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To: David Cameron, Justin Tomlinson & Iain Duncan Smith MP

Stop changes to Access to Work

Dear David Cameron, Justin Tomlinson & Iain Duncan Smith MP

Changes to Access to Work mean that Deaf, Deaf blind and hard of hearing and disabled people are being restricted to unrealistic budgets for support that does not meet their needs. The budgets are insufficient to fund qualified interpreters and personal assistants and prevent personal choice or control, placing jobs at risk.

The introduction of arbitrary rules has changed the relationship between Access to Work and the individuals it supports. Deaf and disabled people are no longer being acknowledged as the experts in their own access needs and issues and problems they raise are being ignored.

Please stop the changes to Access to Work support for BSL users and disabled people.

Thank you.

Why is this important?

Access to Work isn't a benefit and doesn't incur a cost to government - in fact it brings money into the treasury, yet Deaf and disabled people are having their support allowance capped or cuts made (meaning they can no longer afford to use qualified interpreters or the support they need). This places jobs at risk and has already resulted in job losses and demotions. People currently in work are potentially being forced out of work and onto benefits, which goes against everything the government is telling us they are trying to achieve.

Deaf and disabled people bring a vast amount of skill and talent to our workforce that we can't afford to lose. We want to ensure that full support is provided, and people are enabled to gain, maintain and progress in their chosen careers.

Personal choice and control needs to be handed back to the experts on Deaf and disabled access needs in the workplace - the individual Deaf and disabled people who use the scheme

We want to ensure Deaf and disabled people are not subjected to a glass ceiling due to lack of support.

How it will be delivered

On 26th September Stop Changes To Access To Work along with our friends from DPAC, Unite the Union and NUBSLI will be handing in our petition to 10 Downing Street. Please join us. We will be meeting at Old Palace Yard at 12pm and marching to Downing Street at 1pm.

Please share our petition with friends, family and work colleagues one last time for our final push!

Thank you for your continued support!

UK

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Links

Updates

2015-09-26 20:28:10 +0100

20,000 signatures reached

2015-05-12 03:14:32 +0100

10,000 signatures reached

2015-05-10 20:03:43 +0100

Please share this petition again via email, on Facebook & Twitter. To friends, family and work colleagues. We now have more media coverage and improved awareness which will help us gain more support.

Thank you.

2014-12-27 10:19:14 +0000

A victory for our campaign and a step in the right direction. Still a long way to go: http://stopchanges2atw.wordpress.com/2014/12/22/government-makes-access-to-work-scheme-guidance-public-following-challenge-by-law-firm/

2014-12-19 13:29:38 +0000

The Work & Pension Select Committee published their inquiry report into Access to Work today. Read our response here: http://stopchanges2atw.wordpress.com/2014/12/19/work-and-pensions-report-slams-governments-mismanagement-of-atw/

2014-09-28 10:29:05 +0100

Stop Changes are supporting an individual to take the DWP to court over their handling of AtW support. A fighting fund is being established. Look out for an email from us soon!

2014-05-15 16:05:54 +0100

30 hour rule SUSPENDED pending review.

2014-03-19 07:29:50 +0000

We've reached 5000! This is fantastic. Thank you to all our supporters!

2014-03-18 22:54:40 +0000

5,000 signatures reached

2014-03-17 07:17:07 +0000

Jenny Sealey becomes the spokesperson and face of the campaign. Watch her video explaining the problems she has faced with access to work, and why AtW is such an important resource:

http://stopchanges2atw.wordpress.com/2014/03/13/announcing-our-spokesperson-and-face-of-the-campaign/

2013-12-14 19:18:44 +0000

Why not send your MP a Christmas message? Send a copy of our "All I want for Christmas is Access to Work" image on our website: http://stopchanges2atw.wordpress.com/

2013-12-09 13:25:32 +0000

Read our letter here - http://stopchanges2atw.wordpress.com.

2013-12-02 18:55:38 +0000

A letter has been sent to the petition addressees; Sir Malcolm Bruce MP and Iain Duncan Smith MP.

2013-11-21 11:09:14 +0000

Some amazing updates - posts on http://limpingchicken.com Jen Dodds gives her views on the campaign, and we have just heard that Sir Malcolm Bruce is raising AtW with Minister.

Please keep signing and sharing! This is YOUR campaign. You are all having an impact.

2013-11-20 08:37:43 +0000

The Limping Chicken blog about us! http://limpingchicken.com