Everyone knows about the Access to Work (AtW) problems that so many deaf people seem to have been having recently, with budgets cut and limited, and lots of general confusion going on.
To watch this article in BSL, click ‘play’ below:
One deaf person who has had AtW problems, including a budget cut, has decided to take AtW to court to challenge them through a judicial review, to look into their situation and the decision that was made.
How this might help YOU…
This “test case” is really very important. It won’t just affect the deaf person who is challenging AtW in court.
If they win, lots of other deaf people will be able to learn from their case and use it to challenge AtW too. That means that AtW might change their minds about other deaf people’s funding.
How YOU can help…
It is possible that AtW might change their minds before court happens, and give the deaf person their AtW funding back, etc. This means that the case might not actually go to court.
If it does go to court and the deaf person wins, they won’t have to pay any costs. However, if the deaf person loses, they will get a big bill.
The Stop Changes to AtW campaign group is supporting the deaf person with this case. Stop Changes to AtW do not want the deaf person to have to pay any court costs, so they have said that they will pay. That’s very kind of them, but really, they shouldn’t have to do that either!
Stop Changes to AtW has set up a special bank account to raise money for this. People have been donating whatever they can afford – from £5 to even £100! – to share the responsibility.
So, if you can, it would be great if you could click here http://stopchanges2atw.wordpress.com/fighting-fund/ to donate whatever you can.
Let’s work together to support the deaf person to do something that may change lots of people’s lives!
Jen Dodds is a Contributing Editor for The Limping Chicken. When she’s not looking after chickens or children, Jen can be found translating, proofreading and editing stuff over at Team HaDo Ltd (teamhado.com). On Twitter, Jen is @deafpower.
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Jules
October 7, 2014
Good luck to the deaf person. What happens to the money donated if the deaf person weeks their court case (which I’m sure we all hope they do)?
Jules
October 7, 2014
Sorry! *wins* the court case!
Matt Brown
October 7, 2014
So fake identity Emily Smith is collecting cash for an unnamed identity.
Who is it?
Editor
October 7, 2014
The people behind the campaign were named in our article last week – Ed
Matt Brown
October 7, 2014
Yes, and it was no surprise. Who is the person going to court?
Tim
October 7, 2014
Yes, this is how legal precedent works, it sets the standard to follow.
One question I would ask is why are the Deaf organisations, with all their money, not funding more of these sort of cases?
Also, why should we have to do it in a country that is allegedly supportive and inclusive of deaf people?
Jen Dodds (@deafpower)
October 7, 2014
Matt, the deaf person does not wish to be named – they do have the right to privacy, and we don’t actually need to know who they are..!?
Nicky Evans and some of her colleagues were named last week. That should be enough, in my personal opinion.
Matt Brown
October 7, 2014
Extremely naive to think that anyone could take a government department to court while remaining anonymous. The “right” to be tried or give evidence anonymously is reserved for very specific types of case.
We need visible role models to rally behind, leaders who demonstrate integrity and command respect, not more cloak and dagger nonsense from people who should know better. Bitterly disappointing.
Vix
October 7, 2014
I can understand why people would be sceptical, but I think sometimes it’s about a taking a mitigated risk. The interpreting profession within the UK is on the cusp of imploding – external threats and stressors combined with internal divisions means that it’s hard to form cohesive strategy. Add into that a lot of interpreters who for whatever reason are either completely apathetic or lone wolf types. It looks pretty bleak sometimes. If it does implode, Deaf people get set back decades. No interpreter will remain in a profession that is financial unviable. If this court case wins, and I have fingers/eyes/toes crossed that it will, then it’s a really big win for Deaf people and interpreters. It will also give the leverage needed to negotiate. At the moment we are pretty much powerless.
Cathy
October 7, 2014
Should organisations such as the BDN, RNID etc be supporting and funding this situation, rather than grovelling to the deaf community for money?
How is it that we are supposed to be inclusive yet at the same time we are not!!!
The Government is surely at fault here as funding comes from them via the taxpayer. I feel it would be a good idea to challenge MP’s. Remember they are spending 11billion in foreign aid and you can bet your bottom dollar nobody in Parliament could tell you what that is spent on every year!?!? They are also spending £600k a week on child benefit for kids in France, Germany and Poland!!!!
What the blazes they are playing at I do not know, while they leave vulnerable groups in Britain to suffer and flounder amongst their mess! It is a national disgrace!!
Jen Dodds (@deafpower)
October 7, 2014
Matt, I didn’t mean they’ll be anonymous forever – I’m not that naive (!)
I’m sure they simply wish to avoid scrutiny for as long as possible.
Cathy
October 7, 2014
Jen, why does the person need to avoid scrutiny??? Surely the impact of their plight would be far greater if they were open and transparent about this dreadful discriminatory situation.
It may also mean others would “stand up and be counted” if we all knew whose “neck is on the line!” Much harder to stand by someone when you haven’t a clue who it is. We are all just expected to chuck money in a bucket! So how much has been raised up to now?
Jen Dodds (@deafpower)
October 8, 2014
Cathy, I don’t know. I’m not them – I just made an educated guess 🙂
Actually, I wouldn’t do it that way myself. Each to their own!
Tim
October 8, 2014
It’s almost surreal how much people will criticise the way people are standing up to government oppression rather than the oppression itself.
Oh Dear
October 8, 2014
Coming online anonymously asking for money is what scamsters do. Without knowing who the person IS, what exactly the case is about and each of us making a subjective analysis whether the case has ‘value’…..one can not possibly donate.
With certain deaf people going through court for alleged swindling of private taxpayers’ money via ATW, Oh Dear will not be participating.
Matt Brown hit the nail-on-the-head when he wrote, “We need visible role models to rally behind, leaders who demonstrate integrity and command respect, not more cloak and dagger nonsense from people who should know better. Bitterly disappointing.”
Jules
October 9, 2014
One thing that really bothers me about the StopthechangestoATW campaign, is why they made the decision to create a pseudonym that was an interpreter (Emily Smith). Why was Emily Smith not a deaf person who used ATW? For deaf people to really make a difference, they need to take the lead on these campaigns. Perhaps all the hoo-haa about who was behind the campaign could have been avoided if it had been made clear that it was a deaf person behind it, not a hearing person who may have had a financial incentive to get involved. We really need to make it clear that deaf people are just as capable as hearing people of taking a stand about such matters and standing up for themselves. Unfortunately if an interpreter or other hearing people are seen to take the lead on such campaigns, it lends an impression of “Deaf Can’t Do…”.
It is high time more deaf people stood up and not only say “Deaf Can Do”…but “Deaf Will Do” and take the lead on such issues.
Cathy
October 9, 2014
Only £1805.00 raised so far. I will donate once I know where the money will be donated to if they win the case. how can we be sure this is not a scam?