SENSE AND DEAFBLIND UK

Early day motion 787, tabled 6 July 1999 by Helen Clark (Labour). Signed by 127 members.

That this House warmly congratulates Sense and Deafblind UK on their lobby of Parliament on Thursday 24th June, at which 100 deafblind people of all ages expressed their case for the right to the specialist one-to-one support they need to participate in society and access the world; notes that only one in eight deafblind people currently have this support, resulting in the majority suffering extreme social exclusion; believes that trained workers such as communicator-guides, deafblind interpreters and community-based intervenors transform deafblind people's lives, preventing depression and dependency, enabling them to go out, learn about the world, form relationships, gain the skills they need to be employable and access basic services; notes that an investment of as little as ú8 million a year could bring many deafblind people back into society; and calls on the Government to act on the 'Yes to Access' Campaign for a legal entitlement to specialist one-to-one support for deafblind people and ring-fenced funding.

Signatures by party: Labour 76, Liberal Democrat 28, Labour/Co-operative 8, Conservative 7, UUP 4, Plaid Cymru 3, Independent 1.