tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79996335242762474552024-03-13T21:59:25.322+00:00Where's the Benefit?Campaigning against the government's distressing war on disabled benefit claimants. All posts represent the opinions of their respective authors and not WtB as a whole.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714918894319998184noreply@blogger.comBlogger451125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-80239698962023209192021-10-13T11:47:00.044+01:002021-10-13T11:47:00.297+01:00Hopes and Dreams(Content warning: Mentions of <b>domestic abuse</b> and <b>suicide</b>)<br>
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During his Tory party conference speech last week, Rishi Sunak, while justifying slashing Universal Credit, asked his audience “is the answer to their hopes and dreams just to increase their benefits?”<br>
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The thing is, for many people; the answer is a simple “yes;” an increase in benefits could be an answer to their hopes and dreams.<br>
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<i>* If a parent’s dream is for their kids to have a better life than them, and increased benefits mean they’ll be able to work only one job rather than the three they have now, giving them time to help their children with homework, which will enable their children to achieve more later in life: Yes, increased benefits can answer their hopes and dreams.</i><br>
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<i>* If a terminally ill person’s dream is to go on an exciting adventure before they die: Yes, increasing their benefits can be the answer to their hopes and dreams.</i><br>
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<i>* If a person with a mobility impairment dreams of a really good wheelchair that’ll change their life, <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/emilydugan/exclusive-how-your-chances-of-getting-an-nhs-wheelchair">but the NHS won’t prescribe what they need</a> and they’re not popular enough to crowdfund it: Yes, increasing their benefits can answer their hopes and dreams.</i><br>
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<i>* If a disabled person wants to move into a more accessible property, which will dramatically improve their health, but they can’t find one within the local housing allowance budget: Yes, increasing their benefits can answer their hopes and dreams.<br>
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* If a disabled person was saving up for something special, but they blew their savings on the extra costs of being disabled/shielding in a pandemic: Yes, increasing their benefits can answer their hopes and dreams.</i><br>
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PIP is supposed to cover the extra costs of being disabled, but despite the fact that so many of us saw our extra costs soar during the pandemic - from having to have everything delivered costing more than being able to go to the shops while shielding, to having to turn to more expensive things like robot vacuums and having to get takeaway every day when social care was withdrawn - we got no extra PIP payments to cover those extra costs. I calculated that my extra costs related to shielding from March 2020 to March 2021 came to £5,000. I won’t say I could “afford” that, because it’s not true; but I did have access to that amount thanks to family, while not all disabled people did. <a href="https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2020/june/disabled-man-dies-due-lack-food-during-lockdown">At least one disabled person starved to death during the first lockdown because he couldn’t access food</a> while many other disabled people will have gone cold, hungry, or without connectivity due to not being able to afford phone credit because their extra costs were not met. There were no campaigns to get a one-off payment to PIP claimants to cover our pandemic extra costs, because no political party actually cares enough to fight for us; and the major disability charities aren’t any better, because they didn’t demand that PIP meet our pandemic-related extra costs either.<br>
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And if you have more than £16k in the bank, you’re not eligible for any income based benefits, you can only claim £74.70/£114.10 weekly contributions based ESA (as long as you’ve been paying your National Insurance contributions in the last couple of years), plus PIP. I’ve a good friend who got an inheritance a month before the pandemic. Not huge, but enough to buy a crap house in some of the most deprived areas of the north. But her income based benefits were cut because she did the right thing and told the DWP she’d gotten the inheritance, so during the pandemic she’s had to live off that inheritance because she was paying £107 rent a week out of £114 ESA; leaving her with £7 a week to live off, plus PIP to cover some of her extra costs of being disabled. Obviously £7 a week for all bills is not survivable, so she’s had to dip into the inheritance; and now it looks like she’ll be renting for the rest of her life between the inheritance she blew on surviving while shielding, and the soar in house prices caused by the stamp duty cut. Her only hope to buy a crap house in a deprived area in the north now is if there’s a housing crash this winter.<br>
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Most political parties at various points in time bang on and on about how the system should look after those who’ve ‘done the right thing’ and worked hard and paid their National Insurance. But they don’t at all. Having £7 a week to live on after you’ve paid your rent is not “looked after”. Those who’ve paid their NI but aren’t eligible for income based benefits because they’ve got a partner in work, or got more than £16k from an inheritance or old savings from when they were fit for work, are treated like shit. And because of that, the benefits system will pay more in the end. My friend won’t be able to buy a house now, so she’ll deplete the small inheritance, and then will soon be back on income based benefits again and the state will need to pay her rent again. If contributions based benefits were fair, she wouldn’t have blown out her inheritance while shielding, she’d be able to buy a cheap house once she’s had her third jab and finished shielding, and the state would never need to help her with rent ever again.<br>
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She - like claimants of all legacy benefits like JobSeekers Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, and all types of ESA (both contributions and income based) - didn’t even get the extra £20 a week that UC claimants got. When you’re left with £7 a week after paying rent, that extra £20 would triple the amount available to spend before having to buy food out of the money she was hoping to buy a future with. The <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=20moreforall&src=typed_query">#20MoreForAll</a> campaign was pretty pitiful to be honest because it had no mainstream support; the main political parties barely made a peep - Labour just had the very occasional tweet from the Shadow Work & Pensions Secretary - and the charities that are supposed to represent us barely made a fuss either. I suppose at least they did more for that than they did for trying to get a one-off PIP payment to cover our pandemic extra costs; with the amount of effort there being absolute zero, they’ve never mentioned it at all.<br>
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(Friend consented to being written about anonymously)<br>
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<i>* If a parent is worried about their children being at risk of getting involved in a gang, and dreams of moving to a new city to give their kids a fresh start, but they can’t afford a moving van, a deposit on a new private rented flat, or even to pass the financial check landlords carry out: Yes, increasing their benefits can answer their hopes and dreams.<br>
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* If a person with limited mobility simply dreams of surviving this winter without dying of hypothermia, and wishes they could afford to put the heating on: Yes, increasing their benefits can answer their hopes and dreams.</i><br>
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Disabled people born after 26th September 1955 aren’t eligible for the non-means tested Winter Fuel Payments and despite the fact that fuel bills are higher than ever, disabled people are having to spend more time at home than ever before because many of us are still at least semi-shielding, and most importantly; many of us can’t move around to keep warm like non-disabled people who can do star jumps to warm up: There’s no campaign to introduce WFPs for disabled people in this most expensive winter ever. Again, neither politicians, nor charities that supposedly represent us, care about us going cold this winter. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-much-youll-get">The WFP ranges from £100-£300 depending on age and circumstances</a>. I’d say that £150 for those getting the low rate mobility component of DLA/PIP (who have some limitations with their ability to move around), and £300 for those getting the high rate mobility component of DLA/PIP (who have severe limitations with their ability to move around), would be suitable rates. But no-one cares if we fucking freeze, especially not those supposed to be representing us.<br>
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<i>* If a person who recently became disabled can no longer do their old job, and they need money to pay the course fees to retrain do something different: Yes, increasing their benefits can answer their hopes and dreams.</i><br>
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While you can get some qualifications funded by the JobCentre if you meet certain conditions; there will always be people who want/need to train on a course that isn’t funded, or they don’t meet the criteria for funding.<br>
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<i>* If a homeowner is off work sick long term with Long Covid, and they dream of keeping the family home, perhaps the home where their children grew up, maybe the house where their spouse died, but they can’t afford the mortgage on ESA or Universal Credit: Yes, increasing their benefits can answer their hopes and dreams.<br>
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* If someone permanently too ill to work dreams of being a homeowner: Yes, increasing their benefits can answer their hopes and dreams.</i><br>
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You can claim housing benefits to pay your landlord’s mortgage, but not your own. The only help for homeowners with housing costs is <a href="https://www.gov.uk/support-for-mortgage-interest">Support for Mortgage Interest</a>; and even that’s a loan nowadays. So you’d have to find the money for your mortgage, and all the other expenses in life, out of your £74.70/£114.10 weekly contributions based ESA, or £324.84-£668.47 monthly Universal Credit. (Some people are still getting income based ESA, although you haven't been able to put in a new claim for ibESA since long before SARS-CoV2 made the jump to humans, so that won't apply to anyone newly claiming benefits due to long covid.)<br>
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<i>* If a disabled person on income based benefits dreams of living with their partner, but can’t afford it because their benefits will be stopped completely leaving them wholly dependent on their other half: Yes, increasing their benefits can answer their hopes and dreams.<br>
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* If a disabled person dreams of leaving their abusive partner, then an increase to benefits that are paid directly to them - specifically PIP or contributions-based ESA, as distinct from Universal Credit which will be paid to the head of the household - could enable them to afford transport and a temporary place to stay in order to be able to leave; answering their hopes and dreams.</i><br>
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<a href="https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2021/02/25/disabled-people-nearly-three-times-likely-experience-domestic-abuse-non-disabled-study-finds/">Disabled people are nearly three times as likely to experience domestic abuse as non-disabled people</a> so needing to save up money that comes to you personally in order to leave is not a hypothetical risk for thousands. It's also why many disabled people daren't move in with a partner they'd be wholly dependent on because it would put them at such high risk of financial abuse, and potentially other kinds too. You never know what the wonderful, kind, gentle person you love right now will turn into when you're completely dependent on them just to buy tampons.<br>
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<i>* If a disabled person simply dreams of not having to count every penny, of being able to spontaneously buy a new dress, of being able to get takeaway now and then, of being able to put the heating on more than 3 hours a day: Yes, increasing their benefits can answer their dreams.<br>
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* If a new computer could make someone employable, if they’re only well enough to work from home and a new PC could completely change their life, but they just can’t afford one: Yes, increasing their benefits can answer their hopes and dreams.</i><br>
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I don’t know if you noticed, but in several of these examples - the person who needs a new wheelchair, the person who needs a more accessible home, the person who needs to retrain, and the person who needs a new computer - an increase in benefits would ultimately make them <b>more</b> employable. The government thinks slashing benefits is the answer to getting disabled people back to work; but in reality the opposite is true. If you need a wheelchair to physically get yourself to work, but you can’t afford one, the NHS won’t issue a suitable one, you’re not eligible for Motability because you got turned down for high rate mobility PIP, and you’re not popular enough to crowdfund one: You literally cannot physically go into a job interview to try and get hired.<br>
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First Labour, then Tories and Lib Dems, then Tories on their own, then Tories and the DUP, and most recently Tories on their own again, have spent the last 13 years cutting disabled people’s benefits to try to get seriously ill and severely disabled people to get off their "lazy" sick and disabled arses, and into work. Never mind the fact that DLA was not an out of work benefit and plenty of claimants needed it to stay in employment; they still created PIP to try and cut the case load by 20%, spouting utter bollocks about getting disabled people into work.<br>
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But when you cut someone’s benefits, you drive them further from the workplace. If someone has a job that can’t be done from home, but their PIP is stopped so the Motability scheme takes back their leased wheelchair: Suddenly they cannot go into work, maybe cannot even get out of bed. They’ll at the very least need to take a sabbatical from work until they get a new wheelchair, they may even lose their job entirely.<br>
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You also drive them further from the workplace because poverty damages health, and we’re talking about people who are already sick. If someone has cancer but is hoping that claiming benefits is a short term thing because they’re hoping they’ll recover quickly; until they discover how little they’ll have to live on. You cannot recover from a serious illness like cancer if you’re malnourished from poor quality food, and borderline hypothermic because you can’t move much and you can’t afford to put the heat on, while the stress of poverty can also affect physical healing. A cannabis prescription may help with many facets of cancer with THC being an antiemetic, a painkiller, and an appetite stimulant, but cannabis prescriptions are pretty much only available privately; and you definitely won’t be able to afford private healthcare on £74.70 a week ESA (the amount you’ll get if you’re expected to be able to return to work in the not too distant future). Such claimants would have the chance to recover quicker and get back to work quicker if their benefits were enough that they could eat well, keep warm in winter and cool in summer, avoid having their physical healing slowed by the psychological stress caused by poverty, and afford a bit of private healthcare; whether a physio to help them get movement back after an op, or, yes; a doctor who issues private prescriptions for medical marijuana.<br>
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The stress of poverty affects even those who were the <u>most</u> mentally sound previously. So if you’re claiming benefits for a mental health condition, the chances you’ll be able to get off benefits is slim. But if our benefits system lifted ill and impaired people out of poverty, it would give people a real shot at recovering from a mental illness, instead of our social security system making people sicker. Especially if people could afford to pay for mental healthcare in a timely manner rather than waiting at least months, commonly years, often for the wrong therapy on the NHS.<br>
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If you just yank the social security rug out from under the feet of people claiming benefits due to severe mental illness, obviously they’re not well enough just get a job, so they end up dying like <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/feb/27/errol-graham-man-starved-death-benefits-cut-letter-welfare-officials">Errol Graham</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/feb/28/man-starved-to-death-after-benefits-cut">Mark Wood</a> who both starved to death because they couldn’t afford food, or they’ll die by suicide like <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-55826996">Philippa Day</a>, <a href="https://www.scotsman.com/news/authors-suicide-due-slash-benefits-1711578">Paul Reekie</a>, and far too many others to list. Reekie died only a month after Iain Duncan Smith succeeded Yvette Cooper as Work & Pensions secretary, so his death was as a result of the benefit cuts instituted by the last Labour government; before the Tories had the chance to make the system even worse. It's worth noting that in Australia, during the pandemic when social security payments temporarily rose and lifted people briefly out of poverty, <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/fewer-suicides-but-alcohol-related-deaths-rose-in-first-pandemic-year-20210929-p58vpn.html">suicides went <i><b>down</b></i></a>.<br><br>
The government created the non-means tested furlough scheme to keep people's finances sound while they weren't in work, because they know full well that plunging people into poverty drives them further away from work by damaging their mental and physical health, and leaves them unable to afford the essentials to get back into work like a computer and smart clothing. But they don't apply the same logic to sick and disabled people. Somehow we're a magic mirror image of the non-disableds, and forcing us deeper into poverty will supernaturally drive us closer to work. Even though the list of <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2020/02/25/mp-shames-dwp-reading-names-people-died-struggling-benefits-system-12296890/">DWP-related deaths</a> tells a different story.<br>
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Yet despite all these obvious examples of how increased benefits could not only answer our hopes and dreams (and in some cases save our lives), but also achieve the government’s goal of making us more employable; Thérèse Coffey said at the Tory conference <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tory-dwp-chief-urges-people-25128516">that she wants to cut even more people’s benefits “to get us into work”</a> when, of course, all it’ll do is make people iller - therefore further from work, less able to afford to get healthy, and less able to buy the tools they need to find work like wheelchairs and computers - and will ultimately lead to even more preventable deaths at the hands of the DWP.<br>
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The main reason for planning more cuts, of course, is just because the Tories love levelling down, despite all the "levelling up" bollocks that riddled Johnson's conference speech. At the exact same time that the Universal Credit cut went into effect, plunging families into poverty, increasing hunger and suffering across the country; <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/therese-coffey-universal-credit-cut_uk_615dc008e4b08d08062d32c3">Thérèse Coffey was making sure everybody knew that she was loving it; she was having the time of her life</a>.Jessie Daveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12586145295929424187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-30542277770274340542017-06-06T11:41:00.000+01:002017-06-06T11:41:14.935+01:00Labour’s Disability Manifesto: A Positive Step, But Just How Good is It?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
</span></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I couldn’t face reviewing all of the Party Manifestos this time around*, but
when Labour released a mini manifesto specifically on disability policy, that
called for a closer look.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.labour.org.uk/page/-/manifesto-for-disabled-people.PDF"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nothing About You, Without You: A Manifesto With And For Disabled People.</b></a></span></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span><br /><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">
What I’m going to do is a headline summary for each of the policy areas (italicised
to keep the boundaries clear) and then look at whether they’re good, bad, or
missing essential points. Please check the manifesto itself for further details.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />Title Page</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />Nothing About You, Without You: A Manifesto
With And For Disabled People.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />It’s snappy, and
clever, but I did feel this was slightly appropriating our “Nothing for us,
Without Us” for party political purposes. On the other hand, I thoroughly
approve of manifestos being written “with and for” us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Foreword<br />
</span></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Summarises what the last seven years have
been like for disabled people. The UN criticism. Promises to incorporate the UN
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into UK law. Commits
Labour to ‘a social model of disability’ and promises to keep working with
disabled people. It is signed by Jeremy Corbyn, Debbie Abrahams (Shadow Minister
for Work and Pensions), and Marie Rimmer (Shadow Minister for Disabled People).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
</i>Positives are the promises to work with us, which we’ve seen continually
eroded under the Tories, and to incorporate UNCRPD into UK law. Technically
we’re already subject to it as a signatory and as the ECHR uses it as a guiding
principle in applying human rights law, but incorporating it into UK law will
make it more readily accessible to ordinary disabled people. No real negatives,
but I would have been more reassured if Marie Rimmer<a href="http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/new-labour-shadow-reveals-pmqs-access-nightmare-and-social-model-ignorance/"> had known</a> what
the Social Model is two months ago, and if they had said ‘the Social Model’
rather than ‘a social model’. What they are committing themselves to may not be
what disabled people imagine when we hear ‘Social Model’. Equally the seven
months to put Rimmer in place after Abrahams was promoted is deeply worrying as
to how much of a priority disability is to Corbyn.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Introduction<br />
</span></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">More introductory background on Tory
cuts. Background on the Disability Equality Roadshows they held, another
commitment to ‘a social model of disability’, promises to replace the WCA and
reverse the changes to PIP that are denying it from 160,000 disabled people,
sanctions to be axed, 30% WRAG cut to be reversed. Disability issues to be
incorporated into every government department. UNCRPD to be law. Social
Security Bill to repeal cuts within first year in office. Social Security
system to stop demonising disabled people.</i><br />
<br />This is the good stuff: WCA gone, sanctions gone, WRAG cut gone, PIP to revert
to more like DLA, all within the first year in office. A description of their
‘a social model’ says “People may have a condition or an impairment but are
disabled by society. We need to remove the barriers in society that restrict
opportunities and choices for disabled people.“ Which is reassuring, but I’d
still prefer ‘the Social Model’ to be sure we’re on the same page and not
dealing with another Atos/Tory BioPsychoSocialModel. The deliberate disablism
and demonisation of disabled people within DWP is recognised and will be
stopped. Along with sanctions going, we’re promised that the way JCP staff are performance
managed will be changed, hopefully meaning they are no longer judged on the number
of disabled people they’ve managed to victimise this week.<br />
<br />
We could have done without the statement that “Work should always pay more than
social security”. If someone is disabled and unable to work, why should they
automatically earn less than their non-disabled peers? Especially when disability comes with higher costs. That
statement seems to be there more for the Daily Mail than for disabled people. It
is at least paired with an acknowledgement that needing to rely on social
security should not leave disabled people feeling ‘worthless and abandoned’.<br />
<br />
Somewhat confusing is page 7 referring to 160,000 people being denied PIP, while page
9 references Coalition Government figures, saying 600,000 fewer people will
receive PIP in 2018 than received DLA. That second figure needs to be updated
with a current projection, and using two different but related figures is a
mistake </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If you know the
background to Labour’s multi-year search for a disability policy, then the
absence of any mention of </span><span lang="EN-US">Sir Bert Massie and the team
of</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> prominent disabled people who
wrote a set of disability policies for Labour, at Labour’s request, back in
2014, only to have their report dropped at the last moment and replaced a whole
new set of Disability Roadshows, is a wee bit obvious.<br /> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">ENSURING AN ADEQUATE STANDARD OF LIVING AND
SOCIAL PROTECTION</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Cuts to be repealed by Social Security Bill in
year one, Bedroom Tax included. Sanctions to go. PIP and WCA assessments to be
replaced by “</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">a </span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">personalised, holistic assessment process which
provides each individual with a tailored plan, building on their strengths and
addressing barriers, whether financial, skills, health, care, transport, or
housing related.” Assessment to be via local voluntary/public sector
organisations. Culture changes in JCP.<br />
</span></i><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
This is the headline stuff. It covers the axing of not just WCA, but the ESA
WRAG cut, the PIP changes, and the Bedroom Tax as well. Make no mistake, these
are hugely significant changes. However, there’s significantly too much space
spent attacking the Tories and SNP, which just doesn’t tell us anything about
how Labour will fix stuff and makes us, as disabled people, look like a stick
being used to beat Labour’s political opponents with. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I do have some concerns
over the proposed new assessment regime. It almost has to be better than WCA,
but the proposed system seems to suggest a single assessment for PIP and ESA.
There are some reasons why that might be a good thing, i.e. fewer assessments,
and some reasons it might be not be, i.e. ESA being work related where PIP
isn’t. There does need to be a different focus between the two. Equally people
tend not to apply for the two benefits at the same time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The proposal to shift
assessment over to public/voluntary bodies is equally mixed, taking the profit
motive out of rejecting us is an undoubted plus, but one core problem with WCA
has been unqualified staff who didn’t know what particular disabilities were,
or had a cliched view of them. Sourcing qualified assessors with positive
attitudes to disability will be a major issue. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Cultural changes at
JCP are also desperately needed, but this may be akin to Hercules cleaning the
Augean stables. There must ultimately be a willingness to sack staff who are
irredeemably disablist.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">WORK AND EMPLOYMENT</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disability Employment Gap to be halved. JCP to
work with local employers on recruitment practises. Any employer with 250+
staff to report annually on disabled staff employed. Review to explore
expanding Access to Work. Review of ‘specialist employment services’ and look
at support for disabled people transitioning into work and who may need
sheltered employment.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
This is an area I am active in, and there is a lot of good sense here on
halving the 31% / 3 million disabled people Disability Employment Gap. However, it falls
short of where I’d prefer in talking about the significant barrier of
employer/recruiter discrimination. It does actually mention that disabled
people say they encounter this, but that is subtly different from saying that
Labour agrees it exists. That’s still a major step forward on the Tories’
Disability Confident, which insists the only problem with employers is that
they are ‘embarrassed’. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Demanding staff
demographics from every company with 250+ employees is a start, but given 1 in
5 of us is disabled within the definition of the Equality Act, that number
should be far lower. I’d like to see it reduced to 50 at most, and I think
there is an argument for 20. Intersectionality means this reporting will be
meaningless without similar reporting for all minorities. Nor are staff demographics
alone sufficient, the data also needs to cover wage and seniority levels to
determine whether disabled staff are being systematically disadvantaged.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Expanding AtW is
clearly needed, Tory ideological cuts (it made a profit, only the Tories would
cut a benefit that made a profit) mean it is barely helping as many disabled
people as it was seven years ago and for some disability communities, notably
the d/Deaf, it is far worse than it was. Expanding AtW coverage for
self-employed disabled people is also mentioned, but without any details. And
calling for a review simply pushes any change into the future. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">With respect to
‘specialist employment services’, it isn’t entirely clear who is being
addressed. The Tories shut down the Remploy factories, and privatised the disability
employment advice part of Remploy, which is now owned by Maximus, the Atos
replacement on the WCA. There are also various charities who offer support for
disabled people JCP don’t feel able to handle (I found them singularly useless,
but they do help some people), and of course there are JCP’s infamous DEAs
(such as the one who told me to apply for minimum wage jobs, even though I was
a specialist aerospace engineer). There’s a case for tossing the lot of them
and starting again with a professional service of specialist disability-trained
employment advisors, but pushing it out into the long grass with another review
isn’t going to fix it in the short term. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Turning to sheltered employment,
the Remploy model was clearly flawed, with able-bodied management more
interested in feathering their own nests, and a government not interested in
ensuring their factories had the capital investment to compete. And in the end
Remploy’s reputation was so bad it was damaging to disabled people as a whole.
But it’s also clear that the shut-down left unsupported a cohort of disabled
people who are unable to compete in the mainstream jobs market, and that there
likely is a role for some form of sheltered workshop scheme that can offer work
to people who won’t be able to find mainstream work. That work needs to be
meaningful, not a patronizing token, and it also needs to be subsidized in such
a way that it isn’t trying and failing to compete with mainstream companies as
Remploy did. There’s no detail here on how Labour would address this, but at
least they’re recognising the problem exists.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 7.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">EDUCATION AND TRAINING</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Discrimination in accessing education to be
addressed, including with Free Schools and Academies. Education, Health and
Care Plans (EHCs) to be replaced, to prevent them being used to block access to
support. Resourcing to be addressed. Inclusivity strategy for children with
Special Educational Needs and Development (SEND), SEND to be embedded more
fundamentally into teacher training, and training of support stafff. Ensure
Modern Apprenticeship scheme is open to all, more disabled trainees. Higher
Education to be under a duty to support disabled students, tuition fees to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There have been issues with academies being
unwilling to take on disabled kids, and the national statistics seem to show
systematic discrimination against disabled kids by the Tories’ favoured grammar
schools, so addressing discrimination in school entry is a necessary step, but
there are no details as to how this is to be achieved. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The new EHCs (replacements for the old
Statements) were rushed in by the Tories, and some councils appear to have been
using them to try to slash the number of kids getting needed support, but
rushing in a replacement risks the same thing happening, so this needs to be
done carefully. (And maybe Labour could take the time to revise the terminology
– there’s nothing ‘special’ about disabled kids' educational needs). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Deeply embedding disability into teacher and
other staff training is a good idea, an essential idea – doubly so as a survey
found 90% of heads felt current training was inadequate. If we train teachers
to have positive views of disability, then they should pass that on to the
pupils they teach. Equally essential is adequate funding to support disabled
pupils, 80% of schools said theirs was inadequate. <br />
<br />
Modern Apprenticeships are known to have a problem with numbers of disabled people
entering them, at times as low as 0.3% in some areas, so attention is timely,
but again no details.<br />
<br />
For Higher Education, particularly universities, the axing of tuition fees is
clearly a major step towards opening up access. But when you say that cutting
Disabled Student’s Allowance and making universities responsible for support
instead has been a problem, proposing to fix it by making universities
responsible for support seems a bit counter-intuitive. Universities already
have a legal duty under the Equality Act to support their students, if they
aren’t meeting that then a new legal duty to define their support isn’t going
to help unless it is backed with both teeth and resourcing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">ACCESSIBLE ENVIRONMENTS<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Environments to allow disabled people to live independently within the
community. More accessible new homes. No expansion of driver only trains.
Restored funding for station accessibility.</span></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The devil is in the details. This talks about
Labour pledging to build 100,000 more homes, and to build more accessible
homes, but nowhere does it say how many of the 100,000 will be accessible. If
you can pledge a figure for overall numbers, you can pledge a figure for
accessible numbers. I’m not impressed by that omission, it suggests something
that’s been thrown together without buy-in from the general policy makers.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Equally the pledge on driver-only trains is
only to prevent expansion of the scheme, not to roll it back on the lines where
it has already been implemented. As a wheelchair-using train passenger, I have
to rely on the guard getting the ramp out on about 50% of my journeys, and
that’s with pre-booked passenger assistance from platform staff. I’ve had to physically
block the door from closing with my leg to prevent a late-night driver-only
service hijacking me to Milton Keynes when I was trying to get home to Kent. If
single crew operation is going to restrict disabled passengers travelling, then
it clearly falls under the Equality Act and needs to be addressed. In fact, an
unpublished report commissioned by the Train Operating Companies in 2015 admits
that this falls under the Equality Act and is likely to be considered
discriminatory. Either roll it back completely, or allow it, the proposal here
doesn’t make sense. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Restoring funding to the Access For All
scheme to make railway stations accessible is clearly essential, I can only access
the platform at my local station by rolling down a dangerously steep access
road after buying my ticket at a booking hall with no disabled parking, and
other stations are worse. But when Access to All was cut in 2014, only 452 out
of 2533 UK stations were accessible, despite almost £400m having been spent
since 2006. Restoring the funding would only increase it from £25m/yr to
£43m/yr. And that doesn’t address the two smaller schemes (‘mid-tier’ and ‘small’)
which were axed at the same time, and which amounted to another £40m. Restoring
Access to All funding only addresses part of the issue and we need an overall
scheme to ensure access, and assistance, at all stations at all hours they are
in operation.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Create a network of local ‘independent living hubs’ to access services. Invest
extra £37Bn in NHS. Invest £8Bn in care, lay the foundation for a ‘National
Care Service’. Increase status and career opportunities of care workers. Homes
excluded from care means testing. Increase Carer’s Allowance to £73/wk.<br />
<br />
</span></i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A whole 50% of the text here is devoted to attacking the Tories and the
SNP, and not telling us about the details of policies. Undoubtedly adequately
funding the NHS is huge, and essential, but some of the other ideas are just
not clearly explained. The proposal is that these ‘independent living hubs’ would be run by
disabled people and support access to other services, but how this would be
superior to addressing existing access issues to these services isn’t clear. It’s
also impossible to tell
whether the extra £8Bn on care is all targeted at the elderly, rather than at disabled people.<br />
<br />
I’m all for increasing the status and career opportunities of domiciliary care
workers (i.e. those who work in the home), many disabled people depend on their
care workers, but there are absolutely no details, nor anything to indicate that
Labour recognises the difference between agency and directly employed staff.
Most disabled people who directly employ care staff don’t have the means to
provide pay increases and fund training courses, so these will need to come from
national or local government.<br />
<br />
And saying something must be done about the perception of care work as low paid,
while promising to increase Carer’s Allowance for ‘Britain’s Unsung Heroes’ to
a whole £73 a week seems almost like spitting in carers’ faces. Carer’s
Allowance requires you to be devoting 35 hours or more to caring for someone,
so that’s a princely £2.08/hr being promised (at a maximum), versus a national
living wage of £7.50/hr.<br />
<br />
A complete omission is any mention of the Independent Living Fund. It looks
like Labour has no interest in reversing that particular Tory cut, no matter
how hard disability groups fought to prevent it.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Access to Justice</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Labour to ensure disabled people have same access to justice as
non-disabled people. National action plans on disability hate crime, and hate
crime against disabled women, with associated reporting of statistics.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
This whole section is murky and unclear. Half the text is spent describing Conservative
cuts to legal aid, plans to do away with face to face tribunals and tribunal
fees, but then all it says in terms of addressing them is: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Labour will ensure disabled people have the same access to justice as
non-disabled people</i>. There’s no promise to actually restore legal aid or
axe tribunal fees. There is a promise to strengthen the disability provisions
of the Equality Act, by both reinstating the Public Sector Equality Duty and ‘seeking’
to extend it to the private sector. I think most disabled people would far
prefer to see government take up the burden of enforcing the Equality Act and
not leave it to individual disabled people to sue when organisations discriminate
or otherwise refuse to act on their obligations. There is a promise to increase
the independence and role of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, but still only to support
disabled people in taking action.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There is a promise, in accordance with the
Istanbul Convention, to introduce “annual reporting of the levels of disability
hate crimes and violence against disabled women”. The proposal for releasing
stats on violence against disabled women is completely appropriate, intersectional
violence against women is a particular problem. But we already have multiple national
reports on the levels of disability hate crime, and general disability hate
crime is not subject to the Istanbul Convention, which addresses only violence
against women. This is utterly confused. On the other hand, the promise of a national
disability hate crime action plan is a needed one. The last Home Office hate
crime action plan essentially forgot about disability hate crime, which got one
sentence in the entire document, and that clearly added at the last minute. Extra training is promised for the police, but a considerable percentage of the problems with disability hate crime prosecutions actually arise with the judiciary, rather than the police or CPS, with judges refusing to implement the hate crime uplifts and instead sidetracking cases into the lesser sentences for crimes again 'vulnerable people'.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">A gaping absence is any promise to raise
disability hate crime to the same status as race and religious hate crime, an
acknowledged weakness in the law that disability groups (and LGBT groups who
face the same issues) have been demanding parties should address in their
manifestos. <br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">PARTICIPATING FULLY IN POLITICAL, PUBLIC
AND CULTURAL LIFE</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">As a party Labour will have accessible selection processes at all
levels. Labour will review access to sports, art and leisure venues.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The party stuff only commits Labour to meeting
its legal commitments under the Equality Act, I’m really not sure ‘we’ll
provide reasonable adjustments’ should be in their political manifesto when it’s
the law of the land! Completely missing is any promise to reinstate the Access
to Elected Office Fund, which existed to help all disabled candidates with
their additional campaigning costs. Why on earth is Labour proposing to address
this internally, but not to reinstate it at a national level?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The promised review on access to sport, art
and leisure venues, illustrated with the failure of the Premier League clubs to
meet access requirements, seems strange when you realise that the EHRC is
already on the verge of launching a formal investigation of the Premier League
given its failure to carry through on previous access pledges. Why promise to
make the EHRC fully independent in one section, and then undercut it in the
next? The logical approach here would have been to ask the EHRC to extend its
investigation.<br />
<br />
A promise is also made to promote the use of BSL and to give it legal status,
something the British Deaf Association has been campaigning on for over 30
years. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And that's the last item in the manifesto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Accessibility<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Points deducted for the initial release, the
only link to the document that I and other activists I know could initially find was buried
under one of those interminably long auto-generated document names, from a link
on the DisabilityLabour site. That just looked amateur when you linked
directly to it; but a better link does now exist on Labour’s main site.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />And serious points deductions for failure to
provide accessible formats. These exist for the main manifesto, but if they exist
for the disability manifesto then they have been well hidden. Seriously, Labour
must have known they would be criticised for this. Producing a manifesto
specifically for disabled people, but without accessible formats, is pretty
much unforgivable. </span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />
Conclusions</span></b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />The absolutely vital stuff, axing WCA and
rolling back the cuts, is all there (well, except for the ILF), but on the
merely very important things start to look a bit less uniformly good, and there
are a few absolutely unforgivable omissions, noticeably the failure to
reinstate the ILF and not raising disability (and LGBT) hate crime to the same
status as race and religious hate crime. <br /><br />Of course it’s far better than
what we would face from a Tory government.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />
Undoubtedly this is a step forward, and some of it is really good; but Labour
need to win on Thursday for any of this to be put into force. And, of course, manifesto
promises can be fleeting things that never again see the light of day. We’ll
see.<br />
<br />
* However there is an Easy Read review of the disability related policies
within the party manifestos <a href="http://www.easy-read-online.co.uk/media/51048/information-sheet-no-3pages-lores.pdf">here</a> and which also looks at accessible versions: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Tories: Easy Read, Braille, Large Print, BSL, Audio </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Labour: Easy Read, Braille, Large Print, BSL, Sign-supported English,
and Audio. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Lib Dems: Easy Read, Audio, BSL and braille<br />
Greens: Easy Read, Audio, BSL and braille<br /><br />To which we can add<br />Labour, Disability Manifesto: None, zip, nada, zilch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
DavidGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11734028655032503805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-82466016146577352192017-02-16T18:19:00.000+00:002017-02-16T18:23:10.254+00:00Piercing the Smokescreen<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The submission phase
of the DWP consultation on the Work and Health Green Paper closes tomorrow, 17<sup>th</sup>
February at </span><span lang="EN-US">11:45pm (!?!)</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">. Submissions can still be made at <a href="https://consultations.dh.gov.uk/workandhealth/consult/">https://consultations.dh.gov.uk/workandhealth/consult/</a>
via an online form. That only the online form is available for submission is probably
a hint as to just how attention the Green Paper shows to the actual needs of
disabled people.</span><br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span><br />
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<br />
The Spartacus Network has just released a <a href="https://spartacusnetwork.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/richardsonbenstead-smokescreen-2017.pdf">comprehensive (237 page) response</a>
to the Work and Health Green Paper with clinically dissects it to reveal it for
what it is, a smokescreen. I’m listed as a co-author to the report, because it
incorporates my ‘Ticked Off’ analysis of the critical weaknesses of the
Disability Confident scheme that was originally published <a href="https://spartacusnetwork.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/richardsonbenstead-smokescreen-2017.pdf">here on Where’s the Benefit?</a>, but that’s a tiny fraction of the full report and the real credit
goes to Caroline Richardson and Stef Benstead as the two principle authors.<br />
<br />
The Spartacus report brands the Green Paper <i><b>a smokescreen</b></i> because it is
supposed to address the government’s pledge to halve the Disability Employment
Gap, which sees disabled employment running at nearly half the rate of
non-disabled employment. As any disabled person can tell you, the gap exists
because of society’s attitude towards disabled people in general, and because
of blatant disability discrimination in recruitment and the workplace in
particular. But this is a Tory government and god forbid an employer might ever
do anything wrong. So if the problem can’t be with the employers or society,
then obviously the problem must be with us. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In order to erect that
smokescreen the Green Paper spends a great deal of time implying disability isn’t
actually that much of a barrier to work and proposes to step up a gear in
trying to compel disabled people to find a job. Beyond the already announced
30% cut in ESA, because clearly it’ll be easier to find a job if you can’t heat
your house or feed yourself, Work and Health proposes forcing people in the ESA
Support Group, even those who are terminally ill, to undertake at least some work-related
activity. Bizarrely it aims to reduce the funding available to the Work Programme
subcontractors on a per person basis, while proposing that unqualified ‘work coaches’ be
able to overrule GPs on patient’s health and treatment, and insisting that GPs
should recognise that good health can only be achieved through work. One
wonders how they explain the country’s 16 million pensioners? <br /><br />When it comes to
addressing the reality that the problem lies with employers, and society, the
green paper mentions the word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">discrimination
</i>precisely twice, and one of those references is in relation to a
non-governmental scheme. How can you seriously discuss halving the Disability
Employment Gap and not address the universally recognised problem of widespread
discrimination?<br />
<br />
To quote a senior recruitment industry professional of many years’ experience on
my career prospects as a highly skilled engineer: “You need to understand that with your disability no
private sector company will consider employing you, and precious few public
sector employers either”. If even the recruitment industry admits they have a
problem with disability discrimination, why won’t ministers?<br />
<br />
The consultation might equally be branded a smokescreen, as even before the
submission phase has closed DWP have announced that London and Manchester will
be acting as DWP’s proxies to implement the Green Paper’s plans, which shows a
real readiness to listen when disabled people tell them why those plans won’t
work. The Mayor of London has welcomed the opportunity to get involved, but he
probably hasn’t realised that DWP are likely hoping to spread the blame when Work
and Health crashes and burns. And, of course, that 30% cut to ESA is bearing
down on us like a ton of uncaring Tory bricks. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The floggings will
continue until disability employment improves.</span></div>
DavidGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11734028655032503805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-51967722567162375662016-11-27T17:34:00.000+00:002016-11-27T17:34:11.181+00:00Consultation on the Green Paper on Work and HealthThe Green Paper on Work and Health will form the core of future government policy towards disabled people and those in ill-health, especially those of us unable to work. As you might imagine from a Green Paper that brings together Jeremy 'Privatise the NHS' Hunt and Damien 'IDS Mk II' Green, it's more than a little problematical, starting from the whole idea that to be healthy you need to be in work. Other highlights including forcing those in the ESA Support Group, those furthest from the labour market, including people with terminal illnesses, to engage in 'work related activity' or potentially face sanctions.<br /><br />There is a government consultation on the Green Paper, with responses required by 11:45pm (!?!) on 17th February 2017. <br /><br />Details of the Green Paper, in multiple formats, including signed, spoken word and Easy Read, with Braille available on request, can be found <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/work-health-and-disability-improving-lives">here</a>, with details on the consultation available <a href="https://consultations.dh.gov.uk/workandhealth/consult/">here. </a> However, it appears it is only possible to respond to the consultation online and the only available format it is presented in is written English/HTML, which really is a particularly poor example to set. <br /><br />(If you intend responding I would suggest copying the questions into a Word, or similar, document and preparing your answers offline).<br /><br />Catherine Hale has some good thoughts on the implications of the Green Paper when viewed from the perspective of our human rights as disabled people: <a href="https://spartacusnetwork.wordpress.com/2016/11/24/the-green-paper-on-work-and-health/">A Rights Based Response</a>.<br />
<br /> DavidGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11734028655032503805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-17776071915288891232016-11-27T17:00:00.004+00:002016-11-29T11:42:00.098+00:00CPS Consultation on Disability Hate Crime PolicyThe Crown Prosecution Service are holding a consultation on their Disability Hate Crime Policy. Responses are due by midnight on 9th January 2017.<br />
<br />
You can find the policy, in multiple formats, including signed, Easy Read and spoken work, and how to respond, on their website at this <a href="http://www.cps.gov.uk/consultations/hate_crime_dhc_consultation_2016.html">link</a>.DavidGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11734028655032503805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-80093503508186281942016-11-16T22:40:00.000+00:002016-11-16T22:40:24.886+00:00Ticked Off – Going through the Motions of Replacing Two Ticks<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The Disability Employment Gap</span></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></b><div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The UK workforce features a
prominent Disability Employment Gap. At the end of 2015 80% of non-disabled
people of working age were employed, for disabled people of working age that
figure was only 47%. Disabled people want to work, the problem arises in the
recruitment and retention of disabled people by employers and recruiters.
