Next Steps for the Campaign

The emerging reality

This is a pincer attack on the rights of disabled people. If we just focus on the 1.5 million people with the most significant disabilities - over the next four years they are likely to lose:

•£4.6 billion in social care support

•£4 billion in disability living allowance

•Termination of ILF

•Cuts to Supporting People

•Many further cuts in housing support

•Reductions to other benefits - especially for those not in work

So, more than £8 billion of the total £27 billion (>>25%) which government is saving from departmental budgets is being born by less than 3% of the population - those who are least able to bear these cuts.

• People with less severe, but still significant, disabilities

• People with mental health problems

• Women suffering domestic violence

• People not in work

• Refugees and asylum seekers

And many other cuts will continue to fall on:

and we are already the most centralised welfare state - and the 3rd most unequal society after USA and Portugal

• Bankers who benefited from bonuses

• Home owners who benefited from unsustainable house price increases

• Investors who benefited from unsustainable profits in finance industry

• Politicians who benefited from the illusion of a booming economy

An economic crisis caused by the bursting of a bubble created by...

Who did not benefit from the bubble? - the poor and disabled people

Protected CutPensions Disability benefits

Healthcare Social Care

Education Social Housing

£350 billion out of £500 £40 billion

Universal, mainstream, for ‘ordinary people like us’

Special, marginal, for ‘the poor & unfortunate’ or ‘scroungers’

Delivered by nationalised systems with high visibility

Delivered by complex and diffuse systems with low visibility

Not just cuts - but targeted cuts

• Weak entitlements - eligibility thresholds high and rising, housing rights weak, legal rights weak

• Super-taxation for disabled people - means-testing, charging

• Poverty traps - benefit systems that punish families, savers, earners and disabled people

• Weakened families - support focused on crises,family control undermined, families disrespected

• Imprisonment for many - up to 20,000 people with learning difficulties in prison

• Pre-birth and at-birth eugenics - 92% abortion rate for unborn children with Down’s syndrome (UK)

The cuts are just a symptom - there are long-standing problems to address

1. Do nothing - the cuts are inevitable - nothing can be done, we just have to cope the best we can - the world is simply unfair

2. Rely upon others - other people and organisations are already set up to campaign - we don’t need another campaign we’ve got nothing new to add

3. Just stay positive - there will be positive opportunities for change and reform in the cuts - this is really a good thing - it will help break the reliance on ‘services’

Perhaps we could

...or alternatively

• Clarify the values - define the beliefs that help us make progress

• Improve practice - innovate and reform using technologies that we know work

• Build bridges - connect with each other and with other groups for mutual support

• Advocate change - propose policy and legislation that supports progress

There are some opportunities, amidst the madness

This crisis is part of the third phase of de-institutionalisation

1. Closing institutions

2. Personalising services

3. Reforming welfare

To put people fully in control of their own lives...

....as equal citizens.

We didn’t expect this to be easy?

• Next steps for an ordinary life - new and old leaders met to reflect on the future for people with learning difficulties.

• Comprehensive Spending Review - individuals and organisations begin to realise what is going to happen.

• Something must be done - letter to be published in the Times - but to what purpose?

• Campaign is born - 1,000+ individuals sign up, plus many organisational members - initial structures developed...

• Scottish Campaign - major event and manifesto written

• Welsh Campaign - steering group formed 2 weeks ago

The story so far...

...lots achieved in 4 months

Everyone is equal, no matter their differences or disabilities. A fair society sees each of its members as a full citizen - a unique person with a life of their own. A fair society is organised to support everyone to live a full life, with meaning and respect.

Our Purpose

Scottish manifesto & Joint Human Rights Committee Submission

1.human rights: this means embracing the European Convention on Human Rights... a fundamental redesign of the obligations of government at every level to secure citizenship for all.

2.the right to support as an objective right established in law: this will remove the dependency of older and disabled people on ‘gifts’ from professionals...

3.provide families and individuals with early support: this will prevent crises, reduce the need for expensive interventions, and end the indignity of severe eligibility thresholds.

4.put people back in control of their own lives: this will enhance personal autonomy and dignity by restoring people’s right to control both their lives and any essential support that they need.

5.good housing: this will give people the right to live in their own accessible homes, with a choice of the full range of different types of tenure...

6.guaranteed minimum income free from means-testing: this will create the necessary incentives for people to work and make contributions to civic life...

7.end the current super-tax on older and disabled people levied through local authority charges: this will end the indignity of older people having to spend or give away all their savings...

1.Family - we give families the support they need to look after each other.

2.Citizenship - we are all of equal value and all have unique and positive contributions to make.

• Community - we root support and services in local communities.

• Connection - we all get chances to make friends and build relationships.

• Capacity - we help each other to be the best that we can be.

• Equality - we all share the same basic rights and entitlements.

• Control - we have the help we need to be in control of our own life and support.

Seven key principles...

• People with learning difficulties

• Older people

• Children and families

• Disabled people

• Mental health

• Women and children

• The poor

• Community sector

• Local government

The possible scope of the Campaign