We all want a decent quality of life for ourselves and those we care about. Yet two million Disabled people are trapped in deep poverty, unable to afford to eat or to heat their home.
Social security doesn’t cover the hidden or additional costs of disability – things like electricity to run vital equipment and transport to get out of your home. And too many workplaces are unwilling to employ Disabled people.
At NSUN, we and our members have long-since highlighted the deep connections between disability, mental health, and poverty, and raised serious concern about the distress caused by the hostile and punitive social security system. Recent rhetoric has seen Disabled people blamed for failing economic policy, with a focus on getting people “back to work”, without any acknowledgment that work can be inaccessible or even harmful, especially if people are forced into insecure jobs or poor working conditions. Recent reforms seem to be focussed on reducing peoples’ access to social security and increasing sanctions, rather than support. All of this threatens to cause further distress and harm to Disabled people, including people with lived experience of mental ill-health, distress, and trauma.
That’s why NSUN is backing the national Campaign for Disability Justice, calling on the Government to work with organisations led by Disabled people to guarantee:
Opportunity
To support employers to create more accessible jobs and to ensure Disabled people have voluntary access to good quality employment support, without the threat of sanctions.
Security
To guarantee a decent standard of living for Disabled people, in or out of work, that adequately accounts for the additional costs they face. Improve social security so that everyone can live a decent life, whether they’re in work or not.
Respect
To lead the way in building a society that respects and values Disabled people and supports the development of local Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs).
This is a significant initiative to call for change, supported by leading organisations such as Disability Rights UK, DPAC, Inclusion London and Inclusion Scotland, as well as many other organisations.
You can sign up to support the campaign and find more information on the Campaign for Disability Justice website.