Disabled people face a systematic disadvantage in recruitment that has remained
constant across decades (attempts to fix this started in the 1940s).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To use a starker phrasing, disabled people
face institutional disablism in recruitment and in the workplace.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />In the 2015 General Election
the Conservative Party made a manifesto pledge to halve the disability
employment gap by 2020. Halving the gap seems to have been initially <a href="http://www.scope.org.uk/Scope/media/Documents/Publication%20Directory/A-million-futures-halving-the-disability-employment-gap.pdf">proposed</a> by Scope in 2014.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Two Ticks to Failure</span></b></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
Positive About Disability</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">, better
known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two Ticks</i> from its logo, was
the UK government’s scheme intended to encourage the recruitment and retention
of disabled people within the workforce. Introduced in 1990, and administered
through DWP’s Jobcentre Plus offices, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two
Ticks </i>required employers to commit to five simple measures:</span></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">to
interview all disabled applicants who met the minimum criteria for a
vacancy </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">to
meet with disabled employees, at least once a year, to ensure all their
needs were being met</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">to
make every effort to ensure employees who become disabled could stay in
their jobs</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">to
ensure the disability awareness of all employees necessary to these
commitments</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">to
review the five commitments annually, plan how to do better and report
back to both employees and Jobcentre Plus</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">It rapidly became clear to
disabled people that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two Ticks</i> was a
sham. The scheme was supposed to be administered by Disability Employment
Advisers at local Jobcentre Plus offices, however DEAs were overloaded with a
far higher client/adviser ratio than other Jobcentre Staff and the scheme was rarely
policed. The reality for disabled people was that employers would sign up to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two Ticks</i>, add the logo to their headed
paper in order to impress their customers and the great and the good, and then
carry on not employing disabled people in just the same way they always had.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/list_of_all_employers_who_are_po">Freedom of Information request</a> to DWP in 2013 </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">produced a list of slightly under 4,400 organisations then registered with
Jobcentre Plus as Two Ticks employers. However, this list appears to contain many
duplicate entries. Figures quoted in an <a href="http://www.recruiter.co.uk/news/2014/06/two-ticks-scheme-loses-value-and-meaning-with-employers/">article</a> in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Recruiter</i> in June 2014</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">
suggested around 8,400 organisations had been awarded the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two Ticks</i> logo over the lifetime of the scheme. Government figures
state there were 4.9 million private sector employers in the UK in 2013, 99.9%
of these are Small or Medium Sized Employers (SMEs), giving <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two Ticks</i> a sign-up percentage of around
0.0017%, after a quarter of a century of existence, and without counting Public
Sector employers. The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Recruiter</i>
article additionally noted that less than half of FTSE 200 firms, theoretically
the leading employers in the UK, were <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two
Ticks </i>employers.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">By the early 2010s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two Ticks</i> was in thorough disrepute. In
January 2013, the then Minister for Disabled People, Esther McVey, announced an
inquiry into whether <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two Ticks</i> was
fit for purpose. In 2014 research by Professor Kim Hoque, of Warwick Business
School, and Nick Bacon, of London’s Cass Business School, published as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Employer Disability Practice in Britain:
Assessing the Impact of the Positive about Disabled People ‘Two Ticks’ Symbol</i>
in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Work, Employment and Society</i> showed
that, of companies displaying the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two
Ticks</i> symbol, only 15%, less than one in six, carried out all five
commitments. 38% carried out only one of the commitments, and 18%, almost one
in five, carried out none of the commitments whatsoever, yet continued to
display the logo. Results were consistent across both Public and Private Sectors. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Taken together, over half of companies displaying the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two Ticks</i> logo carried out either only one, or none, of the five
commitments. The Business Disability Forum criticised the research for using
Trade Unions to report back on the reality of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two Ticks</i>, claiming only 15% of private sector employers with more
than 10 employees are unionised. However, the research itself noted that
percentages were consistent across both Public and Private Sectors and even a
cursory glimpse at the list of employers resulting from the Freedom of Information
request referred to above shows that the majority of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two Ticks</i> employers are Public Sector organisations or otherwise
likely to be unionised. Professor Hoque identified the failure to police the
scheme as a fundamental reason for its failure.<br />
<br />
In response to the research, even the DWP admitted <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two Ticks</i> had become ‘outdated’. However, they tried to suggest
that the issue was insufficient support for employers, rather than employers
wanting the kudos of the logo without being forced into any actual change in
their employment practices. The intent of the scheme, to support disabled
employees and applicants, was not addressed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two Ticks</i> requirements were hardly major commitments, most could be
incorporated into existing procedures for recruitment or annual appraisals, yet
the research showed that disabled people approaching a company displaying the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two Ticks</i> logo, or employees who became
disabled while working for a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two Ticks</i>
company, were more likely to find the logo was a façade behind which nothing
had changed, than to actually find the support the employer had publicly
committed themselves to. The research concluded that employers were using <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two Ticks</i> for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">‘</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">impression
management purposes’</span></i><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">rather than to improve the employment, and employment conditions, of
disabled people.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disability Confident, Or Not</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In July 2013 the government
launched <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Disability Confident</i> as the
latest in a line of DWP schemes intended to encourage employers to take on more
disabled employees. The focus of these DWP schemes has long been the subject of
criticism from disabled people. They typically feature supposed role-models in
a manner that almost inevitably strays into outright inspiration-porn and a
refusal to address the real-life experience of workplace disability
discrimination. Unlike previous schemes <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Disability
Confident</i> was much higher profile, and much more blatant in its
inspiration-porn, using Paralympians, and prominent disabled ex-servicemen to
draw business people into its events. That this thoroughly denormalizes disabled
workers, and focusses attendees on how ‘inspiring’ we are is something
Disability Confident and its advocates have consistently refused to address.
Arguably worse was its oft-stated position that the reason for the Disability
Employment Gap was that employers are ‘embarrassed’ about disability. Any
mention of workplace disability discrimination has been notably absent from
Disability Confident material.<br />
<br />
The Disability Confident scheme has been heavily criticised by disabled people from its <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mik-scarlet/disability-solidarity_b_3638838.html">launch</a> onwards.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> At one point a Disability Confident event was invaded by Disabled People
Against the Cuts, and its 2015 declaration of Swansea as the first (and so far
only) Disability Confident City came in for widespread derision, with DWP
unable to explain what a Disability Confident City was, nor why Swansea
qualified. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disability Confident has also faced
consistent criticism for its low level of sign-up, with the overwhelming
majority of organizations signed-up to it being either charities or organizations
with a business interest in the employment of disabled people. Despite Ian
Duncan Smith <a href="http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/dwp-exposes-ids-lies-about-success-of-disability-confident-campaign/">declaring</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">
in a speech at the 2014 Conservative Party Conference that over 1000
organisations had signed up to Disability Confident, Disability News Service
<a href="http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/disability-confident-attracts-just-40-mainstream-private-sector-partners-in-three-years/">showed</a>
that the number signed by June 2016 was only 126, with perhaps as few as 40 of
those mainstream employers. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Sign-up
of small and medium-sized employers was almost non-existent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Originally due to run for only
two years, Disability Confident was extended in 2015 and in 2016 there were
rumours that it was due to be relaunched.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ticked Off</span></b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After Two Ticks came under increasing criticism in 2013/14, DWP announced
that it would be replaced. Following publication of the Hoque/Bacon research, a
DWP spokesman was <a href="http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/two-ticks-set-for-reform-as-researchers-call-it-an-empty-shell/">quoted</a> by Disability News Service as saying: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“We
are seeking to reform the accreditation to make it a more dynamic and effective
system.”</i> It was also reported the revised scheme would see wider publicity,
different levels of accreditation, a more rigorous assessment process, and
improved information and guidance. It was also speculated there would be
provision for disabled employees to provide feedback on actual performance of
registered employers.</div>
<br />
In July 2016 Disability News Service <a href="http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/rebooted-disability-confident-is-shockingly-bad/">reported</a> that there had been an unannounced replacement of Two Ticks by a
refocussed Disability Confident. By August 2016 DWP webpages were referring to
Disability Confident rather than Two Ticks, but there had been no formal launch
or publicity. A formal launch finally occurred on 2nd November 2016.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Disability Confident V2.0, Ticking
all the Wrong Boxes</b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />When Disability News Service
pointed me at the relaunched Disability Confident in July 2015 and asked for my
opinion, my expectations were low, the scheme has consistently failed to
address the core issue of the Disability Employment Gap, recruiter and
workplace disablism. I was still unprepared for what I found.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />Two Ticks had fallen into
disrepute because only one in five of the employers displaying the logo
actually lived up to their commitments, a failure that had been attributed to
the lack of active policing. DWP’s solution to this is to slash the commitments
needed in order to display the new logo, and to remove any pretence of
monitoring. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Under the new Disability
Confident Level 1, ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Disability Confident
Committed</b>’, employers can now display the new Disability Confident Employer
logo by making only a single commitment not already required by law, to interview
qualified disabled applicants, and no one will check them on it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Under the new Disability
Confident Level 2, ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Disability Confident
Employer</b>’, employers make several more commitments, and again no one will
check them on it. However, the majority of these commitments would be considered
‘reasonable adjustments’ under the Equality Act 2010, and employers are
required by EA2010 to make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees or
potential employees, unless they can show that these are not reasonable.
Disability Confident is allowing employers to declare themselves Disability
Confident Level 2 employers by committing to do no more than they are already
legally required to do. And having seen what is considered a Level 2
commitment, it follows that Disability Confident Level 1 is effectively being
granted for committing to do less than is required by law.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disability Confident Levels 1
and 2 combined appeared roughly equivalent to the original five Two Ticks
commitments, so I initially hoped that Level 3, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘Disability Confident Leader’</b>, would represent a step forward over
Two Ticks. I was wrong. Level 3 is available simply by getting an external
organisation to check your implementation of Level 2. While this could be a
valid audit carried out by a specialist disability access advisor, that isn’t
actually required. Level 3 accreditation can also be granted by any disabled
people’s user led organisation (a DPULO), or by any other Level 3 organisation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">To reduce it to its most absurd possibilities, one organisation could be
audited at Level 3 by a DPULO that knows nothing about disability employment issues, say
one focussed on disability sport, and that organisation could then go on to
audit every other Level 2 company in the country and accredit them at Level 3,
without any of them ever coming into contact with anyone who understands the
issues faced by disabled people in the workplace. There is an additional
requirement to display ‘leadership’, but this can be satisfied by ‘networking’,
which is a necessary element of several Level 1 or 2 requirements.</span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />Overall, it is as though
someone looked at Two Ticks and said ‘this is how it’s being abused, how do we
legitimise that behaviour?’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />And of those 2014 predictions
for what the revised scheme would feature: </span></div>
<div style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Wider
publicity</b>: So little publicity people thought the relaunch had been
cancelled</div>
<div style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Different
levels of accreditation:</b> Provided, but by splitting up the existing
commitments rather than extending them</div>
<div style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">More rigorous
assessment:</b> Replaced by self-assessment</div>
<div style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Improved
information and guidance:</b> Discussed below</div>
<div style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Feedback
from disabled employees:</b> Completely absent</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />The Disability Confident Commitments</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />A side by side presentation of
Two Ticks, the two new levels of Disability Confident and legal (Equality Act 2010,
EA2010) requirements is revealing. The original text has been paraphrased to
cut multiple pages down to a manageable format.<br />
<br />
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Two
Ticks</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />To establish a baseline, Two
Ticks is first considered separately from Disability Confident.<br /></span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 623px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 127.35pt;" valign="top" width="170">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Two Ticks</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 155.9pt;" valign="top" width="208">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">EA2010</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 184.3pt;" valign="top" width="246">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Commentary</span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 127.35pt;" valign="top" width="170">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria </span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 155.9pt;" valign="top" width="208">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Applicants cannot be excluded on the basis of
disability alone</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 184.3pt;" valign="top" width="246">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This was notoriously unpoliceable, companies simply
claimed disabled applicants did not reach the minimum criteria.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 49.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 49.5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 127.35pt;" valign="top" width="170">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Meet with disabled employees to ensure needs are met, at least once a
year</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 49.5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 155.9pt;" valign="top" width="208">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disabled employees are entitled to reasonable
adjustments as and when needed</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 49.5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 184.3pt;" valign="top" width="246">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A standard annual performance review could be
claimed to meet this</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 127.35pt;" valign="top" width="170">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Retention of employees who become disabled </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 155.9pt;" valign="top" width="208">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disabled employees are entitled to reasonable
adjustments as and when needed</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 184.3pt;" valign="top" width="246">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In many cases exactly the opposite happened,
disabled employees were forced out even in companies displaying Two Ticks</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 127.35pt;" valign="top" width="170">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ensure employee disability awareness </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 155.9pt;" valign="top" width="208">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Employers are liable for the actions of their
employees if these result in disability discrimination (either direct or
indirect) and they fail to address it </span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 184.3pt;" valign="top" width="246">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Easily addressable during induction, but rarely
done.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 127.35pt;" valign="top" width="170">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Review the five commitments annually</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 155.9pt;" valign="top" width="208">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Not required by law, however not monitoring
performance relevant to employment law is a business risk</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 184.3pt;" valign="top" width="246">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The disrepute of Two Ticks shows the danger of a
slow decay away from unreviewed commitments</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disability Confident Committed (Level 1)<br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
Based on observed behaviour in relation to Two Ticks, in particular the
tendency to do the minimum possible, Level 1 of Disability Confident is likely
to be the level pursued by the overwhelming majority of applicants. The first table
therefore compares the mandatory L1 commitments with the five Two Ticks
commitment.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disability
Confident L1, Mandatory</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 95.85pt;" valign="top" width="128">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Two Ticks</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 140.8pt;" valign="top" width="188">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">EA2010</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 109.4pt;" valign="top" width="146">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Commentary</span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ensure the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>recruitment
process is inclusive and accessible.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 95.85pt;" valign="top" width="128">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 140.8pt;" valign="top" width="188">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Discrimination is unlawful. Disabled employees are
entitled to reasonable adjustments as and when needed</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 109.4pt;" valign="top" width="146">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This amounts to ‘obey the law’. See Comment 1.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Communicate and promote vacancies</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 95.85pt;" valign="top" width="128">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 140.8pt;" valign="top" width="188">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disabled people are entitled to reasonable
adjustments as and when needed</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 109.4pt;" valign="top" width="146">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Incredibly vague. See Comment 1.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Offer an interview to disabled people</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 95.85pt;" valign="top" width="128">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 140.8pt;" valign="top" width="188">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Applicants cannot be excluded on the basis of
disability alone</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 109.4pt;" valign="top" width="146">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This is notoriously unpoliceable. See Comment 1.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 49.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 49.5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as
required</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 49.5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 95.85pt;" valign="top" width="128">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Meet with disabled employees to ensure needs are met, at least once a
year</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 49.5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 140.8pt;" valign="top" width="188">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disabled employees are entitled to reasonable
adjustments as and when needed</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 49.5pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 109.4pt;" valign="top" width="146">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">‘Anticipate’ is very good. But again this is ‘obey
the law’</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Support existing employees who acquire a disability,
enabling them to stay in work</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 95.85pt;" valign="top" width="128">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Retention of employees who become disabled </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 140.8pt;" valign="top" width="188">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 109.4pt;" valign="top" width="146">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Good. But again this is ‘obey the law’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Not required</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 95.85pt;" valign="top" width="128">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ensure employee disability awareness </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 140.8pt;" valign="top" width="188">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Employers are liable for the actions of their
employees if these result in discrimination </span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 109.4pt;" valign="top" width="146">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">You can claim Disability Confident L1, yet have
staff with no disability awareness training</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Not required</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 95.85pt;" valign="top" width="128">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Review the five commitments annually</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 140.8pt;" valign="top" width="188">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Not required by law, however not monitoring
performance relevant to employment law is a business risk</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 109.4pt;" valign="top" width="146">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The disrepute of Two Ticks shows the danger of a
slow decay away from unreviewed commitments</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Comment 1: The initial three
requirements largely merge into one overall process of recruitment: Advertise
the job, make the process accessible, interview disabled applicants. Arguably
this is no more than Two Ticks required, if a little clearer on what the
process involves. However, during the Two Ticks era “Your CV didn’t meet our internal
requirements” was a notorious excuse for companies who didn’t want to follow
through on their commitments and interview disabled applicants and was almost
impossible to challenge. There is nothing here that would prevent that
being true of Disability Confident.<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.8pt;" valign="top" width="166">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disability
Confident L1, Optional</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 94.8pt;" valign="top" width="126">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Two Ticks</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 136.35pt;" valign="top" width="182">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">EA2010</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.55pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Commentary</span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.8pt;" valign="top" width="166">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Offer Disabled People at least one of the activities
below:</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 94.8pt;" valign="top" width="126">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Most implied by: </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Interview all disabled
applicants who meet the minimum criteria</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 136.35pt;" valign="top" width="182">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Applicants cannot be excluded on the basis of
disability alone</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.55pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">It would
be illegal to exclude disabled people from any of these.<br />
See Comment 2</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.8pt;" valign="top" width="166">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Work experience </span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 94.8pt;" valign="top" width="126">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 136.35pt;" valign="top" width="182">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.55pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">See Comment 2</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.8pt;" valign="top" width="166">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Work trials “this is a way of trying out a potential
employee”</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 94.8pt;" valign="top" width="126">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 136.35pt;" valign="top" width="182">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.55pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">See Comment 3</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.8pt;" valign="top" width="166">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Paid employment (permanent or fixed term) </span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 94.8pt;" valign="top" width="126">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 136.35pt;" valign="top" width="182">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.55pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">See Comment 2</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.8pt;" valign="top" width="166">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Apprenticeships</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 94.8pt;" valign="top" width="126">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 136.35pt;" valign="top" width="182">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.55pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.8pt;" valign="top" width="166">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Job Shadowing <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“lasts between half a day and 2 days”</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 94.8pt;" valign="top" width="126">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 136.35pt;" valign="top" width="182">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.55pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.8pt;" valign="top" width="166">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Traineeships (i.e. sub- apprentice level)</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 94.8pt;" valign="top" width="126">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 136.35pt;" valign="top" width="182">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.55pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.8pt;" valign="top" width="166">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Paid or supported internships</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 94.8pt;" valign="top" width="126">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 136.35pt;" valign="top" width="182">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.55pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.8pt;" valign="top" width="166">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Student Placements</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 94.8pt;" valign="top" width="126">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 136.35pt;" valign="top" width="182">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.55pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 124.8pt;" valign="top" width="166">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Sector-based work academy placements </span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 94.8pt;" valign="top" width="126">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 136.35pt;" valign="top" width="182">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.55pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Comment 2: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These options collapse to a general ‘be
willing to employ a disabled person’, but don’t require that to be carried
through. The requirement to do this is already imposed by the Equality Act
2010. The requirements as written could be satisfied by a 15yo doing work
experience, a ½ day job shadow, or employing a disabled contractor for any
length of time, even an hour. Most relate to entry level positions, there is
little or no focus on employing disabled people in experienced/professional/managerial
positions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Comment 3: “this is a way of
trying out a potential employee” is a disturbing re-interpretation of the
intent of a work trial, which is normally understood as an opportunity for a
disabled candidate to confirm to themselves that they can manage the job
without health consequences. This can be read as a disabled recruit facing an
additional pass/fail test compared to a non-disabled recruit, which would be direct
disability discrimination counter to EA2010.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Conclusion:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> Disability
Confident Committed (Level 1) mandates that companies should offer to interview
disabled people, and in addition that they should provide reasonable
adjustments and not dismiss staff who become disabled (both already required by
law). But the requirement to actually employ disabled people is optional, and can
be passed by saying you would do so. Even if the requirement were made
mandatory rather than theoretical, it could be trivially passed without
permanently employing any disabled person.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In comparison to Two Ticks,
the need for training staff in disability awareness and the requirement for an annual
review of processes have been dropped.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Almost every commitment under Disability
Confident Committed is already legally required by the Equality Act 2010. Employers are therefore being offered a government sponsored logo attesting
what good disability employers they are for simply for offering to interview disabled people.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disability Confident Employer (Level 2)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Level 2 is divided into two
themes, Recruitment and Retention/Development. The themes, and their mandatory
and optional requirements are analysed in separate tables. The requirements here
are condensed down from some 20 pages of bulleted text, similar in appearance to
Powerpoint slides.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Theme 1: Recruitment</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Recruitment,
Mandatory</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Two Ticks</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">EA2010</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Commentary</span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Actively look to attract and recruit disabled people
</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Applicants cannot be excluded on the basis of
disability alone</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As L1</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment
process</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disabled employees are entitled to reasonable
adjustments as and when needed</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As L1. Still legally required.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Interview all disabled people who meet the minimum
criteria</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Applicants cannot be excluded on the basis of
disability alone</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As L1</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Flexible assessments so disabled applicants can
demonstrate they can do the job</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disabled employees are entitled to reasonable
adjustments as and when needed</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Reasonable adjustments, it’s the law!</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Make reasonable adjustments as required</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As L1. Still legally required.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Encourage suppliers and partner firms to be
Disability Confident </span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">New</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This is new and actually quite good.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ensure employees have disability equality awareness</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ensure employee disability awareness </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Employers are liable for the actions of their
employees if these result in discrimination and
they fail to address it </span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Teach equality, or face the consequences.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The mandatory elements of the
Level 2 Recruitment theme are essentially a repeat of Level 1 in slightly
greater detail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Recruitment,
Optional</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Two Ticks</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">EA2010</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Commentary</span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Provide at least one of the activities below:</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Most implied by: </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Interview all disabled
applicants who meet the minimum criteria</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Applicants cannot be excluded on the basis of
disability alone</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">See Comment 4. Still legally required to be open to
disabled people.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Work experience </span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Work trials </span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Wording remains problematical.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Paid employment (permanent or fixed term) </span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Apprenticeships</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Traineeships</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Paid or supported internships</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">See Comment 5</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Advertise vacancies in disability media</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">New</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Assumes disabled people read ‘disability media’.
Most won’t. I have never heard of several of the proposed venues.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Engage with JCP, Work Choice providers or DPULOs for
support</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">New</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Just contacting your local JCP appears to be a pass.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">An accessible environment for staff and customers</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Meet with disabled employees<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> to
ensure needs are met</b>, at least once a year</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">There is a presumptive duty on all organisations to
provide accessible services. Disabled staff and customers remain entitled to
reasonable adjustments as and when needed.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">See Comment 6</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 121.45pt;" valign="top" width="162">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Otherwise encourage disabled people to apply </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.4pt;" valign="top" width="129">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">New, but so, so woolly.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.75pt;" valign="top" width="184">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 111.9pt;" valign="top" width="149">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We put a job
ad for disabled people in a locked filing cabinet in the cellar behind a door
saying ‘beware of the panther”</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Comment 4: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The intention is obviously that this should be
applied in relation to disabled recruits, as at Level 1, but the wording in
Level 2 doesn’t actually say that. Given the known history of abuse of the Two
Ticks criteria and the switch to self-assessment, this is incredibly naïve. The
concerns noted at Level 1 remain. In addition, the “one or more of” structure
creates an either/or potential between being willing to employ disabled people,
and having an accessible workplace. Disabled people, of course, require both. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Comment 5: Level 1 describes a
‘supported internship’ as for a disabled person still in education, Level 2
describes it similarly, but adds “whose disability is such that they need
special support, often including a support worker or work coach to help them in
the workplace”, which would surely be just as relevant at Level 1. Level 2 goes
on to say: “Supported internships do require time and commitment to set up, so
might be most appropriate for a larger employer” Is this trying to talk people
into providing them, or out of providing them? Additionally, it creates a
presumption that disabled people who require support workers are not employable
by small or medium sized enterprises (SMEs). It also seems unaware that support
worker costs are potentially covered by Access to Work. (Or is deliberately not
raising it).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Comment 6: Putting accessibility in the
options mean it is possible to be awarded Disability Confident Levels 2 and 3 with
an inaccessible workplace. This is also internally contradictory with Level 1,
where provision of reasonable adjustments is a mandatory requirement. An
accessible workplace is perhaps the most common of all reasonable adjustments.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Conclusion:</b> An accessible workplace
is not explicitly required at Level 1, and optional at Level 2. DWP are clearly
working on a very different definition of Disability Confident than any the
disabled community would adopt. Where requirements overlap from Level 1, the
same concerns raised there apply, but the wording of Level 2 is oddly different
in places, with the employment provisions not actually specifying a disabled
person in most places, which technically means an auditor could not demand that
be met.<br />
<br />
Disability Confident also appears to be functioning on a perception that
disabled people and the workforce are separate entities, with the suggestion
that jobs must be advertised in disability specific media to reach disabled
people. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Theme 2: Retention and
Development</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Retention,
Mandatory</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Two Ticks</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">EA2010</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Commentary</span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Promote a culture of being Disability Confident </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ensure employee disability awareness </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disability Confident’s culture of inspiration-porn is
not going to help.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Support employees to manage their disabilities or
health conditions </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Meet with disabled employees<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> to
ensure needs are met</b>, at least once a year</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disabled employees are entitled to reasonable
adjustments as and when needed</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">See Comment 7.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ensure there are no barriers to the development and
progression of disabled staff<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Allowing such a barrier to exist would be disability
discrimination. </span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Credit given for not breaking the law. See Comments 8
and 9</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ensure managers are aware of how they can support
staff who are sick or absent from work</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disabled employees are entitled to reasonable
adjustments as and when needed</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Not actually disability specific. Very easy for this
to slip into harassment.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Listen to feedback from disabled staff</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Staff raising disability related issues are
specifically protected from retaliation.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">See Comment 7</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Continual self-assessment.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Review the five commitments annually</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Established as good practise in all business areas.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Comment 7: There is a long
history of disabled people being penalised for admitting disability, up to and
including summary dismissal. Similar persecution has also followed calls for
disability related improvements, requests for reasonable adjustments, or just
adherence to equality law. Disabled people are well aware of this and there is
a considerable body of advice urging disabled workers not to acknowledge
disability unless absolutely necessary. These are points where Disability
Confident is absolutely required to address the history of workplace disability
discrimination in order to allow the employer to understand the reluctance to
engage they are likely to encounter. It does not, for what can only be presumed
to be its ongoing politically-motivated insistence that workplace disability
discrimination does not exist.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Comment 8: “This could
include: encouraging disabled staff to be ambitious and seek progression in the
workplace, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">including increasing hours</b>”.
