2013-11-18 15:52:15 +0000
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!
