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WORK LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

When families work together
UK’s treatment of commissioners become redundant
disabled people

eading the article
‘a human R Why does NHS When someone like my son important to us but sadly
that is not the case for people
leaves school the Day Wasting
catastrophe’ commissioning go so badly Centre beckons, another form with disabilities. I would like
says the UN wrong? (Volume 30, No. 4) of segregation. From there to to see Direct Payments looked
took me back to my early an old people’s centre for at as wages rather than a
he UK is failing to meet days of challenging the disabilities completes a benefit. Let people
T its obligations under the system when my son was lifetime of living in a world commission their own service
UN Convention for the Rights young (he is now 44) . of disabilities. in the same way we do.
of People with Disabilities. All that is missing is the
The problem I have found with If more common sense was support for them to do that,
The Convention Britain commissioning over the years used in commissioning, like and that can be overcome
signed up to in 2007 is that it varies very much on listening to the parents who by a mixture of paid and
enshrines the rights of an individual view and lacks know the person being unpaid support.
disabled people to live common sense. ‘commissioned’ better than
independently, to work and the commissioner, In my organisation,
to enjoy social protection The view that my son should people with disabilities Peer Support, families work
without discrimination be sent to a special school I would have more chance of together to provide support.
but a report by a UN saw as him being segregated living the life that mattered Our work in Australia has
committee says the from other young people of to them rather than the life been successful there in
Government’s treatment of his age. Going to a special someone else wants them this regard with families
disabled people is “a school at a young to live. providing short breaks of
human catastrophe”. impressionable age, with no respite for each other.
peers, would limit his chances Direct Payments have They share carers and even
The committee’s chairwoman of improving his social skills addressed this in some way pool their budgets making
Theresia Degener said: and social behaviour and he but there is not enough commissioners redundant.
“The austerity measures would not learn how to make flexibility in the system.
they have taken, affecting friends with people who did You and I are able to spend Les Scaife
half a million people, have not have a disability. our money on things that are les@peersupport.info
meant that each disabled
person is losing between What’s happened to the great expectations of Valuing People?
£2,000 and £3,000 a year.”
have been reading encouraged by what was Parents would like to do more
The concerns raised by I the latest issue happening to improve the but so many of us are getting
the inquiry ranged from (Volume 30, No. 4) lives of this neglected group old or using all our mental
education, work and and in particular the article of people and had great and physical energy trying
housing to health, transport by Jan Walmsley: expectations of what was to to keep the lives of our sons
and social security. When government takes up come as Valuing People and and daughters interesting
your best ideas be scared, Valuing People Now worked and stimulating so that they
The 60 recommendations be very scared… It says their course, only now to feel can take pride in their lives as
included a call for everything that so many of us, that people in minority groups everyone has a right to.
legislation to ensure who live and work with those are no longer valued by
mainstream schools provide who have learning disabilities, government and opportunities Your magazine deals
“real inclusion” for disabled are thinking and saying. are drying up, while social with these issues like no
children; a review of benefit workers have lost any other publication.
sanctions which have been Those of us old enough to have enthusiasm as they are able to
linked to rising poverty; and seen and, in my case, worked offer less and less and become Martin Lenaerts
an increase in resources to in the big institutions, were so steadily more disillusioned. Hampshire
allow disabled people to
live independently. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR In the next issue
“ ARE WELCOME • Who’s afraid of Robocare?

The austerity
How assistive technology brings independence
measures affecting
half a million people
have meant that each • Private care companies – the funding scandal
• Shared Lives – a different way to
disabled person is live a family life
losing between • That Unicorn wedding – how photos of the
£2,000 and £3,000 Send them to wedding of two people with learning
a year. ” Simon Jarrett: disabilities went viral
simonj@jarr.demon.co.uk

6 Vol 31 No 1 | Autumn 2017 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk