Remember the last Minister for disabled people, er … what was his name? Justin Time? Justin Case? Ah, there we go, Justin Tomlinson. Well, if you remember he set up this Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO’s) Forum back in 2021. Don’t be surprised if you never heard of it as he closed it down again the same year!
Well, the disabled people who’d tried to get involved with this initiative only to have the rug pulled from under their feet, have organised and have met together independently to form their own DPO Forum. They describe themselves as a coalition of Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations (DDPOs) in England which engages with government to protect the rights of disabled people in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UN CRPD).
They’ve already set out their priorities for campaigning and holding Government to account and are currently meeting with Chloe Smith, the relatively new Minister for disabled people and civil servants from the Disability Unit and other Government Departments. They also have a social care sub-group which is campaigning against care charging and for independent living.
If you’re an organisation of disabled people and wish to join the DPO Forum then please email Reclaiming Our Future Alliance (ROFA) and they’ll make the connection for you.
Or alternatively, just join one of the meetings using the link below and introduce yourself. The DPO Forum England meets on the last Wednesday of the month – Here’s the link to the next meeting 3-5pm 27th July 2022:
Join Zoom Meeting herehttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/81301107555
Description of cartoon for those using screen reading software
Two white males in grey suits are crouched down below a window through which you can see a meeting taking place. A sign in the meeting room reads ‘DPOs Forum Meeting’. A newspaper page has blown at the feet of the two men. On it is printed: ‘Stop Press – New DDPOs Forum to meet with new minister for disabled people’. The first male crouched below the window is Justin Tomlinson, the former minister for disabled people. He is saying: “Hang on a minute – I thought that I’d put a stop to all of that DPO’s nonsense when I was minister for the disabled?!”
Crippen Cartoons 