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?

Not even Cameron with his disabled child did anything for disabled children my son gets dla he has had known significant issues for over five years they have JUST started the echp process now they tried last year but didnt have the budget for it

My DSS is disabled, will never live independently and needs help with all personal care. He has the mind of a 2/3 yeae old. I don’t really think this latest election will make any difference. We’ve been under a Tory government for 10 years already. I think PIP for children of his age is a bit of a joke and should be invested in adult services. I feel it’s almost seen as a compensation for having been unfortunate and having a disabled child. DSS’ school is well funded and equipped, parents are paid subsidies to drop their own children off rather than use transport. I don’t see that funding is an issue. I think the biggest issue is adult care and those who are employed actually caring and safeguarding, but again, don’t agree this is a funding issue per se.

I’m not a Tory voter. But my husband is.

"I’m sure you claim all the benefits you are entitled to and have a very good standard of living."

Someone with no idea how much things cost.

YABU. I’m sure you claim all the benefits you are entitled to and have a very good standard of living (if you’re using the money wisely and not on frivolities)

What do you call a very good standard of living? I grew up with a severely disabled parents in the early 2000's before the cuts to benefits and would not describe it as "very good" even then. Disabled equipment and house modifications cost a lot.

I’m terrified for so many people. In the past, I worked for a homeless charity and we used to have a clinic where we’d treat people with physical issues and provide basic counselling, but most importantly refer them to mental health services which many of them desperately needed and referred them to other organizations to help find them accommodation. Between the two we were able to help them rebuild their lives. Because of the Tories there is nobody left to refer them to now. Last I heard two of the service users had passed away and this is as a direct result of changes implemented by the Conservatives. But people will post on here saying that is nonsense and/or hysteria/fear mongering. Despite the statistics and the evidence that lives are being destroyed or even ended under the Tory government, people still voted for them. I don’t know if people are gullible or selfish or just refuse to believe what is so horrible in a supposedly ‘civilized society’, as another poster described the UK. It’s going to get so much worse before it gets better, I fear.

I’m so sorry people voted the way they did OP and yanbu at all.
I think some people have forgotten, after being told again and again how necessary austerity was, that life can - and should be better and more compassionate.

A woman was complaining the other day about the buses - which have been cut from one every 15 mins to one every 20 mins, then one every half hour. They used to be regular but now it’s common for one not to turn up.
“It’s so difficult”, she said, “but we just can’t afford it. We all have to tighten our belts as a country”.
So I suspect she’s not alone. When the Labour Party try to simply bring back a few of the things that we once had, like social care, the NHS, etc through a gentle redistribution of taxes, some people reacted as if it was unicorns.

It’s not like they were even going fully back to 1950s standards of public lidos everywhere (check your area history, there were hundreds of them for public health and well-being), small swimming pools in state primary schools, free/v subsidised night schools for working people.

People have forgotten what government can do for everyone, and because they’re afraid of losing even more, they cling onto what they have because they no longer trust in a better society.

I am still devastated by the result, as everyone with disabilities or illnesses or who is in a vulnerable situation is at risk, and it must be worrying for you - but please do feel hopeful. During the election campaign, I think that a lot of information was shared on things just like the article you shared. While a section of society is in denial, and shuts their eyes to government callousness, there is a very large minority who do care deeply about your family and others like you, and who will spend the next 5 years petitioning and letter writing and spreading the word of what is happening, so that hopefully the Conservatives will take the brunt of all their own decisions over Brexit and the economy, they will have no-one else to blame - and then they’ll be finally voted out in 5 years.

All support to you - please try not to worry. It will get better. Just not as fast as it could have happened.

The people you should be angry with are the people within Labour who knew that Corbyn was unelectable and didn’t do anything, nay everything, in their power to make the party electable.

What, like staged a coup? That would have gone down well with the Labour party's 500,000+ members, you know, the ones who go out canvassing, leaflet dropping, ferrying people to polling stations etc.

