORAGE & DISTRIBUTION • Brochures • Stationery • Leaflets • Business Forms • Folders • Price Lists • & Much More .... 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