Joint commission for Human Rights call for evidence - testimony

The PB user group decided that members would like to put forward a joint response to the Joint Committee for Human Rights' (JCHR) call for evidence around how the government's Independent Living Strategy is going and how governmental changes will affect people's ability to live independently in the furture.

A small focus group got together a couple of months ago and with the help of Kate (policy and training officer) and Jenny H (PB co-ordinator) the Personal Budget User group submitted a written response giving group member's experiences, thoughts and concerns.

The JCHR has also been hearing oral evidence from a number of key organisations and is publishing transcripts of this oral evidence on its website. Some of this is evidence referring to law and acts of parliament and some is examples from individuals and although some of it is quite heavy reading it is very intersting. If anyone is interested in what these key people / organisations are saying about Independent Living for disabled people you can find the transcripts at the following website addresses

http://www.parliament.uk/documents/joint-committees/human-rights/Independent%20Living/JCHR%20Transcript%2024%20May%20Final.pdf   - evidence from Sue Bott, [National Centre for Independent Living] Neil Coyle, [Disability Alliance] Marije Davidson, [RADAR] Jaspal Dhani [UK Disabled People’s Council] and Julie Newman [UK Disabled People’s Council],  Jim Elder-Woodward, [Independent Living in Scotland] Pam Duncan, [Independent Living in Scotland] Rhian Davies, [Disability Wales] and Paul Swann [Disability Wales].

http://www.parliament.uk/documents/joint-committees/human-rights/Independent%20Living/JCHR%20evidence%2014%20June.pdf   Mike Smith, [Commissioner and Chair, Disability Committee, Equality and Human Rights Commission] Monica McWilliams, [Chief Commissioner, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission] Bob Collins, [Chief Commissioner, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland] and Duncan Wilson, [Head of Strategy and Legal, Scottish Human Rights Commission]. Diane Mulligan OBE, [UK Candidate for the UN Committee of Experts on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities] David Ruebain, [Solicitor, Former Director of Legal Policy, EHRC, Chief Executive of the Equality Challenge Unit] Pauline Thompson OBE, [Co-author, Community Care and the Law (4th Edition)] and Karen Ashton, [Solicitor, Public Law Solicitors].

There will be more transcripts available as more oral evidence is heard - so do check back.