Access: Fighting seclusion with collective activism
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Russell Brown, in reply to
Sometimes methinks he’s used as a kind of sacrificial lamb.
He is. Kevin Hague referred to him (I paraphrase) as Minister for Getting Thrown Under Buses.
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Rosemary McDonald, in reply to
The official reason is probably something about ‘privacy’ or ‘safety’.
Back in the early, early nineties when elderly with dementia were being channeled into the private facilities, a similar line was trotted out to family wishing to visit. Much easier to pop down and see Mum after work if she's in a 'home' in town, rather than in the facility out in the wops 3/4 hours drive away.
So much in the way of bad care could be hidden by discouraging random visiting.
Criticism of the care provided would be met with "If you don't like the way we do it....do it yourself." I kid ye not.
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Paul Gibson, Disability Rights Commissioner has his say on this injustice
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11653081
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Kevin Hague gets it, in this blog post. He would be an excellent Minister of Health.
https://blog.greens.org.nz/2016/06/09/ashley-peacocks-treatment-shows-a-mental-health-system-in-crisis/ -
Russell Brown, in reply to
Kevin Hague gets it, in this blog post. He would be an excellent Minister of Health.
I read that post earlier. It's really, really good.
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Poor Sam Lotu-liga doesn't appear to be entirely in control of his own body. A bit like Doctor Strangelove's errant arm, Sam's bum seems to desperately seek to plant itself back onto the relative safety of his seat from the moment he stands up.
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Lucy Telfar Barnard, in reply to
It's good to hear the seclusion expert is visiting. I would have thought that a complaint to the UN Commission on Human Rights would be an option. Ashley may not be able to take a case under the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, but why not a simple case under the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights?
(Article 7: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 10.1 All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.)Presumably it is with an eye to such a case that the Human Rights Commission are bringing in the seclusion expert?
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Hilary Stace, in reply to
The Human Rights Commission has previously taken some concerns under the Convention Against Torture against these seclusion cases, including, I think, Ashley's.
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Sacha, in reply to
a woeful performance by Sam Lotu-Iiga
just watched. what an embarrassingly feeble man. caffeine-deprived, if I'm feeling generous.
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izogi, in reply to
I actually felt sorry for him...
Well, I can't truthfully say I feel sorry for him.
He's not a little kid being forced to say stuff. He's not being made to represent the National Party. He always has the option to say No and deal whatever consequences his Cabinet overlords choose to inflict on him.
He's chosen to be there and be part of the machine, to stand up as a Member of Parliament and say some stuff which has unjustified real and demeaning effects on other people's lives, either because he agrees with it or because he doesn't care.
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izogi, in reply to
He also got a decent word into the I've Been Thinking section of Back Benches last night (8-June-2016). They don't seem to have it up on the youtube channel yet.
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While we're scrutinising Sam, who rather uncharacteristically ably fielded a question from Annette King about (potential?) means and asset testing for Home and Community Support Services for Older People inthehouse on Tuesday.
Now, means and asset testing for HCSS is not a new concept, it was discussed in some depth (here by Treasury) as being a potential option.
Another potential option was expecting families to provide more unpaid support.
However....clarification was sought from his office and means and asset testing for HCSS was ruled out.
They will increase eligibility requirements, and very possibly try and force those who own their own homes into residential 'care' (as then the property is then effectively owned by the government).
In the meantime, while they are trying to sort out the Old People in a fiscally sustainable manner, younger disabled people with a desire to live outside of institutions are joining Poor Old Sam under the bus.
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Joe Wylie, in reply to
While we're scrutinising Sam, who rather uncharacteristically ably fielded a question from Annette King about (potential?) means and asset testing for Home and Community Support Services for Older People inthehouse on Tuesday.
Thanks Rosemary. I guess that illustrates just how much Sam realised he was on a hiding to nowhere defending Ashley Peacock's mistreatment.
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Angela Hart, in reply to
clarification was sought from his office and means and asset testing for HCSS was ruled out.
There is already a degree of means testing in place for older people regarding Home and Community Support Services. Only personal care support is provided free of charge to older adults whose income is above a threshold. (I'm not sure what the threshold is, probably National Super). If you are an older adult with, for instance, income from a pension scheme on top of your National Super, you are not eligible for HCSS other than personal care. I have a good friend in this situation, who has to pay for assistance to go grocery shopping and keep her home and linen clean, but someone to listen outside the bathroom door in case she slips while showering is provided free of charge.
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Ashley represents modern institutionalisation. Meanwhile Robert Martin, who grew up in the old institutions, is now at the other end of the disability spectrum at the United Nations in New York where he is our candidate for the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This is a huge deal, but have not seen it covered anywhere in the NZ media. Even TVNZ which has a reporter based in New York hasn't mentioned it as far as I know.
Here is the report from the Office for Disability Issues newsletter and a little clip from Attitude TV.
Robert Martin’s United Nations campaign reaching climax
The campaign for New Zealand disability rights advocate Robert Martin to gain a seat on the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is reaching its climax.
The election is being held on 14 to 16 June at the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in New York. If his campaign is successful, Robert will be the first New Zealander and the first person with a learning disability elected to the Committee.
The New Zealand Government nominated Robert for the Committee following consultation with the disability sector and the Human Rights Commission. His campaign has been supported by the Office for Disability Issues and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Minister for Disability Issues Nicky Wagner is attending the Conference of States Parties to support Robert’s candidacy.
To learn more about Robert visit the Attitude Live website
http://attitudelive.com/documentary/robert-martin -
Paul Gibson reports from the Human Rights Commission https://www.hrc.co.nz/news/paul-gibson-supporting-disability-advocate-robert-martin-bid-un/
Robert and his People First colleagues have also been following Ashley's story from New York.
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Kirsty Johnston finds another case of institutional abuse this time in the Waikato
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Yay Robert won. This is so much bigger than a win in sport. Let's wait for the tsunami of media coverage (not).
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Joe Wylie, in reply to
Yay Robert won.
Far out. And thanks once again for the heads up on Becoming A Person.
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Sacha, in reply to
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Hilary Stace, in reply to
That's not bad coverage. Not quite what Steven Adams got (and they left NZ at about the same time) but this is disability, politics, international human rights, so not as significant for the MSM as sport..
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Rosemary McDonald, in reply to
Kirsty Johnston finds another case of institutional abuse this time in the Waikato
There is a very good reason why Himself and moi spend as much time as possible as far away from our Waikato home.
The NASC has a default setting for residential "care" for those who's care needs are in the too hard basket.
You have to earn the 'right' to live in your own home....
Disability Support Link can help with home care, supported independent living, rehabilitation and respite.
"It took several months before we could get her into a community home," Walters said.
"She had to be able to stay overnight on her own and to be able to look after her personal needs."
Of course, we all know that "being able to look after (your own) personal needs" is definitely not a requirement for 'independent living'....
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Rosemary McDonald, in reply to
And Natrad....
Big cheer from the Bus in Kaitaia this am at the announcement...
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Kirsty keeps exposing disability injustice. Today the news that Nelson parents are being forced to send their autistic son to a residential school in Christchurch. This is against the Education Act and the legal right to attend your local school, and harks back to the years of institutions. But children are only ever allowed to attend a residential school for a maximum of two years so it is only delaying a local solution. Makes no sense.
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Teina Pora's case can also be seen as another of disability abuse. Framed and imprisoned for years although his Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and related ID would have been obvious to many of those involved in the processes, even though they might not have known exactly what it was.
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