After everything that we Disabled people endured during the pandemic, I was hoping that society at large would come into 2022 with a little more understanding about how we, as Disabled people, live our day-to-day lives.
The pandemic brought some of our lived experiences to those without impairments – the isolation, the poverty, the despair and the lack of opportunity to go about day-to-day activities that form a part of so many of our lives.
In the main, it didn’t happen. Life bounced back into an almost pre-pandemic shape. The barriers we face and our support needs remain but are no longer in the spotlight.
Many of us are still needing to shield, now without any extra support, and this is the year where things have gone beyond heat or eat, to heat, eat or care.
We understand the depth of anger and distress within our community, especially for those without the means to meet even the most basic rights of survival – food, shelter, heating, mobility.
We have repeatedly called on the Government to end catastrophic real-world cuts to household incomes for Disabled people, to provide benefits increases, to end cuts to services, and to increase Local Authority spending to end the care and housing crises.
We are in crisis – as a community, and as a country. This is a bleak midwinter for most of us.
We pledge as an organisation to use our anger to call for justice; our compassion to continue to listen and amplify your voices to those who need to hear them; and our work to insist upon equity, equality, dignity and opportunity for all Disabled people.
We are encouraged that the Government has announced a new National Disability Plan for 2023, but as ever, the devil will be in the detail.
We know that the end of year may be an especially hard time for so many of us this year. We would implore you – don’t give up. You are seen and you are heard. If you are in need of extra support over Christmas and New Year, there are organisations running helplines where people will listen, and do whatever they can to lift you up.
Please know that we are never giving up the fight to ensure that we are not overlooked, not unsupported, nor denied thriving lives.
Kamran Mallick
CEO, Disability Rights UK
