YesWheely

I read this article: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/11/28/neil-barnfather_n_4339609.html

Before I even get to that...
Disabled is a word and words have more than one meaning, definition, use, etc.
If I had no wheelchair, I don't mean being able to walk -I mean being physically retarded in the way that I am and having no wheelchair, I would encourage the term. For example, take last week, when I fell out my chair onto the bags I was attempting to carry... I was Disabled. Then I was helped back into my chair and I could move again. Society labels me as disabled but really I'm a wheelchair user.

As everyone with some sort of disability (I don't have an issue with that word - I think my problem is with words with more than one meaning) knows that accessibility is not universal. I'm happy with grab rails. I can transfer without them usually because my arms aren't weak so for me the accessible rooms at most hotel chains in the UK are adequate. However, many people will have disabilities requiring other aids. While searching for an abode the phrase 'Disabled features' kept appearing. The phrase means nothing to me, except maybe all the hinges have been welded so the doors don't open. (That's silly -swinging doors aren't a feature.) Another keyword: Accessible? Rejoice there is a doorway or at least a portal.

I don't care how stupid people sound when they talk. I sound retarded when I talk, like a drunk village idiot. Talking is about being understood. Words are ambiguous.
The R word. Just like the N word. Unless you are one it's offensive.

About the article. I'm assuming this guy said many more things about how charities and society treat those with a disability. However, the article author needs to  be replaced. It could have been interesting and instead it was childish. Maybe intentionally so. Sub-consciously. We need a transcript. Let's ignore the nonsense about crabs.
Yeah I agree with that.

I haven't got much more to say really. Yeah the unemployment figures do show the level of prejudice but it's not just like that for people with a disability. If you've never experienced this sort of prejudice JobCentres will provide the same sort of condescension for the able bodied.

Earlier this week a social worker came to see us.
She asked 'what's your employment status?' I say 'full time employed' she ticks unemployed.
A while later she asks something and the answer makes it obvious she misheard/didn't listen/assumed so she casually tuns to page one to fix her mistake. Why do these people who don't care about helping people have publicly paid for jobs where they are supposed to help people? Just like the people who work at the JobCentre!
She asked 'what would make you happier?' I couldn't answer that. Which is probably because apart from having my dissability and living in a capitalist society I'm pretty happy.

I may present a white paper "Life without Taxes". Hopefully then we can have a referendum.

I have a dream... It won't be about cashing cheques. There is no money in my dream.

This is not going to be the drivel I promised. Neither will the next entry since I've got more pressing issues. Unfortunately there are no images or animations because I'm overworked and underpaid. So you will have to use your imaginations when reading this. Most of my wife's('?) stories have a back story, traditionally just as long(/detailed) as the story, this story also has a beginning that starts before the story began...

At an unknown date in our past(I forgot when) we got a letter through the door inviting us to an action group, meeting, [I just remembered it was called a Focus Group] to focus on anti social tenants. I remember not being interested (because I am an Englishman). However, my wife really wanted to attend and have her voice heard. The nearest meeting was scheduled to be in Southampton (the next city to us) so not too bad. A nice day trip for her.

It wasn't that simple. The letter said call this number ***** and ask to speak to the ASFG team to let us know which meeting you can come to. Obviously, probably intentionally, the number that was printed was wrong. After annoying a receptionist with pointless calls ('Hi, can I speak to a member of the ASFG team?' "This is a solicitors") I realised the number was different to the one in the header my wife called the housing association. The Public sector worker who answered the call also had no idea what my wife wanted.

Eventually she got to speak to the guy running the meetings. The meeting in Southampton was cancelled due to lack of interest which meant the nearest meeting would be in Bournemouth which isn't too far but it is not a simple journey and my wife would have to travel to Bournemouth the day before so that she wouldn't be in too much pain from her CRPS.

So we both planned to go. I bought the train tickets and the night in a hotel.

That's it for the back story well at least the immediate one. The reason my wife wanted to go is actually a different story.

We left our flat a little late but it was okay. Unfortunately my wife's understanding of travelling light was not the same as say the hand luggage size of any budget airliner. So I had her large bag balanced on my lap with the shoulder strap around my neck (this was an error) and on top of that I had my bag also with the strap around my neck. So I had limited vision.

The sun was out though it had rained earlier and there was quite a nasty cold wind. We got to the high street and then it started to rain. The train station is at the end of this street so I thought we would get there just a little wet.

Then it really got hard luckily we reached shelter. Then it got really hard and because of the strong winds horizontal so we loitered in a shop. Now cold and wet. My wife decided this was an omen and now didn't want to go. I thought maybe if we go a bit further and reach a coffee shop we can get warm and then take a taxi or continue to the train station.

So we continue a little down the pedestrianised street. "Go in front of me so you can go under the ledge too." I said that as the moisture on my foot rest got between the metal and my shoe causing my foot to slip backwards. Causing my shoe to flick off and my foot to rub on the floor which caused my leg to change angle. Which caused the baggage to slide which started to pull my neck down and forwards which started to shift the weight distribution on my chair which started to tip forwards. For a second I thought "I've got this." Then I realised there was no way. I shouted to my wife as I fell on top of the bags. Face down, ass up. Unfortunately she missed another of my mishaps. As I lay there in this really bizarre position my face buried in the bags and the icy wind on my now exposed lower back two guys came to assist me. "Do you want some help?".

We got to the coffee shop but that was now another omen so we abandoned the plans (and the booked and paid for tickets and hotel!)

My last entry, I feel, was unfair to Wales because as it happens every county has the same local criteria. Which doesn't make too much sense since county councils are funded nationally. You must apply where you have a 'local connection' or where you work. To add to the nonsense I either have to involve a social worker or sign up to a website to swap council properties.

Social Housingety: The workshy, the neets and the failings of welfare.
That would be a good heading. A little too high brow for this blog. Maybe one day I'll write about that stuff. I have to rely on social housing -not completely because I earn a pittance. I could probably afford market rates for rent. I just cant find any accessible properties to rent. Hopefully I'll get help that wont result in me moving from one council estate to another council estate.

Why not just rent privately?
Private landlords probably wouldn't want to let to a disabled person because of all the 'hassle' of adapting the property. Also private landlords can just decide not to let a property which wouldn't be a huge problem if I was confident of being able to find properties to rent. If you know of any Bungalows for rent in North Wales. Please get in touch with me.

Why not take out a mortgage/rent to buy/etc?
My life expectancy means that I probably won't be around long enough to be a secure investment. I may try this route anyway. There are an unbelievable number of incompetent people in work.

Plans
I've mentioned before my plan to design a home. I read an article today about this (designing a garden city). Yesterday I read this(creating 3d worlds from old maps). I should be doing those sort of things. I need to finish my house design. I keep starting new things and not finishing things.

Next entry I plan to write about the ideas presented in this blog that I found interesting.