To think that people really don't give a shit?

[MissQue]

It was the day of protest against the government cuts to disability benefits and services today. When I googled this today, it came up with a couple of disability specific websites and a couple of local news articles on the subject. Nothing from the BBC, Sky or ITN, not one newspaper has bothered.

It has dawned on me that people really just don't give a flying fuck as long as they're not affected by disability. Most people are vaguely sympathetic, but wouldn't even bother to sign a petition or add their voice to these protests because they just don't care.

I know that we only tend to focus on things which affect us, but one day, we will all be affected in some way, whether it's personal experience, or someone we know who becomes ill or disabled. So why don't you care? Why is it that threads on forums like this include the same few names?

I feel so angry, upset and depressed by it, I just want to cry

To be honest I don't think there would have been much interest in the Uni fee cuts either, had there not been so much violence.

I think part of the problem is that we really have to rely on supporters. Those of us who are on here right now can obviously do petitions and stuff but all the "traditional" awareness-raising things aren't necessarily accessible to many disabled people.

I think it's fear, too. Like, men can be interested in women's rights because of empathy. There's no fear that that might be them one day which could prevent them, you know? Like the reason so many people aren't on the organ register, for example, because it feels like tempting fate to them. Still sucks, though.

I am the least eloquent person ever (like).

Oh Mand, it went completely out of my head today, so sorry. In my defence I was juggling a Macbeth essay and a pukey DD. Don't get upset, this is only the start of things. xxx (Tis MK btw)

But there was a ton of media interest because of the violence, and it also got their point across, even if we didn't agree with their methods. I just feel so upset that nobody seems to care. I'm so stressed with it all, my dd is going to suffer, along with every other disabled person in the country, who will be wondering what their future could hold right now.

Students have the time and the energy to protest. Most disabled people and their carers don't. (I'm a disabled student before anyone accuses me of stereotyping or something!)

It's not right at all .

It's not stereotyping rina, I know that, it's fact. There's no way I could have afforded to go to a protest because I'm on carers allowance and scrape by, and I could never have taken my dd because she can't cope with changes to her routine (autism). I completely understand why so many people couldn't go, it's the nature of what they cope with every day, I just wish that more people who are able would speak up and do something to help in some way

I feel terrible . What can we do to help? How many disabled people would not even be able to protest due to not even being able to use public transport easily? What a disgrace. How do we give disabled people and their carers more of a voice?

It is a bit surprising that something that could have raised awareness so publically was roundly ignored..especially given the recent coverage one family got.

you would think that at least some of those so offended by that case could have joined the campaign for everyone else.

Sadly these days it's a case of whoever shouts the loudest. The student cause is much less worthy (not worthy at all IMO) but they were loud mouthed and yobbish about it.

I do care, but I don't know enough about it to hold real opinions about what is happening. That is my fault for not informing myself more. I also think - possibly - that people don't really believe the Govt would do something that bad because there'd be an outcry. It seems they are doing and there's no outcry because people don't really believe etc. etc. ...

Vicious circle. It's crap and I am going to find out more. Too little, too late. I'm sorry.

It's not too late, yet, but it will be soon. The consultation is going through Parliament on 14th February, and if there isn't enough opposition to it, then it will go through.

www.mencap.org.uk/news.asp?id=20623&detail=2

www.scope.org.uk/campaigns

www.lcdisability.org/?lid=14585

Here are some links with more information and ways to help, and thank you to everyone who DOES care xxx

The cuts to the disability benefits does not come in until 2013/2014 that is when people will be called for assessments, no doubt the same type of assessments as they do for ESA.

Those who are already entitled will still be entitled, besides that it is two years down the line. People in some cases can get better in that time.

I get DLA and Im not concerned about the changes because if Im still the same I will still get it, as will others.

maybe the protests should concentrate on what the people affected can do - ie maybe tel or email campaigns etc? I dont know...

One of our problems in this country is that we still have the idea that the media are there to tell us the truth and the things we need to know.

Is it that the protests were not sufficiently supported or is it that the media chose to ignore it and publicise something more suityed to their own agenda?

But Fabby, they won't all get their entitlements. The government want to cut back the DLA funding by 20%, that means approximately half a million people will have their benefits taken away from them. Their spin on the subject is that they will be sorting out those who are faking it, but with DLA fraud rates estimated at approx. 0.5% of the total claimants, and many more who are entitled but don't claim at all, then thousands of genuine people are going to lose big time. They are going to change the system altogether, meaning that you will have to go through intrusive interviews and medicals and they are tightening up the rules, so that even a wheelchair user could have money taken off them if they are considered not to be disadvantaged by some pen pusher who hasn't a clue how your condition affects you.

People in residential care are going to lose their mobility allowance, regardless of how severe their disability is. This will mean adapted cars, specialist wheelchairs and powerchairs, and scooters will all be taken away, along with every scrap of independence they have.

Two years isn't a long time, and in the meantime we need to do all we can to make them change.

I'll come back to this in the morning, must get to bed

some causes are trendy and attract the luvvies and the loudmouths

some causes arent and get ignored

fact of life unfortunately

Thanks for the links MissQue.

Oh Mand xxx

I totally agree - people aren't interested unless it affects them directly. what people don't seem to realise is that they might actually need to claim at some point in the future.

Could it be that people just didn't know? The student protests were known about in advance. I personally knew nothing about any other protests.

I am disabled, and greatly helped by people who generously give their time to raise money to help people like me.

They are spending their time fund-raising, rather than protesting. That's their choice, and I respect them and thank them for it.

Protesting is not for everyone - it is nice if people do it on my behalf, but equally fantastic that some people prefer a different approach to help the disabled.

What I am saying is that just because people aren't protesting doesn't mean they don't care.

Students have ready-made communities where they can publicise protests, which makes it easier to be seen as a cohesive body. Disabled people don't have that advantage; in fact they're often isolated from a lot of social contact already. Plus, if you want to travel by train to a protest in a wheelchair, you have to give 24 hours' notice of each leg of the journey. Which makes going on a demo much less feasible than it would be for an able-bodied student.

For all the attention the student riots received they didn't actually achieve anything. The MPs still voted the fee changes through.

I think people feel helpless because we've got a government we didn't vote for who renege on their pledges and aren't interested in what the people have to say.

Sorry to hear you're feeling down but I think people have given up ibelieving they can change anything or be heard.