MY eyes were drawn to the quaint tea set and straw picnic basket before I noticed the bold blue banner declaring "Disabled People for Yes’" Leaning next to it was a walking aid and its charismatic owner, one of the group’s co-founders, Neil Wallworth.
It was late June 2014, and my friend and I were at the "BBC bias" protest outside Pacific Quay, the corporation’s Glasgow base. As a relatively new activist, Wallworth’s banner was the first time I had seen a group for people like me in our nation’s constitutional debate.
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As I approached Neil, I heard him recounting the horrors of Westminster’s dehumanising Work Capability Assessments and of Tory plans to bin the Human Rights Act to a passer-by.
I was keen to learn why I hadn’t seen or heard of the group before then. It wasn’t until August 18 that Disabled People for Yes were officially welcomed to the Yes Scotland campaign, and a further two weeks before the BBC thought our views would be of interest to the general public.
Disabled people don’t want a parliament whose ambitions are limited to the mitigation of Tory policies
I tell you this because, when looking to write an article exploring the benefits of independence to disabled people, we wanted to use this an opportunity to tell readers that Disabled People for Yes is referendum ready.
You see, due to Brexit the emphasis since 2014 may have changed - but the main reason so many disabled people in Scotland want independence has not: we do not want to be subjected to policies from a government that we do not vote for.
It really is that simple.
In the last few years, our members have been honing their political skills and are busy persuading people within their spheres of influence. Our members have joined different political parties – and even helped set up new ones – have become local councillors, have joined organisations to push for change and are using social media as a positive tool to spread the message. We’re persuading our carers, better informing our neighbours and even making sure the person behind the till in our local supermarket sees our Yes badges.
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When the next referendum comes, and it will, you’ll see and hear a lot more from Disabled People for Yes. For us, the pursuit of independent living almost comes naturally.
Devolution has been maxed-out. Disabled people don’t want a parliament whose ambitions are limited to the mitigation of Tory policies like the Bedroom Tax.
Instead, let's go through the process of establishing of a new country which provides the people of Scotland the freedom to do things differently, to do things better.
In the meantime, here’s to Neil Wallworth, Helen McGoldrick, Jennifer Volk, Gordon Donald and others for creating a group which has inspired so many disabled people, like me, to get involved and to fight for a better future. A future as an independent nation.
Jamie Szymkowiak is a co-convener of the SNP Disabled Members Group
If you would like to contribute to this new series on how Scottish independence can benefit your area, be that geographic, like Harris, Annan, or Perth, or societal, like older people, retirees, or hospitality, you can do so here.
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