References for Essay...

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Walker, Kirsty (2011). Disabled benefit? Just fill in a form. [online]. Daily Mail, 10^th November. Last accessed 9^th May 2012 at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2060067/Disabled-benefit-Just-form-200-000-got-handouts-year-face-face-interview.html

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Curtis, Polly (2012). Is £600m really being paid in disability living allowance to people who don't qualify? [online]. 17^th January. Last accessed 9^th May 2012 at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2012/jan/17/disibility-living-allowance-overpayment

Marsh, Sue (2012). Disabled people listened to on welfare plans? It's a government sham. [online]. 8^th January. Last accessed 9^th May 2012 at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/08/disabled-people-welfare-reform-sham

Freud, David (2012). Our welfare reforms will help create a sustainable, fairer system. [online]. 17^th January. Last accessed 9^th May 2012 at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/17/welfare-reforms-sustainable-system

Greatrex, Tom (2012). The work capability assessment should help, not hound people back into work. [online]. 1^st February. Last accessed 9^th May 2012 at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/feb/01/work-capability-assessment

Grey-Thompson, Tanni (2012). A lot of disabled people are terrified of the changes to disability living allowance' – video [online]. The Guardian, 6^th February. Last accessed 9^th May 2012 at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/video/2012/feb/06/tanni-grey-thompson-video

Butler, Patrick (2012b). How the Spartacus welfare cuts campaign went viral. [online]. 17^th January. Last accessed 9^th May 2012 at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jan/17/disability-spartacus-welfare-cuts-campaign-viral

Gentleman, Amelia (2011). Benefits assessment firm causing 'fear and loathing' among claimants, says MP. [online]. The Guardian, 24^th July. Last accessed 9^th May 2012 at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jul/24/atos-faces-critical-report-by-mps

Welfare reform 'being rushed through' (2012). [online]. BBC Radio 4. 17^th January. From BBC last accessed 9^th May 2012 at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9679000/9679650.stm

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Diaryofabenefitscrounger (2012). Lord Freud’s letter to peers. Diaryofabenefitscrounger. [online]. Posted 16^th January. Last accessed 9^th May 2012 at: http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/lord-freuds-letter-to-peers-re.html

Bendygirl (2012). Dear all confused about #esa, blue badges etc. The govt have deliberately altered criteria so ppl don't qualify. That simple, that evil. Twitter. [online].  12^th  April. Last accessed 9^th May 2012 at: https://twitter.com/#!/BendyGirl/status/190392116302721025

 

 

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Directgov (nodatec). Disabled Students Allowance [online]. Last accessed 9^th May 2012 at: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/disabledpeople/educationandtraining/highereducation/dg_10034898

This Week. Spotlight. (2012.) [online]. BBC1.19^th January. From youtube last accessed 9^th May 2012 at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duNk9Z33u7A&feature=player_profilepage

Scope (2012). The Future of PIP: A Social Model Based Approach [online]. Last accessed 9^th May at: http://www.scope.org.uk/campaigns/publications/future-pip

Campbell, Jane et al. (2012). Responsible Reform. [online]. Last accessed 9^th May at: http://www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies/archiveuk/Campbell%20DS/response_to_proposed_dla_reforms.pdf

DisabilityAlliance (2011). DLA reform consulation response. Disability Rights Partnership. [online]. Last accessed 9^th May at: www.disabilityalliance.org/r68.pdf

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Foxylady2 (2010). ATOS medics say assessments too rushed. Benefits and work. [online]. Posted December. Last accessed 9^th May 2012 at: http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum?func=view&catid=13&id=29036

Great Britain (2012). Welfare Reform Act 2012. Chapter 5. [online]. Last accessed 9^th May at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/5/contents/enacted

Oliver, Mike (1996). Defining impairment and Disability: Issues at stake. In Barnes, Colin and Mercer, Geof,  Exploring the Divide Leeds, The Disability Press. 29-54

Crow, Liz (1996). Including all of our lives: Renewing the Social Model of disability. In Barnes, Colin and Mercer, Geof,  Exploring the Divide Leeds, The Disability Press. 55-72

Shakespeare, Tom(2006). Looking back, moving forward [online]. last accessed 26^th January 2011 at http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/opinion/looking_back_moving_forward.shtml

 

The government’s proposal to use independent medical professionals to decide who does and doesn’t get the new DLA is the best solution.

 Its a bit long (3000 words) and I will put a link to the references here: http://allbigideas.blogspot.com/2012/05/references-for-essay.html Hoping to have the summary of this essay up by the end of the day... (only 1000 words)heres the summary http://allbigideas.blogspot.com/2012/05/governments-proposal-to-use-independent_14.html... enjoy..

The government’s proposal to use independent medical professionals to decide who does and doesn’t get the new DLA is the best solution.

The Welfare Reform Act 2012 (Great Britain 2012) introduces a significant number of changes to the administration and distribution of welfare benefits in the UK.  Before 2008 welfare benefits for disabled people had two different functions. Incapacity benefit was designed to support people incapable of working, and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) focused on the additional costs of being disabled (DWP 2008b, Disability Alliance 2011). Both were paper-based applications with an element of medical expertise provided mainly by the claimant’s own Doctor (DWP 2008, Disability Alliance 2011). In 2008, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) replaced incapacity benefit, and introduced a new form of assessment called the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) using a private company (ATOS) to undertake the medicals (DWP 2008b). In 2010, the government announced the replacement of DLA with Personal Independence Payment (DWP 2011a) (PIP). This also heavily focused on an independent medical test for eligibility (DWP 2011a, DWP 2012b). These changes are controversial for a number of reasons, and the shift to the use of an independent medical professional to determine eligility for benefits is just one of them (Campbell et al. 2012). It appears that the theory and the government’s rhetoric and reasoning behind this shift in the application process justifies the change (DWP 2011c, Freud 2012). However, this essay will argue that not only is the theory flawed, but also the practice.

The need for reform of DLA has been widely agreed by all sides (Butler 2012, Grey- Thompson 2012). DLA is an out of date benefit, not reformed for 20 years (Miller as cited in Butler 2012). Lord Freud, the minister for welfare reform states “our reforms make the benefit system less open to abuse.” (Freud as cited in Nottingham Post 2012, no page) One of the biggest flaws in the current system is that there is not inbuilt reassessment and it is heavily based on the claimant’s interpretation of their experience (Curtis 2012). According to Miller (as cited in Welfare reform 'being rushed through' 2012) this could lead to inaccurate initial claims that can be a lifetime award with no periodic assessment. According to Lord Freud (as cited in Nottingham Post 2012) introducing the independent medical assessment will ensure that this benefit “goes to those who need it” (as cited in Nottingham Post 2012) and will reduce the publics perception that this benefit is easy to claim and open to fraud (Walker 2011). As Marsh (2012) states “The media either ignored our struggle or discredited us with ever wilder rounds of "scrounger" headlines” and any case of disability benefit fraud reported in the media re enforces this perception and further weakens the intended purpose of the benefit. The new system of using an independent trained professional will reduce fraud and strengthen this benefits public reputation (Freud 2012).

Although 70% of claims for DLA are a lifetime (or indefinite) award (Welfare reform 'being rushed through' 2012), the reason for this is that it has been proven in the assessment process that the persons impairment is long term and unlikely to change in the future (latentexistence 2012). The onus is on the claimant to report a change in their circumstances and failure to do this against the law (Osborne 2007). At the assessment stage an appropriate length of award is decided upon based on the evidence gathered from the claimant and medical professionals involved in the claimants care and/ or support. Those with shorter awards are required to resubmit a new claim at the end of their current period of entitlement (Directgov nodatea). To re assess everyone regardless of their impairment is quite simply a waste of money, and extremely stressful (Great Britain, Work and Pensions Committee 2012d). The government has been accused of fuelling the medias over reporting of cases of disability benefit fraud to justify the need for reform (Great Britain, Work and Pensions Committee 2012c). In the past few years the reporting of disability benefit fraud in the media has increased and unfortunately there is a direct correlation between this and the rise in disability hate crime (This week 2012). The governments own figures show a fraud rate of only 0.5% (DWP 2012a) and by giving prominence to every case in the media over inflates the true figure. Disability campaigners agree on the need for reform (Butler 2012, Grey-Thomspon as cited in Barnett-Cormack et al. 2012). As Barrow (2012) states “Everyone agrees that the current system needs to be simplified and improved. But that is not achieved by cuts, shoddy statistics, late reporting, attempts to subvert parliamentary process (Lord Freud's procedural tactics last week) and statistical evasion.”  The government’s aim of cutting the caseload regardless of actual need using this so called “rigorous assessment process” (Nottingham Post 2012) will in fact cost more money (Great Britain, Work and Pensions Committee 2012b).

The use of independent professionals will end the bias and the inconsistencies in the current system. The new assessment enables a much clearer and simplified method of applying for benefit (Peck 2012). The government describes this as an “objective assessment of individual need.” (DWP 2011a, no page).  The current process is dependent on the subjective opinion of a professional who is trained in and willing to engage with what is a very complex system (DWP 2008a). This has resulted in a poorly targeted benefit; with a 600 million pounds overspend (Curtis 2012). The new benefit will better support disabled people, and some cases will result in a higher award (DWP 2012b), targeting spending to those who need it most. Independent practitioners are needed to make independent and impartial decisions about a person’s entitlement to benefit. It will enable standardised and objective testing of all claims.

