Panorama - Learning Disability Hospital abuse

[BakeliteBelle]

I know it is on AIBU, but why no debate on here? Did anyone watch it?

I forced myself to watch it because one of the factors in abuse of people with learning disabilities is the fact that good people who care, stand by and do nothing because they can't bear to believe it is possible.

I cried watching it and feel so utterly distressed that as my DS reaches 18, I won't be able to care for him at home because he is too challenging, but I can't bear the thought of what might happen to him away from us...

Too, too distressing. I want those bastards to be done for torture and find out what it is to be hurt and bullied and stamped on themselves.

What the fuck are LA's funding learning disability hospitals for anyway? They were meant to have closed years ago - why on earth are private companies receiving funding to open new hospitals? It beggars belief.

I won't sleep tonight

In that link Bakelite, I find peoples' comments as interesting as the article itself.

Interesting article thanks Bake.
I don't know the ins and outs of whether one is better than another. BUT I do think it all depends on the staff. You can have fab staff in either and crap staff in either.
I didn't realise (never really thought about it actually) that Cameron claimed DLA for his son! In itself, yes he was entitled but knowing that you're a millionaire many times over and that because you still claim there is less in the pot for those who desperately rely on that money says it all really to me.
And now for him to make all these cutbacks directly towards disabled people but also with the services smacks of hypocrisy. But then again he is an MP. Can we expect any better?

Due to new Government rules, a friend of mine has had to take her 30-year-old son to be assessed by 'a healthcare worker' (unspecified), to see if he can work. He has severe learning disabilities, ASC and is completely blind.

I really would love to see what job they offer him....

Well I dare say he can do a better job of being Prime Minister Bake!!!!

I would be asking what qualifies this HCW to make a judgement on your friends son for starters.
The DLA make me laugh when they say they are giving your claim to an independent panel; basically they are GP's who get sent all the stuff and make a decision. Now when they did this for my older DS he had never met him, never knew anything about him, simply went on a statement from the school (which was superb btw) saying that son needed constant supervision in a structured and secure playground. From that statement the GP decided
'this child makes a conscious decision not to walk' (just that) and they decreased him to low rate mob.
Now 1stly how am I supposed to throw a 5'8 8 stone lad having a tantrum over my shoulder and 2ndly he is making a conscious decision not to walk because he is anxious/scared/tired (he's anaemic) and so on...
Also although he still qualified for high rate care component as he needs constant supervision they tripped themselves up by saying low rate mob cos he only needs supervision in unfamiliar places. So therefore I can send him to the corner shop to buy milk?
Apart from the fact that he wouldn't go, too scared, he has limited road sense and doesn't like strangers, won't talk to them, won't ask for what he wants and has absolutely no concept of money once he's in the shop.

Took me 8 months of bloody hell and tribunal to get it overturned, The paperwork alone could've papered the cisteen chapel! The tribunal people overturned the decision immediately and could not believe he had been lowered

The social security act states that if a person is so severely mentally impaired that they need high rate for care they also qualify for high rate mobility! They clearly didn't know their arses from their elbows or they would've known this- and they're the ones making the decisions!

The stress you went through negotiating a system that isn't listening and doesn't know arse from elbow - and the stress my friend is going through with this 'job interview' - is never taken into account. I know others who have had to go to crazy lengths to get these decisions overturned. Luckily, tribunals seem to be a bit more reasonable and sometimes it doesn't take more than presenting your severely disabled child to a tribunal to get it overturned.

I think actually, my friends son is being assessed by a 'healthcare professional' (still unspecified). Podiatrist? Radiologist? Midwife?

My ds had his DLA at high rate taken down to middle rate. I was furious and reapplied with the knowledge that they could have downgraded him further. It came back as a "'no" . I got on the phone to them and spoke to someone who said "what can you add to your application?" Nothing, said I. But I asked which of the professionals had they approached for a report to back our claim? "None" he said. I told him that in that case, they had not made an informed decision.

