Letter to Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Disabled People

Dear Sir Stephen Timms MP,

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you as a Member of the newly elected government and in your new role as the Minister of State for Social Security and Disability.

The Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE) is the only national Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO) campaigning for the rights of Disabled people to an inclusive education, led by and for Disabled people. Our work is informed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), particularly Article 24 (on inclusive education), which focuses on the right of Disabled people to mainstream education. As you know, the duty placed on signatory State parties is to make progressive realisation towards equity and justice for every Disabled person within their State. However, the reality for us Disabled people is that the education system continues to adjudge our lives in wholly negative terms, based on a deficit needs-based system (medical model of disability), which is contrary to the UNCRPD.

We appreciate the support you have shown for ALLFIE’s work in the past. We want to continue our collaboration in your new role as the Minister of State for Social Security and Disability. Your experience as MP for the London Borough of Newham, a borough once celebrated for its inclusive education, gives you a unique perspective. We have experienced a nationwide setback in progress toward full participation of Disabled people in mainstream education and beyond. There are an increasing number of Disabled children and young people not in education or receiving formal learning, a disproportionately high number of school exclusions, and many not receiving the appropriate support and resources required to access the National Curriculum. Disabled children and young people labelled as having “complex needs” are disproportionately placed in segregated day and residential educational provisions, placed away from their families, breaking family bonds and community connections. Disabled children and young people placed in segregated settings are at risk of experiencing abuse and violence. These systemic problems repeatedly violate their basic human rights to safety and education.

As the government that signed the UNCRPD on 30^th March 2007 and ratified the Convention on 8^th June 2009, we know that you have an interest in Disabled people’s entitlements, rights and inclusion in Britain. We welcome your priorities and intentions to “raise educational standards and break down barriers to opportunity.” We are also pleased about the government’s plan to make “all schools to cooperate with the local authority on school admissions, SEND inclusion, and place planning, by giving local authorities greater powers to help them deliver their functions on school admissions and ensure admissions decisions account for the needs for communities.” We believe that this shows a commitment to making inclusive education a reality.

At ALLFIE, we want every Disabled person to have a positive experience within the education system where we are not disadvantaged, in which we have access to appropriate support and resources, and have access to full educational experience, opportunities and outcomes. We know that inclusive education in mainstream settings is central to the work of full participation for everyone in society. For this reason, we have produced a Manifesto that sets out 6 demands for inclusive education for all that promote equity, justice, and inclusion. We believe that our Manifesto is a useful tool for influencing policy and decision-making. Therefore, we want to address the concerns ALLFIE raised with the previous government about the introduction of the SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan, including through our submission to the SEND and AP green paper consultation.

We do not believe that the current plan will improve the educational experience for every Disabled child and young person because it has failed to address the structural and systemic barriers within the education system. In fact, we would argue that this Implementation Plan exacerbates the exclusion of Disabled children and young people and will reduce later life chances and to be part of their communities. It is perplexing to us that there is a common misguided view that in order to be included, at first individual Disabled people are segregated.

We want to assist your parliamentary work by providing briefings that you can use during parliamentary debates and by holding regular engagement meetings with our Inclusive Education Coalition, which consists of a diverse group. We would be keen to be part of your engagement with stakeholders to assist with and participate in your policy work.

We look forward to your leadership in advancing the rights and inclusion of Disabled people within the education system. We would like to meet with you to discuss our proposal to develop an education system that is embedded in justice and rights for every Disabled person.

We hope you accept our invitation to meet with us, as the only Disabled People’s Organisation working on education.

We look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Navin Kikabhai and Michelle Daley

The Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE)