UK Disabled People’s Manifesto: Reclaiming Our Futures

The aim of this manifesto – developed by disabled people and their organisations across the UK – is to map the key principles, demands and commitments that disabled people and our allies can use in campaigning and lobbying. It calls on the Westminster and devolved Governments to recognise and act on their responsibilities in fully implementing the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) effectively across the UK.

The manifesto uses a Social Model of Disability definition, that is: that economic, cultural and political forces work to disable people and exclude those of us with impairments or long term health conditions. We use the term disabled people in this manifesto to include those with physical, cognitive and sensory impairments, people with learning difficulties; Deaf people, deafened, hard of hearing people, mental health system users, and survivors, and others.

We recognise our commonalties in fighting for change as well as our multiple identities including: class, Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) identities, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) identities, gender, age, faith. The manifesto identifies our common cause in challenging our exclusions together.  It recognises that we do so in the context of our shared principles and under the banners of the Social Model of Disability and the Cultural Model of Deafness.

Our manifesto sets out our shared vision for an inclusive and equal society free from economic, social and cultural barriers.  It does not claim to be exhaustive or set out extensive plans and proposals. It is rather a ‘road-map’ setting out a vision for real sustainable change and alternative approaches to key areas of our lives. It is a living document that will be developed in the lead up to the 2015 elections.

Disabled people are impacted by overall austerity cuts 9 times more than the rest of the population and disabled people with the severest impairments are experiencing cuts 19 times greater compared with the rest of the population. We are losing £28 billion of essential welfare support. Our local authority, social care and other support systems are in crisis, while our rights and the opportunities to exercise those rights, are under threat as never before. In 2013 we see that austerity measures are failing the vast majority of our citizens, poverty is increasing and disabled people are seeing support stripped away as part of the imposed austerity policies. Yet, the HM Revenue and Customs estimate a ‘tax gap’ of £32 billion per year because of corporate tax evasion and avoidance whilst other tax experts put the ‘tax gap’ figure at £120 billion per year.

There are 11 million disabled people in the UK. We want to see a society that supports and enables full citizenship for all. A well-resourced and efficient welfare infrastructure is achievable. Disabled people must have the enforceable right to live independently and to live a life of full inclusion, spontaneity, choice, family, friends, education, work and community. The state must provide appropriate funding and support to enable disabled people and all people to live lives of equality, independence, and dignity.

UK_Disabled_People__s_Manifesto___Reclaiming_Our_Futures

Via Kindred Minds