Post by Funky-Fran on Sept 12, 2002 8:12:15 GMT -5
Scope, one of the UK’s largest disability charities, has come under fire on a new website which claims to give “a disabled person’s perspective” on the organisation’s history and work.
Spastics-Society.com, launched earlier this week, claims the charity is responsible for portraying negative images of disability and for perpetrating the myth that disabled people are objects of charity.
Site editor and disabled activist Dr Laurence Clark writes in the site introduction: “I’ve seen numerous advertising campaigns over the years, all cynically portraying negative images of disabled people as objects of pity and sympathy in order to raise money to propagate [Scope’s] own survival at the expense of our freedom.”
The site contains advertising imagery stretching back as far as 1952, and includes a reproduction of the much-hated “Priority of priorities” campaign that asked the public to donate money towards research projects aimed at eliminating cerebral palsy.
One of Dr Clark's most bloomin' hecking claims on the site is that the charity, which campaigns to get disabled people into work, is not currently eligible for the government’s ‘two-tick’ award - the kite mark for employers who are positive about disabled people.
Dr Clark told Youreable he hoped the site would make disabled people question the need for the continued existence of disabled charities.
“If we actually look at what they do,” he said, “we have to question whose benefit they’re here for.”
The site opening comes weeks before Scope is due to celebrate its 50th anniversary at a glitzy showing of the film 'Skallagrigg' at the National Theatre.
Scope issued a statement saying they were “disappointed” that Dr Clark had put “so much time and energy into a negative vision of Scope.”
A spokesperson from the charity said that while there were many people working for the charity who would agree with some of the website’s views, it was “interesting to note that Dr Clark publicly admitted he has never had anything to do with the charity.”
“Perhaps Dr Clark would consider that becoming a member [of the charity] would be a more positive way of changing Scope,” she said.
The site takes its inspiration from Dr Paul Darke’s ‘Anti-Leonard Cheshire site’, which was closed down after a lengthy battle that ended at the World Intellectual Property Arbitration and Mediation Center last year.
To visit the site and sign an online petition, point your browser at: www.spastics-society.com
David Felton 12 Sept, 2002
Spastics-Society.com, launched earlier this week, claims the charity is responsible for portraying negative images of disability and for perpetrating the myth that disabled people are objects of charity.
Site editor and disabled activist Dr Laurence Clark writes in the site introduction: “I’ve seen numerous advertising campaigns over the years, all cynically portraying negative images of disabled people as objects of pity and sympathy in order to raise money to propagate [Scope’s] own survival at the expense of our freedom.”
The site contains advertising imagery stretching back as far as 1952, and includes a reproduction of the much-hated “Priority of priorities” campaign that asked the public to donate money towards research projects aimed at eliminating cerebral palsy.
One of Dr Clark's most bloomin' hecking claims on the site is that the charity, which campaigns to get disabled people into work, is not currently eligible for the government’s ‘two-tick’ award - the kite mark for employers who are positive about disabled people.
Dr Clark told Youreable he hoped the site would make disabled people question the need for the continued existence of disabled charities.
“If we actually look at what they do,” he said, “we have to question whose benefit they’re here for.”
The site opening comes weeks before Scope is due to celebrate its 50th anniversary at a glitzy showing of the film 'Skallagrigg' at the National Theatre.
Scope issued a statement saying they were “disappointed” that Dr Clark had put “so much time and energy into a negative vision of Scope.”
A spokesperson from the charity said that while there were many people working for the charity who would agree with some of the website’s views, it was “interesting to note that Dr Clark publicly admitted he has never had anything to do with the charity.”
“Perhaps Dr Clark would consider that becoming a member [of the charity] would be a more positive way of changing Scope,” she said.
The site takes its inspiration from Dr Paul Darke’s ‘Anti-Leonard Cheshire site’, which was closed down after a lengthy battle that ended at the World Intellectual Property Arbitration and Mediation Center last year.
To visit the site and sign an online petition, point your browser at: www.spastics-society.com
David Felton 12 Sept, 2002
brain fog, M.E styleeeeee!)
! I do my best not to be sucked into their way of thinking, though I'll admit I'm far from immune. I try to define myself by what I am as well as what I do, instead of just the latter.(< thanks to a fellow M.E patient for that tip 
!)
he should put it across to the extetn that it includs people who are genuinly unable to work for what ever reson.