DPAC Policy Statement
Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) was formed by a group of disabled people after the first mass protest against the austerity cuts and their impact on disabled people held on the 3rd October in Birmingham, England. It was led by disabled people under the name of The Disabled Peoples’ Protest.
DPAC is for everyone who believes that disabled people should have full human rights and equality. It is for everyone who refuses to stay silent about the injustices delivered by wealthy politicians on ordinary people and their lives.
The austerity measures however need to be seen in a wider historical context. Disabled people are an easy target because society has accepted the view that generally speaking disabled people are unable to fully participate within society due solely to our impairments. This view, supported through negative and pejorative stereotyping, distorts who we are and the causes of the disabling barriers we face. Inappropriate and misleading labels such as “the disabled” or “vulnerable adults or children” reinforce prejudices and discrimination.
Disabled people are not “the disabled” – we are a diverse social group of people with a variety of impairments who continue to face unequal and differential treatment resulting from systems, structures and cultures which fail to take disabled people into account. Disabled people are not, therefore, simply subjected to disablist language and imagery but also to combined forms of inequality and oppressive representation across the equality strands.
Hence:
DPAC acknowledges there will be allies who will not share [all of] our views nevertheless we request that consideration is given to how they portray disabled people and our issues in the language and imagery they employ.
contact us mail@dpac.uk.net
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I have asperger’s syndrome (a life long developmental disability) and OCD (a mental health disability, probably caused by my Asperger’s). I am pleased to have found a group that holds similar values to my own. The use of discriminatory language is a real headache that injures my sense of self. I particularly dislike the use of the phrase ‘suffering from asperger’s, OCD etc’, as this implies that the problem is always rooted within me, whereas it is often societal structures that prevent me from moving forward in my life. The cutbacks, for example, cause huge suffering and hardship, but this suffering should not be part and parcel of having a disability!
I completely agree with you Anna on the use of words such as “Suffering with”, in reference to all Disabled People.
It would be a lot better and Discribe us Truly if others would refer to us as “Those Living With Disability, and or Disabilities”.
We never hear anybody refered to as “Suffering with Good Health”, so why do others including those within the medical profession continue to use the phrase/terminoligy of our Suffering from?
Many Disabled People “Suffer Pain” in one way or another, but continue to “Live their Lives and Manage this Pain” as best they can.
I`m sure the vast Majority of People Living with Disability will Agree our “Biggest Pain” at present, and that which is to continue, is this “Demolition” gov`s Mis-Treatment of us All.
“ScuMoron”, Nicky “No Mates” & their Co-Orts” need All Be Ashamed, and Removed from office ASAP <8
DPAC uses the term disabled people-because we are disabled by attitudes, the enviroment and the fact that governments do not take into account our particular needs-this comes from the social model of disability put together by disabled activists http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_model_of_disability
I am in the early stages of creating a theater piece from the testimonies of people being directly affected by the government’s cuts to benefits. If you have a story to tell, and would like to be a part of dispelling the ‘scrounger’ myth, I would love to hear from you.
My email address isabelledaisymay@hotmail.co.uk
Thanks,
Daisy-May