Ellen Clifford: Disability Rights activist to address NI Anti Poverty Network's AGM
'Disability benefit cuts will push a quarter of a million more people into poverty, including 50,000 children'
Disability rights activist Ellen Clifford - a national steering group member of Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) - will be the keynote speaker at the AGM of the NI Anti Poverty Network (NIAPN).
The AGM will be held on Thursday, June 5, from 11.30 to 13.30, at UNISON, Galway House, Belfast.
According to an NIAPN spokesperson, the AGM will focus on "building opposition to the proposed £5bn cuts in disability benefit, as disability rights and anti-poverty campaigners and advocates come together to discuss the real life impact of the proposed changes to Personal Independence Payments and Universal Credit".
They added: "The government's own figures estimate these cuts will push a quarter of a million more people into poverty, including 50,000 children.
"Ever since the Labour Government announced its intention to make drastic cuts in disability benefits through their 'Pathways to Work' Green Paper, NIAPN has been focused raising awareness about the contents of the Green Paper and building opposition to the proposals by supporting the protests called by DPAC, working with the Cliff Edge Coalition on a collective response to the Green Paper, and holding information sessions and meetings.
"NIAPN's lived experience advisory panel created postcards for community members to have their say and respond to the consultation, as well as leaflets to raise awareness about the proposed cuts. Hundreds of postcards have been filled out to date and will be sent on to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
"NIAPN is part of the growing movement demanding equity, respect and dignity for disabled people. Even before these proposed cuts, disabled people disproportionately experience poverty," said the NIAPN spokesperson.
Keynote speaker, Ellen Clifford, has been a stalwart in this vocal opposition to cuts.
Having worked in the disability sector for more than 20 years, she is the author of The War on Disabled People.
Recently she took a successful judicial review against the DWP over its consultation on the changes to the Work Capability Assessment because DWP did not make clear the significant cuts to the disability benefit.
Registration for the NIAPN AGM can be accessed here.