Crippen's Blog
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Comments
Crippen
Some news on the grapevine indicates that a young disabled man living in one of the Leonard Cheshire homes has been asked to make alternative arrangements for his accommodation. Their reason? They are no longer able to meet his needs. The fact that this young crip has been challenging the organisation for not providing the care appropriate to young disabled people (see another example of this in this blog posting) is surely just a coincidence. I'll try and find out more and post when I do.
Sue Bott
It reminds me of the special school I attended when each Christmas we had to endure workers from the local car factory coming round to give us presents that they had raised the money for but the staff had bought. All we wanted to do was go to the disco (it was the early 70s) like their own kids. Thanks Crippen for the timely reminder that there is still a lot more for the disability movement to do.
coleen
I Really don't know what all this Cultural Olympiad stuff is going to for disabled people at the bottom of the food chain.
The governments' directive to put diversity at the top of peoples' agendas is all very well - but it invariably means consultancies led by non-disabled people earning bucket-loads asking patronising questions of disabled people who just get used.
Where are the voices of those who are kept inside institutions?
pink pjs
Also, despite 'care in the community' (hah!) many, many people are still trapped in privately-run smaller and equally scary versions of the old asylums. In our area, ironically, these fall into the category of mental health services known as 'Rehab'! And the people who have been binned off into these places are described as having 'severe and enduring mental illness' what they they appear to have is no hope, no choice and no life! People invariable stay in these hell holes until they die. Their lives are completely regimented and have to ask staff for permission to do things we would all take for granted. I visited one once, Maplewood (Coventry) honestly, like a set for a hammer-house-of-horror film, the staff hid themselves away most of the time behind the locked door of the office where resident's money, fags and other personal posessions were also kept. And, the most dominating feature in the staff room was a large white board on which were residents names and their psychiatric drugs and dosages. However, staff told me they totally understood and embraced 'recovery'!
Crippen
DAN currently have a FaceBook page for further info about their activities - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5192342478
Perhaps other DANners could post up alternative contact numbers etc for people interested in getting involved? Thanks
Arty Farty
I was lucky, I escaped from being sent to one of these prison camps. How can anyone think that these places are a suitable environment for young disabled people to grow into self assurred, assertive individuals. Crips everywhere should join the Disabled people's Direct Action Network to 'FREE OUR PEOPLE!'
Mary Marshall Fowler
Correction:
"Free our people"
Mary Marshall Fowler
My husband, Jim Gonsalves, worked at the Regional Center of the East Bay (Oakland, California) for 10 years. During that time he worked on getting some people out of institutions. (The Regional Centers oversee funds which are designated for people with developmental disabilities.)
Jim has cerebral palsy and uses a power wheelchair.
We need more people who can "fee our people".
Mary Marshall Fowler
Alameda, California
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