What counts as disability?

SingleSue

DarkFallout wrote: »

so ... on what grounds do you want to be classed as disabled ... just to get the money? or to get the blue badge? or because you decided that your memory is not the same as it was? mine is not the same as well if I compare it to my memory 15 years go ...

Just because you have or are classed as having a disability does not mean that you will receive any money or a blue badge for it.

My eldest and middle sons have disabilities but neither receive DLA or have a blue badge. My father has a disability but again, never received DLA (he is too old now) but an industrial injuries benefit...he does have a blue badge though.

Some would say I am disabled (I don't quite agree but that might just be me being awkward) as I have to use sticks or a crutch to get around, have to have help to get in and out of the car, up the stairs, off the sofa and sometimes into bed but I neither claim, or have even attempted to claim any disability monies or a blue badge.

Having a disability is not an automatic gateway to more money but sometimes having a classification of a disability can help in the work place for reasonable adjustments to allow you to carry out your employment easier.

tomcat4u77

DarkFallout wrote: »

I know that TIAs, by definition, are episodes of impaired blood flow to the brain but with fast and complete improvement (within 24-48h) and no remaining neurological or cognitive deficits ...

so ... on what grounds do you want to be classed as disabled ... just to get the money? or to get the blue badge? or because you decided that your memory is not the same as it was? mine is not the same as well if I compare it to my memory 15 years go ...

as written above diagnosis is not important ... you may have MS and be in remission or have MS and be bed or wheelchair bound ... if during an accident at work your 4th and 5th finger are amputated, you still have full function of you hand as the thumb and the index finger are important ... UK benefit system is designed to help those with severe disabilities and restrictions in usual day to day activities and self care and not to cover a particular condition ... you may be severely disabled by unknown condition and still undergoing investigations and you be covered although not having a diagnosis ...

OK, where on the quoted post did the poster ask ANYTHING about DLA or benefits? They asked if their situation was covered by the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), nothing more, nothing less. I hate to see this type of condescending behaviour appear on a forum I have always found helpful and informative.

To get back on topic, I am a newly diagnosed HFA (High Functioning Autistic) in receipt of mid rate care and lower rate mobility DLA which I had to fight for with help from the CAB. The CAB advisor while extremely helpful and supportive did not think I had any chance of winning my tribunal, until she and the tribunal panel saw me when my partner left the room, as I wanted her to be able to talk to them about what I was like at home and the care she had to provide for me. At that point my anxiety levels went through the roof, I had trouble focusing, stuttered, lost track of what I was saying mid sentence, fidgetted and went pale and started sweating heavily until she returned. When left on my own I lose weight RAPIDLY, as I do not see the need to take care of myself, cook, eat, wash or even dress, preferring to either curl up in my bed and read or play games on the computer to the detriment of my health and welfare. I get highly anxious and distracted when out alone and can lose track of my surroundings, traffic, where I am, where I'm going and just close in on myself for hours at a time, at some points I'm almost agorophobic about even leaving the house and have been known to stay inside for days or even weeks at a time because I'm afraid to meet people I don't know and be unable to read their expressions or social cues that aren't a problem for "normal" people, or even as an example, the one time I was assaulted on my way to work as a night shift cleaner at a Butlin's camp, I don't think many people would have just stood there frozen after being punched in the face, to then walk to the bus pickup for work when the assailant ran away with his friend. I decided to post here because I saw so many with physical problems or disabilities but so few with psychologically based problems.

p.s. When I stated that I was newly diagnosed this was just prior to my 32nd birthday, and to me helped to explain over 30 years of hell in school, college, employment and unemployment. :mad:

L6MCT

DarkFallout wrote: »

I know that TIAs, by definition, are episodes of impaired blood flow to the brain but with fast and complete improvement (within 24-48h) and no remaining neurological or cognitive deficits ...

My Dad had a number of TIAs & just before he died he was diagnosed with multi-infarct dementia which was, apparently, caused by all the TIAs he'd had.

