Last-minute changes to coronavirus restrictions are a form of disability discrimination.
That‘s the view of Steve Broach, a barrister specialising in disability and children’s rights.
Steve Broach, who says the new coronavirus restrictions are a “classic” example of indirect disability discrimination
With a large part of the country now in Tier 4 restrictions, disabled people continue to report an absence of support.
They are still experiencing problems accessing food shopping and help with personal assistance.
Broach said the “disproportionate” adverse effect on disabled people is a “classic” example of indirect disability discrimination.
Supported living left out
On Twitter, Broach, of law firm 39 Essex Chambers, said the UK Government had issued guidance on the new restrictions for care homes, but not supported living.
Tighter restrictions announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson have seen much of London and southern and eastern England enter Tier 4.
Tier 4 involves restrictions similar to those during the national lockdown earlier in 2020.
The UK is braced for these restrictions to take effect nationwide if confirmed Covid-19 cases continue to increase rapidly.
‘Contempt’ for disabled people
Disability rights activist Jamie McCormack has backed Broach’s comments.
McCormack, 48, from Chessington in Greater London, said the UK Government had “again demonstrated contempt” for disabled people shielding from coronavirus.
He accused the Government of offering them no support with food parcels amid problems in securing supermarket priority slots.
Disabled people have already threatened legal action over supermarket delivery slots.
Lawyer Chris Fry won a key concession from Tesco when the supermarket chain agreed to give priority to more than 350 disabled customers.
Disabled forced into ‘hazardous’ supermarkets
Campaigner McCormack, a deaf wheelchair user who has Addison’s disease, said many disabled people were forced to endure “hazardous, overcrowded supermarkets”, or rely on friends and family.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said “anyone in supported living who is in a formal support bubble, including in Tier 4, can continue to meet with other members of their support bubble”.
In supported living, the accommodation is the person’s own home so local tier rules apply, added the spokesperson.
Related:
- Coronavirus may decimate services
- Learning disabled die from lack of help
- Social care cut when it was needed most
- Virus deaths in care more than double
- Activists demand virus death figures
- At high risk of death, but denied tests
- Fightback against virus law care cuts
- Disabled launch legal fight to buy food
- Keep seeking medical help, doctor urges
- Families fight virus clampdown
- We can’t get food we need, say parents
- Councils ‘free to abandon disabled’
Published: 28 December 2020
