Austerity should not be used to erode the rights of disabled people

STEPHEN NAYSMITH is to be congratulated for highlighting the plight of Margaret McEwan (“Social care cuts force vulnerable from homes”, The Herald, October 22) and thousands of other people with physical impairments, learning difficulties and mental illness throughout the country, currently threatened with a return to discredited institutional models of care.

For moe than 50 years the disabled people’s independent living movement has fought hard to secure the right of disabled people to live as equal citizens in the community, actively participating in its socioeconomic life. Despite our successes in developing legislation to secure this human right, it has been persistently and consistently undermined by those in central and local government making decisions over the resources so fundamental to making our social inclusion a reality.

While it is argued “this has to be done” because we are living under austerity measures, it is highly doubtful austerity would be used as a justification to erode the human rights of other protected groups – women, for example.

The values, ethics and principles that inform professional social work in Scotland, and much of the legislation that governs its practice, are in direct conflict with the need for public bodies to reflect reduced spending in their bottom line.

It is in this context that earlier this summer Independent Living in Scotland published “Our shared ambition for the future of social care support in Scotland”, with the support of Inclusion Scotland, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Engender, Scottish Care, Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services, Coalition of Care and Support and many others.

Its call for sustained public investment in the development of a modern, nationwide infrastructure of social care support to protect human rights, tackle inequalities and sustain Scotland’s social and economic prosperity is all the more relevant in light of these recent developments. Dr Jim Elder-Woodward, Independent Chair, Scottish Independent Living Coalition; Norma Curran, CEO, Values Into Action Scotland; Etienne D’Aboville, CEO, Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living; John Dalrymple, CEO, In Control Scotland; Dr Simon Duffy, Director, Centre for Welfare Reform; Heather Fisken, Project Manager, Independent Living in Scotland; Florence Garabedian, CEO, Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living; Jess Wade, Manager, Self-Directed Support Scotland; Sally Witcher, CEO, Inclusion Scotland.