To fear for my disabled DS future in the UK now?

[Livingtothefull]

Just that really.

Despite disabled people bearing the brunt of Tory austerity policies and being criticised by the UN for failing to uphold their rights - www.theguardian.com/society/2017/aug/31/un-panel-criticises-uk-failure-to-uphold-disabled-peoples-rights

• a whole lot of my fellow citizens, knowing this, have gone and voted for a Tory government all the same.

I am scared for my DS future now, I don't trust either the Government or the people of this country to look after him when I am no longer able to. He is profoundly disabled, will have as good a life as his country is willing to give him & I have to say it is not looking good. Is it?

I really hope it will be OK for my sweet sweet boy. He is a happy boy who loves his life....I dearly hope that life rises to the challenge and loves him back.

One day I won't be able to care for my darling any more, I will be hoping his country cares for him. I'll hold the country and its people accountable if it doesn't. I'll be lurking at the pearly gates to catch anyone who failed him, and drag them into hell.

you believe a manifesto as if any political party has ever stuck to one
@strawberrieshortcake

Not a bit of it. The point was about misinformation, not about whether they would stick to their manifesto.

I have a teenager in my extended family who has multiple severe disabilities. I sometimes worry for him, but but he is from a large loving family who, should his parents become incapable, will support him in myriad ways. I'd hate for him to end up in residential care and that is only avoidable for someone in his position if there is either a family member prepared to quit work and do the caring, or possibly a large amount of money.
His parents are doing an excellent job and not in peril. However it is awful to think that it is basically luck of the draw and what the trajectory for is will be as he gets older.
I don't think that any political party supports severely disabled people well enough, and I can't see that changing in the next 5-10 years.

Yanbu, same concerns here 😞

DH, DD 2 and I all agree with you OP! We have DD1 with a severe epilepsy and it disgusts us how the Conservatives scapegoated the disabled, as scroungers!

We genuinely believe the NHS will be gone in 5 years, and fear for the future of those with chronic conditions who will never be able to afford private medical healthcare.

YANBU OP I’m seriously worried about my future and my parents future I’m disabled and ill and do too are my parents and under this Tory government we are screwed and I have no idea how we are going to survive.

YANBU - my oldest has a very mild learning disability, and already has no chance of a decent education in a state school. we are incredibly lucky that we can afford private , and that its such a minor thing.
i fear for everyone who deals with more significant disabilities and has less income!

I felt revulsion when I saw corybn man handling a little boy with downs syndrome. Utterly disgraceful

What is this referring to?

YANBU. I’m a teacher and the difference the Corbyn government could have made to the children I teach, particularly those with SEND, is considerable. But do remember there are still lots of good people out there who will absolutely do the best for your son despite difficult circumstances

I did not vote because for me, as a mum of two disabled children it’s a bit of both.
YANBU to be afraid for your child’s future but YABU to assume either of the main parties would benefit our children. Now we just wait and see and do what we always do and fight/advocate for their rights as they can’t speak

I think there is a lot to be worried about - Tory MPs and councillors have expressed that they feel profoundly disabled people are worthless and a burden previously. And we're not immediately thrown out of the party. This mentality and the confidence to say it doesn't bode well.

Unfortunately many people do think that disability is a personal issue and yours to deal with. One thing I have learnt as I get older is that this is across great swathes of society, it's not Tory only. You will definitely have Tory MPs who will get it and support. But the culture of repulsion, concept of no use and dislike of spending money are a real worry. For example, I used to work with blind adults in London who were looking for work. There is one computer training course available per year. After this training, most people can then do admin work quite confidently - so return to work, pay tax, not be reliant on benefits. You can imagine the waiting list. So it's not just profound disabilities, it's the lack of retraining so people can stand on their own two feet - which I find bizarre as it's a key point of conservatism.

I have a friend who works for the civil service and has a profound physical disability. She is very afraid. Her awareness is based on working for government. I believe her.

For anyone who cares, we need to support disability charities, local political parties and be ready to campaign. Any other ideas?

YABU. My child has severe SEN and I think the best way to invest in their future is NOT the anti-Semites on the left who brought this country to its knees by borrowing more than they could ever pay back, but the Tories who have sensible economic policies.

I'm another YANBU. I'm disabled, but haven't been since birth, happened around 6 years ago. I struggled on working in a very well paid job but have just been pensioned out at 42. I have no idea what my future holds. I receive PIP but that's up for assessment in 2021, I'm trying to navigate applying for ESA, which is so complicated and I've got a flipping degree! The funding of MH services in my area continues to be slashed, and whilst my disability is physical, being able to access these services weekly has been a literal life saver. I'm truly terrified at what the next 5 years hold. Good luck OP xxxx

Boris Johnson is an incredibly clever man. A few years ago it would have been laughable that he'd be PM but he managed it and in a historic way. He wants to leave a legacy that means he's thought of like Churchill not Thatcher. He knows to hang onto those labour seats he won, he has to move away from the austerity measures that had to be brought in after the 2008 financial crisis and a labour government who drove this country into the ground and get back to funding services properly. Hopefully things will get better for all of you who are worried.

