Cameron and the Paralympics

Well my friends, it is 2012.

Just 2 years ago, this coalition government, led by David Cameron and Nick Clegg launched the single biggest attack on the lives and livelihoods of sick and disabled people this country has ever seen.

They did it as wolves dressed in sheep's clothing. They lied about their intentions, justifying their attacks with pretty words. They told the people of this country that they were "supporting us" into work, but there is no support. They told the country so many of us were just cheats and scroungers, not really sick or disabled at all, but leeches on the state, sucking money from hard working people. But fraud is less than 1%.

They whipped the media - and so the country - into a frenzy of hate and disgust. They said we were "mugging the state" (Osborne) "festering on benefits" (Iain Duncan-Smith) or referred to us as "stock" (Freud) like so much cattle.

Just two years ago we were alone in our horror. We could see the truth, but few cared. The media would not report our stories, eager to believe the dangerous rhetoric of millionaires crushing those with nothing. Politicians of all parties too, were eager to turn away from a regime of cutting support, cancelling services and a harsh and degrading "assessment" process that saw hundreds of thousands wrongly re-classified as "fit for work"

As cancer patients on chemo were sent to the jobcentre, those with kidney failure were stripped of support and 32 people a week died having been found "fit for work", we fought alone.

But how we fought!

We told our own stories on blogs and twitter and facebook. We sent our stories to our MPs - not just once but endlessly, we insisted that politicians could not turn away from this disgrace. We built up relationships with journalists until they saw for themselves how clearly we were being betrayed.

On Wednesday, the Paralympics opening ceremony will dazzle us all. Those incredible athletes will amaze the people of Britain.

This Paralympics will be covered by Channel 4 as no games for disabled people has ever been covered before. The advertising for the games cleverly thanks the Olympics for "the warm up" putting disability sport front and centre as never before.

With the games being staged in the UK, we have a chance to show our disability credentials to the world. For all our many faults, this country is accessible to disabled people in a way many are not. It values the lives of sick and disabled people as many do not. It values equality and inclusion as many do not.

At least it did.

Many of the athletes competing from Wednesday relied on the Disability Living Allowance to achieve their great success. A working benefit, it is designed to pay for the extra cost of sickness or disability. To pay for transport or mobility aids or extra heating or food. It will have helped very many disabled people competing  to get to training sessions or to afford the extra costs of the modified equipment they use.

This allowance is being scrapped by this government, replaced with a benefit that will only help the incapable or the housebound, and trapping so many more in a life where just getting up and dressed in the mornings will be a challenge just as great as winning Paralympic Gold.

David Cameron will take his place in the stadium, smiling and complacent, knowing that half a million people who previously qualified for DLA will be cut adrift as a direct result of the policies of his government.

He will bask in a glory that is not his, as he callously strips sickness benefits from over a million more.

He will pay lip service to independence as he scraps the Independent Living Fund

He will ask you to wonder at the great achievements of those with severe disabilities as he scraps the Severe Disability Premium. 

He will encourage young sick and disabled people of today to strive for greatness as he halves tax credits for disabled children 

He will perhaps feel a terrible pain as he remembers his own disabled child who tragically is no longer with us, yet will choose to look away from children just like his own who will no longer have the opportunity to achieve what the great athletes will achieve from Wednesday. 

I hope he is met with silence as he takes his place.

But today, I wanted to contrast the isolation campaigners felt in 2010 with the media this week.

Here is Polly Toynbee on slashing DLA and the Paralympics : http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/23/paralympians-state-help-disabled-benefits-cut

Here is Owen Jones in the Independent : http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/owen-jones-david-cameron-praises-paralympians-but-his-policies-will-crush-them-8082036.html

Here is Disapatches and Panorama on the failure of Atos and "fit for work tests" http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/links-to-panorama-dispatches.html

Here is the BBC : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19244639

And there are many more. We are no longer alone. The country is waking up and despite the efforts of ministers, every day, fewer people believe their lies, and fewer are willing to stand by and allow sick and disabled people to suffer in their name.

As the saying goes, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"

So if you are reading this article, if you clicked on a twitter link or facebook page, if it is sent to you by email and you are going to the Paralympic games 2012, by all means, marvel at the unbelievable endeavour, wonder at the great sacrifice and bravery that brought the athletes to the pinnacle of success, but don't forget that it was only possible through support. Your support.

