Posts tagged campaign
OBE for Learning Disability Campaigner
Beverley Dawkins OBE
Learning disability campaigner Beverley Dawkins was honoured by the Queen this week, receiving an OBE for her outstanding and ongoing Services to People with Special Needs.
Beverley, who is Mencap’s national officer for profound and multiple learning disabilities, has worked with people with special needs and their families for more than 30 years.
She was a driving force behind the publication of the learning disability charity’s Death by Indifference report in 2007, which brought to light the appalling catalogue of neglect and ignorance that led to the deaths of six people with learning difficulties in NHS hospitals. (more…)
Quangos Cut Could Sideline Disabled People
Disabled people could be sidelined in the future if leaked proposals to abolish almost 180 quangos go ahead, according to disability campaigners.
Quangos – Quasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organisations – are bodies funded by the taxpayer but not controlled directly by central government. They have long been a target for politicians looking to save money.
According to the list seen by the BBC’s Politics Show, the Disability Employment Advisory Committee, the Disability Living/Attendance Allowance Advisory Board, and the Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory Committee all face the axe. (more…)
Charity Launches Benefits Campaign
Disability charity Scope has launched a new campaign against potential cuts in public spending that would seriously affect the lives of disabled people.
‘Don’t cut us out’ aims to gather the views of disabled people to use as evidence to government, the media and general public about how disabled people feel.
A spokesperson said: “We don’t believe that the Government has fully considered what the impact will be on disabled people and their families if these cuts go ahead. We’ve already heard from many who share our concerns.” (more…)
New Guide Helps People Protect Local Disabled Children’s Services
National campaign Every Disabled Child Matters (EDCM) has launched a new guide to influencing local decision makers for rights and resources for disabled children.
‘Making Disabled Children Matter Locally 2010’ provides disabled children, their families and friends, and supporters of the EDCM campaign with all the tools they need to campaign for local services and to challenge cuts or reductions to valued services.
It contains practical tools for campaigning success, including: information for parents and disabled children about their rights to education, children’s services, transition, health and participation; a series of actions that campaigners can take to question and challenge the loss of local disabled children’s services; and tips on influencing local decision makers. (more…)
Local Disability Campaigner’s Scooter Protest at Care Cuts
Andy Morris on his TGA Breeze 4
A ‘passionate’ disability rights activist recently took his protest against community care cuts to his local county hall – thanks to his mobility scooter.
Andy Morris drove more than eight miles from his home in Thurnby Lodge, Leicester, so he could hand in his official letter of protest against him and his wife losing their free home help.
Displaying a poster on his eye-catching Breeze 4 scooter, Andy encouraged passing drivers to ‘honk for support’, and generated a large amount of attention on his journey.
Andy has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which affects his nerves and muscles. “As I plan to regularly visit the county council offices to ensure my views are heard, it’s a good job I have my TGA Breeze 4 as the round trip is more than 16 miles,” he explained. (more…)
Charity urges People to take Action For Access
National charity Leonard Cheshire Disability is encouraging people across the UK to join a new campaign to make their town more accessible for disabled people.
A new interactive website gives visitors advice and resources they need to test the accessibility of shops, services and transport in their local area – and includes template letters and guidelines for local campaigners to send to business managers with suggestions on how they can improve accessibility.
The new campaign is in response to recent research by Leonard Cheshire Disability which found that two in five (40%) disabled people had experienced difficulties accessing goods and services in the last 12 months, with around a quarter of all disabled people (23%) directly identifying their experiences as discriminatory.