Two days later, we got what we applied for reinstated.

Assessments should not be about making life more difficult for people who clearly [to anyone with any common sense] need to be on the high rates of everything.
Some years ago, the carer who was supporting the person I used to work for was 'bounced' one evening by a young man [kid my colleague said] from the DLA. My colleague immediately said questions would have to be directed to him as person we supported had no speech and would not understand the questions. Oh no - kid had to talk to 'customer' receiving the benefit. So my colleague said go ahead. After a few minutes of silence and smiling from 'customer' the blushing kid just said 'well he is clearly disabled' and ran away. Never had visit again.

I didn't realise til a few minutes ago that it was 'Learning Disability Awareness week 2011'. Apparently MENCAP are launching an anti hate campaign re people with learning disabilities this week. Needs more publicity I think......

www.mencap.org.uk/campaigns/learning-disability-week

Hope this works...

Says it all really, that there's not even enough awareness to facilitate an awareness day!!!

And this, so close to that git of an MP telling disabled people they're second class citizens and should be greatful if they can get a job at less than the minimum wage.

Such bollocks, it is.

Well if us lot in the 'know' didn't even know it was LD awareness week what fluffing hope is there for the rest of society?

I think the govenment may have an unspoken strategy with a similar name - "stand on me", oh and then jump up and down and crush me and my family as much as you can after all I have dared to be different and have needs to be met, make my life as hard as you can, make promises and then break them and generally have no regard to my value.

I hadn't heard of the Mencap campaign either.

You would have hoped that national newspapers may have taken on 'story' of campaign - especially with recent revelations round Winterbourne. Also with other cases recently in news of 'terrorised' individuals with learning disabilities and their families living in the community. I feel sure MENCAP would have sought wider publicity. Why has no one picked up this campaign? Maybe I am reading the wrong newspapers!!
Hell - but even if I am- what about television /news/ even the bloody One Show!!

It aint important is it 2boys cos yet again, disabled peole don't count! If i aint learn nowt else over the last 14 yrs I've learnt that much!

oops.. just started a thread on 'in the news' twice cos bit tipsy..

2Boys, hilarious story of the person you used to work for. Learning Disability Awareness Week...nope, haven't heard of that. I get Facebook feeds from Contact-A-Family and Unique and it seems they haven't heard of it either. Maybe MENCAP have fucked up on their publicity.

Morning all,
yesterday evening I started a thread on 'in the news' asking why there seems to be a lack of major media coverage re the MENCAP campaign. Noone but me made an entry so far! A message?!

If I was a monthly donator to Mencap (we do direct debits to NSPCC and British Red Cross) I'd be on the phone to them, asking what they do with my money!

Interesting point re:- Mencap, I've noticed that Dame Jo Williams, chair of the CQC quoted in the article linked by 2boys2loud previously states she used to be the chief exec of Mencap!

Hmmm. Well, that says a lot. She should be held to account for them doing nothing about Winterbourne, despite the tip offs, before Panorama went in.

Winterbourne View hospital should be closed today.

I feel generally fed up this morning. Someone I thought I knew fairly well made incredibly offensive remark this morning re disabled children and I was so shocked I didn't really respond properly. I did exclaim loudly which made other people turn round. Hope to God they didn't think I agreed with her if they heard rest. Hopefully turned round cos I made loud noise. [At school gate]. Feeling paranoid and upset.
Oh well best get on with things and either tackle her or avoid her this afternoon.

Another link re MENCAP campaign:
www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ouch/2011/06/learning_disability_week_2011.html

2boys...... Tackle her, if you're up to it. I take it she doesn't have a disabled child. She's lucky.

She wasn't at school Wendihouse this afternoon. I have a feeling she may avoid me on Monday. Unless she is very thick skinned she must have registered my horror at her attitude.
[Was going to have an alcohol free day today but feel once kids in bed a cup of tea won't hit the spot! Oh screw top wines are SO easy to open!].