WinVisible has signed the open letter co-ordinated by Disability Rights UK — here it is, with the list of organisations who signed. Add your signature below using the link (individuals or organisations welcome).
Scrap the Coronavirus Act provisions
“We the undersigned call on the Government to restore and protect the rights of disabled people by removing the powers from the Coronavirus Act 2020 which diminish the rights of those who rely on social care and education support. These powers were opposed by disabled people and allies, when they were introduced, have caused confusion and harm when operated and led to reductions in care, support, safeguards and education for disabled adults and children.
“The evidence is clear as to the lethal and disproportionate impact this pandemic has had on disabled people. ONS figures show that disabled people have made up two thirds of all Coronavirus deaths and people with health conditions have been the hardest hit. Seven in ten people with a learning disability reported having their social care cut during the pandemic. With the potential of a second wave, it is imperative that the rights of disabled people are protected, not diminished.
“The Coronavirus Act contains provisions allowing local authorities to reduce vital social care duties, weakens support and education for disabled children and young people, and enables the removal of basic legal safeguards that could severely impact the rights of people coming into contact with the mental health system.
At a time when people need care, support, safeguards and education the most, the powers for central and local government to reduce their legal responsibilities to disabled people are wholly unacceptable.
Our lives must be valued equally. Removing our rights causes us disadvantage and discrimination, and puts our mental and physical health and our lives at risk.
As the Coronavirus Act approaches its six-month review, now is the time to recognise the devastating impact the exercise of these powers has had and to restore the legal rights of disabled people. ”
SIGN the Disability Rights UK statement.
“Email your MP to ask them to stand up for the restoration of our rights here.“
1. Baroness Jane Campbell of Surbiton
2. Action Disability Kensington and Chelsea
3. Action on Hearing Loss
4. Alliance for Inclusive Education
5. Being the Boss
6. Black Belt Advocacy
7. Breakthrough
8. British Institute of Human Rights
9. Business Disability Form
10. Camden Disability Action
11. Camden Disability Association
12. Chronic Illness Inclusion Project
13. Directory of Social Change
14. Disability Advice Service Lambeth
15. Disability Network Hounslow
16. Disability North
17. Disability Peterborough
18. Disability Positive
19. Disability Rights UK
20. Disability Sheffield
21. Divers Cymru
22. DPAC North East and Cumbria
23. Evenbreak
24. Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People
25. Greenwich DPAC
26. HAFAL
27. Hammersmith and Fulham Coalition Against the Cuts
28. Harrow Association of Disabled People
29. Harrow Mencap
30. Inclusion Barnet
31. Inclusion London
32. KeyRing Living Support Network
33. Leeds Disabled Peoples Organisation
34. Leicestershire Centre for Independent Living
35. Leonard Cheshire
36. Liberty
37. London Autistic Rights Movement
38. McPin
39. MENCAP
40. Merton CIL
41. MIND
42. National Survivor User Network
43. National Voices
44. People First Self Advocacy
45. POhWER
46. Reclaiming our Futures Alliance
47. Rethink Mental Illness
48. Richmond Aid
49. RNIB
50. Royal College of Occupational Therapists
51. RUILs
52. SCOPE
53. SENSE
54. Shaping our Lives
55. Spectrum Centre for Independent Living CIC
56. Sunderland People First
57. The Challenging Behaviour Foundation
58. Visual Impaired in Camden
59. VoiceAbility
60. Wheels for Wellbeing
61. Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living
62. WinVisible
63. Wish
64. Women’s Resource Centre
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