In any event, the party constitution contains measures to ensure that challenges to the leadership are strictly controlled to ensure fairness and elections are democratic. The process takes a few months.

Even if Corbyn had been persuaded to stand down, his place would have been taken by his deputy, the odious Tom Watson, who was standing down and not returning to parliament, so you would have the absurd position of a party leader who would not be PM in the event of winning.

And it wouldn't have changed what went into the manifesto. The policy framework for that is agreed by conference.

Sorry, I’m case the above sounds really patronising, i’ve struggled in the past myself but through pure chance things are a bit easier now than they were, so am v much in solidarity.

My longstanding (20+ years) Tory MP cares not a jot about disabled or vulnerable people nor is he apparently in favour of saving the NHS. This is evidenced by responses I've had to 2 letters I've written to him about issues affecting disabled children, his voting record and the conversation that I had with him when he knocked on my door a few days before the election.

I had a severely disabled DD who died a few years ago at the age of 22. When watching the news, I have been known to say to DH on many occasions " thank goodness DD is no longer with us." We miss her dearly but don't miss the constant fights for funding and services or the worry about what would happen to her in the future. And as she was a frequent flyer to A&E and user of 999 ambulance service, I'd dread to think what would happen to her now. We waited 45 mins for an ambulance on life threatening calls over 3 years ago and things have got much worse now.

I fully empathise with your fears OP.

Yanbu! Its normal to be worried about Tories and what they plan to do next. However, there are lots of people that care still. Lots and lots. Some of the people who voted Tory genuinely didn't know what to believe any more after the terrible media lies. I have to tell myself that people believed they were doing the right thing. It's shit. I really feel for you and your son, but there are definitely still many many people who care about how disabled people are treated.

YABNU. My son has SEN needs, and the local council have already just cut the budget for SEN. He needs a SEN school for secondary school and sixth form, and I have no hope he’ll get a place now and can see me home schooling him. I’m furious and very sad people voted Tories just for Brexit, it’s like they forgot everything else that is going on in the country.

I’m sure you claim all the benefits you are entitled to and have a very good standard of living (if you’re using the money wisely and not on frivolities)

Disabled people - know your place! No frivolity allowed!

This isn't just about food and keeping warm. It's about accessing appropriate school places and getting specialist support such as speech and language therapy or physio (which is very expensive if you want to go private). Not exactly frivolous items of expenditure.

The Tory government has a fair and most importantly realistic economic policy that will provide the money to care for your child

Which they've clearly failed to implement over the past 9 years so how will the next 5 be any different?

I’m sure you claim all the benefits you are entitled to and have a very good standard of living (if you’re using the money wisely and not on frivolities)
well, you probably won’t starve. you might also be reasonably warm. but no frivolities such as an education, or any sort of experience, or efficient, proactive pain relief (like physio).

I’m sure you claim all the benefits you are entitled to and have a very good standard of living (if you’re using the money wisely and not on frivolities)

To those who don’t agree, are you really suggesting public money can justifiably be spent on frivolities?! There must be a line that’s drawn and I’m afraid I agree that in some instances disability allowances are pretty generous.

And in many others DLA does not cover the extra costs - specialist equipment is very expensive as well as all the other extra costs.

. I’m furious and very sad people voted Tories just for Brexit, it’s like they forgot everything else that is going on in the country.

This isn't the only reason people voted tories. In fact this wasn't even really a factor in my decision making, it was more so that the radical, crazy plans of labour made me feel I had no choice.

Some of us work really hard all hours of the day and pay enough into the system already.

Unfortunately there are a lot of people draining the system that DONT need help.

The system which is making it difficult for legitimate cases such as those with severe disabilities to be helped I agree but not sure what the solution is. It certainly isn't to vote for labour right now IMO.

I am one who is fed up of working hard to support everyone else, certainly beyond what I already do. I feel that nowadays people think the government is a huge hole with endless money coming out of it. The money WILL run out if it keeps being spent on helping every single person that feels entitled to it.