Like the Olympians who went before them it took family sacrifice, amazing support and personal will. But it also took state assistance and cold hard cash. It took a country prepared to make the lives of sick and disabled people as equal as possible and all of that is under threat today. In the case of ex-military competitors, it often took months - if not years - of intensive rehabilitation, exercise regimes, committed physios and caring nurses. These are never free.

If we ever again want to see a Paralympics like we are about to see here in the UK, we must oppose the systematic destruction of independence and inclusion sick and disabled people have fought so hard for.

And please, when David Cameron or Nick Clegg take their seats, smug and smiling, hoping to bask in a little  of the glory of others, remember that the glory is not theirs.

But whatever you do, do not clap these men. You will be giving credit where it is not due. They aim to dismantle the very support that made the Paralympics possible at all.

A Million Thank Yous

... and by the way, I just noticed that my blog has been read over a million - 1,000,000 - times.

1 million times!!!, Every last one of you who read my blog,  played a small part in such an extraordinary thing.

A million!! I'm a bit humbled, to be honest.

I can't say much more as am having a bad day, but a "million thank you-s" - one for each and every last one of you.

xx

Little White Saviours

Precious little white saviours.

Carry them like raindrops, like a newborn baby, so gently and carefully to the sink.

Ritual. Carry with care. Never drop one. Don't put them down. Never lose them. Don't get distracted.

All I have. All I ever have between me and despair.

First the warm tingle in my fingers.

Soon I realise I've stopped crying. No more keyboard-puddles or tear-blurred-screens.

Then it starts to relax. That embattled chunk of fibrous tightness lets go, just for a while.

Slowly, slowly the warmth spreads, up my arms, into my rigid shoulders, tense with holding back pain that is not their own.

Desperation melts away. Fear eases.

I don't know if it still hurts, don't know if the pain is truly "killed" at all. I rather suspect I just don't care any more.

Perception duly altered, I believe I can cope, manage one more day....then maybe another.....then another.

But the white saviours and I know. This is no way to live a life.

We are old friends with "process" and "protocol" and "patience", wearily, we understand the system, it's achingly slow, grinding wheels.

We endure.

We endure

We endure

Patient patients.

A month. Two months. Not long at all in swirling, family-chaos, "human" years, but in pain years, an eternity.

Carrying around my borked-bowel-timebomb, as ever, I endure.

Update on Proposed New WCA Descriptors (EBR)

I am shamelessly copying this over from Kaliya Franklin's blog as I to am really ill and dosed up to the eyeballs. It's about all I can do to copy and paste, and this is proving a struggle. Mind sent us these new descriptors yesterday, and time is short, so if you can comment below, please do and I too will pass any feedback on........

Update on Proposed New WCA Descriptors (EBR)

We've been passed the latest version of the Evidence Based Review WCA descriptors for people to comment on and scrutinise. This version has to be finalised by the end of the week so there isn't much time. If you leave comments below I can direct the right people to read them but due to health issues I won't be able to do more than that. There's also a slightly different scoring system proposed, but for consultation purposes all you really need to know is that the N/A, Occasional, Frequent, Most boxes roughly correlate to points as follows, 0, 6, 9, 15

Health prevents me from going through this in the detail it requires but my initial impression is that it has lost much of the simplicity of the earlier draft and it appears to me that this is much closer to what a joint test for ESA and PIP would look like... However, testing an alternative version of a WCA can only be a good thing if the DWP are sensible enough to compare both proposals and cherry pick the best parts..

But please bear in mind - intense pain and lots of oramorph do not make for good cognitive functioning!

