General Chat

St Mary's House, here in Norwich, is where disabled people have to go for their medical assessments for benefits. Today they have staged a protest outside the door, because....get this....they're not actually allowed in the building.

One woman, herself in a wheelchair, had her assessment, and was allowed in. Three days later, she accompanied her husband for his assessment, and she was stopped at the door and told she could not enter the building. She was made to wait outside in the rain and cold.

The reason given was that the lifts are not fireproof, but she was not even allowed to wait in the ground floor lobby.

In the 21st century, I find this totally unacceptable to see disabled people treated like this.

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politics/protest_at_norwich_disability_centre_which_barred_wheelchair_user_1_1328358

I'd like to say I'm surprised Teresa, but I'm not at all :-(

another company run by the french
our government pay them billions to do their job
so why don't they do it right
ATOS are a complete shambles

all their premises should be on the ground floor

It's always been used for med assessments, and always been upstairs, thats why they had lifts put in, to make access for wheelchair users. It's only since ATOS started doing them that this has happened, and more than likely because of some jobsworth insurance broker.

If we'd known about that we'd have been down there with them, make our feelings know BEFORE Hagar has his assessment.

every so often they will turn the lift off
any body going for a medical will have to use the stairs
and if they do they are classed as fit for work

Oh dear have you mentioned DDA? A hotel that I stayed in that contravened that had to pay me compensation as they did not provide facilities I could use. For wheelchair users the rules are very clear cut.

Sue

Hopefully that's what will be thrown at them. Now it's been on our local news they might get the message.

Totally unacceptable TW. An friend was at St Mary's House a couple of weeks back and I didn't realise till she told me that the department wasn't on the ground floor :-0 - silly me to assume that a medical assessment centre for people with a disability would be appropriately placed. ;-)

That's also something we've been saying for years too Lyndi, what a ridiculous place to have it, but like Joy said, if they force you to walk up the stairs, and you do it, you could be seen as fit for work, even if it takes you all afternoon and some painkillers to do it.

Call me cynical but.... :-)

if you go and the lifts out
ring them and rearrange your appointment
tell them you cant do the stairs

or ask for your medical in the foyer they don't like that one
and arrange no problem then

This was published in 2004 when the law came into force. It would seem that places are still getting away with not complying.


Disabled access to buildings: law in force today

From today, every business should be more user-friendly for Britain's 10 million disabled people. But according to a new report, businesses on 80% of Britain's biggest high streets are ill-prepared.01 Oct 2004

The Disability Discrimination Act was passed in 1995. It came into force in different stages. For instance, obligations on web site operators to make their sites accessible have been in force since 1999.

But the Act's biggest change is today, when businesses will finally have to address the problems their buildings cause for disabled people - such as steps, heavy doors, bad lighting, lack of signage and lack of colour contrast.

In addition, from today, small employers for the first time have the same duties towards disabled staff and job applicants as larger firms. This means not discriminating against employees or potential employees because of their disability and making reasonable adjustments to the workplace.

The law requires reasonable adjustments by businesses – such as adapting premises, removing physical barriers or providing the service another way – so that disabled people can use the service. The legal changes will affect over two million British businesses – and failure to act could result in legal action.

An NOP survey published this week and commissioned by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) reveals major problems on the high street: the majority of shops, cafes, restaurants, cinemas and pubs are still problematic for disabled people and have not made substantial improvements to comply with today's changes in the law.

The DRC is an independent statutory body responsible for advising Government on the effectiveness of disability discrimination legislation.

Bert Massie, Chairman of the DRC, warned:

"Whilst it's clear that some shops and services are getting it right for the disabled consumer there are those that have done little or nothing to prepare for the legislation. For them there will be nowhere to run and nowhere to hide as disabled people's complaints will now be backed by law."

Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions said:

"This Government has championed rights for disabled people and will continue to do so. I am tired of hearing that delivering fairness for disabled people is political correctness gone mad. That is nonsense. This new piece of legislation is about making 'reasonable adjustments' so that disabled people can participate more fully in society."
Tax breaks

New guidance was also published today, to explain the tax allowances available to business to help them make accessibility adjustments to their premises.

Many of the adjustments that businesses may make to their premises already qualify for tax relief. The new guidance clarifies the reliefs available in relation to several of the most common types of adjustment in order to assist businesses and encourage them to comply fully with the new law.

I don't think Hagar will have a problem if the lifts are out, in getting another appointment or home visit Joy, considering he's missing a leg, but what about those disabled who are NOT in wheelchairs, those with spinal problems, arthritis etc, who couldn't get up the stairs without one hell of a struggle?

Ann you're right, and thanks for that. I've read that report myself recently in one of the magazines left at the limb centre. Apalling, though in reality, as long as these adjustments are left to able-bodied people to sort out, they'll never get it right. They really do need to start listening to those who have the most difficulty in using certain places.

I couldn't even get my OH into our council offices for any reason, because there are steps at both entrances. If there is another entrance more suited to wheelchair users somewhere, I've never seen it, nor any signs for direction.

The thing is they are breaking the law and nobody does anything about it. The charity I used to be trustee for used to have a group who assessed access to buildings. I don't think they can do that any more since their grants were cut, but I think the pressure they could bring to bear did have some effect. It makes me mad when laws are passed then not abided with and nothing is done.

the EEC bring the rules in we enforce them
and we are the only ones who do
while the other countries ignore the rules they dont like
and nothing is said
and
ATOS is a french company so do what they like