I was not there in person for #DPAC 2014 (“Disabled persons against the cuts” Annual Conference 2014), but I was very excited to follow the proceedings on Twitter.
I was following @BolshieBear.
For me, solidarity with other people who are disabled is an integral part of my life.
I became physically disabled in adulthood.
At the age of 33, I had an epileptic seizure and cardiac arrest due to meningitis, and then spent six weeks in a coma. I awoke to not being able to walk or talk.
After extensive rehabilitation, I was able to walk and talk again. I even regained sufficient confidence to do two postgraduate degrees in law, and one postgraduate degree in business management.
I read with interest this manifesto for disabled citizens like me.
It’s wonderful.
It disgusts me how many politicians of all parties do not actually treat disabled citizens like equals.
Sometimes they don’t even mention us as a group with living needs. One of the better aspects is my London taxicard which enables me to get out of the house at all, go to places in London, and meet a diversity of London cabbies for a start. The downside is that I’ve been happening to meet many Conservative-voting cabbies of late!
There are some politicians who clearly get it.
They are wonderful people – but as rare as hen’s teeth.
Nick @Mylegalforum starts his presentation – an Alternative to the WCA – details will follow! #DPAC2014 pic.twitter.com/nCZ1XVYute
— Bolshie Bear (@BolshieBear) April 12, 2014
But there are others who don’t.
I remember being shocked at Rachel Reeves’ lack of mention of disability in the Guardian. Certain Guardian ‘expert commentators’ were totally blind to this.
For people like me, this matters.
For me, disability is by far the weakest part of the Labour opposition. It gives the impression is a necessary part of the war against the economic incompetence of bankers.
And this is not simply paranoia. My disability living allowance was suddenly discontinued by this Government, without the Government telling me. I found out as payments were simply not being paid, and I did not receive my ‘christmas bonus’.
In fact, I was more upset about not being told it had been discontinued for no reason than the fact it had been discontinued. It had been discontinued apparently not as an administrative error, and I have to this day never received an explanation why it was stopped.
Anyway, I applied to DWP to have it restored. They refused.
I asked for it to be reviewed. They restored it at the very lowest level, and a solicitor with whom I did pro bono as a volunteer, who specialises in disability benefits, said it had been awarded at completely the wrong level.
I then on his advice went to a tribunal. Bear in mind that his own law centre, the oldest in England, has had to lay off lots of staff, and welfare benefits due to new legislation from this government is now out of scope for legal aid.
Anyway it got restored, and I got back paid.
I have seen discrimination when applying to corporate law firms. This discrimination did not come in the form of easily provable offences under the Equality Act, which ironically I studied in full as part of my Legal Practice Course (regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority).
To prove this offence, I have to demonstrate that a detriment was caused to me on account of my disability.
No, I’ve seen it in the way recruitment officers and managers talk to me. I’ve seen it in the way that you become an eye sore at open days at open days.
I would say the present government doesn’t get it.
I would say the Socialist Health Association doesn’t get it. They didn’t even bother inviting the two people who are physically disabled to attend an event on disability on the same day (which was also about the WCA). I have no idea whether it was the same event.
I wish Bolshie and my true friends well.
I will talk to the organisers myself, and be there next year.
