#WeDemandBetterAccess
#TUCAbleism
Trade Union Congress (TUC) National Demonstration and Rally London
Saturday 18th June 2022
On Saturday The TUC (Trades Union Congress) held a national demonstration and rally in central London to #DemandBetter on pay and jobs against the cost of living crisis.
DPAC (Disabled People Against Cuts) want to hear from disabled people and our allies who experienced access issues in the lead up to the demonstration and on the day as we will be lodging a formal complaint to the TUC.
Please send any experiences you have to mail@dpac.uk.net
Did disabled people know that there was a short accessible march organised for disabled people who were unable to participate in the long march from Portland Place?
Did you see it advertised anywhere?
That the leaflets advertising the main demonstration had no details of the accessible march on its leaflets so that disabled people knew it was an option to be able to participate and have their voices heard too.
The viewing platform at the rally at Parliament square was located behind stone statues. Out of sight, out of mind.
How can BSL users access BSL interpreters behind statues? Do the TUC think disabled people are superhuman have x ray vision and see through stone?
This is completely unacceptable.
Please send us your personal experiences of how your access needs were not met, please send us any photos from the viewing area; march and formation access meet up points along with photos of TUC stewards and press photographers who were not understanding of your access issues as further equality training is obviously needed.
Please send any of this material to mail@dpac.uk.net
Disabled People #DemandBetter TUC. We have a right to be heard and participate on demonstrations. We expect our access needs to be met as standard not as an afterthought or not thought of at all.
We will not be silenced!
I was aware of the accessible route. But I was not feeling well enough to brave the crowds and I suspected from past experience that things would be very inaccessible. The platform set up behind stone statues is extremely jarring and ill planned.
I am hopefully going to be taking part in another direct action event next month, and I have every intention of attending the planning meetings online and making them aware of how they can make their actions more accessible. The TUC should do the same, or not bother at all. Scream.