Learning Disability Alliance Scotland

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
Making Connections - Making A Difference

Prejudice against people with learning disabilities

Turning Point has foudn that people with learning disabilities face widespread prejudice and ignorance among the general population.

One-third of people did not believe people with learning disabilities could live independently or carry out a full-time job.

Just over a fifth expected people with learning disabilities to live in a care home and about one tenth said they would expect them to be cared for in a secure hospital.

Over half of those polled (51%) felt learning disabled people were the most discriminated against group in society, ahead of gay people (44%) and people from black and minority ethnic groups (44%).

Adam Penwarden, Turning Point's director of learning disability services, said: "As a sector, we need to work together to challenge preconceptions and show what a positive contribution to society people with a learning disability can make. This includes working, living independently and playing an active role within the local community."
 

Does the new law on harassment work?

Last year new legislation was passed which made it possible for those who attack people with learning disabilities to be treated more seriously.  However the failure of the police or the Procurator Fiscal's office to use this legislation makes us wonder if it is any more than jsut window dressing.  

BBC Scotland reports that "Two teenage girls carried out a prolonged "degrading" assault on a vulnerable young man, Arbroath Sheriff Court has heard.  Paige Sharp, 16, and Danielle Sinclair, 17, admitted assaulting the 21-year-old man, who suffered from learning difficulties."  Read the story here.

The intensity, nature and duration of their attack indicates that the girls knew they were attacking someone with learning disabilities and took advantage of this.  Yet they have not been charged underthe new law and will get lighter sentences as a result.  

The question we are asking is has anyone at all been charged under the new legislation?

 

Further restrictions at the ILF

The Independent Living Fund (ILF) has taken further steps to restrict access to the fund.  The ILF will not be accepting any new applications for the remainder of the year, and is unable to make any further awards, except those they have already agreed to fund. The ILF will process the some 600 new ILF applicants within this financial year as a result of offers of funding already made.Originally 1000 new applicants had been expected this year but the first awards have been higher than normal.  Possibly this may be due to people rushing to get in before the door closes with high support packages.  

The ILF says that the measures will ensure that the existing 21,000 ILF users' awards continue at their current level.  However, the ILF will not  increase individual awards above the amount already paid, other than additional support to meet some of their employer responsibilities, and in response to certain changes in their income.

Explaining the position, Patrick Boyle, ILF Chief Executive, said, "Our first priority is the 21,000 disabled people we currently support to achieve high quality independent lives.  Our Trustees have acted quickly in their decision to protect this group and to meet their responsibility to manage within budget.

Following on from earlier decisions to restrict access to those in work this new development is worrying. 

 

Budget cuts in DLA

Perhaps one of the most worrying aspects of the Budget is the proposed new "Objective Medical Assessment" for all new and existing DLA claimants.  It is claimed by the Chancellor that this will help focus DLA on those in most medical need.The target saving is over £1 billion pounds a year with 5 years time.  That is nearly 10% of all payments and since it is likely to affect most claimants on the lower levels of DLA probably nearly 30% of all claimants will lose out.  

Disability Living Allowance is these to help with the extra costs of a disability.  It is not means tested adn can help people when they are in work or support them in the transition to and from work.  This cuts is unfair.  

The assessemnt they are likely to use is the type as used by the Employment Support Allowance, a computerised diagnosis which takes information and rejects huge numbers of applications.  However 60% of those rejected are succesful on appeal.  We cannot help but think the aim is to make people less likely to claim DLA and to make sure that many don't bother appealing against a bad decision. 

 

Carers Charter Launched Wednesday

This Wednesday sees the launch of the Charter For Change which calls for 5 simple steps to make life easier for older families still caring for an adult son or daughter with learning disabilities.   New figures from LDAS suggest that there may be as many as 7,000 older carers in Scotland.  For more information on the Charter visit www.charterforchange.com

The five points of the charter cover

  1. Accurate research on numbers
  2. Person Centred Planning
  3. Dedicated Lead Officers
  4. Emergency Planning
  5. A right to advocacy
 
More Articles...


Page 2 of 16

Main Menu

Donate to the Learning Disability Alliance

Donate using PayPal
Amount:

Specialist News

Login

Registering with us will allow you access to minutes of our meetings and to contribute in the discussion forum

Our Message

Individuals have a learning disability. Individuals with a learning disability water ski, play backgammon, get married and have children. Individuals with a learning disability can also need help 24 hours a day to eat, drink and go to the toilet. Don't assume! Everybody is an indvidual.