When Parliament passed the Coronavirus Act, ND Labour and others warned that it would enable local authorities to cut provision to neurodivergent and other disabled people. Sadly, this has proved to be true, with six English councils (Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Birmingham and Solihull) using the power that the Act gives them to reduce needs assessments and care packages.
Behind the Orwellian terms ‘easement’ and ‘streamlining’ are real distress and harm.
Three of the six councils are run by the Conservatives and one has an Independent/Green majority, but we are very disappointed to see two Labour councils among them as well.
We call on these councils to reverse their actions, and the government to restore our right to adequate local authority care and to provide adequate funding to councils to meet their people’s needs.
This is abominable. People with disabilities, including those living with neuro-divergent conditions, need and deserve more access to services in these times, not less. This should be guaranteed under the Equaity Act 2010.