DDB 104 Developmental Neuro-Diversity
Association
to the Joint Committee on the Draft Disability
Discrimination Bill
Submission by The Developmental Neuro-Diversity
Association
to the Joint Committee on the Draft Disability
Discrimination Bill
Clerk to the Committee
on the Draft Disability Discrimination Bill
The Scrutiny Unit Committee
Office,
House of Commons, Room
G10,
7 Millbank,
London SW1P 3JA
Note: This will not be
sent in hard copy due to reasons of practicality. We will also
be making further more specific submissions.
Dear Sir/Madam,
We are broadly supportive
of DAN's approach, with a few reservations.
We can not, as a charity,
take political sides.
We also do not agree that
"employment remains the dream of a small few".
The biggest group of people
with disabilities are the developmentally neurodiverse (dyslexia,
developmental dyspraxia, adhd, dyscalculia, asperger's syndrome,
tourette's syndrome and related conditions). A minimum of 5% of
the entire population are severely affected by these. They tend
to overlap, more often than not.
A minimum of 20% of the
entire population are moderately or mildly affected by them. Some
reputable scientific estimates run as high as 40%+ and rising.
Many if not most are unaware that these conditions exist (at least
in mild or moderate form), let alone that they have them.
It follows that disability
is more common than motherhood and affects the majority,
not a minority, of the entire population.
In separate studies done
of young offenders institutions (in Edinburgh and Durham) it was
found that over 60% of young offenders had dyslexia and related
conditions and over 60% had dyspraxia and related conditions.
None had been previously diagnosed.
This means that comprehensive
screening of the entire population, including all age groups,
and the comprehensive implementation of equality and diversity
training for all members of society is required. Long-term
Government commitments to mainstreaming equality and diversity
can only be achieved through these means. It also means that
the money spent on this and the billions saved from having the
biggest jail population in Europe, will enable to comprehensive
implementation of the Social Model of Disability for all and still
save money and leave room for tax cuts.
We are, as far as we know,
the only pan-developmental neurodiversity charity in the world.
We are also entirely user-led and controlled.
Access must include not
being subjected to the sensory assaults of the noisy and/or otherwise
busy open plan.
We welcome any improvements
for disabled people and condemn any worsening of our situation
(e.g. through the mania for open plan as as opposed to closed
plan or flexiplan (with retractable screened sections and comprehensive
sensory screening) offices. We know these open plan offices are contrary
to the spirit of the UN Convention on Torture and the European
Court of Human Rights' condemnation of the use of "white
noise" against suspects in Northern Ireland as torture).
Yours sincerely,
Adrian Whyatt, Director
and Treasurer of DANDA (The Developmental Neuro-Diversity Association),
46 Westbere Road, London NW2.Charity no 1101323. Submitted in
accordance with DANDA's mandates on the Draft Disability Bill
Consultation.,
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