This is further evidence of a profound disconnect in Disability Confident’s
understanding of disability. Many disabled people have limited energy and may
struggle to complete even part-time hours. Linking advancement to increased
hours creates a presumption that actively links ability and promotion to
endurance/energy, even though this would be constitute discrimination under
EA2010 if not actively required by the position.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“including increasing hours”
therefore makes no sense from a disability perspective. However, it makes
complete sense as an ideologically driven inclusion related to DWP’s initiative
to force people in receipt of Universal Credit to increase their hours if not
in full time working. So far as Disability Confident is concerned, it appears
ideology trumps legality.<br />
<br />
Comment 9: “monitoring, whether formally or informally, progression rates for
disabled staff and ensuring they are in line with general progression rates”
This is actually a very good suggestion, though of course it should be done for
every minority group. For this purpose ‘progression’ would necessarily include
progression of salary.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Retention and
Development, Optional</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Two Ticks</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">EA2010</span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Commentary</span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Provide at least one of the activities below:</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Mentoring and support networks</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Meet with disabled employees<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> to
ensure needs are met</b>, at least once a year</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Presumes a large enough firm to facilitate this. Does
not discuss need for mentors to be disability aware.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disability awareness training as part of induction</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ensure employee disability awareness </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Employers are liable for the actions of their
employees if these result in discrimination</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">See Comment 10</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Keep staff informed on mental health issues</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ensure employee disability awareness </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ditto</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">See Comment 11</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Occupational health services </span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Meet with disabled employees<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> to
ensure needs are met</b>, at least once a year</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Disabled employees are entitled to reasonable
adjustments as and when needed</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">See Comment 12</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Identify and share good practice with business
partners</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">New</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">New and good, but not an excuse to not provide the
other options.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Provide HR staff and recruiters with Disability
Confident training.</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.85pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ensure employee disability awareness </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Employers are liable for the actions of their
employees if these result in discrimination</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 116.9pt;" valign="top" width="156">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">See Comment 10</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Comment 10:
Confusingly, Disability
Awareness training of all staff is mandatory under the Recruitment theme,
but
training of new staff during induction and ongoing disability training for HR staff are both optional under the Retention
and
Development theme. You cannot train all staff unlesss you also train new staff, while HR staff have an absolute professional need to
understand the current law around disability and employment. How can a
company be Disability
Confident if its HR staff do not know the law?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Comment 11: “guiding staff to
information on mental health and well-being in the work place can help them
identify the symptoms and know how to support their team members and colleagues.”
This is frankly disturbing in its call for staff, and particularly supervisors,
to engage in amateur psychological diagnosis and/or treatment. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Comment 12: Employees and
managers require OH advice to provide appropriate guidance on how disabled
staff might be supported. It is impossible to be Disability Confident without that
professional support.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Conclusion:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over and beyond my normal criticism of
Disability Confident; writing process documents, and conducting audits based on
them, is somewhere I have extensive professional experience. The Disability
Confident requirements defining how to reach each of Levels 1, 2 and 3 are
dreadful. They are unclear, inconsistent, and utterly riddled with loopholes and contradictions.
They make Two Ticks look like a model of good practise.</span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br />
To illustrate just how badly the Disability Confident criteria are written, you
can be awarded <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Disability Confident Leader</b>
(Level 3) with no disabled employees and an inaccessible workplace after being assessed by a DPULO with no experience in employment issues.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So What is Actually New in Disability Confident?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">There are elements of Disability
Confident that are new in comparison to Two Ticks, however they are largely
peripheral. The principal change is one of focus, from simply prescriptive to
an attempt to educate, unfortunately this isn’t actually particularly good, or
founded on any deep understanding of the issues disabled people will encounter
in the workplace. Worse, it attempts to both prescribe and educate in the same sentence,
with the result that the requirements are obfuscated, or defined so loosely as
to be useless. The three level documents should have been divided into separate
“You must provide” and “This is how” sections.<br />
<br />
Beyond that, the new elements consist primarily of trying to tie the Two Ticks
element of Disability Confident into the wider Disability Confident programme.
Being a model of good practise is valuable, but should not have the potential
to free an employer from, for instance, providing an accessible workplace, which
the current requirements allow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Tallying Disability Confident
against Two Ticks, we see that even at Levels 2 and 3 (the only difference is
external assessment), requirements have been loosened, rather than the promised
tightening. Many elements that were required under Two Ticks, for instance accessible
workplaces, are now optional under Disability Confident, or only required at
Level 2/3, but the poor layout makes this almost impossible to realise with
anything less than a systematic point by point comparison.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">How Do We Fix This?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">It would be simple to rework
Disability Confident into a workable Two Ticks replacement. One that addresses
the weaknesses Two Ticks revealed rather than shying away from them. Most of
the requirements make some sort of sense, but the structure they are assembled
into allows employers to exploit the label with no intention of changing. This
is not simply a theoretical concern, many of us have worked through active discrimination
at companies with Two Ticks accreditation and I was recently shown an employer
email saying (paraphrased) “We said we’re committed to interviewing disabled
people, we’ve actually got one, how do we get out of it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As a general principal, we need
commitments that actually mean something. No logos without actual disabled
employees, no logos for doing what is already required by law, no logos for
untrained staff and inaccessible premises. We also need three specific changes:<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Meaningful Requirements: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ones that do not allow routes through them that leave
the workplace or its management and recruitment processes inaccessible. The
optional elements need to be urgently revised so that only features that not
all firms will offer remain optional.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Auditable Requirements</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">: The wording of the Disability Confident requirements
is unclear, mixing advice with requirements in the same sentence. This makes it
more difficult to judge what the requirement actually is. This affects both the
employer trying to make the change and the auditor trying to confirm that they
have actually done so. This can be accomplished be rewriting the documents to
split advice and requirements into separate sections.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo8; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Audited Awards:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">
Two Ticks fell into disrepute because it was not audited. That lesson is clear.
A replacement that dumps the audit requirement is not fit for purpose. Disability
Confident is only audited at Disability Confident Leader (Level 3), and even
that does not require appropriately trained auditors. Disability Confident
Committed and Disability Confident Employer are not audited at all, prior
experience says without this the scheme will again fall into disrepute. So we
need auditors. Auditors need independence, training, and a clear set of
requirements against which to conduct the audit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">DWP is the driving force
behind Disability Confident, it was the failure of DWP DEAs to conduct audits
that led to Two Ticks falling into disrepute. DEAs are no longer an appropriate
solution for auditing Disability Confident, DWP has slashed their numbers and
even a recently announced increase will not restore numbers to the previous
total, which was already inadequate. If DWP wants to increase the employment of
disabled people, but does not have the staff to audit its own scheme, then
perhaps the solution is obvious – train disabled people as auditors. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Not So Disability Confident Conclusions</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We were promised a stronger
scheme with increased external supervision, we have been delivered a weaker
scheme with (almost) no external supervision.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The replacement for Two Ticks
turns out to be worse in almost every respect. It is trivially easy to look at
the way that Two Ticks was abused and see that Disability Confident further
enables that abuse rather than preventing it. If Disability Confident is
trivially easy to abuse, then perhaps that was in fact its primary design
constraint. There was a telling comment from one of the architects of the
scheme in the DNS article on the launch ‘if we had asked them to do anything
more they wouldn’t have signed up’. <br />
<br />
If we don’t demand meaningful change, then Disability Confident cannot bring down
the Disability Employment Gap, in which case what is the point in implementing it? The
question then becomes whether Disability Confident is meant to address the
employment of Disabled People, or the public and peer perception of employers?</span></div>
DavidGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11734028655032503805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-45625087816501104712016-10-01T20:23:00.000+01:002016-10-02T10:49:44.729+01:00Government backs down on some retesting for sickness benefits<br />
<h3>
Government backdown won’t apply to all but is an opening</h3>
<br />
The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) is highly damaging to those of us who have to go through it. Despite this, both main parties have consistently denied that there is any problem, and claimed that the WCA is necessary to weed out scroungers. That might be about to change.<br />
<br />
Firstly, Labour announced at their conference that they would <a href="http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/labour-conference-abrahams-says-party-will-scrap-wca-but-not-sanctions/">scrap the WCA altogether</a>. This doesn't mean much right now since they are not in power, but it is a major turnaround for a party that introduced the WCA in the first place and has refused to even oppose most benefit cuts in the last few years. Jeremy Corbyn called the WCA degrading. Debbie Abrahams acknowledged that it makes people feel worthless and dehumanised.<br />
<br />
It's not all good, since they still refuse to oppose benefit sanctions, and used the same old language about work being the goal for everyone, but it is a start.<br />
<br />
Secondly, Damian Green, Tory Secretary of Work and Pensions, has told the media that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/oct/01/dwp-scraps-retesting-for-chronically-ill-sickness-benefits-claimants">the government will stop repeatedly retesting people who aren't going to improve</a>.<br />
<blockquote>
“If someone has a disease which can only get worse then it doesn’t make sense to ask them to turn up for repeated appointments. If their condition is not going to improve, it is not right to ask them to be tested time after time. So we will stop it.”</blockquote>
This is a huge reversal of policy. Continuous retesting was always the point of Employment Support Allowance (ESA) although there have never been enough resources to apply that to everyone.<br />
<br />
Many people are celebrating this. However, there are big questions as the government haven't specified any details. I'm not sure they even know yet. Reports imply that the exemption from retesting will apply to people with specific illnesses that are known to only deteriorate. If that is the case, then many people who have illnesses that are just as bad as those on the list but are not recognised as such, will miss out. So will people who have not yet been diagnosed, and that can mean people who are sick for years - or decades - before they find out the cause.<br />
<br />
The more logical policy would be to apply this exemption to everyone who is in the Support Group, since this category is meant to contain people who have no prospect of improvement. In practice the Support Group doesn't work like that, and people who will never improve are frequently placed in the Work Related Activity Group instead, thanks to DWP efforts to deny them support in order to keep costs down. If the exemption were to apply to the Support Group only then it would still be unfair to all those improperly placed in the WRAG.<br />
<br />
Whether the Government decides who qualifies based on diagnosis, or based on support group, it will still be unfair. However, I do see this announcement as a big win. A Tory government minister said "constant reassessment is pointless" and "does increase their stress and anxiety levels" "causes financial insecurity" to describe repeated work capability assessments. That is a huge admission for the Tories, or even for Labour.<br />
<br />
We can use this. We can attack the inconsistencies in the government's argument. We can point out that the Work Capability Assessment is damaging to everyone. We can show that their descriptions apply to Personal Independence Payments too, even though they've spent six years attacking PIP's predecessor, DLA as "abandoning" people so as to justify welfare reform and repeated reassessments. This isn't an unqualified victory and won't necessarily improve things for that many people (perhaps including myself) but this is a major event in the struggle against welfare cuts of the last few years.Latentexistencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117818225124379975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-258455796676771572016-05-06T16:05:00.001+01:002016-05-06T16:05:35.611+01:00Inquiry into Disability Employment Gap and Disability Confident Closes MondayThe Parliamentary Work and Pensions Committee is holding an inquiry into the 'Disability Employment Gap', and the deadline for submissions is Monday. (Apologies for the short notice, they keep launching these things when I'm away from home and/or running around after medical stuff).<br />
<br />
According to <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/inquiries/parliament-2015/disability-employment-gap-15-16/">their webpage:</a><br />
<h2>
<i>Scope of the inquiry</i></h2>
<i>
</i><i>The Committee invites written submissions addressing the following points: </i><br />
<i>
</i><ul>
<li><i>To what extent are the current range of proposed measures likely to
achieve the Government’s ambition of closing the disability employment
gap?</i></li>
<li><i>How effective is the Disability Confident campaign in reducing barriers to employment and educating employers?</i></li>
<li><i>What should support for people with health conditions and disabilities in the proposed Work and Health programme look like?</i></li>
<li><i>What are the likely impacts on disability employment of the
abolition of the Employment and Support Allowance Work Related Activity
component? </i></li>
</ul>
I'll be putting in a response, which is likely to run along the lines of "Fat chance. Worse than useless. Nothing like DWP wants. And catastrophic", though at rather greater length. But this is your chance to comment on:<br />
<ul>
<li>Whether the government really wants to halve the disability employment gap, or just get enough temporarily sick people back into work it looks like they did. </li>
<li>How Disability Confident is actually working to reinforce discriminatory views of disabled people by its focus on inspiration porn, its denial that workplace disability discrimination exists, its encouragement to employers not to pay attention to disablity (and therefore to the adjustments we need), and its apparent belief that the only appropriate jobs for disabled people are entry level and minimum wage. Oh, and we're 'inspiring'.</li>
<li>How proposals for the Work and Health programme are likely to be a disaster. Details are all but impossible to find, but the various DWP pilot schemes, such as putting JCP staff into doctors' surgeries. and the Tory manifesto proposal for the enforced treatment of certain conditions suggest that DWP wants to develop a system in which it can directly influence the medical treatment disabled people receive and make their benefits conditional on doing as DWP demands.</li>
<li>And how the £30 cut in ESA, so that those in the Work Related Activity Group will be treated identically to non-disabled jobseekers on JSA, will further erode the recognition that this group includes many severely and long term disabled people, who need specialised support from JCP staff, which is already being decimated via the widespread axing of Disability Employment Advisers within JCP.</li>
</ul>
The aim of closing the disability employment gap is one we should all be able to get behind, but DWP's appalling history around disabled jobseekers, which largely consists of looking for ways to deny we are disabled, or prove us frauds, leaves me with little confidence that this is their real intention, while the farcical Disability Confident confirms they are far more interested in pandering to cliched values of disability we hoped we had left behind 30 years ago.<br />
<br />
Responses are due by Monday 9th May. Whether that is close of business, or Midnight, appears not to be stated. In fact there is more information on responding in the <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/work-and-pensions/Disability-employment-gap-inquiry-call-for-evidence-booklet-easy-read-version-13-April-2016.pdf">Easy Read version</a> than on the <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/inquiries/parliament-2015/disability-employment-gap-15-16/commons-written-submission-form/">main website.</a><br />
<br />
Chances to have our say don't come along often, so let's take advantage of this one. DavidGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11734028655032503805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-47948842668224578692016-01-26T22:21:00.000+00:002016-01-26T22:21:31.465+00:00Imminently Closing Government ConsultationsApologies for the short notice, but both of these seem to have been
deliberately hidden over the New Year break in the hope people would
either not see them, or see them and forget about them. I missed one
and forgot about the other - fortunately other people remembered and prodded me (Thanks to Dr Frances Ryan, DPAC and Hossylass for timely reminders).<br />
<br />
The first one is the DWP "Consultation on aids and appliances and the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment" (which Lisa <a href="http://wheresthebenefit.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/good-news-in-theory-but-will-it.html">mentioned</a> before Christmas). Dr Frances Ryan has a really good piece on it in today's Guardian: <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jan/26/disabled-people-aids-consultation-cut-benefits?CMP=share_btn_tw">"Disabled people are accused of using aids they don’t need – to cut benefits again"</a> The clear aim here is to justify removing household disability aids such as adapted cutlery, perching stools and the like from being counted as evidence towards being qualified for PIP. In helping people write PIP and ESA applications I've found it can be the simplest, most basic aids that really illustrate the depth of people's disabilities, and clearly DWP have too because they now want to stop them from counting.<br />
<br />
What is particularly worrying is the openly skewed language being used by DWP to try and exclude aids from counting. Aids are presented in the most trivial of terms, as purely incidental, such as someone perching on the edge of the bath while washing. The fact that means their disability is so severe they can't stand up for even a couple of minutes is carefully not mentioned. As disabled people we've grown used to DWP slanting the evidence, but this time they aren't even trying to hide what they're doing. They openly claim PIP wasn't meant to cover basic disability aids - even though other people remember the stated aims of PIP rather differently.<br />
<br />
The language is so skewed that at least one complaint has already been lodged with Parliament's Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (Secondary Legislation is the stuff that Ministers can change pretty much at will, without needing to bring a bill before the House to be voted on) and you can also complain at <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #292f33; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">PIP.consultationfeedback@DWP.GSI.GOV.UK </span>The standards that are supposed to apply can be read <a href="https://t.co/o9RfcXfyrU">here</a>, note particularly item c) "Give enough information to ensure that those consulted understand the issues and can give informed responses".<br />
<br />
My personal worry with this one is that I think it i's a calculated first step, aimed at establishing the principle that some disability aids don't count towards disability benefits. The obvious second step then becomes to exclude wheelchairs and other mobility aids from counting for disability benefits, because as Ministers and MPs have claimed in the past, once you have a wheelchair, you aren't really mobility impaired (yeah, right). And if thinking that seems paranoid to you, consider the use of the imaginary wheelchair in ESA assessments, where, if you don't have a wheelchair (or prosthesis, or guide-dog), even if Wheelchair Services have expressly refused you one, the assessor is already allowed to hypothesize that if you did have a wheelchair you wouldn't be mobility impaired.<br />
<br />
The second consultation is a call for evidence from the Commons Public affairs Committee on contracted out health and disability assessments, which covers ESA and PIP and DLA, as performed by Atos, Maximus, and Capita. DPAC have the contact details listed out <a href="http://dpac.uk.net/2016/01/have-your-say-on-maximus-atos-capita-deadline-28th-jan-2016/">here</a>. If you, like me, had a horrific assessment, then this is your chance to have your experience heard. And you don't have to have been rejected to have a valid opinion, I passed my WCA assessment, but the whole experience was nightmarish, and deeply damaging, to the point that several years later I'm finding the effects of the assessment even more disabling that the disability I was being assessed for! And it isn't just the assessment itself that's up for comment, I know people who have faced horrifically disablist bullying just over arranging the appointment. <br />
<br />
The DWP consultation on PIP and Disability Aids closes on 29th January. <b>This Friday</b>.<br />
<br />
The PAC call for evidence on assessments closes at <b>10AM</b> on 28th January. <b>10AM this Thursday</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />DavidGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11734028655032503805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-48486082951065344022015-12-22T10:30:00.000+00:002015-12-22T10:30:25.858+00:00Good news in theory, but will it translate into practice?You may remember, three years ago when the Coalition were devising PIP, they kept banging on and on about how they had to do it because under DLA it was possible for people with incurable conditions to get DLA for an indefinite period. The concept of "incurable" might sound simple to normal people, but politicians believe in miracles and they couldn't accept that things like cerebral palsy, Down's Syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta, spinal cord injuries, autism, and amputations are conditions for life.<br />
<br />
So their plan for PIP was to waste taxpayers' money on continually reassessing us incurables every three years (and the related appeals when they wrongly refused us the support) just to make sure we hadn't had a successful trip to Lourdes.<br />
<br />
But it seems like, somehow, some common sense has been snuck into the delivery of PIP. Very, very, quietly. There's been no big press releases declaring that, in this austere time, they've decided to bung a few less pounds to Atos/Capita for pointless continual assessments of people who'll never get any better. I read about it quite by chance.<br />
<br />
The Freedom of Information website <a href=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/ target=new>WhatDoTheyKnow</a> has got a copy of the <a href=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/263680/response/648138/attach/3/DMR%20Template%202015%20User%20Guide.pdf target=new>Decision Maker’s Reasoning Template User Guide</a>. That guide is what the case managers/decision makers at the DWP use to, well, help them make decisions on a case.<br />
<br />
If you scroll down to page 9 of the document you'll see the decision makers now have the option of offering an indefinite PIP award by typing "indef" into their box: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--gA3-2LeL_M/VnipS13cIzI/AAAAAAAAAXM/SqoTERr2g8Q/s1600/PIP%2Bindef%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--gA3-2LeL_M/VnipS13cIzI/AAAAAAAAAXM/SqoTERr2g8Q/s400/PIP%2Bindef%2B1.jpg" alt="Image of some text saying 'You can enter 'Indef' or a number of years/ months, as appropriate. The 'Review
period' generates the 'Award end date' which will be indefinite or one year beyond the 'Review date'.'"/></a><br />
<br />
And at the start of page 10:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AAUEWnqWc28/VniqGCkzM5I/AAAAAAAAAXU/3cBTP54VmL0/s1600/PIP%2Bindef%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AAUEWnqWc28/VniqGCkzM5I/AAAAAAAAAXU/3cBTP54VmL0/s400/PIP%2Bindef%2B2.jpg" alt="Text with a blue header saying 'Review Period' and then the body of the text says 'The reasons for the review period selected will be generated automatically. For an indefinite award or an award of at least 11 years this will be: 'All awards must be reviewed, as your condition is unlikely to change I have selected the maximum possible review period.'"/></a><br />
<br />
I double and triple checked the source of this a dozen times. It'd be so easy for hoaxers to knock up a falsified decision maker's guide and put it out there. But WhatDoTheyKnow is a reputable source. And I've Googled and Googled looking for any other info about indefinite PIP awards presuming there had to be a DWP press release out there somewhere. But if you Google "indefinite PIP awards" you'll just find pages and pages about the move of indefinite DLA claimants over to PIP.<br />
