Latest news with #disabilityadvocacy
The Guardian
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Labour MP resigns as government whip in protest at benefit cuts
The Labour MP, Vicky Foxcroft, has resigned as a government whip in protest at the government's welfare plans, saying she will not be able to vote for the cuts to disability payments. The government is braced for a major rebellion on the welfare bill, which includes significant changes to personal independence payments for disabled people. Foxcroft, the MP for Lewisham North who was shadow disability minister before the election, said she was unable to do her job as a whip because she disagreed with the changes and did not believe that cuts were part of the solution to rising inactivity. In a letter to the prime minister, Foxcroft said that the benefits system was 'in desperate need of reform' but her experience as shadow disability minister had showed her that the struggles of disabled people and organisations were 'even tougher than I had imagined'. She said: 'The last Conservative government left many in poverty and living life in fear of losing their support, not getting access to the right medical care, not having suitable housing and not being able to participate fully in society. The real and ongoing distress was palpable. 'I absolutely understand the need to address the ever-increasing welfare bill in these difficult economic times, but I have always believed this could and should be done by supporting more disabled people into work. 'I do not believe that cuts to personal independence payment (Pip) and the health element of universal credit should be part of the solution.' Foxcroft, who is among a number of frontbenchers uncomfortable with the proposed changes, said she had wrestled with whether to fight the changes from within the government. 'Sadly it is now seems that we are not going to get the changes I desperately wanted to see. I therefore tender my resignation as I know I will not be able to do the job that is required of me and whip – or indeed vote – for reforms which include cuts to disabled people's finances,' she said. 'I am incredibly proud to have served as part of the first Labour government in 14 years and hope that ministers will revisit these reforms so that I can continue to support the government in delivering for the people of this country.'
Finextra
a day ago
- Business
- Finextra
Project nemo demands better banking for adults with a disability
Banking for learning disabilities remains a critical challenge in today's digital economy. Project Nemo, a grassroots initiative advocating for disability inclusion in fintech, has released a major new report revealing how the financial sector continues to exclude adults with learning disabilities from safe and independent money management. 0 With transformational changes to the financial landscape over the last 18 years, in particular with the significant move away from cash (60% of all transactions by volume in 2008 to 12% in 2023, according to UK Finance) the learning disability community have been forced into a digital payments system that has not been designed with their needs in mind. 'Safe Spending for Adults with a Learning Disability: A Call to Action for Financial Services' launches this morning at a Project Nemo event bringing together fintechs, banks, trade bodies, disability charities and advocacy groups at Nationwide Building Society headquarters. Attendees include The Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State for Social Security and Disability. It reveals the findings of the most comprehensive research to date into the barriers faced by adults with a learning disability and those who support them when managing money. Banking for learning disabilities requires tools that balance independence and oversight, something most banks overlook. The challenges of managing bank accounts for everyday spending have resulted in 87% of adults with a learning disability and their supporters turning to informal work arounds, often without disclosed statutory authority such as Lasting Power of Attorney or Deputyship. These workarounds, such as family members pretending to be the user while on the phone to the bank, or sharing bank card PIN numbers, introduce unnecessary risks. Whilst there are some dedicated fintech supported payments solutions, these don't appear to be particularly well known. Helpfully, the new report also suggests banking features that this user group would find most beneficial. The research, sponsored by Nationwide Building Society, also found that 32% of people with a learning disability don't have a bank account in their own name; and 61% say banks don't always do enough to meet their needs. The report shines a light on the fact that many of the recent advances in payments have actually made it significantly more difficult to make, receive, and manage payments for the 1.5 million people in the UK living with a learning disability and their supporters. Digital payments are a particular concern, as cash offers a physical sense of value and control that digital methods struggle to replicate. The increase in self-service terminals, decrease in physical bank branches and growth