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Charities speak out over worsening attitudes towards disabled people

Inflammatory media coverage and “deeply irresponsible” language from ministers is fuelling an increase in abuse of disability claimants.

Scope, Mencap, Leonard Cheshire Disability, the National Autistic Society, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), and Disability Alliance say government claims of mass abuse of the benefits system is unfounded.

Richard Hawkes, chief executive of Scope, said this is “playing directly into a media narrative about the need to weed out scroungers.”

Tom Madders, head of campaigns at the National Autistic Society added that ministers such as the work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, were being "deeply irresponsible" in merging Disability Living Allowance (DLA), which helps disabled people hold down jobs, and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), a payment for those unable to work.

A DWP spokeswoman said the department was committed to supporting disabled people but needed to "do more to change negative attitudes", and had begun a cross-government consultation on tackling discrimination.

Source: Guardian website (link opens in new window).

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