Although the government’s aim is to increase fairness and objectivity by employing this method of assessment the fear is that the reality will be the complete opposite. The published fraud rate for DLA is 0.5% (DWP 2012a) and the government aim to reduce the caseload by 20 % (Great Britain, Work and Pensions Committee 2012a). According to Grey-Thompson (2012) this equates to 500,000 people who are currently entitled to DLA that will no longer be entitled to PIP. The failure to combine fair and independent medical tests with a cuts agenda has already been proven (Greatrex 2012, Gentleman 2011).  Although the medical test to determine eligibility for ESA has been condemned as unfit for purpose (Greatrex, 2012) the test is still in use and the government is using the same model in the design of the new PIP benefits (DWP 2012b). One of the main concerns that disabled people have with the current system is that the outsourcing of the work to a private company has reduced the quality and independence of the tests (Gentleman 2011). All private companies are driven by profit and priotise their clients needs over that of the people they are being tested (Greatrex, 2012). As the government is the ‘client’ objectives such as value for money and conforming to the stated aims of cutting the caseload (DWP 2012c) are more important than the quality and accuracy of the tests being carried out (parliament). Failure to comply with this regime will result in the loss of the contract and loss of profit for the company. As a result of this, the current provide ATOS has admitted that they pay their staff per assessment (Great Britain, Work and Pensions Committee 2012a). This has resulted in shorter assessments and people feeling rushed. (foxylady2 2010) This clearly prevents the tests from being truly independent, reduces objectivity and also fairness for the claimant being assessed. When further medical evidence is needed in the current system of DLA then the DWP uses its own Doctors to carry out an assessment (Directgov no dateb). As these doctors are directly employed by the DWP there is no third party involvement or profit driven motive so the main aim is to accurately assess a claim. Although campaigners welcome the concept of having a fairer and more independent assessment process their fear is of a repeat of the current system, which is simply there to reduce the caseload (Campbell et al. 2012). Although the government claim to support disabled people in this change of eligibility assessment, as Bendygirl (2012) states “The govt have deliberately altered criteria so ppl don't qualify”.  What they are effectively doing is changing the definition of disability to include less people.

The need for a fair and independent assessment has been proven in the transition from incapacity benefit to ESA (Freud 2012). It clearly demonstrates the government’s commitment to support disabled people to have a full and active life, through ensuring that disabled people are given equal access to employment (Freud 2012). This will be further demonstrated in the proposed new PIP (DWP 2012b). This is another benefit that has left disabled people abandoned within a system that has no inbuilt reassessments, and hasn’t been reformed for over 20 years (BBC 2012, Curtis 2012). Disabled people have been at the heart of this new benefit and the government has carried out extensive and detailed consultations into every aspect of the new benefit (DWP 2011a). In the consultation report published (DWP 2011b) there were specific questions asked about the use of independent medical professionals and the results show this was supported and welcomed by disabled people. The change in responsibility from the claimant to a medical professional to gather supporting evidence will make it easier to claim for disabled people (DWP 2011b). Although there were some concerns raised with the process, and how some people might find it an inaccessible experience the aim of the consultation was to intenfy and take action on these areas before they are implemented (Great Britain, Work and Pensions Committee 2012d) Alternative forms of assessment will be available for those deemed incapable of engaging with the medical assessment (DWP 2011b). The overall concept of a face-to-face consultation with a medical professional was welcomed as the respondents felt that an appropriately trained professional would be able to advocate and translate their needs most appropriately and objectively (DWP 2011b).

However, the Responsible Reform Report (Campbell et al. 2012) argued that the government’s consultation into the proposed changes doesn’t accurately represent the views of the public and that the whole process was flawed. Using a freedom of information request a group of disabled people obtained the 523 organisational responses to the consultation, analysed them and published the results (Butler 2012b). They clearly demonstrated that the concept of a face-to-face assessment with an independent medical professional was strongly opposed with 90% against this idea (Campbell et al. 2012).  The report summarises the key concerns about the use of an independent practioner as “lack of specialist assessors, quality, independence of assessor, target driven assessments, inappropriate to discuss intimate difficulties with a complete stranger, medicalised view of disability, cost and practical concerns.” (Campbell et al. 2012, p23)

Although the government used the consultation to push this ideology into legislation, the publication of the Responsible Reform Report (Campbell et al. 2012) highlighted the flaws in both the practical aspects of the consultation (mainly barriers to participation) and the responses selected to form the government’s response. This has led to the veracity of the consultation itself being questioned by the Joint committee on Human Rights (Great Britain, Joint committee of Human Rights 2012a). The letter raises serious concerns about the government’s methods, using the Responsible Reform Report as evidence of the lack of “involvement of disabled people in its implementation” (Great Britain, Joint committee of Human Rights 2012a), a requirement under the UN Convention of persons with disabilities.

