Friends Pay Tribute to Disability Campaigner Debbie Domb

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'Principled and fearless freedom fighter' has died at age of 60

Friends and colleagues at Hammersmith & Fulham Coalition Against Cuts, or HAFCAC have paid tribute to one of its founding members, Debbie Domb, who died last week aged 60.

Debbie, who described herself on Twitter @sparklemouseK as: "Disability rights activist, secular Jew,Fulham fan. Proud mother /grandma, life-long Londoner. Founder member HAFCAC", had fought tirelessly for disabled people, despite suffering from multiple sclerosis since 1994.

Her colleagues Kevin Caulfield, Tara Flood, David Webb and Peter Gay released a joint statement, saying: " In our eyes Debbie will always be a fearless and principled freedom fighter for Disabled people’s rights, both in Hammersmith & Fulham where she lived and also across the country. Debbie stood for inclusion and equality for everyone, particularly challenging bad policy and practice towards Disabled people regardless of who the bad decision maker was.

" HAFCAC formed in 2006 as a non-funded Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO) to challenge the then Conservative Council’s attempts to start charging Disabled residents for basic support to live independently in the community (when their manifesto on which they were elected said they would not).

" Debbie gave her all to whatever needed to be done, giving much of her precious energy to get behind the campaign to end discriminatory homecare charging. From the early days Debbie was involved in working on our petitions, lobbying Council meetings, campaigning on the streets for Disabled residents to register and use their vote and involving local residents and organisations in our work.

"She was the practical person running our infamous HAFCAC pub quizzes at the Goldhawk pub, persuading local shops and residents to support us. Monies raised were used to campaign - bringing Disabled people and non-Disabled people together. She kept a keen eye on our finances in general and she knew exactly what went into the pub quiz cash box!

" Debbie employed her own Personal assistants using a direct payment from the Council to enable her to live her life as fully as she could. She challenged the second class citizenship often heaped on Disabled people and promoted our right to have choice and control over our lives. She gave many people work as personal assistants as they supported her to just be Debbie.

" As the Council got closer to implementing the charging policy, HAFCAC worked with the Public Law Project to challenge the Council’s decision. The legal case known as Domb v THE LONDON BOROUGH OF HAMMERSMITH AND FULHAM taken by Debbie and two other Disabled residents was a clear message to the Council that enough is enough. Debbie knew that nothing has ever changed for Disabled people without our struggle and involvement.

" When the government closed the Independent Living Fund (ILF) in 2015, Debbie lobbied the new Labour administration in Hammersmith & Fulham successfully, protecting peoples ILF support packages. During the national ILF campaign outside the DWP central office at Caxton House she was almost crushed by a police charge on a peaceful demonstration.

" Debbie is a legend to us in Hammersmith & Fulham. Many local Disabled residents who never knew her are much better off today, due in part to her efforts. We live in the only local authority in England that does not charge Disabled people for ‘home care’ support. Debbie and HAFCAC call it Independent Living.

" We will all just miss her terribly, her infectious smile, her wit, her challenge and principles and her ability to put herself on the line when she needed too. Strong women like Debbie don’t come into our lives every day and we are so grateful that she did. As an organisation we would not have been as successful as we have been without her.

" Our thoughts are with Debbie’s family, her friends, her Personal Assistants and everyone that was touched by knowing her."

Hammersmith's MP Andy Slaughter added on Twitter @hammersmithandy: " So sorry to hear Debbie Domb has died. A wonderful, compassionate, articulate woman who fought every day for the rights of disabled people and against attempts to cut funding and support."

At Hammersmith Town Hall meanwhile, flags flew at half-mast in Debbie's honour, and Council Leader Cllr Stephen Cowan paid his own warm tribute, remembering " all she did to change things for the better for Disabled people both in Hammersmith & Fulham and across our country."

He said: "Debbie was a quiet hero. She stepped up, made her case, fought for change and won. Because of that, thousands of people, who may never know her name, have had their lives made better.

"I will always be grateful to Debbie Domb for her friendship, advice and the education she took it upon herself to give me. I know I speak for all who knew her in saying we will miss her but will always proudly and thankfully remember her. "

You can read Cllr Cowan's full message 'In remembrance of Debbie Domb' here.

December 4, 2018