of shopping online have all reduced human interaction, which this community can be more reliant upon to help with understanding and completing purchases. Meanwhile increasingly sophisticated fraud tactics including exploiting identified vulnerabilities also make managing everyday money riskier for this underserved group. New fintech solutions could transform banking for learning disabilities, but awareness and adoption remain low. The research explored a range of potential money management features to aid safer spending for adults with a learning disability, and identified that: To aid independent user understanding, any features should use clear and simple language, supported by visual explanations where possible. The ability to customise to suit individual needs is critical to success of any products built for this community. Notifications or settings that give supporters oversight of spending and the opportunity to intercept risky purchases provide reassurance for both supporters and users and have potential to enable greater independence. Accessible and specialist customer support must be available to boost confidence and support longer term independence goals. Priority features for products built for this community include saving pots, the option to turn on a Calm Mode that reduces overwhelm, and wearable alternatives to payment cards. Kris Foster, Co-Founder of Project Nemo, who has a learning disability, comments: 'Too often, people speak for us, about us or in front of us and it's never our voice. This project, including this research report, for the first time, has centered adults with learning disabilities and seeks to understand what we want and need from financial services. Now, it's up to banks to take action. I want to see them break down the existing barriers and ensure that others don't have to fight the same battles for financial independence that I did.' Joanne Dewar, Co-Founder and Project Lead, Project Nemo, says: 'Safe Spending for Adults with a Learning Disability: A Call to Action for Financial Services shows how trends in payments, which many of us think of as improvements, are compounding challenges for an already vulnerable community. This comprehensive research gives voice to the learning disability community whose needs are often overlooked even within the context on disability inclusion or financial inclusion. This Learning Disability Week, I hope that UK banks use these new insights to re-evaluate the solutions that they offer to this vulnerable community, which would benefit many other consumers groups too. With the current focus on the National Payments Vision and Financial Inclusion Strategy, I hope this report ensures the needs of this community are better understood and prioritised.' Project Nemo has joined forces with Kathryn Townsend, Government Disability & Access Ambassador (banking sector) and Nationwide Head of Customer Vulnerability & Accessibility to launch four separate workstreams to improve financial inclusion of adults with a learning disability. The new report is a key deliverable of the Research & Insights workstream, delivered in partnership with organisations including Mencap, the learning disability charity and Dosh, the financial inclusion organisation. Members of this working group are primarily those working in the financial services industry who are parents of young adults with learning disabilities, so are highly attuned to their needs and the gaps in service provision. Inclusive design must be at the heart of banking for learning disabilities to avoid forcing risky workarounds. Kathryn Townsend, Government Disability & Access Ambassador (banking sector) and Nationwide Head of Customer Vulnerability & Accessibility, adds: 'Everyone deserves to manage their money with confidence, dignity and independence but for the 1.5 million people in the UK living with a learning disability that basic right is often denied. At Nationwide we are continuously looking at ways we can improve support for those with vulnerabilities. However there is so much more we can all do and I am calling on my peers in the banking industry to not just remove the potential pitfalls and potholes for those with a learning disability, but to consider the opportunity to build services with these users in mind.' Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of learning disability charity Mencap, comments: 'People with a learning disability tell us that they can struggle to make payments safely because of complex banking systems, inaccessible payment options and a lack of easy read information. Because of these barriers, many worry about being more vulnerable to financial abuse and not being able to spend their money in the way they want to. Project Nemo's work is a hugely important step towards ensuring the 1.5 million people with a learning disability across the UK can make their financial choices safely and independently.' Improving banking for learning disabilities is a win for both accessibility and innovation in financial services. This Project Nemo report is part of a wider project to help banks and fintechs improve solutions for adults with a learning disability.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Urbana High graduate, special education advocate looks ahead to Harvard University