Although it can appear that the disability movement is generally against the medical profession it is more complex than that. As Lloyd (1992, p5) states that “the narrow defining of disability as clinical condition results in an all-pervasiveness of doctors' power over disabled people's lives”, it is more about the relationships between doctors and disabled people. The main aim of the social model was to unite and empower disabled people to regain control of their own experiences including questioning the medicalisation of their disability (as oppose to impairment) (Oliver 1990). The underlying theme of both the social and medical model is the power and control that disabled people have over their own experiences. This has been recognised in the implementation of DLA (Great Britain, Work and Pensions Committee 2012b) but is under threat in the way PIP is being assessed (DWP 2011c, DWP 2012b). The balance of power moves away from the disabled person onto a stranger and as the Responsible Reform Report (Campbell et al. 2012) demonstrates it is this specific point that people are opposed to and not the involvement of medical professionals who know them. As the Responsible Reform Report (Campbell et al. 2012, p23) states “the person best placed to give information about the effects of their disability or illness is the disabled person themselves” but also acknowdges the need for medical information to ensure the process is accurate and correct.

Although the Responsible Reform Report (Campbell et al. 2012) appears to contradict the government’s response, the report was only focused on 523 responses and not the 5000 that were received (Diaryofabenefitscrounger 2012, Great Britain, Joint committee of Human Rights 2012a). As the consultation report clearly demonstrates the general consensus was a positive response to the proposals (DWP 2011b). This clearly demonstrates a commitment to supporting and valuing disabled people and is another aspect that the government has incorporated into the delivery of the new benefit (BBC 2012b). The independent medical examination will increase the value of the claimants experience in the application process. This method doesn’t focus on the person’s impairment but the effects, limitations and adaptations socially created and the impact that has on the individual (DWP 2011c). This is in line with social model ideology as it shifts the focus away from the individual and onto the socially created barriers (Oliver 1996). As with the current out of work benefits, the need for medical professionals to have specialist knowledge is not required, simflying the system and ensuring a fairer application of the eligibility test (DWP 2011c, DWP 2012c). The use of targeted questions from specialised trained medical professionals will reveal a more extensive but focused portrayal of a claimant’s experience (DWP 2012b). It will enable people to openly discuss the impact that their impairment has on day-to-day life and will result in a more accurate claim (DWP 2012b). Unfortunately in the present system the focus is on the form being filled in correctly by the claimant, which is in itself a barrier for a lot of disabled people (DWP 2012c). By providing an appropriately trained and independent medical professional the government is shifting the focus away from a form which claimants have described as impersonal to (DWP 2011a) an unbiased and independent face to face edibility test which is less restrictive and a fairer system (DWP 2011a). In addition, because the focus is no longer on the individual’s impairment it reduces the need for medical information and the medicalisation of the benefit which is another aspect of social model ideology being used in the new benefit (DWP 2011c). The current application process doesn’t give claimants the best opportunities to communicate their needs appropriately, is overly medicalised and isn’t a fair system (Dwp 2012d).

However, although the wording of the latest impact assessment which states that the aim of PIP is “To create a new more active and enabling benefit that supports disabled people to overcome the barriers they face to leading full and independent lives” (DWP 2012d, p1) might appear to be centred on social model ideology it could be argued that its use is flawed (Scope 2012). The social model’s primary purpose was as a large-scale societal model and not applicable (or relevant) to individuals (Oliver 1990). The Future of PIP: A Social Model Based Approach (Scope 2012) highlights that the social model is being misapplied as the benefit fails to place the barriers experienced by disabled people in a societal context. By keeping them within the disabled person, is more akin to the medical model (Scope 2012). The social model splits off impairment and disability, and focuses solely on the redefined nature of disability (Oliver 1996). To attempt to apply the social model to impairment is a misapplication of its intended use.

