By Janet Leifer,
I am writing this after accompanying my husband to attend
the AGM of DABB, the Disabled Association Borough of Barnet, a voluntary
organisation providing a range of accessible services for disabled people living
or working in the London Borough of Barnet., ensuring that disabled people take
part in the planning and management of its work. I would like to make it clear that I am not a
member of DABB, the views I express are my own and that DABB is not aware that
I am writing this.
In the 40th year of its existence I was
saddened and shocked to see that for the financial year 2011 and 2012 DABB had
a £30,000 deficit. This was explained in
part by receiving funding in the previous financial year and spending it in
2011/12, but it was whispered that funding had been cut. The Skylark Counselling and Psychotherapy
service run by DABB ceased at the end of March 2012, despite being an
oversubscribed service, because NHS Barnet indicated that funding would not
continue. The Directors seemed resigned
to the fact that funding would continue to be cut and they would have to strive
to struggle on.
The ACCESS committee whose members all have a physical
disability , supported by DABB, was celebrating the 25th year of its
existence and of its determination to inspect plans, roads, parks and buildings throughout the borough to make
sure they were accessible to all. The
meagre funding they had received has now ceased and they need more members, but
they are still striving to make the borough more accessible for the physically
disabled.
DABB now works closely with BCIL, Barnet Centre for
Independent Living, a user-led organisation that promotes accessibility for
disabled people by breaking down barriers to employment and social inclusion
whose members are community organisations, service users and carers. As Barnet outsources its services it is
responsible for providing for its disabled residents, BCIL is the social agency
responsible for ensuring the delivery of those services and handing out
diminishing funds that it receives from Barnet Council to organisations like
DABB. BCIL and all the organisations
linked with it are striving to provide services with shrinking funds.
I felt outraged by what I heard at the meeting and shocked
that no one felt able to condemn the present situation and speak up for the
plight of disabled residents, all striving to look after themselves.
There are
many things that have made the residents of Barnet angry – parking charges,
closure of libraries, environmental issues – but I hope that that there are
residents out there who are ready to show their disgust at the way that
disabled residents are being treated.
All these issues are part of Barnet Council’s One Barnet
Programme of Privatisation. Who is striving to make a legal challenge to One
Barnet, a challenge that is in the interests of all of us? Two disabled
residents, Susan Sullivan, and Maria Nash are doing this. Should we not show our support for what they
are striving to do for all of us? Should
not we all join with disabled residents in striving to ensure that they receive
the support they deserve and are entitled to?
Let’s not shirk this issue.
Janet Leifer
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Guest blogs are always welcome at the Barnet Eye. Janet Leifer is a Barnet resident and carer for her husband.
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