Disabled rights defenders pile on the pressure

From an article in New Internationalist magazine, September edition 2011

Sick of being labelled work-shy by the tabloid press, disabled and frail people across Britain are mounting a powerful campaign against government cuts.

Some 10,000 people turned out for the Hardest Hit March in London in May to demand the right to a decent life, with income and support for the most vulnerable.

Since this mobilization, the largest rally of disabled people in living memory, a lot of e-activism and organising has brought the fight home to cities across the country.

People are worried about losing their benefits, some say if they lose their mobility benefits it would mean being stuck indoors 24/7. Some of the marchers say they (the government) should take the barriers to work away, not the support.

Groups are springing up all over the country and are fiercely grass roots and user led and firmly rooted in the wider anti-cuts movement. Beth Tichborne from Campaign for a fair society believes that there is a really good philosophy emerging and says "It's about making protest accesible and not talking on behalf of people"

Eleanor Lisney fromm Disabled People Against Cuts believes it is a question of self-defence, everyone is affected and believes this is the reason for the unprecedented response. She says her community are reeling from the cuts on all sides.

The chronically ill and dying have been having benefits taken away from them by the Atos computer programme - and this has sparked depression and even suicide for some people. Benefits like the disability living allowance are also under review, plus local councils are cutting back on vital social care.

This growing movement is making an impact, the sit ins and vigorous lobbying against Atos has helped prompt a highly critical select committee report. Legal challenges are forcing local authority re thinks and DPAC hope to force a goverment U-turn on benefit changes.

Some links for readers who want to read further:

dpac.uk.net
campaignforafairsociety.org
mylifemychoice.org.uk