h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's not a question of forgiveness, and if it was it wouldn't be up to me anyway. I just thought this was a thread on which you were in a good position to comment; something more meaningful than you usually post, and you did, so well done.

This is the kind of thing everyone wants to see you doing, rather than posting whatever comes not your head. I'm not getting at you here, I'm trying to help.

I'm sorry to drag this whole affair into this thread, everyone, but the oppurtunity was too good to miss!

Fair point I shall try harder to post more meaningful and detailed answers and replys

Excellent, I'm very glad to hear it!

Me too, life's too short for nasty stuff, we have enough problems in RL without having them on here also!

Have you used that Fine Arts degree workwise at all? There's all sorts of new legislation coming in which is "supposed" to "help" disabled people get employed, i am deeply suspicious, reckon it's a back handed way of cutting benefits, but maybe i am just sceptical!

hootoo playing up, this may double post or not post at all, someone feed the ham(p)sters!

zdt

Have you used that Fine Arts degree workwise at all? yes to do art workshops

I'm inclined to agree with you about the new legislation, Terri. I've spoken, via various MBs, to disabled people who have tried to get work without success, regardless of their qualifications or Government 'initiatives' like Access To Work. One woman was told by her adviser, "We wish they'd be honest and say 'We won't employ them because they're disabled'." Of course employer's can't say that because of legislation, but that's the reason no matter what employers may say. There's also the fact that employers are more interested in your experience than in what you're capable of. Sore point, this, as it stops me getting work close to home.

One of the best ways to get disabled people working would be to encourage employers to allow people to work from home, as there are many jobs that can be done from home with the help of a PC and the internet. This would reduce benefit claims, reduce traffic and reduce the need for employers to adapt their premises. Is this going to happen any time soon? Is it heck! Tony Blair seems to be more interested in using the 'stick' with no carrot to force people off Incapacity Benefit, rather than in finding constructive ways to help people back to work.

My own theory, Cheerful, is your best bet is to apply to a government department to work. If you can face office work. It doesn't appeal much to me, but I think it's my most realistic option. It's the only place I *know* of who have to be seen following this silly Access to Work directive.

They're the only employer who *has* to be seen to employ the disabled, if only, in theory, to set an example. But generally speaking, yep finding a job nowadays is hard enough. Finding someone who'll employ you when disabled is like panning for gold - miserable, exhausting and not a lot found. I don't say its impossible, but it doesn't happen very often.

And then there are the hours you're "allowed" to work -
exactly the right number to ensure that you never, ever come off the bread line. I've seen it happen to all of my disabled mates off screen. It's a real Catch 22 no-win situation.

I was "summoned" to discuss my "personal plans to reintegrate into society (was I EVER integrated into society?)& dutifully prepared my CV (paid for printing etc) & a list of projects i could tackle, assistance i would need etc.

The woman hardly even glanced at this, just said "why are you in France? Why isn't your family supporting you?"

"er, seem to have carelesly lost them all along the way. Now, about what i *can* do..;"

"but don't you have a husband or boyfriend?"

"Actually, i've had 3 hubby's but none right now.As to boyfriends, i hardly think that's relevant" now, i could do XYZ, what practical help can i get?"

"Ah, you have no family, no supporting man, broken marriages, you are obviously depressed, was your family abusive?"

" Why the hell are you asking this? Anybody would think you were a shrink, not a careers advisor!"

"Actually i am a shrink, its inevitable the disabled have severe emotional problems & we have to sort these out before you stand any chance of getting back into society"

"SOD OFF! if i wanted a shrink i'd bloody well find one!"

*hobbles off in utter mindblowing fury whilst no doubt Madam fancy pants writes "hostile & aggressive" on my dossier.

GGGGGGGGrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

zdt

On a related, but completely dissimilar topic.

My partner (who has MS)and I were, last august, involved in a car accident. The insurance company are dealing with the compensation claim. I am perfectly able bodied (as they say) and my claim (for whiplash) was dealt with and I duly recieved compenation in December last year. My partner, however, has been suffering from a whole series of minor and major replases in his his condition ever since. He was sent to a BUPA hospital for a referral of his condition to a so called expert in the field.