<br />
Talking about this new piece of info with my Facebook friends: One of them pointed out that just because decision makers have the option of issuing an indefinite award, doesn't mean they actually will. And he's right; PIP was not designed with common sense in mind.<br />
<br />
And just because our conditions will be lifelong and incurable, it doesn't mean that being eligible for PIP now means you'll still be eligible for PIP in a few years time given the government keep moving the goalposts. Right now they're <a href=http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/governments-new-pip-proposals-will-drive-more-into-poverty-and-despair/ target=new>running a consultation looking at removing PIP from people who use the money to pay for "aids and appliances" rather than human assistance</a>. Because apparently in the tiny minds at the DWP; aids and appliances are totally free to buy, free to maintain, and free to replace when they wear out. (I would urge you all to complete <a href=https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/personal-independence-payment-aids-and-appliances-descriptors target=new>the consultation by the deadline of 29 January 2016</a>.)<br />
<br />
The introduction of indefinite awards could be great news for disabled people with incurable conditions <i>and</i> great news for the taxpayer who'd otherwise be paying for pointless reassessments and appeals. But if the government at going to redraw the PIP qualifying criteria every 3 years in order to cut a bit more; they'll probably not bother issuing awards for longer than 3 years anyway.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714918894319998184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-36487022680082381832015-11-25T10:00:00.000+00:002015-11-25T10:00:08.084+00:00The DWP at your GP<a href=http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/sign-in?rtn=your-practice/gp-practices-to-provide-advice-on-job-seeking-in-new-pilot-scheme/20020070.article target=new>This article about a pilot scheme to place JobCentre advisers in GP surgeries is actually 2 months old</a>, but somehow I hadn't read it until last week.<br />
<br />
It is fucking terrifying.<br />
<br />
Your GP surgery is supposed to be a place of safety. <br />
<br />
I recently had some issues with panic attacks. Basically I spent an entire weekend in a state of absolute terror - I called The Samaritans at one point because I was just so panicked, alone, and afraid - and then on Monday morning when my doctors' surgery opened I phoned and wept at the receptionist. I got given an appointment for 3 hours later; when I wept at a doctor.<br />
<br />
I was scared and upset and in absolutely no state for a JobCentre staffer to start harassing me with "have you ever thought about being less ill and getting a job?"<br />
<br />
But it's not just about mental illness. When talking about alopecia am I going to have someone from the work program suggesting I buy a loom and start making and selling jumpers using the obscene amount of hair I shed? While having invasive gynaecological examinations, am I going to have to maintain eye contact with someone telling me that if I put my mind to it I could get a job as a stripper seeing as strangers have seen me naked from the waist-down anyway?<br />
<br />
The recent <a href=http://jech.bmj.com/content/early/2015/10/26/jech-2015-206209.full target=new>academic research that attributed 590 suicides to the work capability assessment</a> also found that the assessment process caused 279,000 additional cases of mental health problems, and required doctors to prescribe to assessment victims an additional 725,000 antidepressant items. Can you just imagine: You've been made so ill by the WCA process that you need to go and beg for antidepressants. And when you get to the doctor you find yourself face-to-face with someone saying "hey! We might have just given you an extra mental illness on top of whatever condition you already had. But how about we send you on a workfare placement? That'll perk you up. Or kill you. But either way, you won't be a useless scrounger any longer."<br />
<br />
Here's a quote from that article justifying the scheme:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Dr Josephine Sauvage from the NHS Islington CCG explained that the employment drive aims to redress isolation and confidence issues, which are often associated with long-term health problems.<br />
<br />
She said: ‘When we become ill we often stop doing those things that get us out and about and bring fulfilment to our lives. As a local GP I see and hear this every day and I’m very keen to do more to support my patients’ well-being.<br />
<br />
‘Prescribing free and confidential employment coaching, delivered in a caring and familiar environment, could be really beneficial to a patient’s confidence and self-esteem, as well as their long-term recovery.”</blockquote><br />
Yes, being ill has meant I am no longer able to do things that get me out and about. Last Thursday I was supposed to go to some swanky party; but instead I was home alone - ill - and sitting around the flat my pyjamas. Someone from the JobCentre telling me to get a job every time I visit my GP isn't going to prevent me from being too ill to do stuff a hell of a lot of the time.<br />
<br />
Yes, I'm extremely isolated; I <a href=http://lisybabe.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/being-alone.html target=new>wrote about that on my own blog just a few weeks ago</a>. But DWP harassment every time I need a GP to diagnose a weird rash isn't going to make people want to spend any time with me.<br />
<br />
But you know what's going to make my confidence and self-esteem even lower? Reminding me that I'm a useless benefit scrounger every time I enter the building to submit a repeat prescription request form. Don't you think I feel enough shame about my status in a society that's obsessed with one's occupation? Without just rubbing it in every time I turn up to a building that's supposed to be safe.<br />
<br />
What's worrying is that a GP - an actual practising doctor - seems to be in denial about the fact that some of her patients are actually too ill to fucking work. Perhaps, if she's really concerned about the social and emotional well-being of people like me who are ill and excluded from society, she might like to promote social cohesion schemes that allow us to participate in the local community as and when we're able. Because bringing the JobCentre into the surgery and telling sick people to "take up thy bed, and walk... Into McDonald's for a minimum wage job you're far too ill to hold down," isn't going to help anyone.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714918894319998184noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-43416872061209472412015-10-15T21:29:00.001+01:002015-10-15T21:29:08.374+01:00Appeal of PIP Consultation Judicial Review Not SuccessfulThis morning we received the final judgment in our appeal of the judicial review of the consultation for PIP. The appeal was not successful.<br />
<br />
The full text of the judgment is linked below but I will quote here the key paragraphs that my solicitor pointed out.<br />
<blockquote>
<ol start="60">
<li>Once it was accepted, as it had to be on the evidence, that the Respondent approached the 2013 consultation with an open mind, it seems to me that the challenge to the process as a whole must fail. It is explained in the evidence that all options were open as to the “Moving around criteria”, even if that meant changing the criteria for “Planning and following journeys” or looking for funding elsewhere. The reality was that consultees such as Mr Sumpter had every opportunity to present to the Respondent the difficulties that the move from a 50 metre benchmark to a 20 metre one would cause to them. It is clear that such opportunity was taken. In reality, it would have gone nowhere to contend in the consultation that the physically disabled should continue to be favoured at the expense of those who suffered other disabilities. No doubt none would have wished to present such an unattractive argument. Given the Respondent’s overall policy to make PIP available to a wider category of the disabled, new beneficiaries obviously had to come into the equation and there would have been no point in contending that they should be excluded.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="61">
<li>…As I understand the law, consultation has to be fair; it does not have to be perfect. With the benefit of hindsight, it will no doubt often be possible to show that a consultation could have been carried out rather better, but that will not necessarily mean that it was unfair. That is what the judge said at paragraph 123 of his judgment and I agree with him.</li>
</ol>
</blockquote>
I note that the judge did draw attention to the choice that the government made to frame continuing to help physically disabled people as unfairly withholding help from people with mental and cognitive difficulties. He did not, however, find it relevant that the consultation failed to admit the government decision to give new help at the expense of help previously available. The judge implied that people responding to the consultation only needed to talk about the difficulties we would face, not about the decision to take money away for use elsewhere.<br />
<br />
It should be noted that <a href="http://www.latentexistence.me.uk/pip-judicial-review-court-rules-against-us-but-vindicates-our-case/">the government had previously said while defending this case</a> that they know they are removing DLA from <em>“individuals with genuine health conditions and disabilities and genuine need”</em> and <em>“removing or reducing that benefit may affect their daily lives.” </em>(This is a direct quote of words used by the government and quoted in <a href="http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2014/2434.html">the judgment in 2014</a> at paragraph 80.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.latentexistence.me.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Final-judgment-PIP-judicial-review-appeal.pdf">[PDF] Final judgment PIP judicial review appeal</a><br />
<br />
For further information please contact solicitors for this case, <a href="http://www.irwinmitchell.com/newsandmedia">Irwin Mitchell</a>.<br />
<br />
<strong>Previously on this subject:</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.latentexistence.me.uk/pip-50-metre-rule-consultation-back-in-court/">PIP 20 metre rule consultation back in court</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.latentexistence.me.uk/pip-judicial-review-court-rules-against-us-but-vindicates-our-case/">PIP judicial review: Court rules against us but vindicates our case</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.latentexistence.me.uk/two-weeks-until-pip-judicial-review-20-metre-limit-in-the-dock/">Two weeks until PIP Judicial Review – 20 metre limit in the dock</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.latentexistence.me.uk/replacement-of-dla-with-pip-in-the-news-08042013/">Replacement of disability living allowance headline news for hours</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.latentexistence.me.uk/why-i-am-suing-the-government/">Why I am suing the government</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.latentexistence.me.uk/lots-of-folk-cant-afford-a-car/">“Lots of folk can’t afford a car”</a>Latentexistencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117818225124379975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-13270174098656563362015-10-12T09:57:00.000+01:002015-10-12T10:03:44.916+01:00Tory Party Conference: Is Any Disability Benefit Safe?<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-5451ec0a-5b38-1ce2-1d4c-d3b1a4522d54" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The “We Hate Anyone Who Needs a Bit Of Help” party had their annual gathering in Manchester last week. And terrifyingly they’ve got a majority government for the first time since the 90s so they can really pull out all the stops.</span></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/lisybabe" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Lisa</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, Naomi, the Goldfish, Philippa and <a href="https://twitter.com/wtbdavidg">David</a> thought we’d take a look at some of the dreadful things they’ve been saying.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">First of all;</span><a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/george-osborne-admits-1-10-6575639#ICID=sharebar_twitter" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">George Osborne admitted that one in 10 families will be worse off after the Tax Credit cut</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lisa: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Does anyone even know how the disability component of WTC will be affected? It’s got to be, surely, even if disabled people only see the basic rate of the credit cut but the disability premium on top stays the same.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">David: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s entirely possible they haven’t even thought of that yet. I was in touch with the Cabinet Office (responsible for all e-gov activities) a month before Universal Credit was due to go live (back when it was just a potential fiasco rather than an utter fiasco), with the original concept of all access being online still firmly government policy, and was told they were just about to start looking into the minor issue that most disabled people aren’t actually online. Competence and government policy don’t necessarily go together.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Though the cut goes so far that even</span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/10/05/boris-johnson-warns-georg_n_8247342.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Boris Johnson and David Davis are opposed to the cut</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lisa</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: I guess this is Osborne and Johnson laying out their claim for party leadership. Johnson’s trying to portray himself as being the fairer man who might steal some votes from the left; while Osborne is trying to show himself to be the most ruthless to appeal to the most Daily Mail readers.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Before Iain Duncan Smith’s speech he gave an</span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/oct/02/iain-duncan-smith-interview" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">interview to The Guardian</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> in which he vomited out a sentiment he’s been saying a lot lately: That ESA is too binary in either deeming you fit for work or unfit for work.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lisa</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: He’s in charge of the whole benefits system and he’s never heard of the</span><a href="http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/work-people-living-disability-or-health-conditions" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Permitted Work scheme</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">? And, I mean, it’s not like he’s one man expected to know everything. He’s got a whole team of advisors and the whole DWP at his beck and call, and still no-one’s pointed out Permitted Work to him? More realistically I think he’s pretending Permitted Work doesn’t exist to the public to try and justify more cuts.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">David</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: Agreed. He’s clearly attempting to mislead the public, there has been a long pattern of this from both IDS and Osborne, starting from the moment they took power. And the problem is the press doesn’t know the details of the schemes, so takes him at his word - or in the case of the right wing tabloids actively shares his intention to mislead. And then the people trust the press to tell them the truth.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Take the line in the article: “his office points out that appeals against ESA decisions fell by 81% in 2014-15 compared with 2013-14.” What his office didn’t point out, and what the non-specialist journalist didn’t know to challenge, is that they </span><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/atos-quietly-dropped-from-carrying-out-repeat-reassessments-by-dwp-internal-memo-shows-9151893.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">suspended a huge number of reassessments</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> due to Atos walking away from the contract because it was destroying their company reputation, so there were fewer assessments happening to need appeals, and that they had introduced an additional hoop for people to jump through, ‘mandatory reassessment’, which can potentially last indefinitely, before they can get to the appeal stage. So we would actually expect the number of appeals to have dropped even if there was no change in how bad the process is.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Goldfish</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: ESA is anything but binary and that's actually part of the problem. As someone in the Support Group, I'm not expected to work. But people in the Work Related Group exist in this weird hinterland where they have been found unfit for work, and yet are placed under pressure to move towards and into work - within a year, in the case of those with savings or a working partner - regardless of whether their health has improved.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And yes, there's Permitted Work, which is one thing ESA gets right. Even people in the Support Group are allowed to do small amounts of paid work, if something appropriate comes up.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">David:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Picking up on WRAG, I’m one of the people in Goldfish’s ‘weird hinterland’, and would have been time-limited from the moment it was introduced in April 2012 if I hadn’t given ESA up as a sick joke at that point. Bizarrely the </span><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/220156/eia-esa-time-limit-wr2011.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Equality Impact Assessment</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> for time-limiting insists that this is to make it ‘fairer’. Three and a half years later I’m still just as disabled, with no prospect of that changing.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And in that same interview he also proposes the terrifying prospect of merging DLA and ESA. Or at least merging the assessments.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lisa</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: I don’t even know where to start with this. They’re different benefits to meet different needs. ESA is for people who are too ill to work. An ESA claimant may or may not be eligible for DLA. (Also someone should probably remind him that he abolished DLA in the last Parliament and replaced it with PIP.) DLA is available to people in work who obviously aren’t eligible for ESA. Is this merger basically designed to remove DLA from people in work? Which will, obviously, result in people needing to give up work: </span><a href="https://disabilitybenefitsconsortium.wordpress.com/2013/11/14/over-50000-disabled-people-could-lose-jobs-as-vital-support-is-cut/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">About 50,000 of them according to the Disability Benefits Consortium</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">David: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ESA is basically unemployment pay for disabled people who aren’t fit for work. It pays a slightly higher rate than JSA as disabled people have higher costs of living and are likely to be unemployed for longer. As discussed above, many of us will never be fit for work, even those of us in the WRAG (exposes have revealed the DWP targets that force WCA assessors to put people with long-term disabilities into WRAG, leading to the ludicrous situation of people with Cerebral Palsy or MS being told they’ll probably be better in six months). Yet they’re already cutting ESA WRAG back to the JSA rate as they believe we’re all lazy crips who prefer living on the pittance ESA pays while being harassed by DWP. DLA (or PIP), meanwhile, is supposed to cover the extra costs faced by disabled people in their normal life. These needs aren’t going to go away. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The cultural problems within the assessment companies such as Atos, with assessors openly referring to disabled people as scroungers and worse, have been documented in a series of whistleblowing exposes, yet IDS now wants those same disablist bigots to be assessing whether five year olds with spina bifida, CP, autism and all the rest have mobility and care needs. Does anyone see a problem here….</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Goldfish</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: As I understand it, assessors already take into account what other benefits you've qualified for as part of your assessment and that's seems reasonable. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I think others have covered the ridiculous idea of merging DLA/PIP and ESA. These benefits play completely different roles. It's like merging JSA and Child Benefit. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Naomi</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: I think the government has been trying to find a way to scrap DLA for working disabled people for a long, long time -- and that PIP is only the first step. Consultant rheumatologist Rodney Grahame, who was chair of the DLA Advisory Board from 1993 until (I believe) 2003, argued for changes in the ‘philosophy’ of DLA for many years. In 2002 he </span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1279476/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">called for mobility aids and wheelchairs to be discounted in DLA applications -- for people who use them not to be seen as disabled</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, but as operating on the same level as people who carry out activities/mobilise without them. (The man has no concept of the Social Model, nor has he apparently ever watched someone who uses a wheelchair try to board public transport or get into a high street shop.) He has been talking for a long time about how DLA is a disincentive to work - that getting money from the government is a “secondary gain” that encourages people to stop working. (He clearly never grasped the concept of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">what DLA/PIP is for</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> - which is more than a little worrying, given the position he held.) I’m only aware of his views because of the research I did into rehabilitation. There may be many, many other advisors to the government out there, providing them with similarly terrible ‘expert’ advice.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The government may have a perfect opportunity here to start saying that if disabled people are in work, they don’t need the ‘disincentive’ of DLA/PIP that could encourage them to stop work. This is an extremely nasty ideological attack, both on the universality of DLA/PIP, and on the extra costs that working disabled people have which are not faced by working non-disabled people. Cynical.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">David: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The ideological attack Naomi suggests here is simply an extension of one that has already begun. In the July budget Osborne justified axing the ESA WRAG component by calling it a ‘perverse incentive’, essentially suggesting that every disabled person in receipt of WRAG would rather stay on the benefit than find work. Meanwhile Dame Carol Black and her mantra that all work is good for disabled people, or Professor Mansel Aylward, architect of ESA and the WCA, are other examples of the advisors feeding profoundly damaging views of disability into government policy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippa:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> As someone who works and receives DLA, this change concerns me. DLA exists to cover the extra costs incurred by being disabled, and those do not disappear when you start work! Merging it with ESA is a dangerous idea that could really affect working disabled people. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Those people who can only work because DLA / PIP pays their taxis, or pays for someone to help them in the shower in the morning? They’ll end up back on full benefits. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In his speech he described ESA as being “</span><a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/iain-duncan-smith-speech-live-6582371#ICID=sharebar_twitter" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Labour’s something for nothing culture</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">”…</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lisa</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: Someone needs to explain to him how National Insurance contributions and contributory benefits work. Not to mention that someone needs to give the robot a mode where it can pretend to acknowledge that people who are too ill to work are still human beings.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">David: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I paid NI for 22 years while I was working, yet my personal situation means ESA time-limited me after a year. There’s definitely someone getting something for nothing here, it’s just not me. Looking at you, Mr Duncan Smith…</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Goldfish:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Quite apart from NI, the state pays for all kinds of things regardless of people’s previous contributions - education is a maybe a disingenuous example, but </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">everyone</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> gets a state pension and so they should. We’re not, thankfully, asked about what taxes we’ve paid before we get medical treatment or police assistance.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">ESA is a benefit which sustains people who are not currently able to work because of their ill health. This is hardly a tremendous privilege that ought to be earned.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And he also said that</span><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/iain-duncan-smith-tells-disabled-people-to-work-their-way-out-of-poverty-a6683361.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">disabled people need to work their way out of poverty</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lisa</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: He’s just found another way of wording the sentiment “arbeit macht frei,” hasn’t he? After all these years he still really believes that there are no actually disabled people out there, and we’re all just lazy. If I wasn’t so tired I’d be furious. Of course; he’s not alone. Before him the Labour government thought we were all just lazy which was why they brought in ESA in 2008 to weed out the fakers. Before that the Tories in 1995 brought in Incapacity Benefit because they thought everyone on Invalidity Benefit was a lazy faker. It’s a decades old thing that spans all political parties.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">David: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">IDS basically stood up in front of the entire Tory Party conference, called disabled people lazy scroungers, and was applauded for it. We can pretty much guarantee that the next thing that will happen will be a series of articles in the Tory press about people faking disability and how we’re all idle frauds. The demonisation from the ConDem’s scrounger rhetoric during the last parliament left many disabled people scared to leave their house after being attacked in the street as fakes and scroungers, and IDS seems intent on kicking off a new round.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Picking up on Lisa’s point about ESA and Incapacity Benefit, each of these reforms was brought in with the aim of ‘proving’ there are a huge number of people faking disability, and in each case that has proved not to be the case. No matter how harshly you treat them in the assessment, not matter how much pressure Atos and the like put on doctors and nurses to screw their results, people still turn out to really be disabled. And the only way they can cut the numbers claiming are by changing the rules. I use a wheelchair outside the house, yet I’m not considered to have a severe mobility impairment under the new system because I can walk more than 20m with crutches if I have to.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Goldfish</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: It's heartbreaking that ending poverty in our own wealthy country is no longer a national aspiration. Nobody should be in poverty, regardless - unemployed non-disabled people shouldn't be in poverty just because they're not in work right now, let alone those who have no prospect of finding or performing work. