Crippen posts a copy of an email received from Bob Williams-Findlay regarding the attack on the DLA
I'm using this week's blog to reproduce an email circulated by Bob Williams-Findlay regarding the attack by this government on Disabled people who are claiming Disabled Living Allowance (DLA).
"Since the Budget there has been a major uproar over the ConDems plan to 're-assess' people on DLA. What is clear is that there is now a new smear campaign, not unlike the ones against IB, to discredit DLA claims. For those with access to the BBC iplayer I've included a link to Jeremy Paxman interviewing Ed Balls."
"The statements made by Paxman need to be challenged by people who support disabled people's civil and human rights. The 'slash and burn' attack on the benefit system will put many people's lives at risk if DLA is withdrawn - I know, I'm one of them."
"We have no time to waste, a new campaign coalition is needed; a coalition that brings together both disabled and non-disabled people. We need an active voice in the mainstream - a voice that challenges the lies about DLA, expose the real agenda - cuts in welfare - and combats the ideology that's says DLA should be only for the 'most vulnerable'."
"If we don't all stand up and be counted then many of us will see our DLA taken by one hand and a one-way ticket to Switerland offered by the other!"
Bob Williams-Findlay (Former Chairperson of the British Council of Disabled People)
This episode of Newsnight is available on BBC iPlayer until Wednesday 30th June 2010
Crippen and the rogue accessible vehicle converters
Our old friend George is carrying a useful piece of advice in his current blogspot which relates to the sorts of underhand techniques that some sales persons resort to when selling to Disabled people.
Having worked in the dim and distant past for Motability in Harlow and then as a mobility consultant for several vehicle converters I can verify that many of these companies are only focussed on one thing - to get you to part with your money.
I doubt that the standards have improved very much but I can remember one company that literally tested new products on their unsuspecting customers and then washing their hands of any responsibility when vehicles inevitably fell apart or failed to provide the access that they were supposed to.
I even supported one customer in court when we discovered that her American vehicle, which had been converted to RH drive in this country by a bunch of cowboy access converters actually caught fire, trapping her in the automatic wheelchair clamps as the electrical circuits burned out around her. Very scary stuff, especially when her only means of access, the automatic wheelchair ramp also failed to work!
Many of the companies who converted vehicles for wheelchair users, whether as drivers or as passengers, failed to alert their clients to the fact that by cutting away significant areas of the base vehicle, moving the fuel tank (and sometimes fabricating a replacement tank of their own), this invalidated the base vehicle warranty.
Let's face it. Are the Ford Motor Company going to stand by their safety warranty when the integral strength of the vehicle has been compromised and replacement petrol tank has been installed in the wall alongside of the rear wheelchair passenger? The original petrol tanks are subjected to every test possible, including crash testing, whereas the replacement tanks, made to an inferior design and of an inferior material could only be 'crash' tested by the customer!
Hopefully the rogue converters have all been rooted out and the reputable companies are the only one's allowed to convert vehicles for wheelchair users now.
I certainly hope so.
Crippen shares a link to Vince Laws' blog about Disability Pride
Disability Pride is an odd concept which seems to be quite difficult for many non-disabled people to grasp.
I mean, why would be be proud of our impairments?
Here's a link to Vince Laws' current blog where he explains what Disability Pride means to him.
Click here to visit his blog and leave a comment.
Cheers
Crippen looks at the recent comment made by Jane Campbell about the assisted suicide debate
The following is an extract from Baroness Jane Campbell's recent comment in the Guardian.
"Disabled and terminally ill people have had to deal with fear, prejudice and discrimination since the beginning of time. Our lives have been devalued by statements such as "he/she'd be better off dead". In recent years, calls for a change to the law prohibiting assisted suicide have grown louder and more frequent.
"They capitalise on fear. Fear of pain, fear of loss of dignity, fear of being a burden. And, yes, fear of witnessing those fears being felt by those we know and love. The solution offered to the fear of disability and illness is final: suicide.
"Yet suicide is not well thought of in our society. It is 'committed' by the mentally ill and those unable to face the future. In both cases, society does all that it can to prevent suicidal thoughts being enacted. Life is too precious to be solely entrusted to individual action.
"That society is willing to protect us, even from ourselves in times of personal crisis, defines our – and its – humanity. However, those seeking a change to the law on assisted suicide say such ideals have no place when considering severely disabled and terminally ill people. Such lives, it seems, are not so precious: ending them prematurely should be a matter of individual choice.
"Perversely, if you can take your own life without assistance, society generally strives to protect you; but, if assistance to die is needed, they argue, it should be provided. The option to choose the time of one's death is to be reserved for those for whom assistance is required.
"No equality there. Yet many see this as irrefutably logical and compassionate.
"It was the realisation that the majority of disabled and terminally ill people were not being heard in this debate that led to the formation of Not Dead Yet UK. We joined with other groups in opposing the two most recent attempts to change the law.
"In each case the House of Lords was decisive in rejecting calls for assisted suicide. However, the euthanasia campaigners have vowed to try again in the current parliament."
Please click on the high-lighted links above to find out more about the current campaigns organised and led by Disabled people.
Crippen gives a heads up about the up-coming D.A.N demonstration
On Wednesday the 16th June the Disabled people's Direct Action Network (D.A.N) will take to the streets in solidarity with the National Day of Action against the dismantling of the Welfare State.
D.A.N demonstrations will be taking place in Manchester and London and will welcome all people who identify, or who are regarded as disabled, whatever their background or impairments.
For those of you who have never been on a D.A.N demo it's important that you know that D.A.N. uses the strategy of non-violent civil disobedience and does not beg for the right to protest. This means that all of D.A.N's protests are without permission and participants could be seen as breaking the law and leaving themselves open to arrest. However Robert Lizard Solicitors will once again represent any Danner who may be arrested during the demonstrations.
There are usually PA's available to offer support to Disabled protesters but you are encourage to bring your own support team if possible. British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters are being recruited for the event on the 16th, so if you are an interpreter or know of someone who could help in this respect, please let the organisers know.
Log onto Clair Lewes' blog for more up to date information about the event. Regular danners are requested to contact Becca Y and Steve G as usual.
Information about the general protest can be found on the Defend Welfare site.
To see D.A.N members in action visit this You-Tube site