Ouch! Talkpermalink
No surprises - the EHRC isn't working for us
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Sir Bert Massie admits that the EHRC isn't helping Disabled people:
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/... -
I'll say. I have phoned them a few times and received only the vaguest of replies. Wish I could say more, but I more or less gave up on them.
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Baroness Campbell - who heads the EHRC's Disability Committee - says the commission is now taking "a more holistic approach to taking down barriers" rather than concentrating on the individual equality strands.
This is the new 'get out of jail free' card that the useless EHRC will play every one of the many times that they airbrush disabled people from their list of priorities.
I remember at least two Times articles recently when this partial quango made a fuss about women facing concrete ceilings in senior jobs. That's fine, but despite the fact that there are a lot less disabled people in senior jobs, we heard not a peep out of them about that.
The EHRC - airbrushing disabled people out altogether.This is a reply to this message.
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does this mean lighting candles and burning down the barriers?
disdatThis is a reply to this message.
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I never thought I'd see Jane Campbell shed her integrity so quickly. She's become what she always said she detested. If that's what it means to get into these institutions and effect change from the inside, then I'd rather retain my independence and campaign from outside.
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I thought I'd e-mail the EHRC to ask for any comments on this. I think it's about time we had some reassurances and an action plan to show that they intend to take disablism just as seriously as other forms of discrimination.
Top of the list should be the lack of representation of disabled people in top jobs.This is a reply to this message.
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Because we are not the favoured minority!
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Well I don't think the answer is to point fingers at another minority, if there ever was such a thing as a "favoured" one. After all, if they were favoured they wouldn't need anyone to fight discrimination for them, would they?
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"favoured minority" is a bit of a dodgy term, it's not favouritism so much as people believing disability rights issues *need* a separate platform to be properly heard.
That EHRC might work for other groups is good for them. don't lets get jealous FFS.This is a reply to this message.
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We do need a separate body to address discrimination against disabled people. We, I think, are the only group that can be legally and openly discriminated against. Try preventing someone having full access to a building because of their gender, race, sexual orientation etc. and there would be an uproar but it is something disabled people face on a daily basis and it's legal. And access is only one part of it.
A single equalities commission is good in theory but until it is recognised that disabled people have the problems I have already mentioned and something is done to sort these out we will always be bottom of the heap. Nothing changes much does it? We are an "unfavoured minority".This is a reply to this message.
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Well I got an (automated) response to my e-mail saying that my 'enquiry has been received and a full response will follow in due course'' so I'll paste it back here when I receive it, or should that be 'if'?
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"Top of the list should be the lack of representation of disabled people in top jobs."
Iwould be careful with that one.
What do you mean by "top jobs" and how do you know that disabled people are not represented?This is a reply to this message.
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Higher paid executive jobs. Various studies, here's one:
www.employment-studi...
Disabled people are more likely that non-disabled people to work in manual and low-skilled occupations, and less likely to work in managerial, professional and high-skilled occupations (11% of disabled people are in managerial occupations, compared with 15% of non-disabled people). More severely disabled people* are particularly concentrated in lower level occupations.
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The study was carried out amongst 2000 disabled people. These I assume were people who were "open" about there disabilities and I would say 2000 woudln't give a fair reflection of the facts.
What about those with hidden disabilities who may be in "top jobs" but don't want to openly say they have a disability?
The study is very unscientific and if you used it to try to prove your point it wouldn't take long for it to be pulled to pieces.
I believe that disabled people are "unrepresented" but that is not proof just my opinion.
I think it would be a very hard case to prove.This is a reply to this message.
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I believe that disabled people are "unrepresented" but that is not proof just my opinion.
I would welcome the government carrying out more detailed research to find out. They may have already, but I'm not aware of it.This is a reply to this message.
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Can't say I disagree with Bert on this one.
To some extent I think the debate about the EHRC versus DRC is a bogus one. In my opinion it has more to do with the watering down of the 'equalities agenda' across the board.
Even if the DRC had been allowed to stay, (the agenda has changed to such a degree that it is no longer about 'rights' or addressing discrimination and inequalities), it would've been powerless to defend disabled people's interests.
Once you speak in terms of 'fairness' the agenda becomes focused upon the question of 'integration into the status quo' - an agenda that can never deliver.
I worked closely with Jane Campbell for many years, but as I said a couple of months ago, she has abandoned her roots and now acts as an apologist for New Labour.
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The DRC had very little powers and I feel it did little for disability equality. What was needed was a body who could and would take cases on themselves rather than expecting disabled people to do this on their own.
"Once you speak in terms of 'fairness' the agenda becomes focused upon the question of 'integration into the status quo' - an agenda that can never deliver."
Sorry you've lost me on that one.
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Jane Campbell ...wasn't she chair of the BCODP?
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Oh Oh ...the light has just come on. In another thread there was reference to the works of Campbell and Oliver. I was completely lost ...it could have been Naomi C and Jamie O as I said at the time. I do believe I was supposed to know them from their surnames. Could the Campbell mentioned be Baroness Campbell?
Now all I've got to do is find out who the Oliver is.
Sorry to off the topic.This is a reply to this message.
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I have used their pre-drafted threatening letters a few times. The only thing this has resulted in has been a fast food chain taking down its bell for disabled people outside the shop. Less than useless - Claire
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