On 8 December, WinVisible was among disability organisations, union and other representatives invited to a Roundtable discussion with Labour leader Keir Starmer MP, Marsha de Cordova (Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities) and Vicky Foxcroft MP (Shadow Minister for Disabled People) on Zoom to put forward recommendations towards Labour’s national disability strategy. Topics included how disabled people’s organisations should be consulted, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a legal framework to uphold our rights, the pay gap and lack of accessibility for disabled employees, the importance of social … Read more
This week Wednesday 2 and Thursday 2 December, the legal challenge by a disabled woman and her mother against care charges by Norfolk County Council is in the High Court (remote hearing). This Judicial Review comes after two years of Disability Network Norfolk group members fighting these charges and a year since starting the legal challenge. One of the big issues is the Minimum Income Guarantee — the amount which the Council says someone is “allowed” to keep to live on after charges for support services are taken from their benefits. Norfolk reduced this amount. … Read more
A YouGov survey of disabled people out today, confirms disabled women’s experiences under the COVID-19 measures — being denied basic support services, ventilator filters and other medical treatment. And this survey is of people under pension age, not pensioners who have been especially targetted. We said in our submissions to Parliament, that this is not accidental. Only recently when the Coronavirus Act came up for six-month review, Matt Hancock MP and the government were determined to keep Care Act duties that we rely on, suspended under “emergency” law. Here is a report shared from The … Read more
Report shared from Disability News Service: By John Pring on 24th September 2020 Campaigners have asked a local authority why it has taken the “inexcusable” step of increasing care charges for disabled people in the middle of a pandemic. Greenwich council was warned last year that planned increases to the contributions disabled service-users have to make towards council-funded care would lead some to quit their jobs or stop their volunteering work, and push many into poverty. The council decided in January to ignore these concerns and push ahead with increased charges, although the planned implementation in April was postponed because … Read more
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 … Read more
Take action to restore disability rights taken away by the Coronavirus Act Dear friends, We’re working with Inclusion London and others nationally campaigning against the Coronavirus Act, urgently pressing Parliament and MPs to restore: · Rights to social care and support services under the Care Act · Disabled children’s support and education · Safeguards for people detained in psychiatric hospital or released without adequate support These rights were taken away by the Coronavirus Act, passed in March, now up for review by Parliament. This Act freed the authorities from many legal duties, this is called … Read more
We’re supporting the petition by Rights for Residents: “Please let me see my family before it’s too late!” On 3 September, women spoke out on the radio (move cursor along to 1:18 or 7:18 am) against care homes refusing them visits against the human rights of residents, including the right to family life. Women described how they are not mere “visitors” but are the glue between paid staff, providing staff with important handover care information, and relatives provide hands-on care which women with dementia won’t allow paid staff to do, only family members who they … Read more
Dear friends, Here is our statement sent to the Health and Social Care Select Committee. This is a cross-party committee of MPs which is responsible for scrutinising the work of the Department of Health and Social Care. They invited people and groups to send views and experiences for their inquiry, Social care: funding and workforce, also for people to make recommendations on the long-term future funding of social care. We did it because we are very worried about the government’s plans and that we will have even less say over our living situation, than now. … Read more
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Parliamentary Committee of MPs is investigating COVID-19 and food supply. They published the submissions from groups and those involved in the food industry, on the Parliament website here. Read WinVisible’s testimony here. Women describe problems accessing food and we said under lockdown, we also need support services to cook and eat food if it is delivered, and benefits for extra costs of food. The Committee issued a press release as the situation is so urgent. Chair raises ‘pressing challenges’ faced by those struggling to access food 20 May 2020 “The Chair … Read more
We’re alarmed as today on the news it was reported that before Coronavirus, the government was in discussions to revive the Dilnot Commission “lifetime cap on charges” for social care. Which is accompanied by higher taxation of people individually to fund social care. This is not the answer to the social care crisis. WinVisible and Hammersmith & Fulham Coalition Against Cuts (HAFCAC) opposed the lifetime cap on charges as this accepts that disabled and older people are obliged to pay individually for care and support needs. Severely disabled people pay more for higher support needs, … Read more