‘Life-saving’ programmes axed by Disability Alliance Outbreak forces Glasgow group to suspend its daily activities

GLASGOW Disability Alliance has been forced to suspend some of it’s “life-saving” programmes amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

The organisation provides support to over 5000 members across Greater Glasgow that helps to build confidence, creates connections and teaches skills to those with disabilities.

Chief executive Tressa Burke said: “I’ve got concerns that without our alliance and disabled people’s organisations, disabled people will once again go to the bottom of the pile. That’s what history has taught us.

“Research shows that in periods of disaster and austerity, disabled people’s priorities go to the bottom of society and they’re a casualty of austerity.”

Following government advice, the organisation has temporarily cancelled daily programmes such as confidence building, first aid, music, coping with anxiety, drama and healthy eating.

Tressa added: “I cried last night when I had to put the message across Twitter.

“Not all of our members have access to the hardware and technology for broadband and connectedness.

“Our main point is that we bring disabled people together with other disabled people and it doesn’t look like we will be able to physically do that over the next while.”

Ideas are currently being brainstormed by the alliance that will allow their service users to be connected in alternative ways.

Tressa added: “Although this is scary, I am so ambitious to ensure we can do everything we can to keep our members connected.

“We’re brainstorming ideas and currently in talks of holding telephone conferences.

“We’re constantly thinking about what we can do and I’m so confident we can still provide support.

“I’m anxious and fearful but I know that our organisation can do what we can.

“As disabled people, we are used to being creative and having to find a work around way.

“The connectivity is vital and we’ll obviously try everything we can but we’re not going to have the same reach at first.

“We hope we’ll have a ripple effect and the energy will drive it. I believe we can connect people in a different way for a temporary period.

“What I don’t believe is that this is a replacement. It’s a temporary stop gap until we get back to business.” our life-saving