Movement - within a work environment or travelling to work
1.     Mobilising Mobilising unaided by another person with or without a walking stick, manual wheelchair or other aid normally used, for long periods indoors and outdoors without stopping, and climbing a flight of 12 steps without discomfort, exhaustion or risk of falling. This must be done reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner, which takes into account speed, time taken and manner of mobilising.
a	Has no difficulty mobilising indoors and outdoors
		N/A	Occ	Freq	Most
b	Cannot climb or descend a flight of 12 steps
c	Has some difficulty[1] mobilizing, indoors and outdoors, for long periods[2]
d	Has significant difficulty[3] mobilising, indoors and outdoors, for long periods
e	Has some difficulty mobilising, indoors and outdoors, for short periods[4]
f	Has significant difficulty mobilizing, indoors and outdoors, for short periods
2.     Getting About Getting to familiar and unfamiliar places reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner, unaided by another person.
a	Has no difficulty getting to familiar and unfamiliar places.
		N/A	Occ	Freq	Most
b	Because of distress or disorientation has some difficulty getting to unfamiliar places
c	Because of distress or disorientation has significant difficulty getting to unfamiliar places
d	Because of distress or disorientation has some difficulty getting to familiar places
e	Because of distress or disorientation has significant difficulty getting to familiar places
3.     Navigating Navigating around familiar and unfamiliar places unaided by another person reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner, using a guide dog or other aid if normally used.
a	Able to navigate around familiar and unfamiliar places
		N/A	Occ	Freq	Most
b	Has some difficulty navigating around unfamiliar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment
c	Has significant difficulty navigating around unfamiliar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment
d	Has some difficulty navigating around familiar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment
e	Has significant difficulty navigating around familiar surroundings, without being accompanied by another person, due to sensory impairment

Movement – at a work station

4.     Standing and sitting Reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner, using any aid that it is reasonable to expect them to use, and without receiving physical assistance from another person: ·         Staying in one position (such as a workstation) for at least an hour, either by standing, sitting or a combination of the two, and ·         Moving between this position and another.

a

Able to stay in one position for at least an hour, either by standing, sitting or a combination of the two, and able to move between this position and another

Claimant cannot:

N/A

Occ

Freq

Most

b

Stay in one position (either by standing, sitting, or a combination of the two) unassisted by another person in one place for more than one hour without significant discomfort, loss of balance or exhaustion

c

Stay in one position unassisted by another person in one place for more than 30 minutes (either by standing, sitting, or a combination of the two)  without significant discomfort, loss of balance or exhaustion

d

Move from a seated position to a mobilising position without physical assistance from another person

5.     Reaching, picking up and moving Reaching up, down or sideways a reasonable distance, and picking up and move a range of differently-sized objects up to 1kg

a

Has no difficulty reaching and picking up objects

Due to difficulties with movement, strength, sensation or co-ordination of the upper body (arms, shoulders, back, neck) and/or lower body (hips, knees, ankles), cannot repeatedly, reliably and safely, without significant discomfort or exhaustion, from standing or sitting:

N/A

Occ

Freq

Most

b

Reach up, down or sideways a reasonable distance andreach and pick up and move a range of differently-sized objects up to 1kg (e.g. so as to reach and pick up something off a high or low shelf)

c

Pick up and move a an object up to 1kg with either hand

d

Pick up and move a bulky object (such as a cardboard box) up to 2kg

e

Reach up, down (i.e. through bending, kneeling or squatting) and sideways a reasonable distance

6.     Manual dexterity/ hand movement

a

Has no difficulty with finger, hand or wrist movements/manual dexterity

Has difficulty in one or both hands in repeatedly, reliably, safely and in a timely manner without significant discomfort or pain:

N/A

Occ

Freq

Most

b

Gripping and turning an object such as a: ·         door handle, tap, lid or cap (so as to open a bottle/jar) ·         dial on a radio or piece of machinery

c

Gripping and holding an object such as a: ·         book weighing 500gms

d

Carrying out fine motor/finger movements such as: ·         doing up a button on a blouse or shirt, ·         tying a knot ·         opening a door with a key ·         picking up and moving a 5 pence coin – so as to insert into a slot in a machine/box ·         turning the pages of a book

e

Creating with the dominant hand a legible message of one sentence

e

Using a keyboard, mouse, cash till, telephone keypad, or similar piece of equipment/machinery

Task – task performance

7.     Executing Tasks Executing tasks reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner, unaided by another person.

a

Has no difficulty executing tasks

N/A

Occ

Freq

Most

b

Needs additional time to complete some tasks such that the task would take somewhat longer

c

Needs additional time to complete some tasks such that the task would take significantly longer

d

Needs additional time to complete most tasks such that the task would take somewhat longer

e

Needs additional time to complete most tasks such that the task would take significantly longer

8.     Maintaining Focus Maintain focus to complete tasks reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner, unaided by another person.

a

Has no difficulty maintaining focus

N/A

Occ

Freq

Most

b

Due to poor memory or concentration, has difficulty maintaining focus on some tasks[5]

c

Due to poor memory or concentration, has difficulty maintaining focus on most tasks

d

Due to poor memory or concentration, has difficulty maintaining focus on all tasks

