Adding Insult to injury
The majority of disabled people, whether service users or not, are unlikely to know that this event is taking place. The fact it is ‘about them’ rather than an event seeking to involve them perhaps gives us the clearest message yet regarding the utter disregard the Coalition government has for the rights of disabled people. Sadly, with the shadow spokesperson on disability issues also participating in this patronising farce, it would seem we have a tri-partisan approach to displaying disabled people and service provision in the brave new ‘market place’. Every aspect of this National Disabilities Conference stink to high heaven – ideologically and politically – it adds insult to injury by stealing the language and concepts of the Disabled People’s Movement and transforming them into tools that will assist in the dismantling of the Welfare State.
Janus politics – creating a new culture of social exclusion
On the agenda are issues such as employment, independent living and disability hate crime, however, none of these subjects are likely to be discussed in the context of current government policies; policies that have contributed to disabled workers losing jobs, done nothing to challenge disabling barriers in the labour market, resulted in claimants losing benefits and many severely impaired people having their services reduced or removed. How can there be a discussion on independent living against a backdrop of the closure of the Independent Living Fund? How can people listen to a presentation on Disability Hate Crime and not round upon the role played by the Department of Works and Pensions in feeding material to fuel the ‘scroungers’ agenda? The answer is these issues will be discussed in terms of ‘opportunities’ – providing workfare programmes, making money by providing services within the voluntary and private sectors or increasing marketization in the public sector.
Since the mid-1990s we have seen the development of Janus politics where disability charities, parts of the voluntary sector and certain disabled people’s organisations have launched a new Disability Movement that speaks of rights on the one hand, whilst seeking to serve the neoliberal agenda on the other. The NDC is populated by individuals and organisations who want to foster the Big Society and buy a piece of the action as the services are hived off – it is an auction and disabled people’s lives will be placed under the hammer.
Nothing about us – without us!
This Conference employs patronage and an oppressive methodology. The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Disabled People advocates self-determination – nothing about us without us – yet, the blurb for the NDC is clearly at odds with the methodology that underpins the Convention because it portrays disabled people as passive receivers of ‘care’. Consider the following:
This event will provide delegates with the opportunity to debate and discuss the key issues around supporting disabled people across the UK. With key speakers, high level policy makers & drivers and important stakeholders present, this event is one not to be missed.
Add to this statement, the central purpose of the event:
Network with peers from across the health, work, crime and academic sectors, as well as stakeholders for central and local government. Just in case you are still unconvinced by the social exclusion of disabled people from this “Disabilities” event, take a close look at the Delegate price list: 1. Private £470 + VAT
2. Central Government £420 + VAT
3. Local Government £370 + VAT
4. NHS/Emergency Services/Police £350 + VAT
5. Third Sector/Charity £320 + VAT
6. Academic £350 + VAT
7. Trade Association £325 + VAT
Can you imagine the shock among disabled people who have come across this Conference and its agenda? Disabled activists fighting the austerity measures and promoting disability politics are being encouraged to take a stand against this Conference because it upholds everything the Disabled People’s Movement has fought against for the last forty years. The NDC 2013 epitomises the very essence of Janus politics by employing a dependency model approach to those sick and disabled people cast in the role of ‘deserving of care’ and a phoney ‘rights approach’ to those considered ‘lazy and workshy’ – in the words of Iain Duncan Smith, “….a hand up and not a hand out.” The Conference therefore can be seen as a watershed; it sets out the market stall for future government policies and draws a line in the sand vis-à-vis any progressive steps towards inclusive practices or the equalisation of opportunities for disabled people.
Protest and Resist
It is time to say enough is enough to this sheer hypocrisy; time to defend our struggle for emancipation against the patronising service providers who seek to exploit us and keep us dependent upon them; now is the time to demand Esther McVey sticks her disablist policies where the sun fails to shine!