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Meanwhile, poverty is incredibly expensive, both for individuals and state. Living in poverty makes it harder for healthy people to seek and stay in work, when they're strugglng to pay for transport, appropriate clothing, childcare and so on. For sick people, poverty is a killer. And all that costs the state, in the cost of folks' deteriorating health and all the myriad social problems that follow on from people living in desperate situations. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Naomi:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> This is just incredible to read. We know about the glass floor that helpfully stops over-privileged people like the Tories from falling into poverty. We know that social mobility is getting slower and slower. Social evidence suggests that it is now near-impossible to work your way out of poverty, even if you’re not disabled. And disabled people are already up to t</span><a href="http://www.poverty.org.uk/40/index.shtml" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">wice as likely to be living in poverty</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> as non-disabled people. Only the Tories could make that horrendous social inequality </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">personal</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> -- only they could suggest that higher rates of poverty are our own fault. In a society so unequal that we can’t find work because there’s no workable legislation to prevent employers from discriminating against us, and where we can’t find accessible housing so have to live in terrible conditions and pay extra for the privilege, and where we can’t board public transport or find decent NHS care for our conditions, of course we’re living in higher rates of poverty. Yes, the statistics on disability poverty are shameful -- but it’s not disabled people who should be ashamed. This should be a source of shame to our incredibly rich society that can’t find ways to reduce these horrendous inequalities.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-liam-fox-calls-savage-6576145#ICID=sharebar_twitter" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Liam Fox wants to cut pensioner benefits like the Winter Fuel Payments</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lisa</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: Great. Now I don’t just have to worry about myself not being able to put food on the table; I have to worry about my dad too. It’s bad enough that I can’t sleep at night worrying about how much his local council are going to cut his care package now the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Independent Living Fund </span> has closed. Although; if they did cut pensioner benefits the Tories would be out at the next election because they’d lose the grey vote.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">David: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And here we see the Taxpayers Alliance working in their true role as the Militant Wing of the Tory Party, and their utter contempt for actual taxpayers, with their Research Director saying they could get away with the cuts because the pensioners affected (who are taxpayers, remember) would either be dead by the next election, or too senile to remember. The cynicism, and disablism, is breathtaking.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Goldfish</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: I really hope they shot themselves in the foot with this one. Pensioners vote and while we don't always look over our old folk that well, people generally care about their parents and grandparents. Folks who might be dead or forgetful in five years time will have friends and families who won't forget or forgive. This makes me optimistic that it simply won't happen. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Winter Fuel Allowance is an excellent way of tackling preventable illness and death. Yes, folk living longer means more disabled people in the world, but having to treat pneumonia, hypothermia, chilblains and other cold-related conditions is surely less cost-effective than the yearly payment to everyone over 65.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">(It's a common misconception that all disabled people get a winter fuel allowance. We don't.)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Naomi</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: It’s interesting that the government is willing to risk this one. About ten years ago I had a long debate (via letter and surgery visits) with my MP, a nice left-wing Labour chap, who argued that it would be too expensive to extend Winter Fuel Allowance to disabled people. What about means-testing it for older people and using the saving to give it to disabled people? I asked. “Oooh,” he replied, “we can’t do that. It would cost more than it would save, and it would be a terribly unpopular move.” Of course, it saves a lot more money if you just cut it, for everyone. Still, you’re left with an uncomfortable situation. This will indeed be a terribly unpopular move, and the older people’s lobby will remember. As they should.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">And that right old Jeremy Hunt says that</span><a href="http://politicalscrapbook.net/2015/10/multi-millionaire-jeremy-hunt-people-on-tax-credits-lack-self-respect-and-dignity/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">if you’re dependent on state support you have no independence, self-respect, or dignity</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lisa</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: Most people think of independence as meaning “being able to do things for yourself like wipe your own arse.” But being raised by 2 disabled parents I learned that independence is really about being in control of your life and making choices, like choosing who you employ to wipe your arse for you. So I can get DLA which allows me the choice of getting an Ocado delivery at a time that suits me. Or I could have social services inflict an agency carer upon me to help me go shopping at a time that suits them and I get absolutely no say in the matter. The DLA option allows me independence, and is better value for the state too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As for dignity and self-respect: I used to have some of those things, until the Tories and the right-wing press told me and the rest of the world that I’m just a useless eater.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">David: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Absolutely. At its core, independence is about making the decisions in your life, not about who implements those decisions for you. The closure of the Independent Living Fund has seen a horrendous definition of independence being increasingly used by those forced to justify the Tory cuts, with disabled people who are not incontinent, but who need care assistance to get to the toilet, being told they should use nappies instead, as that would ‘increase their independence’. This is the kind of doublespeak disabled people have to deal with from IDS and everyone who implements his policies, where being forced to crap yourself is touted as an improved quality of life.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Goldfish</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: When I think about times my independence, self-respect or dignity has been under threat, that's all about finding myself with inadequate resources - having to rely on the generosity of friends and family for essential needs - or being spoken about as if I am nothing. Anyone who thinks I necessarily lack independence, self-respect and dignity because of the condition of my health is carrying an awful burden of prejudice.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">An ineffective welfare system - an effective state - maximises the opportunities for all its people to attain and maintain independence, self-respect and dignity, regardless of the hand they are dealt. If folks lack these things because of their life circumstances as opposed to their own bad choices, then something has gone seriously wrong. And, alas, I’m afraid it has.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Naomi</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: Like the Goldfish, I feel that my dignity, independence and self-respect are very much under threat at the moment. I lost my PA support a year ago, thanks to care charges that I could no longer afford to pay. I used to have a fair bit of dignity and a lot of independence. I don’t anymore. I rely on my partner to a ridiculous effect, something that could easily have negatively affected my marriage -- that’s undignified. I have very little flexibility to do what I want anymore -- that’s a lack of independence. And I live on a conveyor belt of disdain and abuse, moving from one microaggression to the next, constantly dealing with a society that believes Tory rhetoric about how much of a waste of space and resources I am -- that leads to a lack of self-respect. I’m starting to think you’re right, Mr Hunt. I just wish you understood what that meant.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippa</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: The benefit system does its best to remove dignity and self-respect from people who are claiming benefits. This is getting worse by the day, it seems. There </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">should</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">be no indignity in claiming what people are entitled to, but along with certain portions of the press, it’s becoming something to be ashamed of rather than a right. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The five years of the ConDem government saw disability benefits and care cut to the bone. We know that those cuts resulted in at least 49 deaths where even DWP acknowledged it was likely at fault, with an additional 90 people a month dying after being declared fit for work, a figure whose release DWP spent years fighting against. Rather than share any normal person’s horror at what they have wrought, the Tories, unshackled now from the deadweight of their LibDem enablers, seem determined to take those cuts to the next level. The question is no longer whether we will have an adequate level of disability benefits at the end of this Parliament, it’s whether we will have any disability benefits left at all.</span>DavidGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11734028655032503805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-37249271661496286002015-08-29T00:17:00.000+01:002015-08-29T00:17:32.919+01:00Don't look there, look here!<i>The Thick of It</i> was set in a fictional government department: Department of Social Affairs and Citizenship, or DoSAC. But when I think about our real government, there's no other department I can imagine that would be quite as sitcom-worthy as the DWP.<br />
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There are certainly some very clever people in the department. Yesterday's death data was <a href=https://storify.com/bengoldacre/how-dwp-has-confused-everyone-by-releasing-the-rig target=new>confusing to all who read it</a>. Even <a href=http://lartsocial.org/FFW target=new>very clever professional number crunchers couldn't really get to the bottom of it</a> because the data was so badly presented. This was almost certainly deliberate: The DWP didn't answer what was asked of them, and dumped a load of data that would confuse people who tried to use the data to answer the simple question "how many people are dying after being found fit for work?"<br />
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Anyone can release some data while withholding the answer to a question, but the press and public will generally look at the data and find the answer for themselves. To release a bunch of data that's on-topic, but still means that very clever people can't get the answers they're looking for takes Bond-villain levels of evil genius. You have to wonder why someone who can so cleverly pretend to be transparent by releasing opaque data is working in a public sector job, and not using their evil genius skills to make themselves a billionaire.<br />
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But then there's the spokespeople who are so bad at sleight of hand that they remind you of a 4 year old trying to do a magic trick by saying "now, if you'll just look out of the window for a moment while I sort this.... OK, you can look back now."<br />
<br />
The DWP spokesperson <a href=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34074557 target=new>told the BBC for an article</a>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>"The mortality rate for people who have died while claiming an out-of-work benefit has fallen over a 10-year period. This is in line with the mortality rate for the general working-age population.<br />
<br />
"The government continues to support millions of people on benefits with an £80bn working-age welfare safety net in place."</blockquote><br />
None of the three sentences have anything to do with the question asked.<br />
<br />
It was either a pathetic attempt at a misdirect ("never mind the terminally ill people we found fit for work. Look! Less people are dying whilst claiming benefits!") or they genuinely didn't understand the question and are akin to a GCSE English student rambling about <i>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</i> when the exam question asked them about <i>Romeo and Juliet</i>.<br />
<br />
You can just imagine a Malcolm Tucker type figure in the DWP yesterday, can't you? "We're fucking fucked. The fucking Information Commissioner's Office have fucking ordered us to release this fucking data. I'll tell you what; we'll make it as confusing as fuck and then we'll distract the fucking press with the press release. What parts of the data look good? Less scroungers are dying than a decade ago? Well fucking put that in the fucking press release. It doesn't fucking matter that it's got fuck all to do with the sick cunts dropping dead <i>after</i> we've stopped their benefits. And throw in a fucking brag about how many billions we waste on the scroungers at the end of it."<br />
<br />
Either that or their spokesperson is as lacking in smarts as Terri Coverley which is why they were recruited because they would just innocently talk about something completely off topic because they understood the data even less than the press and public.<br />
<br />
Poverty Porn is all the rage right now. Not just <i>Benefits Street</i> on C4. Just this week on five they had a "benefits night" with such classy shows as <i>Big Benefits Wedding</i> and <i>12 years old and on Benefits</i>. Pointing and laughing at poor people is the hot TV trend. But I wanna see inside the DWP. I want to see inside the department that comes out with such ridiculously off-topic press statements. I want to gawp with wonder at the thinking behind sending a spokesperson out to insult the public's intelligence by hoping we won't notice that what they've said is unrelated to the subject at hand. In <i>The Thick of It</i> DoSAC tried to obfuscate around their role in the death of the fictional Phil Tickell. Unfortunately the DWP are trying to downplay their role in potentially thousands of real human beings dying penniless. If it wasn't such a tragic situation, I could very much enjoy an evening watching a fly-on-the-wall show set in the DWP press office as they scramble to say to the press "don't look at that, look at this!"Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714918894319998184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-52514857690811767372015-08-28T10:30:00.000+01:002015-08-28T10:30:00.209+01:00Fit For DeathThe government have finally <a href=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/27/thousands-died-after-fit-for-work-assessment-dwp-figures?CMP=share_btn_tw target=new>released the figures relating to the thousands of people who've died after being found 'fit for work'</a>. This, of course, is in the same week that <a href=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/24/benefits-shakeup-aims-to-force-more-disabled-people-into-jobs?CMP=share_btn_tw target=new>Iain Duncan Smith said that he wants to kick even <i>more</i> disabled people off ESA</a>. (Not enough people dying penniless?)<br />
<br />
As for very ill people being found fit for work, I couldn't help but notice that the government were kind-of telling the story through their (now withdrawn) case study leaflets.<br />
<br />
<a href=http://www.welfareweekly.com/exclusive-comments-used-in-official-benefit-sanctions-leaflet-were-made-up-dwp-admits/ target=new>Welfare Weekly unearthed the tale of a fictional ESA claimant called Zac</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xFB22VpKs7k/Vd-SXrATkOI/AAAAAAAAAWM/TZD48lC5vGc/s1600/zac1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xFB22VpKs7k/Vd-SXrATkOI/AAAAAAAAAWM/TZD48lC5vGc/s400/zac1.png" alt="On the left side is an image of a young-ish Asian man. Across the top in pink text it says 'Zac’s story. I kept in contact when I couldn’t get to a meeting' Beneath that in black it says 'I let my work coach know in advance that I couldn’t go to our meeting because I had a hospital appointment. I had a good reason for not going to the meeting and proof of the appointment. My benefit payment hasn’t changed and we booked another meeting I could get to."/></a></div><small><p align="right">Photo credit: DWP via Welfare Weekly</p></small><br />
<br />
We get it. He's on ESA and he's ill enough to require hospital care.<br />
<br />
Later in the week <a href=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/21/fake-benefits-claimant-zac-quoted-in-other-dwp-documents?CMP=share_btn_tw target=new>The Guardian found the same stock photo man in a different leaflet; this one promoting JSA sanctions</a>. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sSIZB2O5gDA/Vd-SCg12s8I/AAAAAAAAAWE/0xYeoMBs_y4/s1600/zac2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sSIZB2O5gDA/Vd-SCg12s8I/AAAAAAAAAWE/0xYeoMBs_y4/s400/zac2.jpg" alt="This photo contains 2 case studies. At the top is a photo of a young white man with a speech bubble in which he says 'I let my work coach know well in advance that I couldn’t go to our meeting because I had a hospital appointment. Because I gave good reason I still received my benefit payment and my work coach can use that time to help other people. We’ve arranged another appointment at a time I can attend.' Then below him is the same stock photo of Zac. His speech bubble says 'I didn’t take part in the Mandatory Work Activity scheme. Then my work coach found me a job that suited my skills but I didn’t apply for it, so my JSA has been stopped for six months. If I don’t apply for jobs my work coach asks me to apply for I could end up losing my benefit for three years." /></a></div><small><p align="right">Photo credit: DWP via Guardian</p></small><br />
<br />
So I guess the story the DWP is trying to tell is that Zac originally claimed ESA, but then he was found fit for work and turfed onto JSA? Presumably his illness was why he didn't participate in Mandatory Work Activity or apply for a job.<br />
<br />
Given the extremely high number of people who've died after being found fit for work - and the fact that the DWP like to make case study leaflets for "illustrative purposes only" - I'm guessing that somewhere in the DWP office there's another leaflet featuring Zac to explain what happens to ill people when they're found fit for work. And I'm assuming it looks a lot like this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GpK7V0rTvZ4/Vd-Uzy-BS_I/AAAAAAAAAWY/2pmxNzBTnH4/s1600/zac3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GpK7V0rTvZ4/Vd-Uzy-BS_I/AAAAAAAAAWY/2pmxNzBTnH4/s400/zac3.jpg" alt="On the left side is the same photo of Zac. Across the top in pink text it says 'Zac’s story. I tried job hunting, but it's really hard when you're terminally ill.' Beneath that in black it says 'After I was found fit for work my ESA was stopped. I was put on JobSeekers' Allowance but I didn't take part in Mandatory Work Activity or apply for a job my work coach told me to, because I was too ill to do either of those things. My JSA was stopped for six months. I was too ill to get to the food bank, and with no food and no money, my health got worse rapidly. I died of my illness 4 weeks after my sanction. My doctor thought I had 6 months left."/></a></div><small><p align="right">Photo credit: Template and Zac's photo by DWP, text by me</p></small><br />
<br />
Of course; they don't need the fictional Zac to tell the story of what happens when they could hand out leaflets telling the real story of people who died fit for work. Like <a href=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/27/my-mothers-death-was-hastened-by-long-delay-in-processing-her-benefits?CMP=share_btn_tw target=new>Moira Drury</a> or <a href=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/linda-wootton-double-heart-lung-1912498 target=new>Linda Wootton</a>.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">DWP employees: aspiring Harold Shipmans! <a href="http://t.co/naqAgZNcRt">pic.twitter.com/naqAgZNcRt</a></p>— Sheila Scoular (@sheilascoular) <a href="https://twitter.com/sheilascoular/status/636887226216017920">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714918894319998184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-21589881851864034362015-08-19T11:00:00.000+01:002015-08-28T00:27:22.994+01:00Purposefully Illustrating What? #fakeDWPstoriesYesterday every major news outlet picked up <a href=http://www.welfareweekly.com/exclusive-comments-used-in-official-benefit-sanctions-leaflet-were-made-up-dwp-admits/ target=new>Welfare Weekly's scoop that the DWP made up "case studies" about people that were happy with the sanctions system</a>. <br />
<br />
But one aspect that most outlets didn't report on, was that <a href=http://www.welfareweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/employment-and-support-allowance-sanctions.pdf?e0a1c1 target=new>the leaflet in question - which Welfare Weekly had archived -</a> specifically pertained to <i>ESA sanctions</i>. This leaflet was solely about selling the perks of sanctioning people who are too ill to work.<br />
<br />
All sanctioning is cruel and should be stopped. But there is something especially sinister about sanctioning people who are too ill to work for not trying hard enough to get a job that they're not well enough to do anyway.<br />
<br />
For those not in the know; Employment and Support Allowance is split into two groups: The Support Group for people who are not expected to ever be well enough to return to work, and the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) for people who are unable to work right now, but might be well enough to work at some point in the future.<br />
<br />
So the WRAG is comprised of people with cancer who are expected to make a full recovery eventually, but for now they're undergoing treatment. There'll be people who've had life-changing accidents who are still in rehabilitation. People who are waiting for surgery, such as a hip replacement, before they can return to work. <br />
<br />
It's not surprising they couldn't get any genuine quotes, is it? "I was so busy going to radiotherapy every day that I didn't have time to write a CV. Getting sanctioned for a week made me realise the importance of having my CV up-to-date whereas before I'd been solely focussed on kicking cancer."<br />
<br />
Or "My brain injury from my car accident has made me forgetful and I forgot I was supposed to be going to the JobCentre. Sanctioning saved me from worrying about whether I'd remember to go shopping because I didn't have any money to buy food anyway."<br />
<br />
Given that the press found such a massive story about ESA and sanctions, it's a shame they didn't devote a paragraph in each article about how evil it is to be sanctioning people who are too ill to work. The DWP claimed the made up case studies were for “for illustrative purposes only”. It would have been nice to use the story to purposefully illustrate the barbaric treatment of WRAG claimants, while most journos just conflated WW's story with JobSeekers' Allowance.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714918894319998184noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-64295561560370944782015-05-01T20:02:00.003+01:002015-05-01T20:02:37.320+01:00"A life on benefits is frankly no life at all" - Why David Cameron is wrong<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Starting a life on benefits is, frankly, no life at all."<br />- David Cameron, BBC Question Time 30/04/2015</blockquote>
<br />
In that one sentence last night David Cameron dismissed my life as nothing. My family were poor. We received benefits when my dad worked, and we received benefits after work made him disabled. I went to university in spite of this background, and received a student grant. While I was studying I became sick with what I would later find out was a mitochondrial disease. I still worked when I could, albeit intermittently and claiming incapacity benefit at times. Later I started a computer repair business but became too sick to work after a year of that. Now I live on benefits - I am in the Support Group on ESA, which is for people that even Atos and the DWP admit are unlikely to be able to work in the foreseeable future. I also receive DLA, Housing Benefit and various others.<br />
<br />
What none of this has done is make my life worthless. I do not have "no life at all." I am a person, with experiences, who has contributed to society just by being myself. I enjoy things, I create things, I learn things, I say things. I talk to friends and make new friends. And all of this despite starting my life on benefits and continuing it now on benefits. All of this despite the fact that I may never be able to undertake paid employment again.<br />
<br />
David Cameron, though, disagrees. Asked to stop talking about the economic reasons for his policies and talk about the moral issues, he said:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"helping people into work is the most moral thing"<br />- David Cameron, BBC Question Time 30/04/2015</blockquote>
<br />
Except it's not, though, is it. Helping people to find paid employment is not the most moral thing, even if that was what the Tories had been doing rather than yanking away support and telling people to sort themselves out. What is actually the most moral thing is making sure that all people have food and shelter, and the ability to live a life that they find value in. Paid employment is only one path to that. Paid employment (or attempting to start your own business, for that matter) is an option that is for many not available - whether that is from lack of available jobs, lack of training, sickness and disability, caring responsibilities, or some other reason.<br />
<br />
We as a society are able to provide for everyone. Less labour is required to feed and clothe us with every new day. We do have jobs that need doing, such as in care and healthcare, but private employers aren't going to pay for those. If we want more people to be employed then others are going to have to work less. But employers want to extract maximum profit from the minimum amount of pay so that isn't going to happen any time soon.<br />
<br />
One thing is certain: People like David Cameron and Iain Duncan Smith have no idea what the lives of people on benefits are like but they judge us anyway. They decide we have miserable meaningless lives but then make everything so much worse by snatching away support and telling us to get jobs that aren't there or that we are unable to do.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.latentexistence.me.uk/a-life-on-benefits-is-frankly-no-life-at-all/">First posted on A Latent Existence</a>Latentexistencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02117818225124379975noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-35739477351118088312015-05-01T14:27:00.000+01:002015-05-01T14:31:00.264+01:00Manifestly Abusive(It's <a href="http://blobolobolob.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Blogging Against Disablism Day 2015</a>, #BADD2015, so I thought I would look at what's going on during the UK General Election)<br />
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It's General Election Season in the UK, which means all the
parties have to put out actual policies of their own, rather than just shout
about how terrible the other parties' supposed policies are. Unfortunately in
at least two cases, arguably three, we're seeing disablism forming either part
of the manifesto, or a prominent part of campaigning. And of course it's the
usual suspects, UKIP and the Tories, with the Lib-Dems tagging along behind. </div>
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UKIP's manifesto is actually slightly less scary than last
time, when they talked about putting learning disabled people into 'congregate
communities' (that may well have been code for camps of a rather different kind
- when they later sacked a candidate for openly calling for disabled babies to
be killed, there were scores of UKIPers protesting he had done nothing wrong).
