A History of Campaigning

Since it was established in 1974, SIA has championed many issues on behalf of the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) community. SIA has responded to various government consultations and has initiated and been involved in many successful political campaigns. In fact the birth of the SIA itself was a statement of intent, that things must change for the better concerning the services and support SCI people receive, awareness about the condition, and the need to improve the environment for those living with SCI. These campaigns have not only benefited the SCI population but also the wider disabled community of the UK.

Public Affairs Milestones:

2011 - Shadow report on Spinal Cord Injury sent to UN Disability Committee

SIA produces shadow report on hwo the UK Government is performong against the articles laid out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Disability regarding SCI.

2010- National Spinal Cord Injury Board formed

SIA wins places on the National SCI board set up to deal with preserving and developing the national SCI service.

2009- Launch of SIA's second Campaigning for Change manifesto

SIA launches its Campaigning for Change manifesto laying out the priorities for SIA's campaigning activity for 2009-2011.

2009- Taxi Charter

SIA Produces a Taxi Charter on accessible taxi provision which is sent to every Local Authority in the UK.

2009 Urology Users Group formed

SIA establishes an Urology Users Group to challenge proposed changes to Part IX of the Drug tariff resulting in a successful outcome which ensured the status quo of provision of contunence supplies for SCI people.

2008 SIA Campaigning Advocacy started

SIA starts an advocacy service to help, support and advise individuals how to take their issues forward.

2008 All Party Parliamentary Group on Spinal Cord Injury launched

As a direct result of SIA's increased pariamentary profile the All Party Pariiamentary Group on Spinal Cord Injury is launched with 85 parliamentarians signed up as members.

2007 Report on the national SCI service commissioned

SIA wins funding to commission a comprehensive independent report on the performance of the national SCI service.

2006 Launch of SIA's first Campaigning for Change manifesto

SIA launches its Campaigning for Change manifesto laying out the priorities for SIAs campaigning activity for 2006-2009.

2005 Formation of SIA Public Affairs Team

SIA wins Comic Relief funding to form a dedicated campaigning team. The team was tasked to consult with SCI people via a series of roadshows around the UK and via internet and postal surveys to establish what issues were a priority for SIA. The funding also allowed the Public Affairs team to attend the major political party conferences, important parliamentary and other meetings to raise SIA's parliamentary profile.

2004 Southern SCI Centre Consortium formed

A consortium between Salisbury SIC, Stoke Mandeville SIC, Stanmore SIC, MASCIP, BASCIS and SIA is formed. This coalition was formed to tackle issues including recognition of SCI as a specialism, discharges, re-admissions and outreach services.

2003 – Bowel Care

After approaches by the SIA, the National Patients Safety Agency issues a patient safety information statement regarding manual evacuation, targeted at nursing staff, which provides four recommendations for all NHS acute trusts. The four points recommend that all NHS acute trusts:

• have a policy for manual evacuation

• ensure that staff are aware of the dangers associated with not providing the procedure and where to find staff trained to carry it out

• ensure that experienced healthcare staff are on hand at all times to undertake and teach the procedure

• recognise that patients are experts in managing their bowel care.

1998 – Access to Spinal Cord Injury Centres  (SCICs)
SIA produces a charter on access to Spinal Cord Injury Centres which is endorsed by the All Party Parliamentary Disability Group.

1998 – Benefit Integrity Project
SIA influences the decision to exempt paraplegics and tetraplegics from the Benefit Integrity Project.

1998 – MASCIP
SIA provides support and helps establish the Multi-disciplinary Association of SCI Professionals (MASCIP)

1995 – SCI Awareness
SIA launches SCI Awareness day that turns into awareness week the following year.

1992 – Airbags - SIA supported by others launch the successful National Airbag Campaign.

1989 – ‘Think Before You Dive´
SIA together with Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and with funding from Barclays launches an Awareness and Prevention campaign. Much of the work involves talks by trained SIA members and staff in Secondary Schools and discussing with pupils the consequences and causes of SCI. The ‘Think Before You Dive´ campaign encourages people to go ‘feet first´ into unknown water – over 500,000 leaflets and posters are distributed to swimming pools, leisure centres, schools and beach front centres around the coasts of Britain. The campaign receives a lot of press coverage.

1984 – Helicopter Pad - Odstock
The new Duke of Cornwall Spinal Injuries Treatment Centre is opened at the Odstock site in Salisbury and thanks to a SIA campaign the centre has a helicopter pad constructed.

1982 – Employment
SIA launches Employment Project which leads to publication of ‘Able to Work´

1981 – BCODP
SIA with other organisations founds the British Council of Organisations of Disabled People (BCODP)

1980´s – Status for SCICs as SIA plays a major role in the successful case for ‘supra-regional´ status for SCICs which means central funding.

1979 – Wheelchairs Abroad
SIA wins the right for wheelchair users to take their wheelchairs abroad without DHSS permission and keep old chairs withdrawn at the end of the economic life.

1978 – Driving Licenses
SIA wins the right for paralysed people to hold ‘until 70´ driving licenses.

1978 – Counselling
SIA holds a Counselling Conference which leads to advocacy for more informal peer support in SCICs and counselling for those who wanted this type of help.

1977 – The NHS
SIA publishes its response to a Government paper on the future of the NHS which addressed such issues as:

• Better Wheelchair Provision

• The need for at least two specialist consultants in SCI at each SCIC

• The need for more SCICs with a better UK-wide regional spread

1975/76 – Wheelchairs
SIA leads a successful political campaign which persuades the first minister for disabled people, (now Lord Morris) to re-instate government issued wheelchairs (E&J´s) for SIA members and other active users.