Disabled Pay Respect to Atos Victims: On Wednesday twenty ninth August 2012, the day that the Paralympic Video games opened in London, disabled activists held a vigil to recollect those that have died on account of the Work Functionality Assessments carried out by Paralympic Sponsor Atos, delivering a coffin to their head workplace. The vigil was part of every week of motion organised by Disabled Individuals In opposition to Cuts (DPAC).
I met with the activists within the two two espresso retailers on Triton Sq. to arrange for the vigil shortly earlier than they moved out in the direction of Atos. It was raining steadily however thankfully there was an space beneath cowl in entrance of the Atos places of work the place the might arrange a PA system, an digital organ, a lectern and an altar.
The occasion started with a speaker (and a signer) explaining the issues with the Work Functionality Evaluation (WCA) as delivered by Atos, “a relentless well being and incapacity evaluation regime which has been used to slash very important advantages from hundred of hundreds of sick and disabled folks” and the place assessors are advised they’ve to achieve strict targets in failing the good majority of claimants, discovering methods to fill within the related bins on the types and sometimes intentionally misinterpreting the claimants responses and misrepresenting their medical situation.
Tales had been learn out about individuals who had dedicated suicide after incorrect Atos WCA assessments and the place there was proof that this had been not less than a part of the direct explanation for their deaths.
4 disabled folks in wheelchairs or mobility scooters then introduced a coffin to the vigil and folks got here ahead to put flowers on it.
The coffin was then carried to be put down instantly in entrance of the Atos workplace entrance, and extra flower petals had been then thrown over it.
In 2012 I commented:
The occasion was a solemn and transferring reminder of the scandal of the work functionality assessments and the horrible impact they’re having on the disabled. Many are shedding the allowances that allow them to journey to work, others housing advantages, and are being advised they’re match to work when patently they’re unable to take action. One of many protesters had a placard with a listing of among the instances, “a suicidal girl – a person with FATAL coronary heart situation – rape survivor of Rwandan genocide – man with kidney most cancers – girl with sever MS”. It’s a listing that may very well be prolonged nearly indefinitely – and now features a man in a coma.
Regardless of Atos having been discredited, repeatedly been accused of dishonesty and related to the deaths of disabled folks, in response to Incapacity Information Service it earned over £465 million earlier than withdrawing from the WCA contract in 2015.
Atos had been neglected of the awards for disablity evaluation contracts price over £2billion introduced this 12 months for 2024-9, with the contracts going to Capita, US firm Maximus and Australian multinational Ingeus. However Atos might finally get one of many 5 contracts, as they took the DWP to courtroom after shedding out to Serco for the southwest England contract, claiming the analysis of the bids had been unfair. The courtroom motion ended with the DWP agreeing to reassess the choice, and the £338m contract might but go to Atos.
As Incapacity Information Service factors out, each Capita and Maximus additionally been linked to the deaths of disabled claimants. Capita additionally has had severe knowledge safety issues and has failed to fulfill acceptable high quality requirements of its PIP assessements and has been linked to “widespread studies of dishonesty by its healthcare professionals“. Regardless of this, these firms proceed to be rewarded by massively profitable contracts. Privatisation apparently saves cash however solely by offering a service which employs employees usually with out satisfactory {qualifications}, forces them into dishonest practices and shoddy work and claimants pay dearly for this, generally with their lives.
Extra at Disabled Pay Respect to Atos Victims.
Tags: Atos victims, Claire Glasman, coffin, Incapacity Information Service, Disabled Individuals In opposition to Cuts, DNS, DPAC, London, mobility scooters, Paralympic Video games, Paralympic Sponsor, paralympics, peter Marshall, protest, vigil. Atos, WCA, wheelchairs, Winvisible, Work functionality assessments
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