Tuesday 15 August 2017

Make Ability Count



You can't do that you are disabled. Do you think you should do that? Are you allowed? Do you need to ask your carer? Should you be doing that on your own? But youre in a wheelchair! Can I speak to your carer? Are you meant to be doing that?

I've had all those and more including some very rude reactions to us doing the same things as everyone else, as have probably most disabled people. Do those that say this understand how wrong they are, and that in disrespecting, discounting, or dismissing our abilities they disrespect us and in turn society misses out on the value of what we can do. I know you will all be shocked but we do actually pay bills, cook and do housework just like anyone else but thats just the tip of the iceberg!

It takes skill to be disabled and live life, many of them the skills abled bodied people use at work. The carers that help us, many people employ them, and just like any employer that means planning rotas,  underatanding workers  rights, and our responsibilities and if someone  goes sick, finding cover quickly. Out and about isn't a doddle either if you need more than just feet. Checking access, beforehand,  planning what we will do if the access isn't accessible, making sure we have transport and assistance,  and then there is being ready to deal with the unexpected, could a wheelchair breakdown, someone walking into us, or transport failure. Thats just a day out, after a holiday, we need a holiday to recover.  There is support out there benefits, care and equipment, but getting through the maze, and applying for all that takes knowledge determination and massive effort, its no simple task.

If  then our abilities count, we are managers, health and safety experts, skilled  in logistics and problem solving, and communication, along side our interests and work skills.  Count on all that and we all gain

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