Just some thoughts: as of this time of day, around 7am 18th March.
I tried to phone Nicky Campbell’s Radio 5 live show for the first time yesterday. There have been many times i have wanted to, this time i did. I couldn’t get through of course, i assume because of huge swathes of callers desperate to speak on the issue of welfare and these imminent cuts.
I’m genuinely frightened of what is coming today. I’m an educated articulate 43 year old woman, with autistic kids, their dad is autistic with very severe complex ptsd. I too am autistic and adhd (diagnosed as adult). The disability benefits are being massively misrepresented by the government and the media. For one, They are conflating sickness and disability. They are confusing sick pay and pip etc. there are important differences not being discussed and the negative rhetoric around this has been shocking. I work, when i can, but am largely unable due to the school needs of my children not being met. I spend 3 hours a day in a car driving to a SEN school and another child has no school at all! I could work more, but the disability system is so broken at every level, i can’t. It’s not easy or cheap being like this. The application process to get any of these benefits is traumatic, hard, many people don’t get what they are entitled. People will die. Especially people with mental health issues, and/or autism. I am disgusted that labour of all parties are doing this. I regret voting for them. My vote will now cost people their lives.
I am Bernadette Louise.
I am an autism ‘professional’ and advocate for change.
THE LANGUAGE THEY ARE USING IS ALL WRONG _ THEY ARE GETTING IT WRONG _ and my concerns now about the autistic bullshit being a ‘different ability’… not a disability, but a difference or a ‘superpower’, will only add to the assumptions that people with a diagnosis of autism can do more, when there are cohorts who physically and psychologically cannot not, The increased anxiety this has already brought up has likely already seen some suicide attempts, self harm, due to the the lack of certainty, the fear, and adding pressure of those who cannot work, who will subsequently be left without their entitlements and with no way to address the discriminations they face, they are not a part of this conversation. They cannot fight the changes, even if they would be eligible still under any new regime, change requires ability, and it is hard to muster that when overwhelmed, people will end up going without, simply by re-design and lack of access…and there are no support systems to help deal with this kind of thing. Charities to help with PIP forms are at capacity. There is no one.
I cannot truly believe that this is coming out of Labours mouths! Every one on yesterday’s 5 live show who said they like these cuts, said they didn’t like the government, they were Tory voters, and yet, they openly LOVE this. It made me feel sick, and i feel used, and dirty that i voted for a red tory party, for this to happen to the most vulnerable people, that i desperately try to advocate for, for my children, for my family. Disgraceful.