Exactly. If we can actually go in there and show that we can bring the provision to work on an equal footing from the start, then we are much more likely to get the job. Barry ----- Original Message ----- From: "martin wilsher" <m.wilsher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2008 4:56 PM Subject: [access-uk] Re: incapacity benifit to be axed What atw nees to be structured to include is a provision of funding, so that one can go into the interview with a "funding in principle, so the employers don't look upon the equipment that blind people need as an insumountable drain. Hope to hear from you soon. From Martin. Please email me at: m.wilsher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Thanks Please visit my website: www.martin-wilsher.com -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Barry Hill Sent: 20 July 2008 15:11 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: incapacity benifit to be axed I have a feeling that this is an attempt to get people who are swinging the lead off incapacity benefit and, if it enables some seriously disabled, such as blind, deaf or severely mentally disabled people to get off the benefit, then that's good. It seems to be a catch all scheme that is to catch the workers rather than one that will give incapacity benefit to anyone. In theory, it seems that it is, at worse, an inconvenience for seriously disabled people but, ultimately, of greater benefit to them if they can show that they are unable to work. However, as you say, in practice it might show that someone like us is capable of working but cannot get a job as employers are reluctant to employ people with, what they perceive to be, insurmountable disabilities. What needs to happen is for ATW to be part and parcel of this scheme, and it needs tightening up too. Barry ----- Original Message ----- From: "martin wilsher" <m.wilsher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2008 11:50 AM Subject: [access-uk] Re: incapacity benifit to be axed The thing we all have to remember here is that employers have to be forced to employ disabled people. If they didn't have to be forced to accept disabled people, then why have the DDA? I do not think the employment support allowance will do anything for the numbers of blind people in employment. I believe it is yet another way of the government reducing the numbers of people on benefits in any arbitrary way they can. I went on new deal for disabled people, and that was so badly run it was useless. The idea was to try and throw the blind person at companies, quote the law at them and say employ this person? Then the company would just walk away, and within a year, I was told, "oh we haven't found you a job so you're off the course. How crap is that? The fact an employer treated me like shit and I was forced to leave within three days of employment is neither here nor there. Me thinks this ESA will prove more of a problem than a solution. I heard that voluntary work was classed as trying to find meaningful work though, is this correct? Even then, I've found that blind people have problems finding that. I have voluntary work, but I have to travel a long way a week to do the work, which I'm not begrudging. The thing is, it is not the fact blind people cannot work that is the problem, it is the fact the attitudes of employers say they cannot work which is the problem. Forcing blind people or any disabled people into jobs where they are limited or cannot do the job is not going to sort the problem of getting more disabled people into work. This will work for those with back problems, some emotional issues etc, where the solutions can be cheaper etc, but for the big ticket disabilities like blindness, I don't think the features of the ESA will work. Forcing blind people into interviews is all well and good, but when it comes to the interview with the employer, as Derek said, employers don't want disabled people, so the blind person will not get a job if the employer doesn't want to employ them, either through fear of blind people or through other reasons. Hope to hear from you soon. From Martin. Please email me at: m.wilsher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Thanks Please visit my website: www.martin-wilsher.com -----Original Message----- From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Barry Hill Sent: 20 July 2008 10:39 To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [access-uk] Re: incapacity benefit to be axed Hi Will and all This document is a little out of date, being May 2006. The green paper was changed a little such as, where it says that there are no plans for people who have been claiming incapacity benefit to go on this scheme, from April 2010 all existing incapacity benefits claimants will be required to take the work capability assessment. One odd thing, from a personal point of view, is that the initial phase isn't due to come in until Octover this year. However, after a short work experience, I have made a fresh claim for incapacity benefit and have been put on the scheme, although my incapacity benefit, so far, hasn't been affected. I am curious as to how well it has provisioned for blind people. Barry ----- Original Message ----- From: "will lomas" <lomaswilliam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2008 8:51 PM Subject: [access-uk] incapacity benifit to be axed hi to all Read this article on the supposed employement seekers allowance we are all getting from this year http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmwor pen/616/61607.htm ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3282 (20080719) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3282 (20080719) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq