Rights of people with disabilities and carers.

[CaramelTree]

I've started this thread because I am concerned about the treatment of people with disabilities, both on MN and in general society. With the cuts, the new regulations around benefits and workfare and the quite disturbing representation of people with disabilities in the media, I believe that society is becoming increasing hostile towards them.

I feel this is a feminist issue because

1. Carers are disproportionately female.
2. Prejudiced attitudes to disability feed into ideas about how people contribute which I think are contrary to feminist views about the kind of world we want to live.
3. The arguments on MN on recent threads include the belief that people with disabilities and their carers are discriminating against mothers by wanting priority access to wheelchair spaces. Discriminating against mothers is a feminist issue, but I have never seen a regular poster from the FWR support this argument and I consider the analogy in itself to be disabilist.
4. A shorthand set of terms is being used to create a stereotype around MNers who are carers or have a disability. While we are strident, crazy and angry, they are considered to be bitter, selfish and needy. I feel we need to challenge the language and the goading of posters with disabilities.

There have been threads before on here where posters have asked if the situation around carers is a feminist issue, and while it was acknowledged that it was, I think 'we' (people who are on the boards a lot - not suggesting there is a hive mind) lacked ideas on how to support them. I know people on here campaign about the cuts, but I think it would be positive if 'we' could support people on MN who have experiences with disability, because it seems to me that those posters are leaving/considering leaving, and MN will be intolerable without them.

Serial: I agree the Denning quote sounds and is sexist, but do not forget that this was over twinty years ago, and at a very early stage of DLA law. Both precedent and subsequent european court decisions have time and again taken the view that the help that someone needs is NOT limited to what family members of any gender can provide.

I also think it worthwhile saying although Nanny has already pointed out that DLA is a sum of money to be used by the disabled person for what ever they want. A number of people I know use it for paying bills or unexpected large expenses, or ongoing non nhs medicle costs like reflexology. The tests are around care and mobility so it does make some sense that people with disabilities would use the mobility part to pay for taxis, or a train card. Or to pay the fare of someone to act as a company whilst they go about their tasks using public transport. But as Nanny says and what I suspect realy pisses this government off is that the money is without strings once approved, and us feckless crips can smoke and drink whilst watching our 3 mile high by 3 mile wide plasma tv,s at tax payers expense.

leith I will be honest - life is so difficult and unrelenting, that I have in the past ( not now because I have to use DLA to cover my mortgage ) used it to take the 4 of us away on a "respite" break.

The DC and DH have a difficult time due to my illness so they need respite and a break from the difficulties it poses.

Imagine if the Daily Mail got hold of that?!
"DLA Woman Holidays With Her Family..."

I mean how very dare I try and experience happiness, comfort and try to break the cycle of pain, sleeplessness and sadness.

I use the care bit of the dla for respite for me which is someone to look after ds so I can lurch from one day to the next... But translated into tabloid speak 'mum spends OUR money on babysitters so she can enjoy the high life (= continue to be bed bound)'

I can't afford to use the mobility bit on a notability car (which would change my life), as my (& my sons life) isn't subsisting unless I use all avail money for care/ help w ds. It sucks.

Everything can be twisted to make us sound like thieving scum, & I find the media/ culture of this so harmful to me that I stopped reading newspapers, avoid most people ... Which results in me being isolated from society, which sadly is what most people want :(

We have a right to live... But only 'out' of sight.

And my next point!

So much discrimination towards being a Mother and disabled... Especially from the social care that is the thing that is supposed to help us.

In my experience, & from what I've read on the disabled parents network, council policy results in disabled parents children being classed as 'at risk of neglect' SOLELY because of the parents disability/ physical limitations.

Now this is absolutely unacceptable, as well as being against government legislation itself. I was almost forced into this position as a 'deal' to enable me access more care hours funding (!!!) & fought v hard for them to give me the care I needed without compromising my child's safety & my right to be a parent. It delayed getting me help for months, & compromised my health substantially, & if I hadn't had a v informed strong minded legal friend helping me, I don't know what would have happened.

If anyone is interested in helping change this, I'd love to ensure no mother ever has to go through this again (but it's hard, as am still disabled & struggling, but I'd have a go). I wonder if this particular battle is a good one to take on, as it's about policy & process rather than attitudes in society at large (which as so many people have said on here, cannot be changed). Or maybe it's still too much to expect :(

Its not just the newspapers either. A couple of the womens weeklies have adopted quite a nasty little right wing agenda of late. The two that spring to mind are Closer Magazine and Woman magazine. ( i do NOT buy these but i did see the stories featured on the covers.
The latest story was about the Sharp family. The female in the family is working 40 hrs a week for free in a charity shop. Instead of questioning who the "charity" is that is taking advantage of the situation, Woman readers are bleating like sheep over the fact that there are benefits being claimed. Most of the readers of these magazines cant seem to think for themselves. Ive even seen nasty comments like "she should have kept her legs closed" and these kind of comments are being posted by the female readers of rags like these.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/in_the_news/1484476-Closer-magazines-benefit-bashing-story-features-a-carer

:(