Forgotten about

caitswildecake

I understand that due to the virus a lot of places are put under pressure to meet the social distancing criteria but am I wrong to feel angry when I see new  procedures not considering or taking into account the needs of disabled people? I’m witnessing Wheelchair areas being taped off, food courts not allowing the use of tables (i was expected to put it on my lap), tills in certain shops are too high up already and I can’t reach the area where I’m meant to slide my money under a gap at the bottom of the shield on the till,  and when asked staff to make reasonable adjustments so I can sit in a wheelchair area that was closest to the toilet that they decided to inconveniently close off they say they’re not allowed? I feel like we’re being pushed aside and forgotten about.

Tori_Scope

You're definitely not the only one to feel this way @caitswildecake. Scope have been working on a campaign called 'we won't be forgotten', and we delivered a letter with over 30,000 signatures to Boris Johnson last week.

It's a difficult time for many people, and lots of disabled people are feeling excluded and forgotten about. Thank you for sharing your experience to raise more awareness of these issues! 

janer1967

Hi and welcome to the community glad you have joined us and brought up such a relevant topic/

Lots of us are feeling exactly the same and it never seems that through all this the disabled have been considered, most are not in the shielding group but their care and carers have been restricted throughout and the support from friends and family limited

Fingers crossed the Scope letter can do some good

Chloe_Alumni

Hi @wildcatlady, just wanted to say welcome. You certainly are around like-minded people, thank you for sharing this with us.

Cher_Alumni

Hello @caitswildecake

It is so maddening isn't it?  Frances Ryan, a disabled journalist, has written lots about this and you can find her articles on this Guardian webpage.  Keep us updated with how you get on and let us know if we can provide any particular support.

caitswildecake

Thanks everyone. I was really emotional after a long day. I’m upset with the restrictions and not being able to get access to certain places because of my wheelchair. I only just started to accepted that my chair was actually giving me independence but I began to feel like a burden with it again. I’m also upset how abled people are being forced to stay home and that includes key workers. The government don’t realise that the vulnerable and disabled people rely on the abled bodied people to go out to work in order to help us out. I live with chronic pain every day but I’m afraid to tell my consultant of any new symptoms just because of waiting times for referrals now and in some cases they won’t do them unless it’s an “emergency”. Now what exactly qualifies for an “emergency”? 

Cher_Alumni

@caitswildecake I understand you being upset, I think we are each in our own way getting tired and emotional with how coronavirus is impacting our daily lives.

I'd urge you to tell your consultant about any new symptoms you are experiencing.  It's always best to be safe and keep on top of any changes.  

How are you today?