Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts - You ask, they answer

Q I’ve been living at my present address for nearly seven years and I have friends here but we never do anything in the evenings and it’s really getting me down. I can’t take another night alone in my room. I’m in a wheelchair and hate going out on my own, especially at night. We all have different needs and I know people will say that we need to organise things ourselves but it always gets left to the more able residents. We have one member of staff who’s really good and tries to do things, but we really could do with a minibus and they refuse to get one, stating that people don’t do things like that anymore because this is independent living.
Name and address supplied

Simon Parritt: Independent living shouldn’t be used as an excuse to put obstacles in the way of social integration. Though you don’t mention your age, interests nor where or who you live with, I am sure some of your words of frustration, boredom and loneliness ring bells for many. Even disabled people leaving college or university can end up living with their parents again or in their own accommodation with so-called “support” but isolated, bored and far from integrated into the social life of the local community. The way forward is to think of yourself as an individual with the same diverse and varied interests as anyone else, disabled or not, and actively seek friends and activities that suit you. Look beyond the confines of other residents and develop your own identity and interests. Form links with others in the community and remember you have the right to have your transport and access needs addressed. Striking out alone isn’t easy, but everyone has to do it at some point in their lives. Dial-a-ride and other community schemes are there to help, imperfect as they are. You could also search the internet for local activities and groups. It is always a good idea to free yourself as much as possible from dependence upon those around you, who are there by chance rather than choice. If you can look beyond your present situation, others might then join in with you.

Q Our son Daniel has Asperger’s syndrome. He qualified in computer engineering two years ago but has been unable to find paid employment. He has had work experience for most of that time, but does not qualify for jobseeker’s allowance due to a legacy (set aside for a future pension) that has put him over the limit. Even though we have a written assurance from a minister that he can nevertheless claim backdated national insurance credits, this, too, is proving very difficult, as everyone in Jobcentre Plus and the Department for Work and Pensions (supposedly the same outfit) play pass the
parcel with us. Any suggestions, please?
Carole and David Alston, Bromley, Kent

Gary Martin: To secure credits for now and the future, Daniel should register as unemployed at his local Jobcentre Plus office and make a written claim for credits. He will have to sign on in the same way as jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) claimants and satisfy the qualifying conditions for credits. Daniel should also make a written claim for backdated credits, giving his reasons for applying late, referring to and including a copy of the minister’s assurance and an explanation of what he has done to secure work. If Daniel was not advised to continue signing on or was poorly advised by Jobcentre Plus staff, he may use this as a ground for making a late application for credits. If you continue to experience difficulty, your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) will be able to help. To find your local CAB, visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk or try your telephone directory.

Q I live in supported living with two housemates. I'm the most independent person in the household, and I can travel anywhere on my own. About two years ago, after risk assessments, I was given permission to take my housemates out, as long as each of us had mobiles with us. Neither of them can travel on their own. We have never had any problems. Now, after two years, one of them has been told they can't travel with me because apparently they wouldn’t be able to find their way home if anything happened to me. My other housemate is still allowed to travel with me. I think this is unfair and so do they. Is the law on supported living being broken?
Fiona Matthews, Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Douglas Joy: As the problem relates to your fellow housemate then the decision that you can no longer escort her from the house should have been the subject of a risk assessment, which should have taken into account both her views and yours. You should request a copy of the risk assessment. If the risk assessment was not carried out before the decision was made then good practice has not been followed and the relevant manager should be asked why. If there is no satisfactory answer then a complaint can be made directly to the home or to your social worker. If a risk assessment was carried out and it appears that the explanation given for stopping you escorting your housemate is not reasonable then you should raise this as a concern with the home's management. The fact that you are allowed to travel with your other housemate may be to do with that housemate’s ability to find her way home if there is a problem.

The Experts

Answering questions on Relationships is Simon Parritt, a counselling psychologist who has studied psychosexual therapy. Simon was the only disabled director of the former Association to Aid the Sexual and Personal Relationships of People with a Disability (SPOD). We have two Legal experts on our panel. Eleanor Williams is an employment lawyer specialising in discrimination at Darwin Gray solicitors. Disabled herself, Eleanor lectures widely and holds a number of advisory positions. Douglas Joy is the senior solicitor at the Disability Law Service and is blind. He started working in community care and mental health law in 2002. Other Benefits and Debt questions are answered by Gary Martin, who is welfare benefits supervisor at Walthamstow Citizens Advice Bureau. Our Equipment guru is John Mandrak, who is blind and has worked for nearly 25 years as a disability journalist and consultant. He is an advisor on the Disabled Living Foundation’s helpline. Answering questions on Travel is Andy Wright, who is disabled and is managing director of Accessible Travel, a specialist tour operator providing holidays for people with mobility impairments. Our Finance expert is David Clarke, who is blind, has spent 14 years in banking and has worked for three leading financial service providers. He is now a senior partner with Clydesdale Bank. Kate Sheehan answers your questions on Property.
She is an independent occupational therapist with 20 years’ experience and a passionate interest in housing. Motoring questions are dealt with by Ed Passant, chief executive of the Forum of Mobility Centres, the umbrella body for 17 independent organisations which provide driver and passenger assessment for disabled people.