TO SAY Camerons Policies are in danger of getting all disabled people labelled as "Scroungers"

[ScousyFogarty]

That is a wicked thing do do and David Cameron beeds to apologise or more likely get one of his flunkies to say SORRY

Glitterknickaz trouble is people don't want to see that, they don't think about what we save, just that we get something they don't, what is it 17p an hour.

Yes, crazynana, I'm sure that is DC's sole aim, to 'make the vulnerable pay'. Rolls eyes.

jade80 why do you keep repeating that? do I tell dd when in years to come she has lost everything, well your fortunate, how will that help.
yes disabled people have suffered terribly in the past, but surely in 2011 we should be treating them with respect.

I would expect my children to live a life commensurate with that expected of a first world country.

Adequate healthcare with specialist provision to meet their needs.
They were barely getting that under labour but at least they were to some degree.

Now my non verbal DD cannot get speech therapy or appropriate cardiac care due to cuts. On the pre school education front she is having her portage taken away - Portage having assisted her in reaching some milestones other children take for granted in the last year she's been having it.

All this since the coalition cuts. That's fortunate is it? Having her development restricted and her health needs not met due to ideological whims of the government in power?

I keep repeating it because a couple of people seem to have no sense of perspective. Why do you think your DD will have lost everything in years to come? I'm sorry, I don't understand, why would she lose everything?

duh
because slowly but surely the people in power are taking everything away.
is that so hard to understand, maybe try living it instead of tlking crap and rolling your eyes.

As I stated above, glitterknickaz, there are unfortunate individual cases and sad stories, but as a nation and as a whole we are still pretty fortunate, in my opinion. Which 'first world' nations do you think you would get this fantastic treatment in?

Healthcare provision is being eroded. Now normally those with disabilities use healthcare a darned sight more than the general population.

Educational provision is being eroded. Kids with additional needs will be the first to suffer given the level of intervention they require.

If money is taken away from their families they may not be appropriately nourished. They may not be able to heat the house adequately - that's if they have not lost the house because they fell behind with the rent.

This is not melodrama. This is where it is heading and I am shocked that you are so pig headed as to not accept that us here in the firing line are telling it as it really is. We're not making this stuff up for a laugh.

Unfortunate?
If your child had a heart condition that was conveniently being ignored would that be unfortunate?

Taking everything away? Really? I sincerely doubt this country will end up with no welfare state in the near future.

I do not know your individual situation, but many people are facing cuts at this time, not only the disabled. In some cases the cuts may be justified, in others not. Some are not facing cuts but damn well should be.

I still do not think it fair to scream 'bullying!' as I do not believe that DC is setting out to bully anyone.

The disabled and their carers are in the position where it may be that they are unable to do anything to improve their lot. I believe the march on May 11th was under attended owing to inability of many to get there (my family for a start). I can't work... so if that money goes there is no way of replacing it.

Whatever the assertions those with disabilities are a minority and one that is seldom listened to, the Guardian has been good at trying to highlight what this government is doing to the most vulnerable in society but as a rule disability isn't sexy enough. Plus look at the apathy on here. Most believe it'll never happen to them, well more fool them.

Disability used to frighten me and I used to try to avoid it. Now it is my entire life.

''Healthcare provision is being eroded. Now normally those with disabilities use healthcare a darned sight more than the general population.''

This has always been an area of contention, disabled or not. The money is not endless and it has always been the case that there is not money for everything. Difficult choices have to be made- treat that woman with cancer drugs that cost £50,000 or 5 children with a life threatening disease for £10,000 each? Postcode lotteries for treatment and drugs. I don't think the NHS is well structured, personally, but look at the uproar if restructuring is discussed.

''Educational provision is being eroded. Kids with additional needs will be the first to suffer given the level of intervention they require.''

I totally agree. The state of education in this country is dire. The worst thing of all, in my opinion, is the number of children and their families who do not appreciate that we have nearly universal access to education in this country. So many take it for granted and in no way make the most of the opportunity when parents in other countries might give up so much for the chance of an education for one child in their family.