There will be those who will fail to see what the fuss is all about; it is only a conference. The truth is the NDC is more than a conference; it is the first glimpse of a route map that will take us away from building an inclusive society and towards further marketisation, social exclusion, poverty and greater exploitation of both disabled people and those who work alongside them. It is vital to see this conference as yet another ideological and political attack on disabled people’s rights and welfare. We cannot afford to how the NDC to go ahead unchallenged.
Bob Williams-Findlay, co-founder of Disabled People Against Cuts and member of the Social Work Action Network steering committee.
May 2013
update: cartoons by Dave Lupton aka Crippen
This is a downright disgraceful situation, and clearly set up to actively disallow most of disabled people from attending. Does DPAC think it’s worth fundraising to allow at least one organisation we can trust attend to represent us in the majority?
Would it not be better that we attend on the street outside and voice our grievances against this mob who have the money to burn to attend such conferences…
i have been disabled all my life ..i have never known in all my years a government who can cause so much discrimination to disabled and sick people in the u.k..as far as i am concerned ian duncan smith has caused a lot of grief as well as mr cameron saying people like myself are SKIVERS and lying thieves..mcvey whom is disability minister for the disabled has no call saying that real genuine disabled are not disabled .. this government know nothing of disability and hardship..now they have removed all rights for disabled people to be a part of human life .. i am appalled by all the comments mr duncan smith comes out with is he human or just one of mr camerons clones ridiculling the lives of people like me.. as for atos ..they do not know nothing of a disabled persons condition ..i find it wrong that they do not obtain records of disabled peoples medical records or consultant information which they say they do not need.. many years ago when i was young we never suffered as much trauma from a passisific government we have now… so many disabled people have suffered enough by this non elected government .
i hope tanni grey thompson and anne begg will be at the conference.
Disabled peoples resistance will join you in any action you take, just let us know through facebook,
Far better to come to Accentuate’s symposium the following day in Brighton. Led by and delivered by disabled people.
https://www.legacytrustuk.org/news/ for more info on symposium.
I have never come across anything like this before, surely it should be a Conference that includes disabled people, after all we are the experts, not some ditheres who sit around table and gaffaw about a subject they know little about. McVey is a prime example, she is the Minster for the Disabled, but what she knows can be written on the back of a postage stamp.
It is deplorable that no user led Disabled People’s Organisations are there, these are the people in the know, not the johnny -cum-latelys of a supposed government. Will Tanni be there? Anne Begg? Baroness Campbell and the rest? It is more likely to be a collection rabid monkeys who want to futher drive us into the ground.
Unfortunately I can’t join a protest, but I hope other people who live the London area will turn out and vehemently castigate these government lackies, no matter which colour they represent.
We have always lived by the motto NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US…well please let this bunch know that.
Exasperated, pissed off and disabled.
Good luck to our lot..
well said John, couldn’t agree more
Till IDS,Ms Mcvey and their advisors actually start engaging in conversation with disabled people instead of paying lipservice to those giving a nod to their parties reforms, we won’t get anywhere – BTW I’m a REGISTERED DISABLED PERSON (remember one o’ those?) – To those mentioned previously, ask yourselves this question – WHO put me on ESA/IB ….Hmmm, ???? Quick Answer – YOUR STAFF. Suddenly, despite having a greencard and made to leap through hoops by YOUR STAFF – I’m suddenly deemed FIT FOR WORK…Medical? Er No? Ok then DEA Reports..Er No – Program to get me back into work with my conditions in tow??? Erm,,,, we’re not getting anywhere are we? What happens when YOUR STAFF don’t read the evidence provided.
I’m an old campaigner like Bob and – sad to say – I remember demonstrating with others at exactly this kind of insulting nonsense many, many years ago. In fact, I think the photo on Alan Sutherland’s book (help! I’ve forgotten the title and can’t find my copy) is of me doing exactly that!
So it’s here we go again – and people my age almost in despair at waving goodbye to the gains we made in past decades.