DarkFallout

L6MCT wrote: »

My Dad had a number of TIAs & just before he died he was diagnosed with multi-infarct dementia which was, apparently, caused by all the TIAs he'd had.

vascular dementia and TIAs are separate diagnoses don't mix them up ...

vervegirl

In case anyone here needs to know, Dyspraxia is covered by the Disability Discrimination Act but it's difficult to get any help because relatively little is known about Dyspraxia and those of us who have it appear 'normal'.

If anyone who has Dyspraxia, and is looking for help, (particularly if they are in Kent), should read this, you might be interested in this website: Oops! As a new user I am not allowed to post links so try;
3 x w dot dyspraxia-kent followed by dot org dot uk


and there is practical help available from:
3 x w dot bneill-hypnotherapy dot com

dmg24

vervegirl wrote: »

In case anyone here needs to know, Dyspraxia is covered by the Disability Discrimination Act but it's difficult to get any help because relatively little is known about Dyspraxia and those of us who have it appear 'normal'.

If anyone who has Dyspraxia, and is looking for help, (particularly if they are in Kent), should read this, you might be interested in this website: Oops! As a new user I am not allowed to post links so try;
3 x w dot dyspraxia-kent followed by dot org dot uk


and there is practical help available from:
3 x w dot bneill-hypnotherapy dot com

Dyspraxia may be covered by the DDA, depending on the problems that the individual may have. It certainly does not cover everyone who has the condition.

koolkatsaffi

Horace wrote: »

I have a mate who is an amputee and he once parked his motorbike in a disabled bay (he was displaying a badge) and a jobsworth parking attendant was waiting for him when he got back because he was slapping a ticket on the bike for being illegally parked. The attendant didnt believe that my mate was disabled so my mate unstrapped his leg and handed it to him:rotfl: The attendant was left red faced.

A very similar incident happened to a mate of mine too...:rotfl:In addition the same said mate was at a concert where there was separate, seated sitting at he very front for those unable to stand for long periods...He was accused by a jobsworth and also a few other concert goers of not having a disability so he unstrapped his leg, poured some of his (£3.50 a cup :eek:) coke into the leg cup and offered em a drink!...Priceless!...:rotfl:

ceegra

andrew71 wrote: »

Thanks for this part of the forum. I too am one of those who "do not look disabled"
I have ME and difficutly with my walking. A few weeks ago I parked up in a disabled spot with my blue badge and when I got out an eldery couple informed me that the space was for disabled people. When I informed them I was the gentleman bold as brass said to me "you don't look old enough to be disabled" Never knew there was an age limit on being disabled

i too am disabled, but confined to wheelchair, i thought the blue badge scheme was brought in for those who could not walk a great distant without aids?

i use the disabled toilets in supermarkets and get agravated why folk without being in a wheelchair uses them

sometimes i think they must be shy

i am severly disabled, back boney inj, arthritic with 3 heart attacks

love this board
:T

Indie_Kid

ceegra wrote: »

i too am disabled, but confined to wheelchair, i thought the blue badge scheme was brought in for those who could not walk a great distant without aids?

You can also get one if you're blind or have a condition such as uncontrollable epilepsy, which means you need to be near a vehicle or hospital for treatment.

treborc

You just need to sit and watch people who use and abuse the blue badge parking, people who reach 60 or 65 think they have a right to a badge because they are retired, thats been the biggest abuse.

people who abuse the badges using them when the disabled person is not in the car.

The idea of the blue badge and it still is , you cannot walk more then 150 yards without stopping or your in chronic or severe pain.

But my council is now forcing people to have medicals unless they are getting DLA at the high rate.

The fact is if your suffering from Blindness the blue badge would be given to you to use by another person nothing wrong with that. But actually the idea of the extra space was for wheelchair users.

I do not think in my area I've been able to park in a disabled bay more then once or twice a year.