Part Two (II)
Neoliberalism and austerity in the global North
Chapter One:
The impact of neoliberal politics on the welfare and survival of chronically ill and
disabled people

Mo Stewart
RESEARCHER
Mo Stewart is a former healthcare professional, a disabled veteran of the Women’s Royal Air Force medical branch; and an independent disability studies researcher since December 2008. Her research exposed the American corporate influence with UK social policies since 1992, the assessment model adopted by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to assess claimants of long-term sickness and disability benefit as being fatally flawed, and the influence of a former DWP Chief Medical Officer, with future welfare reforms when funded by the same American corporate insurance giant; who had influenced the DWP in the long-held plan to demolish the UK welfare state in favour of private healthcare insurance.
To learn more:
Visit Mo Stewart’s website featuring her research: http://www.mostewartreseach.co.uk
Mo Stewart’s webpage at the Centre for Welfare Reform in the UK: http://www.centreforwelfarereform.org/about-us/centre-fellows/mo-stewart.html
‘Killed by the state’, is not a journal article but written as a press article and was published online via TruePublica: https://truepublica.org.uk/united-kingdom/killed-by-the-state/
Psychological tyranny prescribed by the DWP: preventable harm is government policy’ was published by the BJGP in Dec 2018: https://bjgp.org/content/68/677/579#page
Read an opinion piece “Influenced by corporate America: Adoption of dangerous social policies ‘destined to cause death’”: http://truepublica.org.uk/united-kingdom/influenced-by-corporate-america-adoption-of-dangerous-social-policies-destined-to-cause-death
Read ‘Influences and Consequences’ which is the conclusion to the Preventable Harm Project: https://www.centreforwelfarereform.org/library/influences-and-consequences.html
Video from the book launch of her book ‘Cash not Care’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDEG4hecPqQ
Chapter Two:
These days are ours: exploring young disabled people’s experiences of activism and participation in social movements

Miro Griffiths
senior lecturer
Miro Griffiths has a PhD and teaches at the University of Leeds, he is active within disability rights and is a member of various local, national and international advisory boards, including In Control, British Council and the European Network on Independent Living. His particular interests are: the concept of Independent Living, community development and youth participation in decision-making processes.
To learn more:
Watch Miro Griffith speaking about the activist’s dilemma and why activism is important for disabled people:
Visit Miro Griffith’s website where you find his written academic work: http://leeds.academia.edu/MiroGriffiths
Twitter: MiroGriffiths
Chapter THREE:
The links between models and theories to social changes as seen and understood by activists and academics: what works?

Joanne Sansome
Social ResearchER
Joanne Sansome holds a Masters in Social Research Methods. She is a researcher and activist with a physical disability from Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland broader U.K, Joanne has worked with government and non- governmental organisations, universities, and within organisations of disabled people to create awareness of and further the understanding of disability rights. Joanne has significantly shaped the concept, research and delivery of service user and carer involvement within social work education and is an active member of the Northern Ireland Social Care Council Participation Group and, recently, the Disability Research of Independent Living and Learning National Advisory group of Northern Ireland.
To learn more:
View and read a PDF from Joanne’s university work on disability and public life with imbedded links: NVR Final
Website of Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC): https://dpac.uk.net/
Article about how disability activists in the United States are using social media and technology: http://www.cnet.com/news/disability-activists-facebook-accessibility-protest-rallies-demonstration-march-trump/
Academic article about the way in which the disability movement has used digital media technologies: http://twentysix.fibreculturejournal.org/fcj-188-disabilitys-digital-frictions-activism-technology-and-politics/
Chapter FOUR:
Figures: an artist-activist response to austerity

Liz Crow
ARTIST activist
Liz Crow is a British disabled woman and long-time activist and artist. She is a doctoral candidate at University of West of England, undertaking practice-led research into methodologies of activism. Liz is also mother to a teenager who has recently become a disabled person.
To learn more:
Website of Roaring Girls Production where you find Liz Crow’s reflections on art and activism: http://www.roaring-girl.com/
About Liz Crow: http://the-ndaca.org/the-people/liz-crow/
Article about the ‘Bed-Out’ project for disability rights: http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/apr/09/liz-crow-bed-disabled-rights
Video about the Figure’s art project featuring Liz Crow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O21MD04FhH
Twitter: @RGPLizCrow
Chapter FIVE:
As technology giveth, technology taketh away

John Rae
ADVOCATE
John Rae was a board member of many human and disability rights organizations, including Co-chair of the Coalition on Human Rights for the Handicapped, which secured the first human rights coverage for persons with disabilities in Ontario. John is a Past President of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians, the Canadian Legal, Advocacy, Information and Research Association of the Disabled and PAL Reading Service. He is currently a member of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities National Council, Chair of its Social Policy Committee, and a member of its Human Rights and National Accessibility and Inclusion Act Committees.
To learn more:
John’s presentation at Disability and Work in Canada National Conference in 2018: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_1FfuBitz8
Article about John Rae: http://envisionmagazine.ca/john-rae-a-powerful-advocate-for-canadians-with-disabilities/
Read article about John’s advocacy against discriminatory policy where disabled people were prevented from settling in Canada because of how much they would cost healthcare system: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/disability-rights-advocates-fight-demeaning-immigration-criteria/article37024109/
Article from Huffington Post exploring impact of future of technology on disabled people: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/the-future-of-technology-must-empower-not-isolate