9. Learning Tasks Learning processes necessary to having a job, and undertaking tasks within it

a

Is able to learn processes necessary to having a job

No longer requires support to carry out the task after

2-3 occasions

Between 4 and 9 occasions

10 or more occasions

Cannot learn task

b

Has difficulties learning a complex task[6]

c

Has difficulties learning a moderately complex task

d

Has difficulties learning a simple task

Task - risk

10.  Awareness of Hazards Being aware of potential hazards.

a

Is fully aware of potential hazards

N/A

Occ

Freq

Most

b

Some reduced awareness of hazards leads to risk(s) of harm to self or others, or of damage to property or possessions

c

Moderately reduced awareness of hazards leads to risk(s) of harm to self or others, or of damage to property or possessions

d

Significantly reduced awareness of hazards leads to risk(s) of harm to self or others, or of damage to property or possessions

11. Consciousness

a

Does not experience episodes of lost or altered consciousness

At least twice in last 6 months

At least once a month in the last 6 months

At least once a week

b

Has an involuntary episode of lost or altered consciousness resulting in significant disrupted awareness or concentration with a recovery time that is normally less than one hour

c

Has an involuntary episode of lost or altered consciousness resulting in significant disrupted awareness or concentration with a recovery timethat is normally more than one hour

12. Bladder/ bowel continence

a

Has no difficulty with continence

N/A

Occ

Freq

Most

b

Experiences an unusual and/or frequent need to use the toilet (or manage a collecting device), due to an underlying health condition or the side effects of essential medication

c

Without immediate urgent access[2] to a toilet, suitably modified where appropriate, would experience loss of control

d

Has experienced unpredictable or recurrent loss of control[1]

Communication
13. Understanding communication Understanding communication reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner, by both verbal means (such as hearing or lip reading), non-verbal means (such as intonation or body language) andwritten means (such as reading 16 point print or Braille), using any aid it is reasonable to expect them to use
a		Has no difficulty understanding communication
Due to sensory, cognitive or social difficulties:			N/A	Occ	Freq	Most
b		Has some difficulty understanding complex information from a stranger
c		Has significant difficulty understanding complex information from a stranger
d		Has some difficulty understanding simple information from a stranger
e		Has significant difficulty understanding simple information from a stranger
14. Making self understood Making self understood reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner through speaking, writing, typing, or other means normally used, unaided by another person a. Has no difficulty making self understood Due to sensory, cognitive, physical or social difficulties: N/A Occ Freq Most b.  Has some difficulty conveying complex information to strangers c.  Has significant difficulty conveying complex information to strangers d.  Has some difficulty conveying simple information to strangers e.  Has significant difficulty conveying simple information to strangers
Supporting behaviours for work
15. Social Engagement Engaging socially
a	Has no difficulty engaging socially reliably, repeatedly and safely, unaided by another person.
Because of difficulties interacting with others, anxiety, distress or other emotions:			N/A	Occ	Freq	Most
b		Has some difficulty with social engagement with people unknown to the person
c		Has significant difficulty with social engagement with people unknown to the person
d		Has some difficulty with social engagement with people known to the person
e		Has significant difficulty with social engagement with people known to the person

16. Organising self and planning (was Managing self and schedule)
a	Has no difficulty managing him/herself and his/her schedule reliably, repeatedly and safely, unaided by another person.
		N/A	Occ	Freq	Most
b	Has some difficulty managing self and schedule to an acceptable standard for much of the day
c	Has significant difficulty managing self and schedule to an acceptable standard for much of the day
d	Has some difficulty managing self and schedule to an acceptable standard for short periods
e	Has significant difficulty managing self and schedule to an acceptable standard for short periods
17. Coping with Change
a	Has no difficulty coping with minor planned changes to daily routine unaided by another person.
		N/A	Occ	Freq	Most
b	Experiences some difficulties with unplanned changes to daily routine.
c	Experiences significant difficulties with unplanned changes to daily routine.
d	Experiences some difficulties with planned changes to daily routine.
e	Experiences significant difficulties with planned changes to daily routine.
18. Appropriateness of Behaviour
a	Display behaviour which work colleagues consider appropriate reliably, repeatedly and safely without support from another person
		N/A	Occ	Freq	Most
b	May display moderate verbally aggressive or socially inappropriate behaviour
c	May display severe verbally aggressive or socially inappropriate behaviour
d	May display physically aggressive behaviour