a group of disabled people and supporters braved the cold drizzle this afternoon to launch the 'disabled people against cuts' (DPAC) movement to raise awareness, and to lobby and protest against the coalition government's attack on disabled people.

with disabled people feeling particularly vulnerable to local council cuts and coalition government slashing of provision, DPAC is hoping to build a network to fight the cuts at every level.

their organisers point out that disabled people are being targetted unfairly and that some may even lose their lives in the onslaught.

currently, nearly a third of all disabled people live below the official poverty line, with a quarter of families with disabled children unable to afford heating. a tenth of all disabled women have incomes under £31pw, and men £51pw under current benefits or earned income.

and yet, the government intends to slash the number of claimants on disability living allowance by 20%, although the fraud rate is estimated to be a mere 0.5%. it also intends to remove the mobility allowance from people in care homes, slashing their income by 66% and further isolating them.

new 'work capability assessments' (criticised widely by groups such as citizens advice bureau, disability charities and other disabled people's organisations) will force many people onto the lower job seekers allowance despite their needs. the private company carrying out these assessments will earn £100 million per year.

as if all this wasn't enough, the new rules for housing benefits will also attack disabled people disproportionately, forcing many into smaller and cheaper accommodation away from friends and family, and indiscriminately reducing housing benefit by 10% after 12 months unemployed for whatever reason!

apart from all these direct attacks, social service departments will of course be under pressure with widespread forecasts of 25% budget cuts. already, in some areas, support for shopping, cooking or cleaning is being withdrawn, and charges of £50 per week being raised for just a few hours home care a week. the 'independent living fund' is also under threat of closure.

finally of course, there are nationwide increases which will hit the disabled and poor hardest, like the linking of benefits to the consumer price index, the VAT increase to 20%, and the deregulation of rail fares with huge price hikes expected.

during the nazi rise in germany, disabled people were targetted, even to the extent of nazi propaganda describing the disabled as 'genetically ill people who cost the community money'. now, that propoganda machine is alive and well in modern britain, and disabled people will also inevitably die here as a result.

the protest was not authorised, and the GLA tried to ban it over concerns of health and safety due to a misunderstanding about a donkey (which turned out to be a papier mache model). police, including plain clothes, community support officers, and "heritage wardens" (boris's private thugs in the square) all hassled the protestors at various times.

DPAC is committed to raising awareness, networking, and fighting back against this government and its cuts.

they are constructing a website but in the meantime have a blog at http://disabledpeopleprotest.wordpress.com/

more information from linda burnip : linda_burnip (At) yahoo DOT co DOT uk