Hidden Disabilities Time To Fight Back

Savvy_Sue

angelvoice222 wrote: »

will me talking to the train conductor mean he can move them along so to speak?

I don't know. I guess the problem with that is how is he supposed to give one person with a hidden disability priority over another person who may also have a hidden disability?

angelvoice222

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I don't know. I guess the problem with that is how is he supposed to give one person with a hidden disability priority over another person who may also have a hidden disability?

yes goods point.. perhaps if i ask politely if they are disabled and if they aint i will try my best to explain... if they refuse 2 move and train conductor cant help i may ask them if they would like me 2 crush their legs for them so they can qualify as disabled (wouldnt really do this last part but would be fun)

clou19750

I havent fully read the thread... but in a way it can relate to me... as if i walk ......dont talk to people or anything they wont know i have a disabity until i try to have communcation with people..... and yeah Im deaf and have been since birth and im proud of who i am.

purplecatlover

fedupconsumer wrote: »

was thinking are there any experiences of good practice with companies for people with hidden disabilites?

my friends son has a hidden disability, she took all the children to disney in paris one year, showed them the dla letter and they gave them passes to skip queues, allowed to enter the park prior to general opening and were great she said. likewise places like alton towers/other theme parks make allowances on seeing your dla award letter.

zzzLazyDaisy

justontime wrote: »

My husband has spina bifida, as well as the obvious damage to his spine he has one leg shorter than the other and one foot four sizes bigger than the other. He has more or less constant pain but he can walk relatively well for moderate distances, but he can't stand still and he falls over a lot due to nerve damage, his legs just 'give up'. He doesn't claim DLA, I don't think he would qualify because he can walk, unfortunately many people assume that if you do not get DLA you do not have a disability. There are many people like him who need a bit of help and a lot less criticism. He walks slightly oddly and when he falls people often assume he is drunk . He uses disabled seats on trains because he needs more leg room, but he gets nasty comments. He has to use disabled toilets because he can not hold on, when he needs to go he needs to go straight away. He has accidents quite often and he needs the space of the disabled toilet to sort himself out. Unfortunately he is young and looks relatively normal, so he gets a lot of abuse and criticism from other disabled people who assume he is not disabled. Nobody really wants to admit to a complete stranger that they can't control their bowels, so he just goes away feeling humiliated. Even at work a couple of people have been tactless enough to question why he uses the disabled toilet.. He never gives up, he works hard, in a good job, he contributes to society and all he asks in return is that they allow him a little dignity. Please think twice before you assume that someone who looks OK has no right to use disabled facilities, they may have very good reasons for not explaining their disability to you.

Please seek advice from CAB/Welfare benefits officer. Your OH would almost certainly qualify for DLA on the facts as you describe them. x

Emmzi

angelvoice222 wrote: »

i am due to travel on a train on the 8th of december... and it will b about 2 hours on the 1st half then a change then another hour .... only problem is we have booked tickets but not reseved seats... the second half of the jorney is main commuter time so train will b pretty packed... i know there will b priority seating and more than likely people will b sitting there ... but what rights do i have if someone refuses to move for me? will me talking to the train conductor mean he can move them along so to speak?

You can book seats up to a few hours before the day of travel. As you have over a week, get someone to pop down to nearest station (doesnt have to be the one you are travelling from) and book seats for you.(yake the travel ti kets with them!)

I've done this many times, never had a problem, and it may put your mind at rest.

caela_2

Warning: Massive rant follows lol.

I have been trying to claim DLA for over a year now and am finally taking them to an independent tribunal. I initially received DLA for chronic obsessive compulsive disorder and though the condition is CHRONIC apparently they no longer recognise I need help... hmmm. My second year claiming entitled me to less allowance than my first year, even though I filled the form out the same and my third claim was completely unsuccesful.
I also suffer from wear and tear in both knees and am unable to walk long distances or up and down stairs regularly (basically, it really hurts and makes it worse). I included this in my claim and admitedly, I have not had a diagnosis (although I have seen a doctor) so it was difficult to explain. As I have recently moved, I was unable to give my doctor's details, but the DWP sent a doctor to assess me for a home visit to support my claim. This doctor did not ask me any questions related to my OCD and on physically assessing my knees, stated on his report that I was fine to walk up to 800metres (which I why I have spent hundreds of pounds on parking cos I have to drive everywhere). I am so annoyed that they relied on the report of a doctor who is not specialised in my condition to assess my claim. I am fine walking short distances, around the flat for example, which is how he perceived me and assumed I was fine to walk everywhere because of this. I found this pretty unfair because it does not allow me to demonstrate where I have difficulty, apart from him just taking my word for it, which he didn't. Since his report, I have had to quit one job because parking/taxis were too expensive, but neccessary to get to work and my current job is in jeopardy because of my knees and I have already had a week off sickness.
I also have a lot of difficulty in filling out the claim forms as they are not designed for people with mental health difficulties. I have brought this up with DWP and will mention it in the tribunal as I believe it to be discriminating. I understand assessment is for care, but the forms specifically ask about amputations and physical disabilities and only a few questions give you the chance to state mental health difficulties. I don't know if other people agree with this.
When I last contacted DWP to make sure I was proceeding with an independent tribunal, they said they were re-assessing my claim. I did not ask them to do this and it will take another 11 weeks, but apparently it is protocol. The DWP agent then asked me why I felt I needed to take it to tribunal... erm, maybe because you said I wasn't disabled and I am? Annoyingly, they have letters from my previous psychiatrist confirming my disability, submitted with my first claim and they are still looking for evidence.
DLA was supposed to provide me the support I need to carry out other functions in my life and now I am fighting them for this. I don't feel disabled and don't want to be disabled and now I feel as if I don't deserve the allowance at all. Even my boyfriend thinks I'm not disabled, despite physically hearing my knees crunch when I get up.
Worse still, my knees have got worse since the claim as I have had to carry on walkig around as usual and now, both knees are affected. I am only 25 and I am really scared. What is most frustrating, is that no-one seems to care, not even my doctor or DLA. Although they are always polite, I feel like I am being alienated for my disorders and have been made to feel that I am taking advantage of the system. Having said that, this is just my personal experience and I am sure they have helped many people out there.

yorkiegal

Hi Caela,
Sorry to hear about your struggles. I know how disabling and downright time consuming OCD can be. The doctors at the DWP are well known for just sticking to the physical illness when it comes to medicals. I dread having my first review.
Can't offer any advice. Just wanted you to know your post had been read. Take care, and good luck with the tribunal.

purplecatlover

Caela, have you got a benefits advisor helping with your claim/tribunal etc? cab should have someone, or dial (uk) are really good apparently.

if not see if you can get someone to come in at this stage, they will know the workings and what will happen, how long it might take, and will help.

benefits and work is an excellent resource and informative site re all disability/illness benefits, with guides explaining the whole process from start to finish. (think you ahve to be a member to access full guides though, but well worth it imo).

Savvy_Sue

caela, I think the process you describe of them reviewing your claim because you're appealing / going to tribunal is standard, it's what they do, and a fair few claims are reinstated / upheld when that happens. I'll try to find something from the Benefits board which explains it.

Sorry, haven't been able to do that in the time available, however I'm pretty sure that's the way it works.