I agree with KatherineJaneway.

My view is that Johnson doesn't actually care in the least about the disabled - but he very much cares about people thinking that he cares about the disabled. So his policies will reflect that.

I think a really good example is "his" rescue dog that he's trotting out. He clearly doesn't give a crap about the dog - but he wants people to think he does. End result - dog's life improves.

Corbyn very obviously couldn't care in the least what people think about him. Lower living standards for everyone under Corbyn would also have meant lower living standards for the disabled.

So I appreciate why it doesn't feel like it. But this is not as bad news as it may seem.

Discourse that focuses on 'services' is missing the point I think. Or some of it anyway.

Clinging to universal credit when it's killing people means that those of us who can work, who either don't need services or don't wish to rely on services which are staffed by people who are unkind and who have had half a day's training on autism and/or LDs (with psychological ideas from the 1980s), and problematic attitudes to physical disability to boot.

Generally a lot of us want to work but we can't all work full time. And it's hard to find work when you face discrimination.

Universal credit makes it a lot harder than working tax credit to stay afloat.
It's more stressful.

Pip makes it a lot harder than DLA.

The discourse around 'welfare' has been woeful.

This is what needs to change so that people with disabilities can feel like valued members of society.
That is what will give us hope.

Listening to people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities, neurodiverse profiles about what worked for us, what helped us into work or into adult lives which have felt meaningful- that will make a difference.

Pouring money into social enterprises of the ilk of the 'foodbank' app which actually penalize people in poverty - that won't help I don't think.

It isn't enough to just 'fund services'. It's the ethos behind how funds are granted. It's the consultation with affected people about how our needs are best met. It is a benefit system that compensates carers including parent carers.

I haven't come across anyone in the Tory party offering that.

I'm not championing labour BTW - I don't mean to say a labour government would automatically do this. But I do think they would have been more compassionate around state benefits and that would have been a good start.

I also have a disabled child and I feared a lot more for his future had Labour under Jeremy Corbyn got in, all governments make cuts people have short memories ,I don't think either option was great BTW but sniping at people because you don't agree with their politics gets you no where

YANBU, OP. These are worrying times.

You're not in the least unreasonable, in your shoes I would feel the same. I remember what conditions were like under Thatcher and how everything changed for the better - seemed almost overnight - when Blair got in (pity he blotted copybook with the WMD business and war). I worked for the NHS then and had elderly relative who needed care to supplement what husband and I could do - and it was marvellous.

Those who forsook Labour to vote Tory were only thinking of Brexit, not of social care, benefits etc.

My hope is next time round BJ and his party will be out because so much is going to go south in the not too distant future.

YANBU

The austerity was/is europe wide and not down to the wicked tories. Any govt would have been in the mire since the economic crash. This govt is committed (yes, mn) to address NHS funding and a whole lot more urgent social needs which of course we have to address. And to do thid we need not to be bankcrupt. I am sorry you feel this way and I believe things will get better. You would not have been better off under labour despite the pie in the sky promises.
You will not help your difficult position by believing its down to the tories.

I am reading what everyone has to say and I do honestly hope that those of you who support the Tories, are right. Thank you for explaining your reasoning here, and I mean that sincerely.

I know there was an economic crash but that was a decade ago. And we all know that the rich are getting richer.

I would love to be proved wrong; the egg on my face would be a very small price to pay, for a better future for those like my DS. Time will tell.

It is just that the last few years have been harsh for the disabled and it has happened under the Tories' watch. The worst is that I am forced to be 'thankful' (if that's the phrase) that DS is so profoundly and obviously disabled that nobody can dispute it or his entitlement to certain things. It must be just hellish for many with less visible disabilities. I don't need to reiterate the many stories of people dying shortly after being declared fit for work.

All the same DS has had to go through demeaning abilities tests, asked ridiculous questions and made to jump through hoops, to prove he has a condition which is all over his medical records anyway. And he has lost out on many things he used to have - you know, life-enhancing things.

Please tell me why I should have faith that things will get better.

Well we have had an interesting evening and not in a good way. DS had diarrhoea and pulled off his incontinence pad so that it went everywhere - on the sheet, soaking through to the mattress, the duvet & cover and all over him. We have just finished cleaning him and everything else off, then showered myself because I felt so grubby. Then air freshener everywhere to get rid of the smell.

Just sat down now to a glass of wine, feel guilty as I have an early start tomorrow to get him ready for his day (5:30am). But I do feel I want this illicit 'me' time now even though I will pay for it tomorrow. Then off to my demanding professional job after I have got him ready, and DH will also head to work once he has dropped DS off.

What I really don't get is that I feel that we are the kind of 'strivers' that the Tories are supposed to like; yet I don't feel we have enough support - just because DS is in need. Can anyone explain it to me?

I can’t answer your question OP without being cynical about who the tories actually like (and it’s sure as hell not hardworking ordinary people!!) but I can offer you some virtual & for the shitty (literally!) evening.

Yanbu. I'm very worried.