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“Pathways To Work” Ignores Disabled Voices: Here’s What’s Really At Stake

Pathways To Work Ignores Disabled Voices: Abstract image of disabled people in the workplace, overlaid text repeating "pathways?" over and over.

Article Summary

The government’s Pathways to Work plan ignores disabled people. It makes big changes to benefits (like PIP and Universal Credit) but won’t let people have a proper say. ❌ Key problems: There were no meetings in the North East (only Leeds/Glasgow). Online sessions filled up fast. Easy Read versions came 3 weeks late. 💬 Disabled people say: "I needed work adjustments but was ignored." "Train stations still aren’t accessible." "They said my cerebral palsy ‘wasn’t disabled enough’." We demand: Stop the changes. Listen to disabled voices first. Fix the unfair system. Act now! Sign our campaign or email hello@differencenortheast.org.uk. "Nothing about us without us!"

“PATHWAYS TO WORK” IGNORES DISABLED VOICES: HERE’S WHAT’S REALLY AT STAKE

Pathways To Work Ignores Disabled Voices: “This Green Paper consultation is asking questions like ‘What help should we give people who lose PIP?’ but not allowing people to consult on the actual PIP changes. This is fundamentally wrong.”
— Difference North East Response

Pathways To Work Ignores Disabled Voices: WHAT’S BEING IMPOSED: WITHOUT CONSENT

The Green Paper includes 22 policy changes, but only 11 are open for consultation. These unchallenged changes will:

✖️ Scrap the Work Capability Assessment
✖️ Freeze Universal Credit health payments
✖️ Cut PIP daily living payments

HOW DISABLED VOICES IN THE NORTH EAST WERE IGNORED

“It took 3 weeks after the consultation was announced for accessible formats to be made available.”
— Difference North East Response

MEMBER VOICES: THE HUMAN COST

ON EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS

“I worked in care and explained I’m dyslexic. I needed adjustments for paperwork, but they kept stripping them back. That impacted my mental health.”
— Difference North East Member

ON TRANSPORT

“40% of railway stations still have only step access. Leonard Cheshire’s research shows we’re still fighting for basics.”
— Difference North East Member

ON ASSESSMENTS

“Apparently I’m not disabled. They gave me zero points for my cerebral palsy.”
— Difference North East Member

Pathways To Work Ignores Disabled Voices: OUR OFFICIAL RESPONSE

We’ve submitted a formal consultation response demanding (READ IT HERE):

✋

Withdraw All Proposals

Scrap the Green Paper entirely

🗣️

Proper Consultation

With disabled people first

♿

Social Model Assessments

Redesign the entire system

JOIN OUR CAMPAIGN

These changes will happen unless we act together


ADD YOUR NAME NOW! FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE FORM, SIGN BELOW OR EMAIL US TO ADD YOUR NAME!

“We can’t have savings: we’re not allowed to. Every penny we get goes straight back out. These cuts will destroy lives.”
— Difference North East Member
NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US

Accessibility

Email hello@differencenortheast.org.uk for alternative formats. We adapt to YOU.

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