NEWS!

Roll up, roll up!

Professor Harringon published the findings of the WCA Year 2 Call for Evidence. (read it here: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wca-review-2011.pdf) ACT NOW (Autism Campaigners Together) published a response to this report 3 days later - there is a lot of further work to be done and we are very concerned about the DWP continuing to stall the process of changing the descriptors further: http://autismcampaigners.blogspot.com/

Reaction to George Osborne's Autumn Statement has been rather muted and sour - it does appear the rich will get rich and the poor poorer. Here are the key points of his statement:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15937446

More on poverty - the Governments 'anti-poverty plan is failing' was the headline of this Guardian article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/dec/01/anti-poverty-plan-rowntree-report?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038

10 people were charged with abuse or neglecting patients after the horrific Panorama programme exposed the plight of some people living in Winterbourne View Home (now closed) 3 more people are still on bail pending further investigation: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/nov/28/winterbourne-view-care-home-panorama

 The Daily Mail reported earlier in the week that ATOS are planning to ban email communication as staff are spending too much time on emails which aren't relevant. We feel this is another barrier to effective communication for people in the autism community: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2067520/One-biggest-IT-companies-world-abolish-emails.html

Keith Robertson from the Scottish Disability Equaltity Forum told MSPs some people are becoming suicidal even at the thought of some of the reforms in the UK Welfare Reform Bill - the Scottish Parliament has been looking at the welfare bill: http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/scotland/newsid_9644000/9644108.stm


In a story which caused great concern just over 2 years ago, a father has taken the MET Police to the high court after seven officers pinned down, handcuffed and restrained then imprisoned his (then) 16-year-old son who is autistic: http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/scotland/newsid_9644000/9644108.stm

And finally:

Channel 4 broadcast a special report called 'Revolving Doors' - it's worth a watch. "The number of appeals for ESA has quadrupled in 2 years, from 68,000 in 2009 to 240,000 by the end of this financial year. The cost to the taxpayer is staggering: £80m so far, and rising": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsR0Oqb2E2g&feature=channel_video_title


Have a great weekend!