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Disabled activists (DAN) handcuff themselves to Parliament

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DEMONSTRATION OF DISABLED PEOPLE
AGAINST THE NEW BENEFIT PROPOSALS

MONDAY 16TH JULY 2001
MEET AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY 12 NOON


The government is once again attacking disabled people forcing yet another layer of bureaucracy on us. It is also accusing disabled people in receipt of benefit of stealing 7billion from the treasury. We challenge Alistair Darling to say what he would do with the 5billion he proposes to save.

DAN is calling for an end to this old style bashing of the most vulnerable and socially excluded in our society and wants the government to open up real dialogue with the movement about how to remove the real barriers to work for disabled people.


THE REAL BARRIERS
  1. END CHARGING
    Charging working disabled people for services that put them on a level playing field creates inequality in the workplace acting as a disincentive to work.
  2. NO POST CODE SERVICE
    Disabled people are prevented from moving to another area to find work because they have to be reassessed all over again by a new Local Authority. This can take years before they can construct a care package that supports them in employment. The government could save money and time if disabled people could move their care packages from on local authority to another.
  3. NO MEANS TESTED BENEFITS
    Benefits are supposed to meet the extra costs of being a disabled person in a society that doesn't fully address their right to participate. By means testing these benefits the governments provides a poverty trap, which for some people is too deep to get out.
  4. ASSESS SOCIETY NOT US
    The government should make a commitment to assess its progress in making society inclusive to disabled people rather that blaming and reassessing us. We call for a national audit on progress made. Given the national shortage of doctors in the National Health Service why waste Doctors time in this fruitless, uneconomic, resource draining assessment.
LET US KNOW THAT YOU'RE COMING!

It helps us to know how many people are coming to support this demonstration but also if you can't come that we have your and your organisation's support. We want to work with you on this.

Telephone Cassie or Johnny on 0121 247 4424 or e'mail us 3rpeople@tinyonline.co.uk