Atos Assessments...boo!!

The Work and Pensions Committee report published today makes for bleak reading.

The report in full is available at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/publications/

I declare an interest.  For a time I was the Campaign Co-ordinator for ACT NOW.  ACT NOW is concerned about the inappropriateness of the Atos assessment procedures as applied to people with autism. (It should be added that ACT NOW campaigns on other issues affecting children and adults with autism and their parents and carers.)

The campaign has been difficult.  The last Labour government introduced the assessments and so, in opposition, the Labour Party was not well-placed to criticise the Coalition for continuing with the policies it inherited.

However, there has been support from backbenchers in the Labour Party.  Jon Cruddas MP has been a strong supporter and indeed became the patron of ACT NOW.

The committee's report is but the start of the campaign to effect change in the procedures for assessing a person's ability to work.  I note the Department of Work and Pensions published its own report today in  a feeble attempt to take the sting out of the committee's report.

The BBC article (see link below) covers both the committee and the DWP reports.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14280849

As a bit of light relief I have posted a photograph of Anna Kennedy and Carole Rutherford, two of the core founder members of ACT NOW with John Cruddas earlier this year.  I managed to sneak in as did Terry Rutherford, a staunch ACT NOW supporter.

ACT NOW forges ahead

Readers of my Facebook page will note that I have changed my profile picture to include the ACT NOW logo. ACT stands for Autism Campaigners Together.

A group of seven from across the country set up ACT NOW as a pressure group to improve the well-being of people with autism and their carers. Working in a voluntary capacity they published an excellent Impact Assessment Report, launched it at a conference in London and delivered a petition with 6,000 signatories to 10 Downing Street.

ACT NOW currently is engaged in a mammoth task - drawing together information on cuts being made by local authorities and NHS trusts to services which relate to autism. 

ACT NOW is engaged also in opposing the changes being made by the Department of Work and Pensions which impact on those with autism and also the problems that cuts in Legal Aid will bring when appealing against decisions by statutory bodies.

All this has been done at the personal expense of the Founders of ACT NOW.

Much needs to be done, not  least campaigning against the woolly guidance issued by the Department of Health to local authorities and NHS organisations to support implementation of the autism strategy.

Have a look at the ACT NOW pages on Facebook and please feel free to join the campaign

ACT NOW Website

ACT NOW has a website. ACT stands for Autism Campaigners Together. A small group of people came together to form ACT NOW. The website is on my list of links to the right of my blog. It can be accessed also here

Please have a look at the site and support the cause.

There is a Facebook page also which can be found by clicking here