It would be more appropriate to use a model similar to Crow (1996) who critiqued the social models large scale focus on disability, focusing more on the value of an individuals experience and impairment in shaping their disability in the context of the disabling effects of society. She argued that to ignore a person’s impairment takes away part of their identity (Crow 1996). Shakespeare (2006) also argued that for some disabled people the medicalisation of their experience is essential for their survival and denial of this within the social model fails to consider the individual nature of impairment and disability and homogenises disabled peoples experiences. The over simplication of impairment and disability within what is an inherently complex, nuanced and individualised benefit will result in a bias towards impairments that are consistent and easy to define and describe (Scope 2012, Campbell et al. 2012). Within the current system the form allows the claimant to provide a detailed account of their experience and allows them to shape and define it. As the DWP’s latest impact assessment states “the application for DLA is … subjective” (DWP 2012d). However, this is not a bad thing as it is used in conjunction with medical professionals who know the disabled person, to validate and verify their claim. Although this system might appear to be more medicalised it allows the claimant more autonomy (Great Britain, Work and Pensions Committee 2012b) than the proposed use of independent medical practitioners, which will shift the focus and power away from the claimant.

Taking into account all the flaws within the proposals it might appear that the use of face to face assessments with an independent medical practitioner to assess entitlement to benefit is inappropriate (Campbell et al. 2012, Oliver 1990) and will not work. However, the application process for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) provides an interesting solution, combining all the aspects that both the government and disabled people have deemed essential. In order to be eligible for DSA students need to provide medical evidence of the nature of their impairment using Equality Act parameters (Directgov nodatec).  The student then has an interview with an educational specialist to determine what barriers exist in accessing education and how they can be overcome using various technologies and practical solutions (Directgov nodatec). As Crowther (2012) states the application of this to the welfare system will result in a more holistic and rights based approach to benefits. It will enable disabled people “to realise his or her rights and to enjoy equal freedoms and opportunities.” (Crowther 2012, no page). Although this may appear to be a costly solution, by enabling disabled people to fully participate within society will result in financial benefits for all.

The government’s proposal to use independent medical professionals as the assessment process is just one example of how flawed this benefit reform is. Failing to involve disabled people within the reform process has resulted it being based on inaccurate assumptions about disabled peoples experiences and their needs. There is much opposition to reform, from charities (Scope 2012) The Joint committee on Human Rights (Great Britain, Joint committee of Human Rights 2012a) and disabled people (Campbell et al. 2012). Although the government has clearly stated their support of disabled people (BBC 2012), their intentions are different, which has resulted in fear and uncertainty, based on the impact the ESA reform is having (Greatrex 2012, Gentleman 2011).  

Accessibility

I hate the word accessibility. It is so ambiguous, it doesn't actually mean anything. Around 90% of the time the term accessible, or accessibility is referring to wheelchair access. So why not just say, wheelchair accessible? 

Its all a round about way of saying that disability equals wheelchair. I find it refreshing when I click on a venues information about "accessibility" and it mentions more than where the ramps or the disabled loo's are.

I have a mental health disability. I still have "access needs". There are still barriers that I face that can be removed in much the same way as ramps can be put up for wheelchairs. However, the main barriers I face are peoples attitudes, and no amount of legislation can account for that.

Let me give an example. The main way I hate the word accessible being used is with buses. An accessible bus in the bus companies eyes is one that has a ramp. It doesn't even make it accessible for wheelchair users on their own, let alone other disabled people. Although they have the disabled seats at the front of the bus, very often they are misused or their intention misunderstood, which results in a lot of hurt for people like me. However, going back to the word accessible, I always joke that my definition of an accessible bus is one without people on it.

However, societies misuse of the word accessible does have some hilarity to it. I always find it amusing to see peoples reactions when I head for the "accessible entrance" or the "accessible queue". If they question I will say I am disabled and watch their puzzled expressions with glee.

If the word accessible was expanded to actually mean considering all disabled people then the world would be like a different place. People would respect a persons need for a seat on a bus, or a door thats not to heavy to open. They would accept it when I say I need a carer, or even when I don't, but still present myself as disabled.

Everyone has access needs, its just the majority of the population have similar needs so its not overtly implied. Considering that the opposite of accessible is inaccessible,  surely it would make logic sense for all things to be accessible to all people?

The solution is out there

I remember the day well. It was summer 2007 and I was just about to start a foundation degree in photography that september. It was the first day I felt both 'properly disabled' and liberated at the same time.

I had just had my assessment of need for my Disabled students allowance. It is the equivalent (but complete opposite) to the assessment you have when you first claim benefits. The purpose of the assessment is to discover what impairments and disabilities I had (in the social model sense), and how barriers can be reduced or removed to enable me to complete whichever course of higher education I was about to undertake.

Although the inital part of the process was medicalised, in that I needed to provide medical evidence of my impairment and how it disables me long term the resulting discussion had a completly different focus. Impairment and disability were discussed in the context of barrier removal. So there was no dismissal or denial of the existance of my impairment. It was real, acknowledged, openly discussed and accepted. This is what my impairment is, this is how it could affect me, and this is my reality. However, it wasn't left at that.

