Even Break is a new website based organisation for disabled people whoo want to work and enployers who want to hire a disabled person.
You can find out more on their website, here>>

A British Diplomat praised for her work promoting disability rights as a diplomat in Poland, has had her new posting as Britain’s deputy ambassador to Kazakhstan revoked, after Foreign Officie officials decided that her deafness makes it too expensive for her to work abroad.
The Equality and Human Rights commision is taking up her case.
But this signals an interesting approach by a Government that – in oppositiion, said that disabled people’s equality was safe in their hands.
Overcoming disabling barriers can be expensive, but the Disability Discrimination Act looks at the resources of the organisation when deciding whether the cost of removing barriers or providing aids and adaptations, is prohibitive and can be refused.
It seems a clear indication of the Government’s continued intention for poorer and “less equal” groups to bear the main burden of the Government cuts.
After all, a Government that is still paying MP expenses for TVs, up to £24,222 for rent/housing costs, an annual Communications Allowance of £10,400, and up to £37,281 to each MP for staff costs.
Readers may also remember an item in the news that foreign secretary William Hague was employing 3 Special Advisors, but apparently, paying for the lip speakers that Jane Cordell uses to do the job she was selected for is too expensive.
The EHRC must win this case, or the hard won rights of Disabled people to live and work as equals will have been effectively repealed.

Fit notes are brought in by the Government in April.

The fit note means that when you go to the doctor, instead of having a sick note signing you off work, the GP will now decide whether you are fit for work with some support, and what employers can do to help them return to work, includeing things like changed hours, a phased return, fewer dudies or workplace adaptations.

The aim is to decrease the number of people on sickness and employment support benefits.

TRAINEE LOW INTENSITY PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPISTS
WOLVERHAMPTON

27 hours per week

£21,318 (pro rata) on successful completion of training

This is an exciting opportunity to become a Trainee, Low Intensity Psychological Therapist working with the South Asian community in Wolverhampton.  Wolverhampton Primary Care Trust has commissioned a new primary care mental health service in partnership with Third Sector Organisations.  This service is based on an ‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies’ (IAPT) model.
The post holder will provide guided self help programs such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.  You will be expected to undertake the Low Intensity Psychological Interventionist Training at a post graduate level and should be able to demonstrate that you are able to manage academic study at this level (ideally Level 4 and above). The post holder must be fluent in Punjabi or Urdu.

For more information and/or application pack, please contact:
Asian Women’s Adhikar Association on 01902 571260 or email:  info@awaaz-wton.org.uk

Closing date for applications: 31st July 2009
Interviews to be held the week beginning 10th August 2009

We have been sent some information about Arts Council England’s vacant posts, and it is posted below for your information.

Successful candidates will work 5 days a year in London, here are the details:

Independent Disability Advisors (x9 posts)

Independent Disability Advisory Chair (x1 post)

Advisors earn £150 per day worked in addition to agreed expenses and reasonable adjustment costs
Chair earns £175 per day worked in addition to agreed expenses and reasonable adjustment costs

Contract: Fixed term contract for services, 5 days per year Continue Reading

The Government plans to end incapacity benefit need a lot more work if they are to seriously get disabled people back into paid work.

Yes, the benefit tends to end up being a benefit-for-life for many disabled people, and yes, it does nothing to encourage us to believe in ourselves and what we can do. So the Government is right to change the focus so that we start thinking about ourselves and our employment prospects in a positive “i can” way.

But come on, seriously – does the Government really believe that the only thing keeping disabled people from working is Incapacity Benefit?

Unless employers are forced into employing disabled people in meaningful jobs, the impact of ending incapacity benefit will just be to put many of us into poverty, and do nothing to promote our equality as citizens.

It will also save the Government money – or is that the point of the proposals?