What we get this time is a bunch of crowd pleasing policies that are worded
loosely enough they could go either way - so GPs will replace the hated Work
Capability Assessment in judging if people should be entitled to disability
benefits, but will also be required to issue 'Fit Notes' to the DWP to say that
people are now fit to work. They say they support the UN Convention on Rights
of Persons with Disabilities (or at least Article 19 of it), but simultaneously
want us out of the European Court system that enforces it, and so on. Other
Welfare policies are more openly disturbing, promising a lower cap on benefits,
Child Benefit only for the first two children, and 'cracking down on benefit
fraud' (that would be the benefit fraud that's already smaller than DWP's
internal error rate, and a fraction of the size of the tax evasion at the other
end of the wealth scale). </div>
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But then party leader Nigel Farage opens his mouth and the
bile just flows out. During the first televised leaders' debate he alleged there was
a substantial issue with non-Britons coming to the UK to obtain treatment for
HIV. He's said it before, last October for one, and it's a very clever, very
calculated statement designed to appeal to the worst kind of human instincts.
'Health tourism' is a 'threat' UKIP have been pushing, even though actual
evidence shows it isn't a major issue, but it lets them play the 'darn
furriners coming here and stealing our hospitals' card (doubly valuable as
UKIP's leadership is known to be ideologically opposed to the NHS, whereas the
public love it). Specifically focussing in on HIV lets UKIP do two things:
associate 'health tourism' with homosexuality in order to appeal to the
homophobic elements in their core vote (they announced this week they would
bring forward a bill to allow 'Christians' to discriminate against gays), and
associate 'health tourism' with a disease still primarily associated with
sexual transmission and therefore almost universally regarded in society as
somehow 'dirty'. That they're doing this by stigmatising people with a serious
and life-threatening illness clearly matters not one jot to them. It really is
a quite spectacularly amoral piece of political calculation. And in <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/may/01/nigel-farage-bbc-question-time-ukip" target="_blank">last night's Question Time</a>
he said it again, this time alleging foreign HIV patients mean UK HIV patients
are not being cared for.</div>
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At least the Tories aren't focussing on HIV, but they're
completely up for a piece of fat-shaming as public policy, and with a truly
chilling sting in the tail. Page 28 of their Manifesto states: <i>“We will
review how best to support those suffering from long term yet treatable
conditions, such as drug or alcohol addiction or obesity, back into work.
People who might benefit from treatment should get the medical help they need
so they can return to work. if they refuse a recommended treatment, we will
review whether their benefits should be reduced.” </i>Health blogger Dr.
Margaret McCartney <a href="http://margaretmccartney.com/2015/04/16/the-tory-manifesto-spit/" target="_blank">pointed out</a>
how carefully
chosen their targets are. Not, for example, people who don't take their blood
pressure medication, or who don't exercise regularly, but drug addicts,
alcoholics, and fat people, all of whom already face considerable stigma. Now
this isn't the first time the Tories have done this, snide attacks on people
with addictions or obesity issues started cropping up fairly early in their government,
from Cameron on down, but this is the first time it has become official party
policy. And there seems to be a deliberate decision to link obesity and
addictive behaviours in order to further worsen the social acceptability of
obesity. Worse, they then decided to compound all that with the threat of
compelled treatment. Compelled treatment is an absolute medical no-no, doctors
are ethically mandated to provide their patients with the information allowing
them to give informed consent to their treatment, but, as soon as you introduce
compulsion, consent goes out the window. </div>
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To further compound the potential harm, the compulsion will
be implemented by the notoriously disablist Department of Work and Pensions,
the puppet masters behind Atos and now Maximus and the WCA, with their secret
targets and league tables for sanctions against disabled benefit claimants.
When you acknowledge (which much of society unfortunately does not) that much
obesity is a secondary consequence of clearly identifiable medical causes, for
instance drug side effects, mobility restrictions, metabolic disorders and so
on, while drug abuse, alcoholism and other cases of obesity spring from complex
familial, social and medical backgrounds, it becomes clear that this policy is
deliberately designed to target disabled people in a way that makes
non-disabled people positively happy to see it happening. And once this aspect
of compulsion in treatment is established, who is to say where it will stop.</div>
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In fact the next phase may already be underway, and it comes
not from the Tories but from the theoretically cuddlier Lib-Dems. Lib-Dem
leader Nick Clegg has himself been heading a pilot programme to introduce
<a href="https://www.latentexistence.me.uk/mental-health-treatment-in-the-job-centre-what-could-possibly-go-wrong/" target="_blank">mental health treatment on-site at Job Centre Plus</a>
(the high-street arm of the DWP). It would be hard to think of a worse
combination for medical abuse. JCP are already cutting their numbers of
specialist Disability Employment Advisors, from a starting point of having far
fewer advisors per disabled job seeker than non-disabled, and have been
implementing a massive increase in utterly inappropriate sanctions against
disabled people, such as the learning disabled man sanctioned for being four
minutes late for an interview, never mind that he was unable to tell the time.
(When this incident was raised in a Westminster debate, a Tory MP claimed it
was evidence of failing schools, apparently having no understanding whatsoever
of what a learning disability is). Compound that disablist bias at JCP with the
massive stigma around Mental Health issues and you have a real potential for
inappropriate compulsion and people with MH issues being driven out of the
Benefit system (which may of course be absolutely fine with many of the backers
of this initiative).</div>
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Moving down into constituency level disablism, a group of
London-based Tories decided it would be funny to <a href="http://politicalscrapbook.net/2015/04/tories-clean-social-media-accounts-linked-to-sick-ed-miliband-stroke-graphic/" target="_blank">compare Labour Leader Ed Miliband to a stroke victim on Facebook</a> ,
by drawing on an existing piece of stroke awareness public service
broadcasting, but associating it with images of Miliband deliberately picked to
make him look as grotesque as possible while mocking the way he speaks. The
pages disappeared as soon as people caught onto them, but the unpleasant stench
of disablism lingers. Clearly these Tories thought that having a disability
makes you somehow less, while marking you as unfit to partake in government,
and isn't that a revealing insight into the way they think about us.</div>
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Equally revealing was the suggestion from Chamali Fernando,
the Conservative candidate in Cambridge, at a hustings event, that <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/calls-for-conservative-parliamentary-candidate-chamali-fernando-to-stand-for-saying-mentally-ill-people-could-wear-wristbands-10176267.html" target="_blank">people who are neurodiverse or have mental health issues could wear wristbands to identify them to police and other 'professional persons'</a> (she's a lawyer, so presumably meant 'people like me'). That people who are
neurodiverse or have MH issues already face even worse stigma than other forms
of disability, and that she was proposing marking them out for the abusers in
society apparently passed her completely by, as did the historical context of
another political party having once implemented a policy of physically marking
disabled people, and emulating the policies of the Nazi Party generally being
considered politically a bad idea. There seems to be an acceptance that she was
being utterly naive rather than malicious, but when sitting Lib-Dem MP Julian
Huppert, alongside her at the event, criticised her for what she said, she sued
him for defamation, which doesn't really suggest she's actually learnt anything
from the incident.</div>
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And just to cap everything, David Cameron suggested last
night during Question Time that <i>a life on benefits
is frankly no kind of life at all,</i> which, given he had a profoundly disabled
child who would have faced precisely that if he had survived, seems a
remarkably inappropriate attitude.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">So there we have the ways disability is being
portrayed by three of the major parties in the election: by UKIP as somehow
'dirty' and 'gay' and 'stealing our NHS'; by the Tories as a form of benefit
scrounging by drug addicts and their associates, who need the stern hand of
government to set them on track, as a negative that would make someone unfit to
act in government, as needing to be labelled for our own protection and as 'no
kind of life'; and by the Lib-Dems as needing to be pushed towards work by
intervention in possibly the most threatening environment imaginable. In the
end it all comes down to providing yet one more way for the intolerant parts of
society to punish people for being in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It's a sad state of affairs when bullying people in need is applauded as
the socially responsible thing to do, and considered fit to grace the manifestos
of not one, but three of our major political parties.</span>DavidGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11734028655032503805noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-3547763507097997642015-03-28T17:32:00.000+00:002015-03-28T17:38:08.627+00:00Election 2015 - Quick, Get the Crips Out of the Attic...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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In a perfect example of disabled people being thought of as
solely useful as a PR gimmick, Esther <i>'they get better'</i> McVey's electoral
leaflet features a prominent picture of her alongside several of the disabled
people from the charity People First England (which promotes the voice of people with learning disabilities<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #292f33; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 15.421875px; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></span>) who campaigned for our voices to be heard at
the Tory party conference.</div>
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<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CBMdv67WUAA6xt5.jpg:large" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CBMdv67WUAA6xt5.jpg:large" width="400" /></a></div>
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Which is nice, as we were never first in her thoughts when
she was Minister For Disabled People. Of course it would have been nicer still
if she had checked they were okay with that, or if they even supported the
Tories. Kaliya Franklin (@BendyGirl) of People First England (on the scooter
next to McVey in the picture), noted "<i>We expected the photo to be on a
website, or even used by DWP. But not in party campaign material</i>" and
speaking through their twitter account (@People1stEng) People First England stated "<i>It's positive to see voters with learning disabilities on the front of the
former disability minister's campaign material. We want to encourage everyone
to use their right to vote. So we look forward to a version of this leaflet in
Easy Read. Campaign information should be accessible to all, especially when it
features voters with learning disabilities. We'd like to make it clear that we
are a non partisan organisation. We do not support any party or candidate</i>"</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So given McVey was so quick to take advantage of
intellectually disabled people, will she be equally quick to take up their challenge to produce a
version of the leaflet in Easy Read? (Not that DWP have ever been quick off the
mark to produce any of their disability related documents and forms in
accessible formats). And next time she wants to use disabled people as a
PR gimmick will she pay us the courtesy of assuming we're adult enough to need
asking for permission, not little children with a voice that doesn't count?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(And it occurs to me that given the Tory gagging of charities under the pre-text of limiting lobbying, it would probably have been illegal for People First England to campaign in such a party-political fashion, but McVey is perfectly okay with using them to do it for her without their permission).<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
DavidGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11734028655032503805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-46447482363808677092015-03-27T19:14:00.001+00:002015-03-28T16:21:49.845+00:00Tory Cuts: As Bad as we Feared<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br /></div>
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When the Chancellor, George Osbourne, refused to detail in
the budget what observers estimated as £12Bn of cuts required for his plans for
the next parliament to work, we all knew the likelihood was the Tories were
going to trash disability benefits again. Those cuts have now <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32084722?ocid=socialflow_twitter" target="_blank">leaked</a>, and they are
everything we feared.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The proposed cuts (with 'savings' per annum where known) are: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Industrial Injuries Compensation Scheme</b>: companies to
be made to pay instead. Of course this then puts the onus on the injured party
to sue their employer when they refuse to pay out. They're supposed to use an
insurer, but consider the history of Unum Provident and their 'disability
denial mills'. £1Bn</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Carer's Allowance</b> to be restricted to people eligible
for Universal Credit. 40% of carers to lose eligibility at a stroke. £1Bn</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Contributory Employment Support Allowance (ESA)</b> and <b>Contributory
Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA)</b> to be means-tested, meaning 300,000 families
losing £80 a week (and then you get to a year and lose everything through
time-limiting). £1.3Bn (Edited to add:) The Institute for Fiscal Studies have pointed out this effectively means the abolition of cESA and cJSA, all unemployment claims will be treated on basis of the means-tested basis of Income-Based ESA or JSA, meaning your National Insurance contributions mean nothing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Disability Living Allowance</b>, <b>Personal Independence
Payments</b> and <b>Attendance Allowance</b> to be taxed. £1.5Bn</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Council Tax Support</b> merged into Universal
Credit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Child Benefit </b>only for first two children. £1Bn</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Regional Benefit Caps </b>to be introduced.
Cameron already wants to cut the maximum benefits payable from £26,000 to
£23,000, under this proposal only those in London would get that amount, the
rest of the country would get less. (And to be fair to the Tories, Labour's Ed
Balls is in favour of this one, though many Labour MPs aren't). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The comments in the BBC article are worth noting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
IDS's spokesman: "Officials spend a lot of time generating proposals -
many not commissioned by politicians. It's wrong and misleading to suggest that
any of this is part of our plan."<br />
<br />
BBC: "The leaked documents were prepared by civil servants and
commissioned by Conservative Party officials."<br />
<br />
I think that's BBC-speak for 'Liar, liar, pants on fire!'<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
DavidGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11734028655032503805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-36088612377207249372015-02-06T18:30:00.000+00:002015-02-06T18:30:59.855+00:00So It Turns Out We Can’t Trust Labour on the ILF
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For almost a fortnight chaos and confusion has reigned over
Labour’s position on the ILF. There has been persistent pressure on the party
to make a clear statement of support for the ILF and to clarify that they will
retain it if they take power after the election, and people initially thought
that Ed Miliband had finally clarified that Labour does indeed support ILF and
will retain it when he spoke at an event in Staffordshire on Monday 26th
January. Labour candidates tweeted that the ILF was safe with Labour, and I
actually had a senior local Labour figure on my doorstep telling me precisely
that a couple of days ago when I said my support for the party was dependent on
them supporting ILF.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sadly I had to tell him that this wasn’t the case, that the
Disability News Service and others had been chasing party central for a
clarification, and were instead meeting evasion - <a href="http://disabilitynewsservice.com/2015/01/miliband-causes-chaos-answer-ilf-closure/" target="_blank">Miliband causes chaos with answer on ILF closure</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">. </span>We finally got an answer yesterday, when
an email from Kate Green (Labour’s Shadow Minister for Disabled People) emerged
in which she tells a constituent that it ‘is not Labour’s position to retain
the ILF’. <a href="http://www.disabilitywales.org/blog/labour-finally-admits-we-wont-save-the-independent-living-fund/" target="_blank">Labour finally admits: ‘We won’t save the Independent Living Fund’</a> That Labour were evading committing themselves to media sources, but admitted
the truth behind their policy in an email to a constituent, looks like
incompetence at best, and the evasion inevitably raises suspicions that they
have things to hide.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The email does say there is a “real opportunity, and indeed
a pressing need, to develop a sustainable model of provision for the most
severely disabled people within the integrated health and social care landscape
that [Labour shadow ministers] Andy Burnham and Liz Kendall have been
articulating, rather than continuing with a standalone fund”, which is all well
and good, but that is a solution that will take at best months and more likely
years to have in place, and the ILF is due to be wound up in June, a month
after the election. Nor does 'sustainable' augur well for the budget, it's often code for cuts to come. Even if we can trust Labour’s intentions, which frankly is
yet to be demonstrated (and evasion by major party figures certainly doesn’t
give anyone the warm fuzzies that trust is warranted) the timescale means that Labour
needs to commit itself to supporting the ILF until a replacement in place, and
make that commitment now. Arguably what Green talks about is no different to
the winding up of ILF underway with the Tories, which transfers the funding to
local authorities – integrating it with other council social care functions -
but does not ringfence the funding, meaning disability care will inevitably be
asset-stripped for more politically popular projects, and until she, or her
boss Rachel Reeves, Shadow Work and Pensions Minister, or her boss, Ed himself,
clarify the situation, we have to presume that ILF will be closed down under
Labour in precisely the way the Tories have currently planned, leaving the most
disabled of all disabled people with significantly reduced levels of care for a
period of years.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://dpac.uk.net/2015/02/labour-say-no-to-ilf-in-england-but-were-not-dead-yet/" target="_blank">DPAC are calling</a> for people to email their MPs and to support a petition to Ed Miliband and Ed Balls calling on Labour to protect the ILF.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we’re left with the bizarre situation where Labour oppose
the Tories closing the ILF because they want to close it themselves. With such
a mind-boggling position, is it any surprise that they have shied away from a
formal policy announcement? And if we can’t trust Labour to be frank on so
basic an issue as to whether or not they support ILF, how can we trust them on
any other area of disability policy?</div>
<br />DavidGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11734028655032503805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-87967696306235897362015-02-05T16:44:00.000+00:002015-02-05T16:49:24.022+00:00Does Universal Credit herald the end of Medical Privacy? <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br /></div>
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It would seem difficult for IDS's Universal Credit to become
any more farcical, but under the DWP's latest change to the rules, your medical
records are open to all. Well, not quite all, but a quietly introduced
amendment snappily titled as the <i>Social Security (Information-sharing in
relation to Welfare Services etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2015</i> means that
from 13th February IDS will be allowed to share the medical information of any
Universal Credit claimant with any or all of: Local Authorities, charities
working with DWP, the Citizen's Advice Bureau, Credit Unions and Social
Landlords*, and do it without asking your permission.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
The <i>Social
Security (Information-sharing in relation to Welfare Services etc.) Regulations
2012</i> being amended state:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">7.5 Being able to share person’s
data without needing to seek their consent every</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">time will help to speed up decision
making, make the process of applying for a local</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">benefit or service much simpler for
the individual, and ease the administrative</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">arrangements
by removing the need to collect and record consent.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">While their
Privacy Impact Assessment notes:</span></div>
<br />
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">2.5 The
effect of these legal changes means that in relation to the purposes described,
it will no longer be necessary to first obtain the consent of the person whose
data is being shared.</span></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></i>(We should probably have been concerned when the original
regulations went through, but it has taken the Amendment to draw them to
people's attention. The sheer scope of Universal Credit means that the number
of people potentially falling within the scope of the Regulations has just
massively increased).
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
The Assessment also notes:
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">4.17 For
the purposes set out in the 2012 regulations, we expect the total volume of
data being shared to be significant.</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And the figures given across a variety of areas imply that
even before incorporating Universal Credit claimants the provisions for data
sharing without prior permission were likely to affect at least one, and possibly
several, million people per year.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For more on this, see the Guardian's article: <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/feb/03/government-agenda-dehumanise-benefit-claimants?CMP=share_btn_tw" target="_blank">A governmentagenda to dehumanise benefit claimants</a> and Stephen Sumpter (@LatentExistence)'s piece <a href="https://www.latentexistence.me.uk/need-benefits-say-goodbye-to-privacy/" target="_blank">Need benefits? Say goodbye to privacy</a>,
but while the immediate concerns are bad enough I want to look at what this
could mean in practise and, particularly, the potential longer term impacts.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* For clarity, 'social landlord' excludes private and
for-profit landlords, but includes practically everyone else in the housing
market, whether housing associations, not-for-profit organisations, charities
or whoever.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>In Practise</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the moment the fiasco that is Universal Credit means
there should only be limited impact for disabled people, as we have all
allegedly been declared too complex for the system to cope with, but IDS
appears to be making every effort to make it impossible for the next
government, whoever they are, to back away from fully implementing Universal
Credit, and the longer term aims are that Universal Credit will eventually
spread its tentacles to enmesh: child tax credit; housing benefit;
income-related ESA; income-based JSA; income support; parts of the social fund;
and working tax credit - in other words practically every working-age adult in
the country, including those in work, is going to end up with a Universal
Credit claim of one type or another (DLA and PIP are currently excluded - but
how long will that remain so?). A lot of these claims will require you to tell
DWP about medical conditions and disabilities, in particular ESA (and JSA if
you're disabled but able to work) will deliver practically a complete medical
history into DWP's sweaty hands.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now even organisations with a long term responsibility for
medical privacy often make a complete arse of it, Big Brother Watch <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-30037938" target="_blank">uncovered</a>
2500 patient data breaches within the
NHS on an annual basis, including data being stolen, posted on social media (50
cases a year!) and so on down to plain old-fashioned gross incompetence. And
that is from an organisation focussed on medical confidentiality, with training
and procedures in place and with a full understanding of its legal liabilities.
DWP meanwhile is planning to hand medical data over to organisations which have
never previously had the responsibility for holding medical data and all the extra
legal responsibilities that brings under the Data Protection Act. Some of these
organisations should hopefully have data protection policies and data
controllers in place, but even for those DWP are talking about handing them
data which raises their legal obligations to a much higher level. For
organisations that have never held medically sensitive information, such as
small employment-focussed charities, credit unions or social landlords, are
they even going to be aware of their legal liabilities? Are their staff
trained? Are their staff likely to have appropriate attitudes? Do they even
need this information?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While there may well be cases in which people are happy for
data to be shared, the reality is that a lot of DWP's existing knowledge of
medical conditions and disability was given to them under the presumption that
the data would remain within the organisation (as the Data Protection Act can
reasonably be assumed to require) and in many cases was given with extreme
reluctance in the face of an overtly abusive system (been there, done that).
And the instant you have a change of circumstances that results in you falling
into the clenches of Universal Credit, DWP has just written itself a get
out-of-jail-free card that allows it to legally share that information with
anyone it wants.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Longer Term - Where Will This End? </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While people have been focussing on the immediate impact of
this change, I think we also need to look at what it might mean in terms of
what we know about DWP's longer-term data-sharing objectives. We have already
seen individual DWP sponsored projects making a bid for direct access to our
medical records, potentially for use in enforcing treatment as a condition of
benefit receipt, we know DWP applied for access to the Hospital Episode
Statistics database (summarising the details of every hospital stay) because it
was one of the requests HSCIC turned down as too unreasonable to consider, at
the same time they were freely handing the data over to insurance companies for
use in price-setting. Meanwhile the Health Select Committee <a href="http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240215074/NHS-England-admits-failure-to-explain-benefits-of-caredata" target="_blank">speculated</a>
that DWP will seek access to Care.Data, the controversial national database
hoovering-up every patient's medical records from their GPs for research
purposes (including commercial research purposes). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Outside of medical data, DWP's own <a href="http://data.gov.uk/sites/default/files/DWP%20Open%20Data%20Strategy_10.pdf" target="_blank">Open Data Strategy</a>
states:</div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">33. DWP
is actively supporting the development of the National Fraud Authority‟s (NFA)
intelligence sharing roadmap. IRIS will form one of the public sector hubs
which will facilitate new data shares with other public <b><u>and private
sector</u></b> counter-fraud bodies. DWP are continuing to work closely with
the NFA in designing the intelligence sharing architecture and the legal
framework. </span></i></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And<i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></i></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">39. DWP
will ensure that the Universal Credit ICT system will support the production of
aggregate data for use and re-use by industry and academia through open
publication </span></i></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">And, getting back to health,</span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">43. The
publication of anonymised fit note data could provide healthcare professionals,
individuals, <b><u>employers</u></b> and service providers (eg the occupational
health sector) with an indication of the volume and content of fit notes at
aggregate level. This in turn should help improve management of sickness
absence and drive innovation in the occupational health and rehabilitation
sectors </span></i></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">48.
