17/10/09
Dear Jacqui Smith, Home Secretary,
As you can see bellow I have made complaints about disabilist comments, attitudes and behaviour aimed towards me as an Autistic, Neuro-Diverse professional, user lead advisor, educator and consultant in the field of Autism, Neuro-Diversity and mental health to various government departments and the UN disability convention that sadly again, in my contact and correspondence with the Home Office I have been subjected to disabilism again. As an active member of the Human Rights and Civil Liberties movements especially in my field of interest, Autism and Co-Morbid and associated conditions (as mentioned above) again I need to bring to your attention, not for the first time in my work that reasonable adjustments as per my requested access needs were not met by the Home Office which is totally against your disability equality duty. I am duly informed and have experienced in my research that out of all the government departments the Home Office is the worst, not just for people living with autism/neuro-diversity and mental health issues but for the wider disabled community.
In my work I have been liaising on basic human rights issues and civil liberties with Shami Chakrabarti and others at Liberty and like many more individuals within the autistic/neuro-diversity rights movements and wider mental health and disability rights movement are pro actively campaigning within the Garry Mackinnon case. All I tried to do this morning was to ring your office to ask some questions to you as the minister about this case. At the present time, I am not typing this letter, it is being dictated to my PA/support worker. This is not her job, it is the duty of all service providers and statutory bodies under the DDA 2005 to accommodate the needs of all disabled people. This morning, my needs were ridiculed and I was forced to make my own written notes which caused me a great deal of physical pain, distress and discomfort. This complaint has been made to the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Liberty.
The EHRC and Liberty are well informed that I am an autistic/neuro-diverse person without any assistance, support and technology aids and equipment, which I am fighting for. This is why I asked for assistance this morning, I don't have the technological aids I require so have to ask for the support of staff and officers. This clearly shows your lack of understanding of the needs of Autistic individuals and it is no wonder you do not understand Garry's needs.
I would like some conciliation/mediation under the DDA 2005, I am happy for this to be facilitated by Liberty and the EHRC.
The EHRC, Liberty and others are well aware of the autistic rights movement anxieties and concerns around Gary’s case, not just for autistic people but ALL disabled people, especially those with neurological differences, developmental disorders, learning disabilities, specific learning disabilities, and those living with mental ill health/distress are all at risk. This has been brought to the attention of the EHRC and the government as a basic human rights and civil liberties issue which has a strong public interest. Liberty have taken on my concerns and that of the autistic/neuro-diversity movement and the wider disability movement. Liberty have expressed their concerns and we all feel that this is a one way treaty which is in breach of the UN convention. Are you aware that Gary, as an EU citizen could take this to the UN disability convention as it has been ratified by the EU?
I would like some of my questions answering about this case;
Has a disability equality impact assessment been done on the Gary Mackinnon case?
Has Mr Mackinnon been represented throughout due process by a specialist barrister who has expertise within the field of autistic spectrum conditions/neuro-diversity and co-morbid conditions. In the UK Gary is defined a disabled person with a learning disability and mental health problem, in the USA Asperger Syndrome is defined as a pervasive developmental disorder which is not used in the UK or the EU community so which medical/clinical definition will be used in Gary's case?
Has this case been brought to the attention of Her Majesty the Queen for the consideration for a royal pardon? Gary is not a bad person, he is a disabled person who’s behaviour was fuelled by fear and anxiety. He is not a terrorist and the way he is being treated like one is deeply effecting him and his family as well as other disabled people. Please note that if he was a terrorist I would be backing your decision 100%.
No-one in the Home Office understands that Gary’s behaviour has been fuelled by anxiety, as he was left undiagnosed for so long his anxiety would have been out of control. He is in his current position because there has been a serious failure to discharge a duty of care by the UK state. He should have been diagnosed a long time ago, this is clear negligence. It appears that you are now questioning the legitimacy of his diagnosis, he has been assessed by two leading experts in the field who are willing to testify in court.
This case is causing me a great deal of anxiety and distress. I feel threatened by this and need some reassurance from you. Can you empathise with my severe anxieties on this? This is why I am asking if you have done a disability impact assessment.
Yours Sincerely
Colin Revell - CEO Neuro-Diversity and Autism Action Group (NAAG).
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From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
CC: [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: Helpline call
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:47:23 +0100
Neil/Reni,
I would also like to know what has happened with my previous complaints about the Home Office, Hayley said there were no other Home Office complaints on my file but I have made some.
Colin Revell
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From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
CC: [log in to unmask]
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:25:17 +0100
Subject: Helpline call
Hi Collin,
Thank you for your recent helpline enquiry. Your reference is 1-3208145.
Here is a copy of the notes that I have forwarded to Reni Parekh and Neil Crowther as requested, and also my team leader.
Caller has an issue with Home Office. He is involved with the Gary MacKinnen case. He has great concern about this, and he attempted to speak to someone within Jackie Smith's office within the Home office. Caller explained that he has autism and asked for reasonable adjustments as he has problems with writing things down. The person who answered the phone at Jackie Smith's office laughed at him and refused to give caller his name. He also made discriminatory comments and antagonised caller - he wouldn't listen when caller explained that he appeared to be shouting as he has autism. He also wouldn't email information to caller. He also refused to put caller through to his line manager, or the data protection officer to request a recording of the conversation. This happened this morning, so caller called helpline immediately. He is very distressed about this issue, and called the helpline as he could not get through to Neil Crowther or Reni Parekh.
Kind regards,
Hayley
Helpline Operator
Equality and Human Rights Commission
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