Disability equality!

compares4u

Im registered disabled. We moved to a new house in december as it had downstairs toilets and adjustments etc. We reported that the shower was faulty and kept tripping out. They sent out an electrician and plumber who both confirmed that the shower was broke, and ordered me a new shower. This was the start of feb. Since then no new shower has been, and to add further insult a further 2 electricians and 2 plumbers have been since then who have also confirmed the original diagnosis and ordered a new shower. Still none. I could live with the shower tripping out, but now it wont power up at all. Due to my condition i cannot sit in a bath and require seating under my shower, as its the only way i can get a good clean. The council are fully aware of my disability and yet it has taken over 2 months for them to do nothing. I've also complained to my "patch manager" who has said she will "chase it up". I dont know who she is chasing but she certainly aint winning.

AS landlords and the fact i rely on the shower to keep up with a decent standard of hygiene, is there anywhere else i can go to get this sorted out?

Many thanks

Mark

FineLine

With the council I've learned you need to chase them up constantly, phone every day and keep a log.
It's a small torture but it'll get there in the end.

compares4u

FineLine wrote: »

With the council I've learned you need to chase them up constantly, phone every day and keep a log.
It's a small torture but it'll get there in the end.

Thank you, i'll be calling them again tomorrow as about 1 hour ago it completely broke.

formaldehyde_perfume

skcollobcat10 wrote: »

Your problem has nothing whatsoever to do with disability equality.

Actually I think it does have something to do with a disability because the OP implies that they have a working bath, but due to disability cannot use it and therefore rely on the shower. But I agree it is not disability discrimination, just poor repairs management on council or LA's side.

I agree that you should be phoning them every day, saying how absolutely important it is and how you are suffering because of this problem. Also, someone's suggestion of keeping a log of when you contact them is also a good idea.

Until then all I can suggest is wet wipes and dry shampoo. It's pretty much how I'm getting by at the moment!

KxMx

Some councils do have a disability registration system but nowadays they are very few and far between.

GlasweJen

I don't really understand where the equality part from the OP comes in, it seems to me you're being treated like every other council tenant who needs a repair done - shoddily.

It's not clear from your OP wether you have a bath or not but it may be easier and faster to access an aid to help you use an existing bath than it will be to wait on a whole new shower being bought and installed, you'd get this through occupational health and they can chase your shower while they are at it.

Aside from that there isn't much I can suggest, waiting lists for everything seem to be astronomically long just now and I've heard of council tenants who have had to wait weeks for hot running water to be supplied to their home despite having children in the property. You just need to be persistant, unfortunately part of living in a council house is losing control of doing repairs/choosing who carries out the repairs for you.

Savvy_Sue

The council will have a tenants complaints policy. it will probably be on the website. If not, phone and ask for it. That usually speeds things up, because the number of formal complaints are logged and compared in the 'star ratings' they get.

GlasweJen

No I don't feel as if I am being precious. I don't care what's wrong with you or anyone else, I'll pull up anyone who tars someone else as something. "The disabled" conjures up a bygone era when disabled people were stuck in "hospitals" and left to rot. In this day and age some disabled people like to be looked on as people first with their disability just being seen as something that happens to be there, to label them as "the disabled" puts things the other way round. I'm a person first before my disabilities (hearing impaired, blackout sufferer who needs a heart transplant).

welshmoneylover

OP, have you thought about contacting social services to see if they can arrange for you to go to a day care centre and use their shower facilities in the meantime?

Brassedoff

Write down the problem you have, include it with a log on calls, visits etc. Take that to your local ward Councillor. Badger them. I know from friends who work local authorities, that if they have a pile of work on their hands and a Councillor calls them about one of their ward members problems they deal with it quickly as the elected official can go up the tree a lot quicker than you. Badger them and they will help. Play on parties councillor off another too as they all want brownie points.

We had a local problem. Countless calls to the local active team went without action. We started getting on the Councillor back (you can even get them at home!) and the problem soon saw action.

Might not work in your case but "he who shouts loudest" and all that.

TheNickster

GlasweJen wrote: »

No I don't feel as if I am being precious. I don't care what's wrong with you or anyone else....... I'm a person first before my disabilities (hearing impaired, blackout sufferer who needs a heart transplant).

Again my apologies especially as you are in need of a heart transplant (which I was unaware). I hope and expect all concerned at the DWP, benefit agencies, ATOS and potential employers care about you and other people and are careful not to cause any additional stress.