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.
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.