After two years of advocating for students living with disabilities in Frederick County Public Schools, a new graduate of Urbana High School is on his way to Harvard University. Jake Kamnikar, 18, joined the Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) during the 2023-24 school year. The committee, while technically a part of the Frederick County Board of Education, is a mandated committee by the Maryland State Department of Education. Committee members include faculty from the special education department at FCPS, community members, parents, other FCPS faculty members and students. Kamnikar was diagnosed with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy at 18 months old, which creates muscle tightness in his lower body as well as hand tremors. He said in an interview that his first year on the committee was 'super interesting,' and that he had never been a part of something like that before. Kamnikar added that while the committee has had student members in the past, 'the year I applied was the first time in a while that they had students back.' 'My cerebral palsy historically has been a hard thing for me to talk about,' he said. 'I wasn't really a big advocate in elementary and middle. Not many kids are. They're little. They're learning about themselves.' Kamnikar's mom, Buffy Kamnikar, said she served on SECAC as a parent when Jake was in kindergarten. 'It was an awesome experience for me as a parent, and they weren't offering a student role at that time,' she said. Buffy Kamnikar said she received an email about the committee accepting student members and showed it to her son. Jake Kamnikar said his mom, dad and family members pushed him to use his voice to advocate for others. 'I know a lot of families are confused or overwhelmed at times with the process of special education, and every kid is different. Their needs vary widely, and a lot of kids aren't able to advocate for themselves,' he said. 'So, if I can make that process easier for students and their families, that's why I wanted to do it.' Jake Kamnikar said his role in the committee was to see firsthand how school board policy affected students living with disabilities. 'My friends in special education programs — how are my general education peers interacting with those students?' he said. 'And what can we do to make improvements and make the school lives, the day-to-day lives, of our students easier?' Jake Kamnikar said elementary and middle school students have a hard time discussing what makes their educational experience difficult. He added that 'the desire is truly there' to help students, but case managers often have a heavy workload and another role within the school system, and sometimes struggle to dedicate enough individualized time working with special education students. 'If you can put a name and a friendly face to whoever you're talking to [about] your disability or your accommodation, that, I think, would go a long way,' he said. 'It would've gone a long way for me.' Jamie Shopland, the chair of SECAC, said Individualized Education Plans are meant to best support students individually, 'and it's different for everyone.' While on SECAC for his junior and senior year, Jake Kamnikar helped create the Student Voices Subcommittee and hosted a Q&A for students living with disabilities and their families. Buffy Kamnikar said the event was nice, and that parents asked questions about special education resources and experiences in the school system. She added that her son is 'probably the most dedicated, hardworking individual I've ever met in my life.' 'He always conducts himself in a way of, how can I be better so the other people around me can be better?' Buffy Kamnikar said. 'I couldn't be more proud.' Shopland said the student perspective on the committee is 'extremely important' to understand how the school board's policies affect students daily. 'If you can understand where people are coming from, then you can connect with them on a different level and in a different way, and be more inclusive and really understand what it means to belong,' she said. Jake Kamnikar said the committee is always looking to increase the number of student voices at the monthly meetings. He added that he had a great time at Urbana High School, and that his favorite topic was economics. Jake Kamnikar said he applied to four Ivy League universities — Yale, Brown, Cornell and Harvard. He said he opened the decision responses from the schools in front of his family, and that after getting rejected from Yale and Cornell and waitlisted at Brown, he opened the Harvard decision and 'couldn't believe what I was reading.' 'It said, 'Jake, we'd love to have you,'' he said. 'I was in shock. I wasn't overly loud or anything — I was just staring at the screen. Mom and Dad were screaming.' Jake Kamnikar said one piece of advice he has for students is to 'trust yourself.' 'The opinions of others are not end-all be-all,' he said. 'There's definitely opportunities for you to work on yourself and grow as a person, and the right people are going to notice you for that and not what they think defines you.'
