Cost to society of disabled people

[needmorecoffee]

Had someone say to me that why should the taxpayer pay for buses and buildings and trains to be made accessible to disabled people.
He's a pro public tranposrt guy and we were discussing transport on a car-free list. Now I'm pro public transport too (don't own acar) but do feel that no-one should be exclded from society cos they use a wheelchair and buses and trains are part of society and give us mobility and freedom.
So he's getting all hot under the collar about the cost and how we might lose buses if bus companies are forced to make expensive adaptations.
Getting slghtly ticked off that he doesn't get that disabled poeple are people too!

[Nightynight]

tbh, the phrase "cost to society of disabled people" makes me shudder a bit. We all cost and contribute in our own way.

In Munich, the underground railway system dates from the seventies, and you often see - gasp - mums with pushchairs! people in wheelchairs! - actually travelling on it, and appearing to be perfectly happy. Britain is way out of step having such poor public transport, the wheelchair issue is only part of the bigger picture.

[Isababel]

I have heard this kind of comment a lot when I mention that we can not build a loo in the ground floor as, I have been told, the regulations require loos in the grounds floor to have enough space for maneauvre for a person in a wheelchair, space that we don't have.

The moment I say this everybody start complaining that the government is going too far, why should we have that space for a wheelchair if nobody in the house uses one.

My response is, yes, we don't use one yet, but we may need to when we get older. It seems to me that people think that special adaptations is something that can only happen to other people, without realising that if we live long enough we all may need that extra help.

[coppertop]

Presumably the man in the OP thinks that people in wheelchairs should stay at home and not attempt to venture out of the house. Deaf people should probably stay home too, then society wouldn't have to pay out for those pesky induction loops in public buildings. And of course people with sight problems should stay home too so that we can all benefit from sandwich boards and other crap blocking the pavements.

Apart from anything else it's not just wheelchair users who are benefitting from ramps and wider doors. Even getting around with a pushchair or pram is now a lot easier than it used to be IMHO.

[Isababel]

did I really said "special adaptations" instead of "special needs"" I should get myself some sleep!

[needmorecoffee]

Too right Coppertop. I got very annoyed. And a bit scared if thats the prevalent attitude.

[Katy44]

Erm aren't a lot of disabled people taxpayers too?? Also, by making a BUSINESS accessible you are more than likely getting more customers - who spend money, surely it makes sense financially (as all businesses have to do is make 'reasonable adjustments', they don't have to move the earth)

[Peachy]

Agree with katy44- a high percentage of wheelchair usrs work and pay taxes. It's a very biased assumption that they wouldn't, tbh.

[bullet123]

I'm extremely angry at that man's attitudes needcoffee. I'm sure that if he ever has a stroke, gets dementia, or arthritis, or if he's ever in an accident and loses mobility, or any one of countless things that could happen to him to ensure he needs additional help, he'll make sure he just wanders off into the wilds, so he doesn't be a burden to anyone (insert sarcastic smilie).

[needmorecoffee]

I'm waiting for him to post again then I'll give him a drubbing
Peachy - Disability Now made some claim that 80% of disabled people are unemployed, mainly due to bigoted employers. Is that right?
My thought is the stupid bus company should of bought decent buses years ago. If they had done then they wouldn't be whining about the cost of complying with the DDA now (as it is they lobbied to be allowed to take til 2020 despite knowing a decade in advance). What there paying for now is for excluding disabled poeple (and mums with pushcahirs) for all those years.
This guy is claiming that bus companies will have to reduce routes in order to not have to buy new buses cos of the cost. Seems to me they should increase routes to make money to pay for the new buses? So he says that because of disabled people, we'll lose buses. I told him to quit whining and cycle if he's abledbodied.

[Peachy]

If 80% of people who are disabled are employed, that doesn't mean 80% of people in wheelchairs- quite oa lot of those unemployed would be very mobile (eg ASD, people disabled through mental health condidions or cancers). There are of course poeple with conditions that amke it impossible for them to work- eg CP- and are wheelchair bound, but most poelpe I now in wheelchairs are employed or employable. Also, quite a lot of people in chairs are there temporarily- think broken limbs, SPD, post op- and the chair is part of their life for a very short period only.

[Peachy]

(should say, severe CP!)

[needmorecoffee]

Tell me about it Fio, I know how the daleks felt. Its not too hard for DH to tip DD's manual wheelchair onto buses or up a kerb but my powerchair doesn't jump or fly or levitate.
I hate using it and often set off to the shops with my sticks and have to stop half way and call DH to come fetch me with my manual. Its so fustrating.
This year we are getting to go to the Organic fair in town (lots of free tasters) as there's now a disabled travel service. 80p a mile. They can take my powerchair.
Got me spoon ready for the Green and Blacks organic icecream stand.....

[Blandmum]

Jeez, he'd better hope he never becomes disabled later in life then!

Society should be judged by how it treats the most vulnerable. I'd rather live in a society that cared for the most vulnerable well, thanks very much.

And if it comes down to cold hard cash, many, many disabled people work and pay their taxes. And many disabled people are retired and have spent a lifetime paying taxes!

[Katy44]

"I know how the daleks felt" PMSL at potential quote of the week
mb - not to mention for many businesses they are cold hard cash paying customers who would otherwise have not been spending their money there!
(Too many 'there/their's in that sentence but you get the gist)