Mental health and physical health both matter every day

Its World Mental Health Day, a day to raise awareness. It works but its not enough, those who don't have mental health needs need to be aware of mental health every day. It also needs to be viewed in exactly the way as physical health, there is no difference.

I have complex PTSD, alongside a physical disability. Nobody suggests  that me saying I can't take my wheelchair down steps is not a real need they accept that. I find attending medical appointments difficult because of my PTSD, to do so I need reasonable adjustments like seeing the same people or seeing them at certain places. Under the law I can ask for that in the same way as asking  for wheelchair access. Too often though its not seen in the same way. I am told more often than not I am simply making a choice, I could do it if I wanted to.

In the street I have been called crip, spaz, mental, loony, the first two relate to my physical disability, the others to my mental health. People have defended me and reacted against the former, the latter is seen as more acceptable.

In fact treating anyone with additional needs, no matter what they are, as if its just choice is not acceptable, nor is using discriminatory language. Anyone with a disability or health condition has the same rights under the Equality Act, no mstter what the nature or cause of their condition.

My wish is that starting today and continuing every day people treat those with physical and mental health needs with the same respect, and acceptance that they have exactly the same rights That will be real progress.

I take my rights

As The British Survey of Social Attitudes shows more people think disabled people need more support I ask if they understand that we need not passive protection but our rights back? We don't need looking after but to be empowered.

The Government want disabled people to be full participants of society. I agree I want that too. I want to take an active part in society, to be able to choose to study or volunteer, if I want to. I want to have a social life, I want to be able to pay my bills without worrying. I want those who can work to be able to do so, not by force but by being given real choices that empower them I want disabled pople to able to choose where and how they live in the same way as anyone else does. I am not asking to be given these things as a favour, I'm claiming rights I have in law, the right everyone has to live life on their own terms. These are human rights and disabled people are human beings too.

To be able to use these rights disabled people need support and that has been stolen from us by The Government. Cuts that have taken our benefits have reduced our imcome so that many people can no longer make real financial choices. These changes are not because as the Govenment wants you to believe, we aren't as disabled as we claim, or so they can support those more in need. It is just because they can. Its not even because there isn't the money. The government find money to support the rich, we pay the price. It isn't possible to participate in society if keeping your home or buying food is a challenge you cannot meet. It costs more to live with a disability than to be  non disabled and the income aimed at meeting those needs often doesn't and many are being denied this at all under new rules. Cuts take away our rights.

Many disabled people need support to do daily activities, from the basic getting up and eating, to going out and being part of our community. The law says we have the right to this but the government have taken it away. The reality is that many have no support at all or so little they have to choose between eating and peeing. Without support we cannot have the lifestyle of choice other people we are denied that right.

Rights theft thats what the Government are doing. Whatever they say its nothing more or less. Its not targeting support, its not stopping fraud, disability benefit fraud is less than 1%, some other benefits are significantly higher. They are not tackling equality, giving us rights or helping us be part of society. Their actions do the exact opposite on all counts. They claim they want to support us, I don't want what passes for support on their terms, I don't even want to be given my rights that will have Tory conditions attached, not the same as rights in law. I want to be empowered to live as I choose. I take my rights, they are mine to take, not theirs to give.

Blog based on a conversation with Neil Crowther via Twitter.

The right to care and support

Luke Davey has cerebral palsy and is registered blind, as a result he needs help with all aspects of daily living. He used to get that help through the Independant Living Fund which topped up his social services care package. ILF has now closed and the money passed to local authorities, but not ring fenced for those who previously had ILF. As a result Mr Davey's care package has been reduced from almost £1,700 per week to just £950 per week. He says this is both unreasonable and unlawful.

In a landmark case Mr Davey is taking Oxfordshire County Council to the Appeal Court, it will be the first time the 2014 Care Act has been used to challenge the actions of a local authority in this way. Thats the Act that was supposedly  meant to give those using care services more choice, control and rights. Mr Davey previously had this package for 23 years, and had a team of personal assistants supporting him. His needs have not decreased funding cuts have reduced his package. Cuts mean severely disabled people like Mr Davey will struggle to manage, if they do at all, and will be reduced to existing rather than living a life they choose.

In a twist disabled people were reportedly excluded from the court hearing, when staff allegedly  claimed there weren't enough staff to cope and refused to open the acessible entrance. Access was later allowed but judged poor by campaigners, whilst one risked injury.

The Government states that they want disabled people to be full participants in society, but their policies scream otherwise. If someone needs support to live, removing that support, or reducing it,  takes away their ability to choose how they live. Many disabled people have full lives, they are part of their community, taking part in events, aand may be contributing through volunteering, work.or study. They can only do this with support, support the law gives them a right to. The same support government cuts take away.

This case could have a fundamental effect on the lives and rights of disabled people. If successful it could force massive changes in practice and attitudes within support provision. It is right that disabled people would want to attend the case. To try to prevent this could be discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. That an organisation charged with upholding the law could even possibly breach it in this way is shameful. The right to defend rights through including access to justice is the most basic right  of all.

Story Source U R The Voice and Vox Political online