One of the things I find quite disturbing is the number of disabled people who will openly and honestly say that they chose benefits as a lifestyle choice.

These individuals are quite accepting that even with their level of impairment, they could work - but choose not too.

I have seen four distinct groups emerging over the last year.

1) The “I can’t and never will be able to work” group.

Those that believe that they could never work because they adopt the sick role or believe ‘disabled people don’t get jobs because of discrimination so why bother’. They see work as out of the question and often refuse to engage with anything that might indicate otherwise.

2) The “I could but don’t see the need to” group.

Those who are comfortable with free housing, free support and free social activities paid for by the council. Many have had well paid jobs before they became disabled, are not contributing towards the cost of their support, have maximised their benefits and feel that their ‘income’ provides a desirable quality of life - so why change? Many have high academic qualifications and many sought after skills and experience.

3) The “I will try work if I have the right support” group.

Those that want to work, but find it difficult to get the right amount of support and a job that pays well enough to come of benefits. They accept the responsibility of citizens to seek employment - and see themselves as no different in that sense.

4) Those who truly can’t work at all because they have a very severe level of impairment.

Often individuals who have high disability related and housing costs that go far beyond what benefits will cover. Individuals for whom the benefit system is really supposed to help - and which doesn’t go far enough in it current format.

Equality - we must ensure responsible citizenship.

I have worked with many social workers and care managers who quite readily offer 2 or 3 days at a resource centre or Direct Payments to enjoy leisure activities, without exploring whether that person should be engaging with work (and may thus rule out the need for so much leisure support to make a person’s days ‘fulfilled’).

I am not saying that disabled people don’t deserve funds to enable them to access leisure - far from it.

However, as a disabled person, it grates to know that I might be slogging away for 5 days a week at work, whereas someone else with the same level of impairment can be having 5 great days worth of fun activities.

Where is the equality in that?

Tags:employment | independent living

Yesterday a new way of making an emergency call was launched - by Text Message. I have worked with a number of disabled people within the first aid and emergency services where this would have been a life-saver for people who can't hold a phone, have a speech impairment or are Deaf. I taught a Deaf lady on a first-aid course one year where making the 999/112 call was very difficult for her to be understood.

My texting life saver.

As a person who finds it impossible to hold a mobile phone, I found myself in a predicament where a care worker was becoming drunk and about to physically abuse me - or worse. I had employed a live-in, male care worker and all was going well until I started smelling alcohol on his breath. His references had all checked out and a CRB was being carried out. I then heard that he had been dismissed because of alcohol and related problems from a previous care worker job and should not be working in this field.

I discussed my findings and he was due to leave the next day. However, by the evening he was intoxicated through consoling himself because he had lost himself another job - and things took a sudden turn for the worse. Every indication was that there was a high risk of an abusive situation but then things got even worse.

My electric wheelchair went from having a slow puncture to being being completely flat in a few seconds. I was stuck in the middle of the room with a care worker who was making advances. I also knew that he had taken a knife into his room for some unknown reason. I couldn't make a 999 call as it was too difficult and it could have pushed him over the edge. He wanted to kill himself and now there were two lives in danger.

I had, however, told a friend what was happening and if I texted a code word the police would be called. I did this silently and effectively. Thank goodness I did, just as the care worker touched my face the door went - it was the police who removed the man from my property calmly and effectively and I live to tell the tale.


PRESS RELEASE SUMMARY: 26th February 2008

Emergency SMS texting service for deaf and speech-impaired people launched

From: Kent Fire and Rescue Service and Kent County Council

A new SMS service for Deaf and speech-impaired people was launched at Kent Police Headquarters today (26 February 2008).

The launch of this partnership project coincided with a visit from Anne McGuire, Minister for Disabled People, who was visiting Kent Police Headquarters to attend a disability action group meeting.

The initiative is a joint venture between Kent Police, Kent County Council (KCC) and Kent Fire and Rescue (KFRS), and will allow those with hearing and speech problems to 'text' the emergency services when they require help.

Those using the SMS system, will have to start their text with the word 'police', 'medic' or 'rescue' depending on which service they need, followed by the rest of their message. The text will then be channelled to the relevant organisation and dealt with immediately.

Kent Police Assistant Chief Constable Steve Harris said: 'This new service means that deaf and speech impaired people will be able to alert emergency services of concerns they have quickly and effectively, without having to face problems that could be linked to conventional methods.
'With technology moving forward all the time, it's vital that we use the latest and most efficient means of communication for everybody in our local communities.'

Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire said: 'I am delighted to see the launch of this invaluable text messaging service. It will empower deaf and speech impaired people to gain quick and easy access to emergency services where and when they need to. I would like to express my thanks and congratulations to all the organisations which have put in such hard work and dedication to make this happen. This project is a great example for the rest of the country.'

KCC Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services, Kevin Lynes said: 'I am delighted that Our Deaf Forum and staff in Deaf Services have played such an important role in the setting up of this vital system. This is an excellent example of pooling resources and together with Kent Police and Kent Fire and Rescue; this new initiative can quite literally save lives.'

Assistant Director of Kent Fire and Rescue, Steve Griffiths, said: 'We are delighted to be teaming up with our emergency services colleagues to launch this new service. It is really important to us that deaf people are able to contact us quickly and easily if they need our help- and this new service is a great solution.'

Posters and leaflets advertising the initiative are currently being distributed in key locations around the county.

Tags:disabled | independent living | wheelchair

What are my chances of getting a contract?

Did you know that 1 in 5 people are disabled - but only half of disabled people (of working age) are in employment?

Many have the right qualifications but are never asked to an interview.

80% of non disabled people (of working age) are in employment earning more than their disabled peers.

It is highly likely, that in the course of my business, people, given the choice, will choose a non-disabled service provider because of prejudices and discrimination in the UK.

This is my reality.

Tags:wheelchair | discrimination | business | disabled | woman | independent living | work | employment