What counts as disability?

Dainty1976

ceegra wrote: »

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
:T

Please dont take this as a dig but when I read your comment including the above I felt I had to just point out that you dont have to be in a wheelchair to utilise a disabled toilet.

My son is disabled as he has Autism, which in itself classes him as disabled however he also has ADHD, Sensory Processing disorder, Hypermobility Syndrome and Dyspraxia. On short journeys where it doesnt warrant using is Maclaren Special Needs Buggy (for example, going into MacDonalds or into say a Tesco Express from the car) he will walk and so its entirely unapparent to most people that he is disabled.

HOWEVER, I will ALWAYS take him into the disabled toilet wherever we are. This is because he gets scared in small cubicles, he needs assistance/supervision to go to the toilet and normal public toilets do not have big enough cubicles to allow me to go into the cubicle with him, and the handryers, banging doors and mutiple toilets flushing hurt his ears to the point where he will scream in pain or freak out competely!!

So please, dont judge EVERYONE that is not in a wheelchair using a disabled toilet - it is not a pre-requisite that you must be in a wheelchair to do so!

stefano

Dainty1976 wrote: »

My son is disabled as he has Autism!

I also used to take my son, who's diagnosed with Autism, to the disables toilet when he was younger, and I too, used to get the dagger look from older disabled users, but words and looks don't hurt, don't let that bother you. If and when you need to release your emotions, you can have a rant at them. Most mature people will not have a clue what autism is, or what its traits are, mainly because the little one looks "normal".
My son will be turning 12 next month, and I was wondering if people, who's life has been affected by Autism, would like to share their experiences with other like-minded people. I, for example, have gone through the first 12 years of a child's life, and can offer support and advise to those at the beginning of their journey, and would also need an insight into what the future has to offer for my son, as he approches his teenage years and adulthood.
I know there is support out there, but sometimes I feel that the support has been sterilised, and it's normally given by people who's life has not been affected by ASD.
Maybe we could start an "Autism" thread, or we could communicate via PM. There is nothing more powerful than experience.

Dainty1976

stefano wrote: »

.
Maybe we could start an "Autism" thread, or we could communicate via PM. There is nothing more powerful than experience.

Great idea!

stefano

Dainty1976 wrote: »

Great idea!

I have started a "Autism" thread here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2840622
Let's share our challenges, worries and experiences.

arcalis

Dainty1976 wrote: »

HOWEVER, I will ALWAYS take him into the disabled toilet wherever we are. This is because he gets scared in small cubicles, he needs assistance/supervision to go to the toilet and normal public toilets do not have big enough cubicles to allow me to go into the cubicle with him, and the handryers, banging doors and mutiple toilets flushing hurt his ears to the point where he will scream in pain or freak out competely!!

So please, dont judge EVERYONE that is not in a wheelchair using a disabled toilet - it is not a pre-requisite that you must be in a wheelchair to do so!

In an emergency and pushed, where there was no disabled toilet, i'd guess that you would risk it in the able-ies toilets where as wheelchair users don't have that luxury.

Dainty1976

arcalis wrote: »

In an emergency and pushed, where there was no disabled toilet, i'd guess that you would risk it in the able-ies toilets where as wheelchair users don't have that luxury.

Fair point however, that doesnt mean that I shouldnt take my son into a disabled toilet if there is one available!

Also, just to point out that in many places the disabled toilet doubles as a babychange - and yes, I will use it for my 2 year old!

Disability_Claim

I personally that there is no need to argue about whether a particular disability is covered by SSDA or not. The disability benefits are distributed on an individual consideration of each applicant's medical approved file.

bloomingflower

Disability_Claim wrote: »

I personally that there is no need to argue about whether a particular disability is covered by SSDA or not. The disability benefits are distributed on an individual consideration of each applicant's medical approved file.

Hi DC

I totally agree with what you have just said.

I posted a while ago about my husband who had an accident at work in June this year which led to an incarcerated inguinal hernia injury,for which he needed emergency surgery for. Before his injury he was as fit as a fiddle,but now some months after having the injury and surgery he is still not able to bend,stretch, lift and so forth without pain.. He had post surgical complications in which he was signed off work for a total of 11 weeks.

He is in the process of applying for Industrial Injuries benefit and has attended an Atos medical assessment and is now waiting to hear back from them.The first part of his application has been confirmed by the DWP decision maker that his accident was an industrial accident.

Not quite sure if a hernia injury is covered by SSDA(USA?) or DDA, but I guess everyone's situation is different and so each individual case will be considered to each own's circumstances.

bf x

stefano

bloomingflower wrote: »

Hi DC

I totally agree with what you have just said.

I posted a while ago about my husband who had an accident at work in June this year which led to an incarcerated inguinal hernia injury,for which he needed emergency surgery for. Before his injury he was as fit as a fiddle,but now some months after having the injury and surgery he is still not able to bend,stretch, lift and so forth without pain.. He had post surgical complications in which he was signed off work for a total of 11 weeks.

He is in the process of applying for Industrial Injuries benefit and has attended an Atos medical assessment and is now waiting to hear back from them.The first part of his application has been confirmed by the DWP decision maker that his accident was an industrial accident.

Not quite sure if a hernia injury is covered by SSDA(USA?) or DDA, but I guess everyone's situation is different and so each individual case will be considered to each own's circumstances.

bf x

And I had a road traffic accident back in december, and DLA was refused on the basis that I do not need personal care and can walk 100 or so metres, despite not being able to work in my current job.

MrsManda

stefano wrote: »

And I had a road traffic accident back in december, and DLA was refused on the basis that I do not need personal care and can walk 100 or so metres, despite not being able to work in my current job.

That's presumably because Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is for people who have care/mobility needs due to an illness/disability, have had such needs for at least three months and are expected to have such needs for at least a further six months. Whether you are able to work or not is irrelevant.

Employment Support Allowance is the benefit to apply for if you are unable to work and do not get SSP.