I'm more than happy to help vulnerable people and those that CANT help themselves but sadly, there are too many people that can help themselves but expect others to do it for them.

It's tiring, I run a small business and a 'four day week' could put us as well as 20 jobs under. I'm sure other business would feel the same too. People don't think about the bigger picture. Unemployment rises, then what happens?

This is just one example of why I voted tories but the list goes on...

There are grants available for specialist equipment in addition to usual PIP/DLA payments?

The 4-day week wasn't feasible. I wonder if they even would have implemented it. It wouldn't have affected me anyway cos of being a freelancer.

@PhilSwagielka I agree it would never have happened in reality, as well as the 'right to buy' from private landlords.

But again, my reason for not voting labour was the fear of Corbyn even just proposing these ideas and thinking they were even remotely good suggestions. I find it incredibly worrying and an insight into his radical agenda.

It's ridiculous that he thinks these are legitimate ways to run a country, his tactics sure as hell backfired anyway.

I cannot our faith in a leader who thinks these are solutions to the countries problems, even if they were unrealistic proposals.

Financially, running a country is similar to running a business IMO (in a sense that money has to be allocated and accounts for very carefully) and his proposals made zero business sense.

I have serious concerns about Tories also, don't get me wrong but I genuinely believe we have a much better chance of survival as a country right now under a Tory government. Those who think differently are kidding themselves and not thinking of the bigger picture IMO.

"There are grants available for specialist equipment in addition to usual PIP/DLA payments?"

Sometimes for some equipment if you are prepared to wait months or years and your child fits the exact tick box. I know people who have been waiting for years for specialist sleeping spaces.

@ginislife

www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/disabled-children-should-be-put-down-cornwall-councillor-collin-brewer-to-be-investigated-by-police-8616097.html%3famp

www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/2096074.conservatives-sack-councillor-for-joining-ukip/

Couple of examples

So there is provision? Surely the solution would be to improve access to such grants/equipment. Not improve income via benefits on the basis you might need to have equipment in the future and therefore need a larger surplus of income just in case?

I’m sure you claim all the benefits you are entitled to and have a very good standard of living (if you’re using the money wisely and not on frivolities)

You do know that PIP was expressly designed to exclude people with mental health problems? DD’s DBT therapist said she was the person with the most severe borderline personality disorder on his case load - the text book could have been written about her. She also suffered depression, OCD, social anxiety, etc - 25 plus incidences of suicidal behaviour and she couldn’t get any benefits at all! She had no income.

It was accepted in her social care assessment, she cannot maintain adequate nutrition or a habitable environment, cannot cope with education/work. She lay in bed in tears for 6 months. After 5 years of numerous assessments, she has had no help from social services either!

It’s difficult to know how some people manage to have lived in a bubble for the last 9 years, and failed to notice all the articles in the press on the inadequacy of mental health services for children, young people and adults!

"Surely the solution would be to improve access to such grants/equipment."

If a parent could contact somewhere and be given what the parent knows the child needs in a few days, weeks at most, that works. That isn't what happens.

The everyday costs of having a disabled child are also much higher and all the extra spending adds up to a lot. eg muliple sets of school uniform and other clothes, replacing broken and damaged items, extra washing, transport costs to appointments and activities that are further away because of nothing locally. Paying for training or advice. Paying extra for childcare.

Many parents cannot work due to the number of appointments/ absences their child has or no suitable childcare. And of course all those children without school places or in part time or unsuitable education and all the costs including legal action that go along with that.

I voted Tory. Don't you think that by pruning the bloated welfare system that pays wages to fit people (who are being underpaid by their employer) and has stopped being a lifestyle choice (sorry, but it bloody well is atm) will mean it is able to actually do what it is meant to?
People like your child should be cared for, if I had my way it would be in total luxury. Nobody who is severely disabled should be made to 'get by'.
But people who play the system with carefully worked out hours, and refused promotions should be cut off.