The DLL Conference Ignores Disabled 'Service Users' in its Workshops

I am very saddened to read that the speakers on Social Care the Crisis does not include a disabled representative who uses a social care package or represents disabled people – Toni Scott (author and carer), Henry Bamford (social worker), Ellen Lebethe (Chair, Lambeth Pensioners Action Group), Rita Chamber (Social Care Commissioner). 

Indeed, this is exactly the way Lambeth Council has treated, and continues to treat disabled people. A couple of years ago when LC formed an Equalities Commission they failed, and refused, to include a single disabled 'service user'. Instead, they chose a list of 20+ Commissioners to make decisions that impact directly, and usually detrimentally, upon disabled peoples lives.

At the time I flagged up this anomalous situation. Surely this was an oversight easily remedied by co-opting disabled ‘service users’, and DPOs, onto the Commission. No. This wasn’t an oversight. The Council reps gave their reason: “This could prove difficult. How would we select the disabled people and DPOs?”

Disabled people in Lambeth are used to being ignored by their ‘Co-operative’ Council. The concept of ‘nothing about us without us’ is lost on the mentality of politicians who view social care as a pinch on the public purse; people who instruct their officers to deliver the service as they see fit provided it is pared to the bone, and beyond.

While carers, social workers, pensioner representatives and social care commissioners will deliver a workshop around ‘Social Care and the Crisis’, I argue that their narrative will be very different to those of us with the lived experience. 

Could someone answer these questions? If we wanted to know about LGBTQ experiences would we approach a straight man as a competent representative of gay and lesbian people? If we wished to learn about how period poverty impacts on women would we ask a 30-something bloke? How about if we desired to learn about the fear that our Black friends experience around the hostile environment created by this government, we certainly wouldn’t pose the question to a white middle-class person.

Some weeks ago, I volunteered to as a speaker in this workshop. Why me? you may ask. Well here are a few reasons:

1.   I am a disabled person who has campaigned for equal rights for three decades.

2.   I receive a social care package that I’ve managed for twelve years

3.   I work as a direct payment officer in Lambeth

4.   I understand the Equality and Care Acts

5.   I get and live by the social model of disability

6.   I was the Unite Branch Secretary of the five London Remploy factories 

7.   I Chaired Unite’s Disabled Members Committee for twelve years

8.   I Chair the TUC Disabled Workers Committee

9.   I am the Disabled Representative on the TUC General Council

10.I’m a member of DPAC

Why am I forced to compare the DLL with Lambeth Council? Why is the DLL ignoring the voice of disabled people? We’re Socialists. Surely, we’re above the practices of our Right-wing Labour Council? 

As disabled people prepare to face another tranche of service cuts, we need support and solidarity from all good Left activists. If we can’t look to groups such as the DLL to march alongside us, then we are indeed lost.