RNZ News
04-06-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Disability advocates fear more harm from WorkSafe changes after four choking deaths last year
Disability advocates Glenn and Fran Marshall. Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin Disability advocates fear recent changes to WorkSafe will lead to more harm to the intellectually disabled after four IHC residents choked to death while in care last year. The government announced on Monday it was shifting the work and safety regulator's priorities from enforcement to advice . Two days earlier, disability advocate Glenn Marshall wrote to WorkSafe urging it to prosecute IDEA Services, IHC's provider arm, over the four choking deaths. The deaths in Taranaki and Auckland were referred by WorkSafe to the Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) in May, June and July last year, documents released under the Official Information Act reveal. In a statement, WorkSafe said it would continue enforcement where appropriate and sometimes other agencies, including HDC, were better placed to respond. An investigation was launched by Whaikaha, the Ministry of Disabled People , a summary of which was released to disability advocate Jane Carrigan. Made up of audits by Standards and Monitoring Services, the investigation found the deaths happened amid documented failures including staff unfamiliar with or not adhering to Safer Eating and Drinking Plans, concerns raised by staff and families not being listened to, and problems with kitchen layout and understaffing. It also found that in one case a seclusion practice being used by a support worker was a "direct breach" of IDEA Services' contract with Whaikaha, now Disability Support Service. IDEA Services was to review staffing to deliver services safely including at mealtimes, provide evidence that staff could see residents during mealtimes, ensure staff were properly trained in safe eating plans and medication use for de-escalation instead of seclusion, and ensure staff had a better understanding of the restraint policy and the implications of using restraint. Four people choked to death while in IDEA Services' care last year. Photo: Idea Services Marshall said he was alarmed at the changes to WorkSafe because he believed enforcement was critical to compliance. "When you've got six deaths that occur, four of which occurred in a year, all due to negligence regarding vulnerable people, we need enforcement not advice." Last year's deaths were not the first time an IDEA Services resident had choked to death. In December 2020, a 63-year-old woman died after choking on leftover food at an IDEA Services flat on Auckland's North Shore. A WorkSafe investigation found her death was preventable but no one was prosecuted. Her death came two years after a 59-year-old man choked on uncut sausage in another IDEA Services home. In that case, the Coroner found the death was avoidable and referred it to the HDC which found IDEA Services breached his rights. In his letter on Saturday to WorkSafe, Marshall wrote: "These deaths are not isolated tragedies." "They are the predictable result of systemic failure and unsafe practices that have long been raised with government agencies." He implored WorkSafe to prosecute. "If WorkSafe fails to act on five workplace deaths, involving clear evidence of repeated breaches, it would send a chilling and unprecedented signal; that the lives of disabled people in state-funded care do not count. "Such inaction would embolden other providers to treat safety obligations as optional and would severely damage WorkSafe's credibility across all high-risk sectors. If this pattern of fatal neglect, repeated five times, doesn't trigger prosecution, then what ever will?" He said sanctions resulting from WorkSafe prosecutions were often more significant than HDC findings. He pointed to two drowning deaths involving Palmerston North teenager Nathan Booker and Vicki Campbell in Taranaki both of which resulted in hefty fines. Carrigan said it was a sad indictment on the system for those with an intellectual disability that WorkSafe had become a primary identifier of conduct in residential care homes, leading to unnecessary death and harm to its residents. "WorkSafe has been an advocate, a voice of reason, and a prosecutor in many cases where, were it left to our conflicted disability support system and health and disability complaints system, none of the substantive issues would have been identified." Disability advocate Jane Carrigan. Photo: RNZ / Ana Tovey A WorkSafe spokesperson said it would continue enforcement "where appropriate" under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. They said sometimes other government or regulatory agencies also had responsibilities in respect of a sector and were better placed to respond to incidents, including HDC. "WorkSafe is guided by its regulatory approach and by its enforcement decision-making model to decide when it will intervene and to make proportionate decisions, including enforcement decisions, on a case-by-case basis." IHC disability services chief operating officer Joan Cowan said IDEA Services was "deeply sorry and saddened" by the deaths and had been in contact with the families. Cowan said some people with intellectual disabilities had a higher risk of choking and IDEA Services' Safer Eating and Drinking support framework was in place for this purpose, including specialised guidance and support for staff. The framework was updated in 2020 and 2023 and further improvements were planned, she said. After the audit was completed in October 2024 an action plan was put in place and completed, and no further action was required, Cowan said. "We want families and individuals to know that we work hard to provide safe services. This includes a specialist clinical team that provides extra support to our front-line staff. "We also utilise temporary double staffing where we assess that there may be elevated risk following serious incidents." Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden said her thoughts go out to the families who are impacted by the deaths. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone She said her announcement provided WorkSafe with clear expectations to engage early and to help support businesses, individuals, and providers to manage their critical risks. "This does not change enforcement processes but shifts the focus so that critical risks are managed first and foremost. "The government's intention is that the changes get rid of over-compliance and that the main focus for WorkSafe as New Zealand's regulator is squarely on critical risks. "Too many times, I heard throughout public consultation that businesses, which include providers and workers, feared WorkSafe's punitive actions, which is not conducive to health and safety in the workplace." HDC confirmed it had commenced a commissioner-initiated investigation into the care provided by IDEA Services in relation to the choking fatalities. "We cannot comment further while this investigation is ongoing." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
