to ask what YOU have done for people with disabilities and their families today?

[working9while5]

I know there are millions of threads going on at the moment.

So this one is just an AIBU reminder to keep up some positive action.

It might be money that you give to a charity or practical help you give someone you know who is struggling.

It might be a fact that you have learned that has changed your perception of how people with disabilities survive manage in this country.

If you know a bit about disability, maybe you can post to help inform others.

Let's get as many posts on this thread as on all the others combined. Then I shall eat my words about MN not being powerful and join in the backslapping

There is a more practical thread going on in Mumsnet campaigns but I am useless at linking, so if anyone can help please do.

PLEASE, if you can think of nothing (or even if you can think of loads) EMAIL THE DLA CONSULTATION and state that you want the government's assurances that any reforms will result in increased real-term support for people with disabilities and their carers: [email protected]

Quint- hugs X

Ha ha ha ha ha

We have just returned from a concert/ fundraiser at the school my daughter attends.

The pupils have worked so hard and the initial date was cancelled in December due to the bad weather.

I was so proud of their achievement today as many of the pupils have autism, ADD, Aspergers, etc and in my own daughters case, difficulty in remembering things. They were all word perfect and it was lovely to see how happy and confident they felt.

It was a long and hellish battle against the LA to get my dd a place at this school but when I saw her perform today, it was worth every bit of the fight.
I have learned who to trust and which 'services' to avoid plus have been able to help other parents who have gone or who are going through the same fight for their children.

Well in the last hour and a half I've headed off a meltdown by calming down an overwhelmed/overexcited Ds1. I've stopped Ds2 from getting at the pan of boiling water that he was hellbent on dipping his hands into. I've changed one nappy. I've helped Ds1 with his talking and understanding. I've gone round switching off the lights in the house after Ds2 turned them all on, even though he will simply go round switching them back on again. I've been jumped on, had hands round my neck, hair pulled and crashed into by Ds1. I've tidied up Ds2's room and thrown out the books he's ripped up and rechecked the walls to make sure I've removed the excrement that he smeared on them early this morning. I've had to gently remove Ds1 from Ds2 as Ds1 keeps hugging and kissing him and Ds2 was getting upset (he doesn't always) and Ds1 can't read the signals.
This has been a quiet time.

I think the point is that everyone can help, and even in the tiniest ways, they will make a difference. Holding a door open while a person gets their wheelchair through is enough. Not staring when a child is having an autistic meltdown in the middle of tesco is enough. Thinking twice instead of labelling a parent as bad when you see said child is enough. Leaving a disabled parking space alone is enough.

We don't need massive gestures, most of the time a little understanding makes the biggest difference, a barely noticeable moment out of your day can change everything.

How is it weird?

You surely see your thread title is not well written?

If you want to know, I have a tiny insignificant disability, yet I've spent most of today trying to overcome it. I'd love it if I could spend all my time campaigning, but I can't. I get the impression from Riven's threads that it is not the input of individuals, but rather the shortcomings of the system, that is causing her struggle.

I think your thread is just shit-stirring, as you can tell from the many 'I've paid my taxes' responses. No-one likes being guilt-tripped into anything.

sorry I think this thread is odd.
what about all the people who help carers like me everyday just by being friendly and kind, giving support and just by being there online.
(sorry if a bit garbled but my ds is bieng a pian as only an nt teen can be)

Well women/men take care of their disabled children, people work as carers, people give to charity. All of these great works get a pat on a back (and so they should). Some of us pay tax to keep the benefit system running, but because I haven't physically put my hands on some "work" with a disabled person I am somewhat unworthy?

I think working was trying to harness some of the momentum from yesterday to make a real change, not only for Riven but for all carers.
I am suffering from depression at the moment (since the death of my mum) and find it hard to get motivated but I have commited myself to signing the DLA petition (done) and writing to my MP and local council. Once I've done that I'll come back and see what else I can do.

Peachy that was kind of what I imagined the thread would be like when I set out e.g. a mixture of "I noticed the wheelchair space was packed on the bus" and "I changed my 16 year old daughter's nappy" and "I wrote a letter to my MP" or "I tried to contact my social worker about getting me a hoist": a mixture of the experiences of people who have never really thought about disability before with those who live with it on a daily basis. I obviously worded it badly, but I had some sort of idea in my mind of representing the real life impact of MN in this small sphere of humanity and some sort of hope (if I'm honest) that it would be a place where the stories that have been coming out over the last day or two could come together without referring to the invidual or her family or, really, what's gone on at all.

I was somewhere between being very cynical and very rose-tinted about it all, I guess (which possibly sums up my general feeling about everything to do with the sorts of issues I'm interested in at the moment).

I agree- just being a decent person to everyone you come across surely counts just as much as rattling off your own personal attributes as the OP does

Today, SFA. May I have a shiny?

My titbits get cold on a silver platter, pag.

If i wam your titbits will I get a star.?

At least I can add another thing to the list of Things I Have Failed At Today.

LittleRedDragon, it is definitely NOT shit-stirring. I think anyone here who has ever come across me in relation to SN will tell you I don't shit stir in relation to this. I was interested to see if there would be "I paid my taxes" POV's because those need challenging.. and somehow, to me, just having real life stories alongside that challenges it.

I accept it was badly worded but I have explained that results from a bit of uncertainty/tension in my own thinking and I think possibly it's time to move on from that.

Mrs Ruffalo how did I rattle off my own personal attributes?

Soup hilarious.

working Thank you for explaining, and for my part, I'm sorry for snapping at you.

Let's hope this whole situation makes people think more about helping people with disabilities.

if you attempt to do anything with my titbits you'll get a slap.

DD to local hospice going out tomorrow and celebrated friend's son finally winning appeal for higher rate mobility after 14 months.

i have spent 90mins with my next door neighbour (who is severlry disabled and hasnt been out the house for 3yrs other than hospital appointments)just so he has a bit of company

hes only 43 and loves to hear whats going on

trouble is because he dosent have many visitors hes a bit "starved"of company so i know when i visit its 30mins min

"I spend my life doing what I can. When I'm not at work, I'm campaigning. I spend a fair amount of time trying to help MNers on the SN forum, too.. I am doing an MSc in the area. Yesterday, I gave blood. So no, I didn't want to ask what else I can do, because I don't have additional time at the moment."

Many people are struggling with busy lives and don't have additional time TODAY to give to people with disabilities and their families. Apart from paying tax, that is, which I understand you wish to challenge.
If you think that deserves the 'shame' comment that you gave TrillianAstra then there is more than a 'badly worded' OP going on here.

Thanks for explaining.

I see where you're coming from, but I think if you're serious about the mis-representation in your OP, you should ask for it to be deleted.