The Disabled Mothers’ Rights Campaign is calling on councils to implement the support disabled mothers are entitled to under legislation including the Care Act.
The campaign, co-ordinated by WinVisible (women with visible & invisible disabilities) brings together disabled mothers and other disabled women for the right to have a family and keep their children.
The DMRC, Inclusion London (the London-wide disability equality organisation) and the Support Not Separation coalition , which WinVisible is part of, have jointly written an Open Letter to Ealing Council calling on them to implement the support disabled mothers are entitled to.
In a breakthrough ruling, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found that Ealing had breached its legal duties under the Care Act, which include “having regard to the needs of the family” of the disabled adult whose care needs they are supposed to meet.
“Generally across London and other places, the rights of disabled mothers are not implemented. When asking for support so they can care for their children, most are put under “child protection”, that is threatened with having their children removed. Low-income children and children of colour are disproportionately in “care”, and disabled children in care are five times more likely to be in a residential home or institution than with a foster carer.
Compared to the cost of supporting families, the cost of “child protection” is enormous, with councils spending up to £1m a year for one placement. Why are councils making this choice and paying massive amounts to profiteer companies, instead of providing financial support to mothers, as the law demands? Who is benefitting from these policies?”
The campaign is gathering the stories of disabled mums’ struggles and victories. Please get in touch if you wish to support or find out more about their campaign – you can email mumsrights@winvisible.org or telephone. 0207 482 2496