The report which followed the consultation (which, incidentally, took over three months to arrive) did not only claim that sensory MS was not recognised by the medical profession but that there was no evidence of head/neck trauma exaserpating the sypmtoms of MS, (bunkum - we've found lots and lots of evidence to, at least *suggest* this might be the case and, in fact, may even contribute to the onset of the condition in some cases)

This is where the relation comes in...The Doctor(?) even claimed that people with this sort of condition are more sucepible(sp?) to stress and that this alone has caused his symptoms to worsen. "It's alright Ragman, these symptoms are as a result of stress and have nothing to do with your head/neck trauma whatsoever!

On a happy note (yeah, right) he has agreed to look at all the evidence we can provide and relook at his report. However, he also stated at the beginning of his letter that he was not prepared to alter his opinion!

Why are we bothering? We don't *know* we are right, but have found compelling evidence to suggest that we *might* be.

....I have bookmarked and bumped this up as such an important thread.
I don't have a crippling illness, but think this is one of our most useful threads.

Thank you, Same DUDE, it is pretty damn vital that folks who DON'T have these problems jump up & down and scream on our behalf, spread the word mate, we are not just useless lumps waiting helplessly to die & saying "oh thank you very much"

There are lots of angry, but fully brain functional people out there & we need people like you to help out.

zdt

I agree. Excellent thread. I find it a useful thread because I happen to have a mental illness, and many of the coping strategies are the same.

Hi Terri, *simulpost*!

We are following each other around tonght JEllen!!!

zdt*Yoda says hi to Micio, she is snoring loudly right now though*

I did have one bit of good news last week - my application for Disability Living Allowance has been approved. I've been awarded higher rate for mobility and middle rate for care. I'd have been annoyed if I hadn't got the high mobility rate, but the middle rate care is a pleasant surprise.

I'd just like to thank hubby for filling in the form for me (It's the form from hell.), and my GP and MS nurse for sending supporting evidence.

Here you go Cheerful have your own personal for getting around in and a glass of from me.

Well done Cheerful dragon.It is invaluable aid when you need help to get about,taxi's are so expensive.There must be so many people out there who think they won't bother applying because they don't stand a chance,and there is a surplus of money alloted for these payments.The forms are horrendous,but worth sticking at ,to get what is rightfully yours.
I don't thnk many people realise that mental illness is catered for when applying for D L A, as well,but it is ANYTHING which affects your daily life in certain ways...

Congrats Cheerful!

It's the mobility thing that gets me, on a "good" day (assuming i haven't managed to fall over & damage myself further) i can just about manage to get to the supermarket, but it wipes me out for the rest of the day.

So i have eventually given up & now get shopping delivered, costs a lot more, but it's that or starve, or alienate the few friends who are left. Taxis are out of the question. Pay 20$ to do 60$ worth of shopping?

If there was a once a week i imagine it could be quite good fun: Yippee, the cripples descend upon the supermarket; whooping & squealing, doing wheelies, scooping up trolley loads of; the poor little able bodied shoppers in horror & the crips go back & have a massive party!

zdt*defiantly inactive*

Have you looked at my MD GE

I certainly have LW - I found it both interesting and useful. If you get a min, perhaps you'd put a link on this thread for the Government funded (or is it a private funding? I only had a quick skim), mobility site.

All information greatly appreciated - and specially stuff like that. It may -just - be the thing someone else "here" could be looking for.

Another piece in the rather confusing jigsaw of burocracy.

Great news from Cheerful Dragon, too - finally a sucsessful DLA application!

Brilliant news for you I've been trying to get it for over 2 years now (and you're right, it IS a form from hell); I'm going head to head appeal, with the back up of the Occupational Therapist and Social Services now. Personally, I think unless each applicant has a huge backup network of professionals/friends/hitmen(sic) behind them, that form is worded so that you don't have a chance in hell of being accepted or even considered.

If you arn't being treated for depression before you start proceddings, there's a very strong liklihood that you will be AFTER you've gone thru it, I'm telling ya!

Which is why I've been a bit quiet on this thread lately; I've been pulling myself together mentally for the next onslaught of form filling and so on

It's bad enough *knowing* ones situation, without setting it all out, with dates, pharmaceutals and - as I call it - packed lunches; seeing all the ailments in black and white is enough to make the toughest person very very depressed and inert.

Which is the toughest fight of all, it seems; keeping cheerful and positive.