CBC
30-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Kitchener senior with mobility issues faces months without accessible parking
Renate Euteneier is facing the threat of losing her parking spot, and with it, her independence. Euteneier, who turns 87 this fall, requires an accessible parking permit. While the parking garage in her Kitchener apartment building undergoes renovations, she's been told she has to park elsewhere. "I'm having nightmares," she told CBC News. Euteneier said she's worried losing her spot means she'll be housebound for fear of having to park too far away. But she admits, "I have to get out sometime." From accessible to inaccessible overnight When Euteneier moved into the building nearly 10 years ago, she didn't have accessibility requirements. Since then, her mobility has deteriorated, but luckily, the parking space included in her lease has always worked for her needs. However, with renovations slated from June to October, building managers M. Schiketanz Real Estate say she'll have to use a temporary lot half of a kilometre downhill from her building — a distance Euteneier says she simply can't manage anymore. "I'm not walking as fast as I used to," she said, adding that she now uses a walking stick for mobility. When she got a notice saying she would be losing her spot for a time, she reached out to management to let them know about her situation, saying she was hopeful they would accommodate her disability. A patio is blocking accessible parking in Belmont Village. Advocates say that's not fair So when several visitor parking spaces opened up close to the building, she asked if she could use one of them. Euteneier said their response was "no." She said that despite speaking to managers on the phone and attending an in-person meeting, they've offered "no solutions." In an emailed statement, M. Schiketanz president Mark Machel said Euteneier is not on the company's "ambulatory list," which helps determine priority for accessible parking. He acknowledged the situation is challenging, but said the company is "doing our best considering the situation." The statement said that visitor spots at the building would be first-come-first-serve. Machel said some spots had been converted to accessible spaces, but they would also be unassigned. "Providing a reserved space for tenants creates a problem that everyone else wants one too," he said. "We do understand tenant needs and are trying to accommodate everyone, but it is difficult." A lack of reasonable alternatives Street parking has also been suggested, but the stretch of road outside Euteneier's building is shared with two nearby schools, meaning there's a lot of congestion and limited availability during the day. She said she's worried there's no guarantee she'll be able to park near her home. She said if management "would give us some room somewhere, some consideration somewhere," it would help. And Euteneier's not alone. She worries about what this means for other residents with mobility issues, too. "It's not only us few who have a handicapped sticker, it's a lot of other old people who don't have it." What does the law say? In Ontario, landlords are required to accommodate tenants with disabilities under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). "It's not just a matter of, 'shucks, there's nothing we can do,'" said David Lepofsky, chair of the AODA Alliance. "They have to show it would be impossible to do anything more for this individual without undue hardship," he said. Lepofsky said that includes a duty for the landlords to investigate reasonable alternatives. In Euteneier's case, Lepofsky believes the building managers will have a hard time making the case that it's impossible to accommodate her. Her story resonates with others in Waterloo region, too. CJ Janzen, vice-chair of Cambridge's Accessibility Advisory Committee, said they went through a similar situation last year when their parking spot was under renovation. Janzen, who uses a wheelchair, said they had to "fight to have special cones placed in the one spot so that I could park my van and have the ramps come out at curb level." "At least I didn't have to go half a mile." A broader issue Advocates say Euteneier's situation is just one example of a broader issue. "We have an accessible housing crisis in Canada, not just a shortage — a crisis," said Lepofsky. Edward Faruzel, executive director of Kitchener-Waterloo AccessAbility, said the region isn't exempt from these issues. He said the supply of housing that meets accessibility needs is far too low. "Especially for somebody that needs wheelchair access," he said. Faruzel said the waiting list for accessible housing in Waterloo region "is up to 10 years." Euteneier said she feels stuck. She's unable to rely on accessible parking, but she also can't afford to leave. In addition, Faruzel said it's unlikely she'd find a suitable apartment in just five months, anyway. But that doesn't mean she isn't considering it. "I've been too independent," she said. "So now I've learned to not be so independent." "Maybe I'll go into a nursing home for a few months," she said. She's also considering moving into her son's Georgetown, Ont., home, "just to get out." 'Oh my god, I have sleepless nights' With the countdown on before the parking garage shuts down, Euteneier is running out of options. "Oh my god, I have sleepless nights," she said.
