> From: [log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]> CC: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]> Subject: RE: [danmail] Ignoring the DDA 2005: Failure to get back to us concerning the inclusion of Autistic Disabled People's Organisations (DPOs) at the Thursday 4th December 2008 Meeting of the Department of Health Autism Southern Stakeholder Group Meeting in> Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2008 09:43:28 +0000> > > Adrian et al> > As you know today (3/12/08) is the International day of Disabled People; tomorrow (4/12/08) European Day of Disabled People.> > In reading your emails, I could not agree with you more, especially as you are informed of 'Disabilist' behaviour which I have experienced this week by the DoH, as part of the DoH 'Autism and NeurpoDiversity 'Stakeholders' group is beyond believe.> > This behaviour towards me has been emailed to Shami Chakrabarti and others at Liberty and it's clear indicators to me the continued ignorance and 'Disabilist' attitudes' towards Autistic/Neurodiverse people within the DoH and all other public bodies due to our 'neuro-behavioural differences', which all these public bodies find very 'challenging' to deal with, especially our 'directness, honestly and emotionally charged' behaviour, which under 'meltdown' eposides, causes by 'environmental-triggers' and officers/Professionals within these public bodies triggering 'stress'; which everyone knows that Autistics/Neurodiverse people, especially those on the 'spectrum' who are 'hypersensitive', like myself, have very 'low-intolerance stress levels', but under statutory disability equality duty theu can't meet our needs and by 'ignoring' and 'ecluding' 'Us', then they are is serious breach of the disability equality and wider equality and basic human rights duties.> > As I said I am not surprised that you are being continually 'ignored' and caused frustration, distress by Elaine Hill and others within DoH.> > As I said this is par for the course within 'Disabilist' attitudes and behaviour towards Autistic/Neurodiverse stakeholders within DoH and all other public bodies.> > None of these Officers/Professionals within the DoH and other public bodies have had no 'Disability Equlaity Training (DET) and specific 'specialist' ASC's and Neurological-Behavioural Diiferences (NeuroDiversity) under the DDA 2005 and HRA 1998, this is the outcome of my empirical research and my 'lived-experiences' in dealings with the DoH and all other public bodies and Government Dpts in the UK.> > They can't even respond to complaints within a 'reasonable' time-limits' and make reasonable-adjustments in accommodation of assessede needs, or respond to phone-calls and as I said now they can't even speak with 'Us' on the telephone, without them making 'disabilist' comments about our 'behaviour'.> > As you know today (3/12/)8) is the day that DoH and all public bodies have to produce their Disability Equality statement, like you and I am waiting to see what has been written within these DES, about 'ASC's and NeuroLogical Behavioural Differences (NeuroDiversity) and what the DoH and all other are going to do within the statutory duties to include all ASC's/NeuroDiverse indviduals and our Disabled Peoples Organisations.> > Have they stated within the Disability and equality Impact Assessments that they have a statutory duty to 'consult' with all Disabled Peoples' Organisations ( 'Of, not 'For'), which is in-line with the Prime Ministers Improving Life Chancesx Report, which both you and I was pro-actively involved as ASC/ND consultnts.> > The DoH and all other public bodies and Government Depts still want to patronise and treat us like children and havea need to 'consult' with our 'baybysitters', from these unrepresented Charities, like National Autistic Society and other, who seem they think they have the 'monopoly'and claim upon 'Our' ASC's/ND 'voices' and 'lived-esxperiences'.> > NAS and no other charity and ULO's represent my 'voices' and 'lived-experiences', without my permission and authority to do so; this is the continued strong campaigning message across the 'grassroots' Autistic/NeuroDiversity, Mental Health 'Survivors' and wider Disabled Peoples 'basic' human rights and civil liberiies movements (especially within the Disabled Peoples 'Direct-Action' Network (DAN) and allies) under 'Nothing About Us, Without Us'.> > The DoH and all other public bodies seem to be having great difficulties understanding their statutory disability equalities duties towards DPO's, and can't come up with any creative and imaginationary ideas on how to 'include' and effectively engage with DPO's, especially representatives from ASC's/ND DPO's, they still have these patronisng and outdated; 'Does (s)he take sugar atttitudes and behaviours', which is so patronising and pity and is 'Institutionalised-Disabilism.> > I state this publically on the 'International Day of Disabled People'.> > FREEOURPEOPLE> > > Colin Revell , CEO NeuroDiversity and Autism Action Group (NAAG), Hull and East Riding DAN and 'independent' 'user-led' 'Inter-Governmental Consultant, educator and advisor on ASC's/ND's, Mental Healtyh Issues and wider Disability isssues, inter alia (amongst other things).