''If money is taken away from their families they may not be appropriately nourished. They may not be able to heat the house adequately - that's if they have not lost the house because they fell behind with the rent.''

Is this not what other benefits are in place for? Food and housing? What has this to do with DLA?

''This is not melodrama. This is where it is heading and I am shocked that you are so pig headed as to not accept that us here in the firing line are telling it as it really is. We're not making this stuff up for a laugh.''

I don't suppose you are making it up. I feel for you and many others in similar situations. I know there is every chance I or a close family member may end up disabled. I thank my lucky stars that I live in this country rather than many others.

''Whatever the assertions those with disabilities are a minority and one that is seldom listened to, the Guardian has been good at trying to highlight what this government is doing to the most vulnerable in society but as a rule disability isn't sexy enough. Plus look at the apathy on here. Most believe it'll never happen to them, well more fool them.'

Glitterknickaz, the 27% of working age adults statistic, i.e. more than 1 in 4, is a pretty big minority. Surely there must be some way of developing momentum for a fundamental change in the way the whole system is run? As it seems it is so flawed?

What this has to do with DLA is the way benefits are structured.
Should my children not be deemed to qualify for DLA then I will not receive carers allowance. Should I not get that I then don't get the £1 or so a week Income Support which helps us with housing costs.

The kids would still have their disabilities. I would still be in the position of having to care for them, but we'd have no money coming in.

Take away the bedrock of DLA and we lose the lot. Any money we do have coming in would have to fill the DLA gap.

my son has a special diet and among other things a heart condition and problems with clothes, due to this I am able to heat the house enough for him to remedy some of his issues, thankyou DLA.

Perhaps given that they are working age adults employers should face more punitive punishments for not employing those with disabilities? As to be honest that is the biggest barrier to work for those who have disabilities. I've faced it myself and nothing was done.

I am sorry, I'm not quite clear. Do you mean that without DLA and carers allowance, plus £1 income support, you would get nothing else? No income at all?

Just come back on at bedtime, and I'm so glad I didn't waste my evening on this.

For the hard of thinking, here's the link earlier from which that supposed figure of "1 in 4 UK people disabled" was obtained.

It is from the Employers Forum on Disability and is about workplace adjustments and adaptations. It notes that different countries use different definitions and states, "The United Kingdom has the second highest prevalence of disability with 27.2% of the population having a long-standing health problem or disability."

So that's my DP then, who has chronic asthma. It impacts his work maybe couple of days a year, and may therefore be known to his company's occupational health people. And be part of this statistic.

What this statistic clearly isn't, is a sign of a "culture of dependency" or whatever was being bandied about above. (CBA arsed to reread for people who weren't arsed to read in the first place.)

Oh, and DLA does pay for heat and light, food etc.
Heat as we are home most of the day during the winter, and due to sensory needs one of my kids has extreme reactions to variations of heat and cold. Light because again we're home more. Food because their sensory issues mean they won't eat certain foods and as that varies a heck of a lot gets rejected.

Then there's the damage they do to the house, their clothes and belongings. Increased water bills due to the extra laundry because of their unreliable continence. Electricity to get all that soiled clothing and bedding clean.

It goes on, and on, and on

I suppose that depends on the job role and the specific disability. I suppose some roles would be totally unsuitable for some people, whereas others might be just the ticket. E.g. an office job no good for someone who has a back problem meaning they can't sit still, but maybe ideal for someone with a long term knee problem that immobilises them.

Jade... nothing else.
Interesting TIANC. I'd go under the long standing health problem then as I am asthmatic. I don't claim disability benefits though.

Skews the stats nicely that does.

and what about those who will never work!!
Prognosis for my ds is that he will be doing activities with 2 carers. (before cuts)

my son has a special diet and among other things a heart condition and problems with clothes, due to this I am able to heat the house enough for him to remedy some of his issues, thankyou DLA.

don't know how my last message got there as I post that earlier!!