Saba Salman

Looking forward - and grateful too that you’re back to chair the AGM!

Mary O’Hara: Austerity 2.0 is on its way, courtesy of Labour What the right-wing US administration is doing to welfare could be expected – but it is galling that the more left-wing government in the UK is also savaging the benefits system

What the right-wing US administration is doing to welfare could be expected – but it is galling that the more left-wing government in the UK is also savaging the benefits system. #WelfareReformBill @maryohara1.bsky.social

communitylivingmagazine.com/mary-ohara-a...

SEND: dismantling children’s legal rights in the name of reform This week, a coalition of organisations and individuals launched the Save our Children's Rights campaign to ensure there is no rolling back of the existing legal rights of children and young people with SEND in the name of reform.

SEND: Dismantling children’s legal rights in the name of reform - Excellent article about #SaveOurChildrensRights from Alison at @learningdisability.bsky.social www.learningdisabilitytoday....

I’m on my way to @sibs.org.uk AGM - this, amongst other events, practical support, advice and projects, is why I love being part of a charity with a unique focus.

Sibs supports people who’ve grown up with disabled brothers or sisters 🔽

Mary O’Hara: Austerity 2.0 is on its way, courtesy of Labour What the right-wing US administration is doing to welfare could be expected – but it is galling that the more left-wing government in the UK is also savaging the benefits system

'It was expected that Trump’s government would target welfare programmes. But Labour in Britain? That’s just shameful.'

From @communitylivingmagazine.com columnist @maryohara1.bsky.social

#WelfareReform #TakingthePip

communitylivingmagazine.com/mary-ohara-a...

It's utterly vile

The reality set out here is honest and truthful - unlike much of the nasty narratives being pushed in some sections of media.

That Telegraph piece is vile and from another planet. Thank you for sharing some of your experience, it's important, and glad you've had some progress.

Currently 800 peers, average age 70.

EHCP tribunals: why schools’ struggles must guide SEND reform If the government’s plans for tackling the SEND crisis are to be successful, it has to look at the difficulties that the tribunal process is creating for schools, finds Ellen Peirson-Hagger

"EHCP tribunals: why schools’ struggles must guide SEND reform" This is a blatant attack on the SEND Tribunal, but in fact, it's an indictment of LA shenanigans and insufficient provision—nothing to do with the law whatsoever. #SaveOurChildrensRights www.tes.com/magazine/analysi...

and blaming it on the inactions of the previous lot.

Badenoch dismisses suggestion defections to Reform UK reflect badly on her after saying Farage like ‘Corbyn with a pint’ – UK politics live Conservative leader says half of UK is working to pay benefits to the other half and launches attack on Reform UK leader

Fresh. harsh and humanity-free rhetoric: 'a welfare state with an economy attached – 28 million people in Britain are now working to pay the wages and benefits of 28 million others. The rider is as big as the horse..this is a ticking time bomb'.

www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Horrendous prospect this: the rights-grab leaves children and families 'at the mercy of politicians who will then vandalise their lives'.

#SaveOurChildrensRights

‘Brutal’ two-child benefit cap affecting 1.7m children, shows data Number living in affected households rose by 37,000 (2%) in year to April, as pressure grows on government to scrap policy

We have a Labour govt that pledged to be ‘giving every child the best start in life’.

Hard to square this child and family-friendly aim (friendly to all types of families) with the two-child cap, welfare cuts and plans to slash special educational needs.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

The right to an education, health and care plan must be retained | Letters Letter: Jane Asher, Carrie Grant, Chris Packham, Anna Bird, Fazilet Hadi, Sally Phillips, Jon Sparkes and 100 others call on the government not to remove the right to an EHCP from children attending m...

It would be great not to have EHCPs in mainstream schools, and for schools to be more diverse and well-resourced places able to support a wider range of students. But until we have that, kids who struggle in mainstream schools need EHCPs: www.theguardian.com/education/20...

The right to an education, health and care plan must be retained | Letters Letter: Jane Asher, Carrie Grant, Chris Packham, Anna Bird, Fazilet Hadi, Sally Phillips, Jon Sparkes and 100 others call on the government not to remove the right to an EHCP from children attending m...

I'm a signatory because the support my sister Raana had at school helped lay foundations for her future as an adult.

Govt's threatening children and young people's right to an education and, with benefit cuts, the support this group would rely on as adults.

www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Hard to see it any other way.

Parents urged to read more to boost children’s life chances Education Secretary urges parents to swap scrolling with reading as she launches a National Year of Reading for 2026 to boost kids’ literacy and life chances.

Oh look. Education secretary launches National Year of Reading for 'to boost kids’ literacy and life chances'.

Might be helpful to protect kids' basic educational rights if you want them to go to school and learn to read.

Unless that doesn't apply to all children.

www.gov.uk/government/n...

Protect the law for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities The legal rights of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are under threat. We must act now.

Here is the campaign website—find out how to Protect the law for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities - www.saveourchildrensrights.o...
www.saveourchildrensrights.o...
Download the right poster, fill it in, take the pic and upload #SaveOurChildrensRights

'If Labour takes away so many children’s basic educational rights, it may well end up leaving them at the mercy of politicians who will then vandalise their lives.'

An easy read version of the Save Our Children's Rights campaign, fighting Labour's plans that threaten basic educational rights:

'Children with SEND might lose their right to important help at school called an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).'

static.filmer.tech/sites/saveou...

Government faces battle over Send overhaul as campaigners voice fears MPs and parents worry shake-up may abolish vital education, health and care plans that SEN children rely on

Vital new campaign: www.saveourchildrensrights.org.uk

Labour, the party of social justice, promised 'every child life chances'.

Now, on top of benefits cuts, it's threatening the educational rights of children with special educational needs and disabilities.

www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Scrapping two-child benefit cap may be harder after welfare U-turn, minister says Bridget Phillipson stresses that changes to welfare bill after threatened rebellion by backbench MPs have come at a cost

MO here is the blame game, pitting one group needing support with another.

If it sounds familiar, we had this with how local govt figures suggested they can't fix potholes because they're spending too much on those onerous special needs pupils.

#WelfareReform

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Stephen and his son Joey hug while Joey holds a copy of Beautiful Lives in his hand and leans into his dad.

Late to post a father-son moment from @stephenunwin.bsky.social Beautiful Lives launch.

Joey with his book and his dad.

Pic says it all.

A book driven by love, on the people overlooked in history, arts, politics (life!) and why that's wrong www.hachette.co.uk/titles/steph...

#LearningDisability

That's a generation of kids we're talking about, and the knock on impact on parents, siblings and communities (I don't do exaggeration btw).

“widespread and/or systemic failings”...“significant concerns”...“inconsistent experiences and outcomes”.

#SENDReform

This small but strong 35-year-old quarterly magazine shows what's possible when rights and support are upheld, instead of being cut.

Good projects, great writers, no paywall (do subscribe to the digital edition if you can) communitylivingmagazine.com/subscribe/

#learningdisability #humanrights

*makes the case (it's ok, we do have a proofreader on the actual magazine..)

Looking increasingly like a consistent approach.

PM shoulders blame for welfare fiasco and says No 10 ‘didn’t get process right’ Keir Starmer says Downing Street should have engaged more with Labour MPs and repeats support for Rachel Reeves

'process' (um 'people').

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...