More poolside chat

🤞 the MR goes well.

Im ds advocate (his choice) - we had to have DWP come round - they don’t just allow it without evidence of need.

my biggest difficulty with PIP is that they ask DS. Who says I can do everything! They gave us 2 for cooking, 2 for bathing, 2 for dressing. Nothing for therapy as it’s not prescribed and he can do it himself!

He’s much better in himself but he’s weaker for the fact he has a degenerative condition. His tremor is much worse when he’s tired now and his legs are much weaker he’s almost a FT wheelchair user outside of the house now.

The trick with the PIP is ignoring all we do to make sure we remove barriers and looking at the question/ my answer.

So “can they dress bottom half” well yes in effect but ds cannot wear shoes that aren’t slip on because he can’t reach his feet and hold his legs there long enough to tie laces (which he struggles to tie anyway and takes him 3 times as long as most people).
So he does need help because if we didn’t buy him shoes that were accessible to him he couldn’t do it.

So the answer is “he needs help with shoes and socks” it counts as nott being able to do it with an aid or appliance because the design itself is the aid iyswim?

my ds gets extra points because of his autism but your ds should minimum get 4 for cooking I would have thought, 3 for bathing (needing an aid to get in and out or shower chair), 4 for medical therapies (daily physio is usually 30 mins) and 2 for help with dressing bottom half.

if my ds who is less physically disabled than yours gets those points (his PIP assessment was carried out by a physio) then your absolutely should be!

and 12 on mobility for not being able to stand and walk!

Thanks. It makes me think I can’t be mad if you think that as it seemed pretty obvious to me. I fear he fell into the categories of both too fit and too academic so obviously doesn’t need support and never mind that even a suitable chair costs £7k the NHS won’t fund (other than a small voucher contribution) given he needs a much more active chair than they’ll provide. How’s your DS now is he fully back to strength?

I had help doing the first form, sent years of evidence which said things like cannot walk, disabled in all 4 limbs etc. but they decided he has upper body strength and adequate range of movement. So they downgraded everything. I was kind of expecting it (almost everyone in our para club has had to do at least one mandatory review) but I agree if DS doesn’t qualify what a ridiculous system. Mandatory review has been sent off.

Yeah you should be getting enhanced for both (or your son should)

Consultants are brilliant. His rehab consultant asked if he was getting PIP and she would write a letter if ever needed without us even needing to ask.

best of luck with it.

Not entirely refused, they accept disability just not enough points to get the right award and we are arguing over descriptors. One (of six) of our consultants has written a letter in support saying DWP assessment is incorrect.

How the hell was yours refused?

Have you asked for MR?

It’s worthwhile doing that first and making sure the wording is correct.

it seems it’s not about need but how you word it. So “can do x y and z with support” gets recorded as “can do”

”cannot do x without y support” gets recorded as “cannot”.

It’s a shocking system.

We’re good. Slowly back to training, starting A levels and appealing PIP (lack of) award.

How is everyone?

Back to training?

We are on a 2 week phased return and I’m getting use to having to get up in the dark again - which you’d expect to be expected at 4am 😂

DD on her break now. I watched the 4Free final where Marchand won - the crowds just went mad! But he took it out so fast and just held on.

Both husbands were present at Europeans baby minding while their wives swam. I’m in awe of their ability to swim and train at this level and juggle baby as well 🤪

Definitely has.

We are just back this week on skeleton programme.

Start back properly on phased return on 1st.

Hope everyone else is enjoying or has enjoyed some time off and some long lie ins!

Mindyou still a busy summer!!!

Yes I knew that - I thought this was another comp as that finished at the weekend!!!!

Think I misunderstood!!! Europeans was fab.

Talking of coming back after babies. Bethany Firth is also on fire. Nice to see her and your girl giving some of the more mentioned names a run for their money!

I’ve not been a huge fan of all the public family stuff but I think as swimmers training in the pool with him it feels quite special.
I am a fan of what’s he’s trying to do with the sport though.

I agree Marchand is a phenomenal swimmer.

What Comp is this Porseb? Is Your DD swimming? She’s had quite a full on summer this year - will she get a break?!

Nice view porseb.

Our swimmers had a bit of a treat this morning. AP race are holding a clinic at our pool and Peaty arrived halfway through their session and warmed up in a lane. Made a 5 o’clock start more bareable!

Late post - pool of the day, wish I could post a video as the French crowd were wild everytime Léon turned up on deck.

I agree and many classes have no events, which is not unusual but doesn’t help with messaging on integration. If there aren’t the swimmers in each class at least points would allow some competition. I get they needed to scale back due to circumstances so also on the fence. It’s great to have some representation but a bit luck of the draw about which events included. But still an honour and spectacle for those who are there

Good luck to your DD.

Best of luck to her. Hope you both have an amazing time ☺️