The next part of the assessment was how can my reality be improved, changed or adapted through the use of various different things to enable me to achieve my full potential within the course. It was this bit that was revolutionary to me. No longer was someone saying you have an impairment, that means you can't do it, they were telling me, yes I can do it. Yes I can go and study, and yes I can move on, despite the impairment and despite these many barriers. I was offered things that I had never thought would help, or would have even considered before. My perceptions were changed from claiming this because i was disabled and somehow in need to being entitled to the same opportunities as everyone else, and being an allowance of enablement.

The assessor wasn't an expert in my impairment, to be honest, not a lot of people are. But, what she was an expert in was the way in which impairments can have an impact on study and learning. She wasn't medically trained, and was based within a college rather than a hospital or other medical setting. It makes sense, surely, that I would need an educational assessment when I am going into education?

There is no comparison to the polar opposite experience that people have reported when having a work capability assessment as part of the new Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). From the start, impairment and the disabling affects are questioned, no action is taken to overcome any barriers in the form of a personal action plan. No direct support is offered or equipment provided to enable the person to return to work. The persons own goals and aspirations are not taken into consideration. The person conducting the interview is a medical doctor, often in a medical setting. They are not experts in work, they are experts in medicine.

Imagine, if we had a system like the Disabled students allowance system for claiming out of work sickness benefits? You sat down with a person who was an expert in the world of work and how it can be adapted to enable disabled people to participate. You were given your own personalised targets of how you could get into work, or some other form of meaningful activity (if you see what i mean). There would be an equipment allowance to enable you to have assistive technology and other things to enable you. You would be empowered, motivated and able to think about working again. All in the one interview. You would be shown how you could overcome those barriers, but not in a patronising, there not really there sort of tone, but a realistic barrier removal language.

The equipment allowance would be agreed alongside your own personalized weekly allowance, and how long you think you will need to be on the benefit for before having another review. Everything would be justified, reasoned out and your needs placed in the centre. Voluntary work, education and  employment would be given the same merit, and the transition onto a longer term allowance would be negotiated if a wage wasn't possible.

The solution is out there people, just look to the higher education system. I firmly believe that it is the answer to how ESA should work.

Healing, disability and the social model.

This post is about how my christian faith interacts with the christian religion (or doesn't). Its not bible bashing, but wanted to make people aware of the content... This blogpost is dedicated to D who without realising it, helped me immensely with this concept last night. This blog is basically about that conversation and my thoughts around healing in a christian context.

So, the bible, written 2000 years ago says a lot about healing. But, fortunately for us society has moved on a bit since then. For a start, in the UK having an impairment is generally not seen as being sinful or somehow a punishment like it was back then. The concept of healing in the bible is very much centred on the illness or impairment being a problem and healing as a solution. For those with a bit of disability knowledge would immediately label that sort of thinking as 'medical model'. It is placed very much within the person, and the solution lies very much within the person.

In the 70's, 80's and 90's the rise of the social model transformed the concept of impairment and disability. No longer was impairment the problem, but it was society that was the problem for not adapting to the needs of a persons impairment and creating a disability. Unfortunately, it would appear, that churches haven't moved on like the rest of society, and still focus on a persons physical and mental state when it comes to healing.

I hate this idea. I don't need healing,  thank you very much. But before last night it was always for different reasons. It was because my impairment was a difference not a deficit, or that it was my impairment had a positive impact on my life etc etc etc. I had effectively fallen into the church model of disability, and responded to it in a medical self centred way.

However, if you put the social model and healing together, like my friend did last night (without realising it) you end up with this idea. It is no longer you that needs the healing, but it is society that needs it. It is society that is broken, has a problem with the way you are etc. and not you. It was as revolutionary as when i first heard about the social model. If the church thinks like this, then it would be a very interesting outcome indeed. Instead of the inevitable line of 'ill pray for you' that you get when you say your 'not well' to a christian, would they then say I'l pray that they'l provide you a 'ramp' instead?

Now I know this has the same problems as the social model, and that sometimes christian healing does have its place. However, the social model of disability applied to healing would surely transform what is an outdated concept of  illness, impairment and disability in the church?

I then went on to suggest that if we wanted a church that thought about healing in this way, then surely we would still need some form of healing ourselves? Basically, what this new way of healing is getting society to accept us as we are, but, then, how can we ask for this if we don't accept ourselves as we are?