Linking welfare data sets. The Government will consider opportunities for
linking welfare datasets to other government <b><u>and commercial </u></b>datasets
to increase their value to industry. </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">49.
Industry consultations have indicated that many data sets held by DWP have a
high market value. However, this value would be enhanced <b><u>in combination
with commercial and other public data sets</u></b>. </span></i></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Equally, discussions at the Government-sponsored
datasharing.org have had a significant focus on integration of DWP and HMRC
datasets for use in a counter-fraud role. Combating fraud may be necessary, but
many benefit claimants, myself included, know from first hand experience that
DWP's response to alleged fraud tends to be intimidate first, ask questions
later, no matter how ludicrous the accusation, no matter how damaging the consequences.
When DWP attitudes towards data-sharing are primarily driven by their punitive
use or commercial value, that makes extension of data under their control
increasingly problematic.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The regulations under discussion here, together with the
attitude to 'Big Data' shown above, betray the attitude to privacy that DWP is
likely to bring to bear on HES or Care.Data if it ever gains access to them,
and the threat that exists to what medical data it already holds. If DWP does
gain access to HES/Care.Data, and we know that it wants access to this kind of
data, then the (less than convincing) anonymity of HES and Care.Data is
instantly compromised as the information is useless to DWP unless they decrypt
individual identities and jigsaw the information with their own databases. This
will create a situation in which every citizen's medical records transition
into the hands of an organisation that, rather than seeing privacy as an
obligation, sees itself in a punitive/data broker role and doesn't just want to
share data, but is re-writing the law to ensure it can, no matter what the Data
Protection Act might say. If DWP get their hands on our medical data on a
national scale, then Medical Privacy in any real sense may cease to exist.</div>
DavidGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11734028655032503805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-44431826819172376502015-01-20T12:25:00.000+00:002015-01-20T12:25:39.692+00:00Benefit Cuts for People with Depression Who Refuse Treatment Are Barbaric and Misunderstand the Problem<a href="http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/488530/DWP-plans-axe-benefits-claimants-refuse-treatment-depression">According to the Express</a>, the DWP is planning to cut benefits for people with depression or anxiety who refuse treatment.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
A senior Government source said it was “bizarre” that a lot of ESA claimants with treatable mental health problems undergo no treatment whatsoever, according to the Sunday Telegraph.<br />“These are areas we need to explore. The taxpayer has committed a lot of money but the idea was never to sustain them for years and years on benefit. We think it’s time for a rethink,” the source said. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“At some point something has to be done. Right now it’s an open ended contract.”</blockquote>
<div>
This is a seriously misguided policy, for several reasons:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1) It assumes that everybody with these conditions will respond positively to treatment. Having been under treatment of one kind or another for mental health problems for more than half my life, I can say with some authority that finding <i>the right</i> treatment is usually a combination of luck, experimentation and circumstance. Many people go through a range of anti-depressants, for instance, at a range of different doses, before they find the one that actually helps (and doesn't make things worse). If they find one that helps at all.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Many people aren't willing to go through the plethora of unpleasant side effects and repeated disappointment that are associated with trying yet another pill, and they shouldn't be punished for this.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Similarly with therapies; some are suitable for some conditions and some people, others are entirely inappropriate. </div>
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2) This policy assumes that treatment is available for everybody. A whole lot of people who have tried to get 'talking therapy' treatments find they are unavailable, or they have a loooooooong waiting list that they won't ever reach the top of. </div>
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3) We need to retain absolute autonomy over our bodies and our minds, and that includes having a choice over taking pills or letting professionals prod into our psyches. There are many, many good reasons that people may resist interventions, including having faced force or increased oppression in their previous experiences with mental health services. Forcing people into this system - especially if it has already let them or their loved ones down - will do far more harm than good.</div>
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4) No therapy or counselling will work if, for whatever reason, the client hates the idea. It just won't. </div>
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This is a policy that is not only wrong-headed, it risks doing further harm to people who are already vulnerable. Cutting someone's financial lifeline because they can't bear to try yet another tablet or because they're scared to undergo counselling after their last counsellor was transphobic or tried to cure them of their gayness, or simply because they don't feel ready to face the issues that trouble them, is barbaric. </div>
incurable hippiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13064136978198714689noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-6133708879311082942014-10-24T10:30:00.000+01:002014-10-24T10:30:00.427+01:00An Open Letter to the LGBT+ CommunityI went to see <a href=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3169706/?ref_=nv_sr_2 target=new><i>Pride</i></a> last week. Yeah, I know it was released a month earlier but my dad was in hospital at the time so I was mostly just seeing the A12 as I drove up and down it.<br />
<br />
It was a period of British history that I know very little about: I was only 5 in 1984. I heard mumblings about miners; but what 5 year old actually pays attention to the news? And it was certainly a long, long, time before I realised I was gay.<br />
<br />
I went to see the film after 3 nights of no sleep because of a shoulder injury. Due to the sleep deprivation I was just a tad over-emotional. I spent the whole film alternating between laughing and crying, and was in floods of happy tears at the end. The second the house lights came up I had to make a dash for the nearest toilet to hide until my red splotchy face looked less red and splotchy.<br />
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The miners were probably the hardest hit during that particular 4 year term of office. And it was deeply heartening to hear a story about another oppressed group the government loathed - the LGBT community - coming to the support of others in solidarity just because it was the right thing to do.<br />
<br />
But after the film I couldn't shake the thought "where are the LGBT community now while disabled people are being kicked even harder than the miners were then?"<br />
<br />
The Centre for Welfare Reform calculated that severely disabled people will be hit <a href=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dr-simon-duffy/austerity-cuts-disabled-people_b_3248615.html target=new><i>19 times</i> harder by the cuts</a> than other people. So many cuts that even I probably can't remember to list them all. But here are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head:<br />
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<ul><li> The creation of Personal Independence Payment to replace Disability Living Allowance. The intention was to reduce the budget by 20% by making the criteria stricter. DLA is only paid to meet care needs and mobility needs. It's to be spent on things like wheelchairs and having someone help you out of bed in the morning. Not exactly luxuries that a disabled person can cut back on. Did you know that now if you can walk a mere 21 metres you probably won't get that help to put towards buying a wheelchair? With the DWP and the private firms hired to carry out the medical assessments unable to organise a proverbial in a brewery; people are waiting for up to a year for their application to be processed and there are <a href=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tens-thousands-sick-disabled-patients-3958136 target=new>145,000 people</a> waiting for support they need to function.</li>
<li> Employment and Support Allowance is the benefit for people too ill or impaired to work. There are <a href=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27796739 target=new>394,000 people</a> waiting to have their application for that processed. 394,000 waiting to put food on the table. Such an appalling system that we regularly read about people who were so ill that they died of their condition while allegedly "fit for work". <a href=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2011/jul/24/atos-case-study-larry-newman target=new>Larry Newman</a> and <a href=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19433535 target=new>Cecilia Burns</a> are just 2 of those people. The company doing the fitness for work assessments got it so wrong so often that 40% of appeals against their decisions were successful.</li>
<li> Two thirds of households affected by the bedroom tax contain a disabled person.</li>
<li> In most parts of the country; working age benefit claimants have had their Council Tax Benefit cut by 10%.</li>
<li> At the moment there's something called the Severe Disability Premium. It's not a benefit in its own right; it's a top-up premium on top of ESA/Income Support. The clue as to who is eligible is in the name: Severely disabled people. The eligibility criteria are so complex that only 230,000 people in the whole country are eligible. Under Universal Credit; <a href=http://wheresthebenefit.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/premium-life.html target=new>the SDP is being abolished completely</a>. Not made a bit stricter: Abolished.</li>
<li> The <a href=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/31/independent-living-fund-disabled target=new>Independent Living Fund, which allows 18,000 disabled people with the highest care needs to live in the community, is being closed next year</a>.</li>
<li> Social care is being cut to the point that <a href=http://wheresthebenefit.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/guest-post-court-tells-disabled-woman.html target=new>continent people are being told to use incontinence pads because they're no longer allowed help to go to the toilet</a>. Once I caught the local news while at my dad's house. A representative of Norfolk Council actually went on TV and said "we're cutting things like adult social care in order to preserve popular services like libraries." Disabled people are so loathed that council officials can go on TV and say that with their head held high.</li>
<li> We're all aware how this government made it more expensive to get an education. Did you know that <a href=http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2014/apr/24/cuts-disabled-students-allowance-put-studies-at-risk target=new>Disabled Students' Allowance, which pays for things like Deaf students to have a BSL interpreter, is being cut?</a> They recently announced these cuts are being postponed. Not cancelled, just postponed.</li>
<li> Access to Work, a scheme which funds support to allow disabled people to function in the workplace, has been utterly screwed up. <a href=http://www.touretteshero.com/2014/10/06/access-impossible/ target=new>Jess</a> and <a href=http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/522551/TV-presenter-Julie-Fernandez-campaign-benefits-cuts target=new>Julie</a> have both written recently about how these cuts are jeopardising their jobs. They are far from alone.</li>
</ul><br />
And these are only the cuts so far. Recently we've heard how the Tories want to <a href=http://wheresthebenefit.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/four-things-from-conservative-party.html target=new>cut housing benefit for 18-21 year olds, freeze working age benefits (which will affect disability benefits, despite Osborne's claim at the Tory conference), and pay benefits by cards instead of cash</a>. Then <a href=http://wheresthebenefit.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/taxing-disability.html target=new>IDS wants to charge income tax on support to pay for wheelchairs and for someone to wipe your butt, despite the fact that many disabled people don't see penny of it because it's immediately deducted to pay for support services</a>. And, of course, Freud let it slip that he <a href=http://wheresthebenefit.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/not-worth-it.html target=new>wants to be able to pay disabled people only £2 an hour</a>.<br />
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Do you remember last Wednesday? It was a great day. For one day the entire country cared about how this government wanted to undermine disabled people's right to the same minimum wage as everybody else. He was the top story for most news outlets, he trended on Twitter all day: And for just one day it felt like the entire nation cared about our equal rights.<br />
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Then everyone went to bed that night and by the following morning most people had forgotten about us again. This week disabled people have been in court again fighting the Independent Living Fund closure. Where was the outrage this week that the government want to withdraw the funding that pays for severely disabled people to have food put in their mouths and their butts lifted onto the toilet?<br />
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I kind of get it. I mean, in 1984 LGBT people were really oppressed. Relationships weren't legally recognised, the age of consent for gay men was 5 years older than for heterosexuals. AIDS was misunderstood, treatments hadn't been developed, and it was far more stigmatised than it is today. There were no anti-discrimination laws protecting us from being fired for being LGBT or protecting us from being discriminated against by B&B owners when we just want a break for a couple of days.<br />
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Now we can get married, the age of consent is equal, HIV is a controllable chronic condition. We do have the legal right to sue our employer if they fire us for coming out at work and we can sue B&B owners who refuse us a room.<br />
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In 1984 LGBTs could look at miners and see people who were equally oppressed. The same can't be said of LGBTs looking at disabled people today. Except for those of us who are both LGBT and disabled; most LGBTs have the freedom to have a proper meal every day. The same can't be said for disabled people who are physically unable to cook, can't get social care for someone to help them with that, and so end up eating mostly just crisps. Most LGBTs can have a shower every day. The same can't be said of disabled people who were forced out of their accessible home by the bedroom tax, no longer have an accessible shower, and can only get clean by wiping themselves down with a flannel.<br />
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You have to remember that the LGBT community and the disabled community have so much in common in so many ways. We both still experience discrimination, even though it's illegal and we have the law on our side. It's a fight we both face. <a href=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/homophobia-in-microcosm-how-a-savage-gang-attack-tore-one-mans-whole-life-apart-9780443.html target=new>Hate</a> <a href=http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/mans-cat-was-killed-because-he-gay141014 target=new>crime</a> affects LGBT people just like it affects <a href=http://wheresthebenefit.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/hate-from-government-hate-on-street.html target=new>disabled</a> <a href=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-16067795 target=new>people</a>. Some people are even attacked for being <a href=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2297053/Yob-killed-autistic-gay-teenager-Steven-Simpson-setting-18th-birthday-party.html target=new>both disabled and LGBT</a>. Both disabled people and LGBT people are massively unpopular with the senior party in the coalition: Not only are the Tories stripping away all the support systems that allowed for the equality of disabled people, but more Tories voted against equal marriage than for it. The law only went through because of supporters in the other parties.<br />
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The main difference between the 2 communities I belong to, of course, is society's response. When lesbians were thrown out of Sainsbury's, <a href=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/15/sainsburys-brighton-kiss-in-protesters-lesbian-couple target=new>protesters quickly responded</a>. A few days later a blind woman was <a href=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-29652764 target=new>kicked out of Tesco</a>. Protesters were nowhere to be seen. Disabled people are <a href=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/lisa-egan/george-takei-facebook_b_5660280.html target=new>more likely to be mocked for going shopping</a> than supported if we get discriminated against in store.<br />
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In <i>Pride</i> we see <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbians_and_Gays_Support_the_Miners target=new>Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners</a> (LGSM) helping to fund and distribute food parcels to the striking miners. Where were the food parcels for <a href=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/killed-benefits-cuts-starving-soldier-3923771 target=new>David Clapson</a> or <a href=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/disabled-mark-wood-starved-death-3194250 target=new>Mark Wood</a>? I don't mean to suggest that the LGBT community is in any way responsible for such tragedies for not being more supportive: But the handing out of the food parcels had such a resonance with the issues of today.<br />
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The film depicts LGSM getting to work before consulting miners about what it is they actually need. If LGBTs started supporting disabled people (LGBTSDP?); I'd beg of you to ask us how you can help. Disabled people's lives have historically been dominated by non-disabled people thinking they know what's best for us. There's a common saying in the disabled community "nothing about us without us," and that applies as much now as ever. A couple of years ago UK Uncut organised <a href=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/lisa-egan/welfare-reform-bill-protest-_b_1239973.html target=new>a protest specifically about disability benefit cuts</a>. But because they didn't consult with disabled people for the meet-up arrangements: They chose to meet at a tube station that has no access for mobility impaired people.<br />
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Disabled people have loads of ideas for creative ways of challenging the cuts; but we need help to pull them off. We've written films about the ILF closure that we can't find anyone to produce. We organise protests and sometimes only 10 people turn up. There are far more LGBT people with social influence than disabled people. When there's a story like this week's court case we need the help of people with prominence to amplify our message because our collective voice amounts to a mere whisper; where potential LGBT allies have the power to really shout about it. Bronski Beat supported the miners; who is going to support us?<br />
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Another very common saying in the disability community is "rights not charity". In <i>Pride</i> LGSM start out their work with the collecting buckets to raise money. At the moment the disabled community is in a paradoxical position: We need to raise money in order to fight for the rights which are being stripped away. Paypal is the 21st century collecting tin and <a href=http://dpac.uk.net/2014/10/can-you-donate-50p-to-dpacs-work/ target=new>Disabled People Against Cuts</a> are currently asking people to donate 50p to carry on their excellent campaigning.<br />
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<i>Pride</i> was a beautifully told story of the LGBT community rushing to the support of those who really needed it. I can't wait for it to come out on DVD so I can watch it again. But ever since seeing it I haven't been able to shake the slight feeling of sadness. There have been so many wonderful changes in the last 30 years that have benefited both communities I belong to. As a disabled person I first had the Disability Discrimination Act, which then became subsumed by the Equality Act. As a gay person I also have protection under the Equality Act. I can even get married now!<br />
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But the passion LGSM had for supporting people whose lives were being utterly destroyed by the government: The film just made me acutely aware that disabled people doesn't have that same support. And as someone with a foot in each community, that awareness is slightly frying my brain.<br />
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So, LGBT community. Please help us. Our equality, our independence, our jobs, our education, and even our lives depend on winning this fight.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714918894319998184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999633524276247455.post-61263949899597955202014-10-15T20:58:00.000+01:002014-10-16T16:17:44.399+01:00Not Worth ItYou'd have to be away from all means of communication today to have not noticed that <a href=http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/tory-lord-freud-faces-call-to-quit-for-saying-disabled-people-arent-worth-minimum-wage-9796265.html target=new>Lord Freud thinks that disabled people "aren't worth" the minimum wage</a>. Surprisingly even the mainstream media are outraged; BBC News are leading with it.<br />
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I'm not going to go into depth about everything wrong with his initial remarks because it's already been covered extensively. If you're looking for comment pieces on his original remarks, I recommend <a href=http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/15/tory-message-disabled-lord-freud-minimum-wage?CMP=twt_gu target=new>this from Frances Ryan</a>, or <a href=http://touchstoneblog.org.uk/2014/10/lord-freud-gets-it-wrong-on-the-employment-of-disabled-people/#.VD6vInuN-co.twitter target=new>this from Richard Exell</a>.<br />
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The only things I have to add on the subject of his initial statement are these:<br />
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<ol><li>He's not the first Tory to say this during this term of government. <a href=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2011/jun/17/tory-philip-davies-disabled-people-work target=new>Philip Davies said the same thing in 2011</a>. Then there is Cllr David Scott who raised the idea of us being not "worth" it with Freud. It's starting to seem like a common thought in the Conservative party.</li>
<li>Disabled people make more reliable employees than non-disabled people. A <a href=http://bbi.syr.edu/_assets/staff_bio_publications/McDonald_Exploring_the_Bottom_Line_2007.pdf target=new>report by DePaul University in the US found that disabled people stay with an employer for longer, take less time off, and are "loyal, reliable, and hardworking."</a>. That doesn't sound to me like people who are "not worth" even the minimum wage, does it?</li>
<li>Disabled people currently in work are having their ability to do their job screwed about with by the hideous mess this coalition have made of Access to Work. Read <a href=http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/522551/TV-presenter-Julie-Fernandez-campaign-benefits-cuts target=new>Julie's</a> and <a href=http://www.touretteshero.com/2014/10/06/access-impossible/ target=new>Jess's</a> accounts. These are people worth more than the minimum wage, having their capability undermined by an incompetent government.</li>
<li><a href=http://disabilitybenefitsconsortium.wordpress.com/2013/11/14/over-50000-disabled-people-could-lose-jobs-as-vital-support-is-cut/ target=new>Over 50,000 disabled people in work may be forced to quit their job by DLA cuts.</a> Again, people who are perfectly good at their jobs being prevented from functioning by a government that aren't good at their jobs.</li>
</ol><br />
What interests me more is Freud's piss-take of an apology. He said:<br />
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<blockquote>I care passionately about disabled people. I am proud to have played a full part in a government that is fully committed to helping disabled people overcome the many barriers they face in finding employment. That is why through Universal Credit – which I referred to in my response – we have increased overall spending on disabled households by £250m, offered the most generous work allowance ever, and increased the disability addition to £360 per month.</blockquote><small><p align="right">From <a href=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2014/10/lord-freud-offers-full-and-unreserved-apology-for-disability-comments/ target=new>Spectator Coffeehouse</a>.</p></small><br />
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We all know that he doesn't give a toss about disabled people. Increased spending on disabled households? Tell that to the <a href=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27796739 target=new>394,000 people waiting for their ESA claim to be processed so they can put food on the table</a>. Or the <a href=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tens-thousands-sick-disabled-patients-3958136 target=new>145,000 people waiting for their PIP claim to be processed so they can afford to pay for a wheelchair or for someone to get them out of bed in the morning</a>. Or the bedroom tax victims: Three quarters of whom have a disabled person in the family. Or the people who currently get DLA because they're only capable of walking less than 50 metres, but will lose it under PIP because they can walk more than 20 metres. Or all the terminally ill people who've been deemed "fit for work" like <a href=http://www.theguardian.com/society/2011/jul/24/atos-case-study-larry-newman target=new>Larry Newman</a> or <a href=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19433535 target=new>Cecilia Burns</a>.<br />
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And as for Universal Credit increasing spending on disabled households: <a href=http://wheresthebenefit.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/premium-life.html target=new>They're abolishing the Severe Disability Premium under UC</a>. Not replacing it with something a bit stricter - like the move from DLA to PIP - they're just abolishing it. The country's 230,000 most severely disabled people will be significantly worse off under Universal Credit.<br />
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While it's great that the mainstream media are - for a change - coming to disabled people's defence over Freud's original remarks: Why are they accepting his apology without delving into the outright lies it contains?<br />
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<b>Edit 16/10/14:</b> Yet another Tory thinks the minimum wage is "A barrier to work". She too presumably was complicit in the DLA cuts which will force disabled people to quit work (the Tories were whipped to vote for cuts.)<br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Anyone who denies that the minimum wage is a barrier to employment for the less able is living in cloud cuckoo land.</p>— Jackie Doyle-Price (@JackieDP) <a href="https://twitter.com/JackieDP/status/522671058168848384">October 16, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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Even Mr Money Saving Expert himself thinks disabled people should be exempt from the minimum wage:<br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Just read what Lord Freud actually said and mostly agree. We need Labour market flexibility to help the v few whose disability means (contd)</p>— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) <a href="https://twitter.com/MartinSLewis/status/522701753268334592">October 16, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>... they won't get work at minimum wage. Some with severe mental capacity problems will never gain work on level playing field. Helps needed</p>— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) <a href="https://twitter.com/MartinSLewis/status/522702079996198912">October 16, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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Remember yesterday when people thought disabled people were worth it? What a great day. Shame it's "shit on those disableds" business as usual again today.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16714918894319998184noreply@blogger.com0