Crippen Cartoons cartoons at the cutting edge of disability

Well, it looks as though the organisers of WeThe15 have now promised that groups and organisations of disabled people will be involved in the running and organisation of the campaign.

Disabled journalist John Pring from Disability News Service (DNS) has been able to secure assurances from both the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) that despite the presence of multiple mainstream organisations and businesses as campaign partners, that WeThe15 will be a campaign led and controlled by disabled people.

The aim of the campaign is to “intensify political will to support and strengthen” the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) over the next decade.

This means the UK government itself is likely to come under pressure, particularly as IDA hopes to push for greater involvement of Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) in policy design, an issue in which ministers have faced significant criticism and are currently facing legal action in the high court.

The campaign will prioritise different topics through its 10 years, beginning with access to COVID-19 vaccinations for disabled people and then – probably – access to assistive devices.

So, let’s hope that by having IDA involved along with the Deaf-led International Committee of Sports for the Deaf they will be strong enough to appose any of the usual ‘compromises’ imposed by mainstream organisations and businesses.

As John Pring comments, the IPC’s decision to launch the campaign marks a significant change in its approach to disability rights. You’ll probably remember that its previous chair, wheelchair user Sir Philip Craven had said that he objected to the use of the word “disabled” to describe someone, and that he would “definitely not” describe himself as a disabled person!

You can read the full DNS article here.

Description of cartoon for those using screen reading software

A small group of disabled people with varying impairments and ethnicities are standing facing a Paralympian in a speedy wheelchair. One of them is holding a placard that reads we the 15. The Paralympian is flexing his large arm muscles and is saying in a very excitable manner: “Please can I carry the placard … I’m very strong … can I … can I?” One of the other disabled people is thinking: “Bloody super Crips!”