> > See copy of Adrian Whyatt's email included below for those who have not seen and read his email..... > > > > To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]> CC: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]> From: [log in to unmask]> Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 18:56:19 +0000> Subject: [danmail] Ignoring the DDA 2005: Failure to get back to us concerning the inclusion of Autistic Disabled People's Organisations (DPOs) at the Thursday 4th December 2008 Meeting of the Department of Health Autism Southern Stakeholder Group Meeting in London> > > *Re:* *Ignoring the DDA 2005: Failure to get back to us concerning the> inclusion of Autistic Disabled People's Organisations (DPOs) at the Thursday> 4th December 2008 Meeting of the Department of Health Autism Southern> Stakeholder Group Meeting in London *> > To: Elaine Hill, Government Specialist Advisor for Autism> > Dear Elaine Hill> > There can be little doubt that the vast majority of the autistic community> will welcome, in principle, the fact that the UK Government has seen fit,> for the very first time, to appoint a full-time Government Specialist> Advisor for Autism. Though, even with this appointment provision will remain> far less than it is for other comparable disabilities.> > LARM has participated in the "Rewards and Recognitions Scheme" which has> funded small payments to disabled people's organisations for participating> in consultations.> > I was also pleased on Saturday, November 29th 2008, when you spoke at the> National Autistic Society (NAS) 2008 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and South> East Member's Day and promised me afterwards to contact me on this email and> the London Autistic Rights Movement (LARM) on their email> [log in to unmask] Monday. I warned you that, if we did not have a> response including a> confirmed invite to LARM to participate in this Stakeholder Meeting by the> end of Monday, I would complain personally, whatever position LARM took> formally. You also had a meeting at the NAS AGM with my fellow LARM Steering> Group Member, David Shamash. I also informed you that I would be unable to> attend the Stakeholder Meeting on Thursday, 4th December 2009 personally as> it is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, namely the> Presentation of the Theotokos (aka the Mother of God, the Ever Virgin Mary)> in the Holy Temple. If the Department of Health (DoH) wishes to be seen> as serious about equality and diversity then it must avoid holding meetings> with members of stakeholder groups, or public consultations on major> religious feastdays. However, I expressed the hope that another member of> LARM could make it to the meeting, despite short notice.> > I made it plain to you that LARM needs to be involved, under the DDA 2005> Disability Equality Duty (DED), as the leading campaigning organisation> consisting entirely *of* autistic people in any Stakeholder Group, in the> UK. All significant democratic autistic activists that we are aware of in> the UK belong to our politics of autism email group as do many significant> activists from overseas. We also reach more people through face-to-face> meetings, especially those who have limited email access.> > I reminded you that your speech had failed to mention the DED, and that LARM> met formally with the Office for Disability Issues (ODI) to discuss our> comments and proposals in response to the Government's Independent Living> Review (ILR).> > I certainly welcome the recent public moves by Mark Lever, the new Chief> Executive Officer (CEO) of the NAS to consult with and involve autistic DPOs> and naturally responded positively to his invitation to become involved,> pointing out some of the benefits in my reply to him of our accepting an> invitation to examine the NAS's new Ladbroke Grove Service in London. Soon> after that the NAS Board and Council formally accepted his report> recommending involving autistic (and other) DPOs as a matter of course.> > Mark Lever told me on Saturday that Stakeholder Groups which do not involve> DPOs would tend to lack credibility.> > It has to be pointed out that the *Department of Health* as a whole was> criticised at the recent (October 29, 2008) very short notice "PREPARING THE> SECRETARY OF STATE REPORT ON THE DISABILITY EQUALITY DUTY: Report of an> event hosted by RADAR to enable disability organisations to advise the> Department of Health". This includes a call to "stop the practice of 'if I> don't like the answer I'll consult someone else' and consult user-led> organisations as equal partners". It was noted, despite a legal requirement> to the contrary, that even over the DED which specifically requires> the *involvement> *of disabled people and our organisations, in preference to organisations> not led by us, on p.5.:> > " Previous consultations have often involved organisations FOR disabled> people when there are organisations OF (for instance, on stroke, autism).> Engagement must not ignore disabled people themselves."> > Also criticised (e.g. over the Single Equality Duty and DED) and more> generally was the failure to use databases to ensure that disabled people> and our organisations which have been involved in one consultation are> automatically asked their views in other relevant consultations.> > Unfortunately the Autism Stakeholder Group, to date, has been a clear> example of a failure to do this.> > This is unacceptable and must change.> > I also await an explanation of your failure to write to me on Monday as> promised.> > Yours sincerely> > *Adrian Whyatt*> > IN A PERSONAL CAPACITY, Adrian Whyatt, Member, LARM Steering Group and RADAR> Trustee, inter alia (amongst other things)> _________________________________________________________________> Imagine a life without walls. See the possibilities. > http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/122465943/direct/01/
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