I have come along way over the last year, accepting who I am, and having the confidence to say, this is who I am, this is what I need to make my life better and demanding better accessibility. But I fully accept that this has been a hard process to go through, but has resulted in a feeling of restoration and healing.

This is both in a christian and non christian context. Within social model ideology, the hidden and assumend pre requisite is that a person is happy with their impairment, and able to know what their own access needs are. You can not consider yourself disabled in a social model context without first defining what it means for you personally. You would stay at simply being impaired. There is a transition process that you go through of thinking that actually, this isnt my fault, but its society that could improve and not me.

I hope this has helped as much as it helped me to think about healing in a different way..

Posiition Statement.

This is for my uni work. Ultimately it will end up on my blog anyways, but this is just a first draft, that I am really wanting some peer feedback on. It is a position statement against this debate motion: The government’s proposal to use independent medical professionals to decide who does and doesn’t get the new DLA is the best solution.

Please read it, and if you want to make any comments please do. It will be fully referenced (I know, bad student who references AFTER they write the thing). I am really struggling with negative thinking at the moment and so I really need some unbiased opinions on it. Would it convince you that its a bad idea to go ahead with the medical exams? Go on, be a tory... see if I can convince you :)

The inevitable, inescapable future is that Disability Living Allowance is going to be replaced with a new benefit called personal independence payment. One of the big changes will be in the application process. No longer will disabled people have to fill in a 60-page tome about every depressing aspect of their existence, but according to the government anyway, be free to have a 'chat' with an independent assessor to determine eligibility. Sounds great right? No, no it isn't. The government might have dressed it up to look good, but the reality of this idea, and the fear that people have is deeply entrenched thanks to the Work Capability Assessment, the new medicals for the new incapacity benefit. Although the government says they are 'learning' from the mistakes of this, they still intend to use this model in the new benefit delivery.  That would be the medicals that even the designer and creator have condemned to the rubbish heap. So, what are the problems?

Firstly, the problem is that the governments definition of independence seems to have found from a dictionary that none of the British public are privy to. True independence can only be found when a person is doing something without influence from another person. This is not the case with the government’s proposals. As with the previous incarnation of the new style medical, the likelihood is that this work will be outsourced to a private company. It is in this monetary transaction that independence is traded in for profit. Think about it. The company’s clients are the government, their contract is with them, and it is in their best interests to comply with their client’s orders. As it is the stated aims of the government’s new Personal independence payment to reduce the caseload and expenditure, that is what will also be the company’s aims, and the statistics will reflect this. (As has happened with the new sickness benefits)

By implication, the government’s proposal casts doubt on the independence of the current system. In fact, they have even alluded to this themselves. Apart from the detailed, 60 page form that claimants have to fill in, there is also room for a 'statement from someone who knows you best', (something the government is getting rid of in the new process) and the opportunity for a person to nominate a medical professional to present evidence. In fact, by obtaining evidence from all these sources reduces the risk of a bad decision being made, and increases the independence and equality in the process. There is even provision for another medical assessment to be made in house by the DWP if the decision maker doesn't feel able to make a decision based on the evidence they have. I would argue that the current application process is more independent that what is being proposed, and that if the governments aim was that of true independence then they should simply expand their in house medical services, but keep the ethos of the current benefit, where the claimants needs and voice are placed firmly in the centre.

The second thing that is at risk with the proposed changes to Disability Living Allowance is autonomy and authenticity. Although the current system can not be classed as wholly autonomous or even authentic, what it does do is directly involve disabled people and values their voice in making a decision about eligibility. The phrase ‘nothing about us 

without us’ has become one of the key principals of the disability movement and it is increasingly being adopted by different areas in society including this application process for DLA. The current ideology around this is that the claimant and their own medical professionals are the most authentic agents to provide a true picture of how their disability affects them. Contrary to popular opinion the application process is complex and uses many different pieces of evidence to support a claim. The focus isn’t medicalised, but the effect of impairment on a person’s life. The medical professionals current role is to simply verify the authenticity of the impairment and to provide any additional supporting evidence. The claimant has the autonomy to define their own experience within the confines of the other evidence gathered, and as a result the system is very effective with only a 0.5% rate of fraud.   The proposals to take away the claimants automy in the process will result in a shift of power to the medical professionals.

It is this shift in the power balance that is the third fatal flaw of this proposal that needs highlighting.  

