spot Campaigns

spot Organisations

spot Arguments for socialism

All Campaigns subcategories:

Anti-capitalism

Anti-fascist

Anti-racism

Anti-war

Asylum

Black and Asian

Children

CNWP

Corporate crime

* Disability

Education

Election campaigns

Environment

Finance

Food

Gender Recognition Act

Health and safety

Health and welfare

Housing

Human Rights

LGBT Pride

Local government

Local services

Low pay

Migration

Nationalisation

New workers party

NHS

Pensions

Post Office

Poverty

Privatisation

Public Services

Socialism

Socialist

Sport

Stop the slaughter of Tamils

Students

The state

Transport

TUSC

Welfare rights

Women

Workplace and TU campaigns

Youth

Disability keywords:

Deaf (4)

Disability rights (13)

Disabled (198)

Incapacity (22)

Mobility (10)

Disabled

Highlight keywords |Print this article

From: The Socialist issue 828, 8 October 2014: Striking to end low pay

Search site for keywords: Leicester - Students - School - Disabled - Disability - Discrimination - Atos - Disability rights

School students organise disabled rights meeting

Caroline Vincent, Leicester Socialist Party

I was invited by students at the Jame'ah Girls Academy in Leicester to talk about disability rights and discrimination at an event called "Years of Struggle". Seventy students aged from eleven to 16 attended on 1 October.

First we talked about people's perceptions and stereotypes - the things that come to mind upon hearing the word "disabled". Most admitted to visualising wheelchairs, when in fact less than 8% of disabled people use them.

We talked about the Equality Act and the Disability Discrimination Act: the rights that exist due to legislation, but also the problems that are faced when these rights aren't recognised.

One student gave an example of a Leicester resident who was turned away and labelled as a "fire hazard" upon turning up for his disability benefit assessment. He was informed at reception that the interview building was not equipped for people in wheelchairs!

This led on to a discussion on work capability assessments. In February a protest took place outside the Atos offices in Leicester as part of a national day of action.

We agreed that it was a significant victory when Atos - a huge company with a £7.1 billion yearly revenue - decided to end its contract with the government. This was a direct result of protests and negative publicity.

But we also agreed the test should be scrapped altogether, not just handed to another company. Anyone who cannot work due to sickness or disability should have a right to an income they can live on without enduring humiliating additional tests.

We also talked about problems caused by cuts to vital local services. Free, publicly owned health and social care is vital. Cameron's "Big Society" is using children and relatives as a substitute for professionals.

Students felt inspired by local demonstrations, and several expressed an interest in future Socialist Party campaigns.

There was general agreement that the point is to change society, and remove the barriers that prevent people from participating in life in the way that everybody else can. Cuts to vital services have turned back the clock as far as equality is concerned.

Disabled people are a minority in society. Only by uniting, fighting back and struggling together for a fair and equal society can we look forward to a future that's free from all discrimination.

Donate to the Socialist Party

Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.