This was another concern raised in the responsible reform report. For disabled people, the ability to be in control and have some power over their lives is key to their independence. The concept of self-determination is another key principal in the disability movement and it is another thing, which is under threat by the government’s proposal to give decision-making power to ‘independent’ doctors. This distinct shift in power away fro the claimant has been justified by the government with fairness in mind. However, what will result is an unbalanced and rigid system of medical professionals unable to cope with the complexities of a disabled persons experience, whose sole responsibility is to determine eligilibty. By reducing the ‘gatekeepers’ to the benefit to just independent medical professionals increases their power, responsibility and control exponentially. This will increase the risk of mistakes and poor decision-making. According to the Spartacus report the fear is that this proposal is too similar to the current sickness benefit system that has been widely acknowledged as failing (40% appeal success rate is evidence of this). Important decisions need to be made with as many stakeholders as possible. This reduces power to one agency and spreads it more evenly. This results in the claimant with some degree of control over their own experiences. The model that social services use is just one example of this.

Ultimately, the decision to use independent medical professionals to determine who does and doesn’t receive disability benefits is fatally flawed, and is widely feared. With the governments publicly declared aim to reduce the caseload by 20% when the fraud rate is at 0.5%, 500,000 disabled people will be taken off a benefit to which they were previously entitled. To use independent medical professionals will unfairly target people with certain impairments who find it difficult to define, easily shape and share their experiences. It will be a shift away from a benefit with disabled people at the centre of the decision making process and will result in a loss of power, control and ultimately a persons ability to live.

 

links for my essay..

I'm writing a Government vs spartacusreport essay at uni. I'm just using this space to keep a track of links I need, as I am having to use many computers. I would keep it by email, but might as well here... essay now written.. link to ll aspects includig full refernce list here: http://allbigideas.blogspot.com/2012/05/governments-proposal-to-use-independent.html

1) need for reform agreed with by all sides: "I accept that there needs to be changes to disability benefit" tgt here: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:6bv90Qx6x_sJ:www.guardian.co.uk/society/blog/2012/jan/17/disability-welfare+welfare+reform+disability+campaigners+acknowledges+need+for+it&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a (at 10:46am) and here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2012/jan/17/disibility-living-allowance-overpayment

2)

3) miller: no inbuilt reassessment:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2012/jan/17/disibility-living-allowance-overpayment
4: lifetime awards (miller:audio) http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9679000/9679650.stm

5)

6) disabld? just fill in a form http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2060067/Disabled-benefit-Just-form-200-000-got-handouts-year-face-face-interview.html

7) discrediting from media: the media either ignored our struggle or discredited us with ever wilder rounds of "scrounger" headlines, creating a climate of fear and prejudice. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/08/disabled-people-welfare-reform-sham
8) lifetime awards: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9679000/9679650.stm
9) lifetime awards=lifetime illness http://wheresthebenefit.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/just-form-some-benefit-myths.html
10: legal duty to disclose change in circs: http://www.cpag.org.uk/cro/wrb/wrb196/reporting.htm

11:reassessments are a waste of money http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmworpen/1493/149303.htm

12 n 13 : hatecrie nd the media http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmworpen/1493/149303.htm

14: 0.5 % http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd2/index.php?page=fraud_error

15: (see 1)

16: what reform should be focused on: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16095 Everyone agrees that the current system needs to be simplified and improved. But that is not achieved by cuts, shoddy statistics, late reporting, attempts to subvert parliamentary process (Lord Freud's procedural tactics last week) and statistical evasion. The case for a significant re-examination and re-think on the government's part is overwhelming.

17: ordfrued (see1)

18: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2010/dla-reform.shtml

19: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmworpen/1493/149304.htm

20: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/17/welfare-reforms-sustainable-system

21: http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/latest-news2/news-focus/miller-holds-firm-on-dla-reform

22 www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dla-aa-6pp-factual.pdf


23: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Disabledpeople/DG_10022605

24 =: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmworpen/1493/149304.htm (19)
25: see 14

26:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/video/2012/feb/06/tanni-grey-thompson-video

27: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/feb/01/work-capability-assessment

28 www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/personal-independence-payment-faqs.pdf

29:? 

32:   http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmworpen/1015/101502.htm     atos enquiry


Dear all confused about #esa, blue badges etc. The govt have deliberately altered criteria so ppl don't qualify. That simple, that evil
https://twitter.com/#!/BendyGirl/status/190392116302721025

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/12/atos-doctors-sign-official-secrets-act
ATOS and the O.S.A
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-17784012
REmploy protests
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/feb/05/benefit-cuts-fuelling-abuse-disabled-people

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/video/2012/feb/06/tanni-grey-thompson-video
T.G.T video, 500 thousand people, and fear.
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/latest-news2/news-focus/miller-holds-firm-on-dla-reform
Agrree on need for reform
http://www.disabilitynow.org.uk/latest-news2/medical-test-for-dla

http://www.cot.co.uk/event/health-and-disability-assessments-exploring-role-occupational-therapists