Letters – January 2008

Poppy poster: positive or patronising?

In response to the editorial by Ian Macrae (Disability Now December, Editorial): having been injured in the 1991 Gulf War, my opinions on issues of disability are constructed from both an abled and disabled person’s point of view, as well as that of a parent and married person. I was immensely proud to have been asked to be in this year’s Poppy Appeal poster campaign and I truly believe the finished poster image (above right) is not only very powerful but sensitively achieves the aim of raising awareness of the 900,000 injured servicemen and women in the country today. Having personally benefited from the Royal British Legion's help and support on more than one occasion, I do not feel that the image of the poppy man enabling me is in any way undermining or setting back equal rights, equal choices and equal lives of disabled people.

The national and regional newspapers this year have united to show respect and support for the service community, the injured and the families of the
bereaved. Their response to the poster campaign has been 100 per cent positive and all the editorial supportive… bar one.

Sadly, Disability Now, you stand alone – a remnant of the sad times of wheelchair-users chaining themselves to buses to make a point, alienating themselves and not integrating themselves into an inclusive society.

No-one else would have the gall to make such a  comment on anything related to Remembrance Sunday in this manner. It's not morally right to do so, even if it is related to disability. Some things should and must remain sacred, and the act of remembrance is one of those things.
Allen Parton,
by email

The latest poster campaign by the Poppy Appeal uses a striking image but it  reinforces the stereotype of helpless, pitiful disabled people, surviving through charity and the good heart of the general public. While disabled people do have needs, this is not equal to lack of independence.
Why is it the case that many soldiers who are injured, after serving their country, are left depend­ent on charity for their wellbeing? It is objection­able that to “appeal” to public generosity, disabled people are once again portrayed as pitiful. Why not make a different appeal and show how donations will be used towards empowering and enabling disabled soldiers? Why not show that a relatively small donation can go a long way, by way of technical equipment, training and even the provision of disability equality training to their employers? An enabling attitude that is free of prejudice and assumptions; that is the greatest donation we can make to ourselves and disabled people.
Maria G Zedda, director,
Wideaware Training Ltd

Don’t be so negative about autism
I picked up a copy of Disability Now this morning and found it a very interesting read. However,
I was disappointed to read the following in the piece on “awareness days” (Disability Now November, Guest Column): “‘Understanding’ autism may be impossible, but greater awareness of its impact on people with the condition might make others behave differently towards them and bullying less socially acceptable.”
As someone on the autistic spectrum, I would like to gently suggest that you consider avoiding referring to autism as a “condition”, which implies an illness or disease. Autism is neither of these things, nor is it a disorder, or any of the other negative terms often used to describe it.
Autism is essentially an unusual neurological configuration; it does not have inherent health consequences, and indeed there are very few aspects of an autistic's differences from “normal” people (whatever those are!) which are inherently disabling.
Autism could indeed be said to be a perfect example of disability being an avoidable social construct. If I lived in a world where the majority were autistic, I doubt it would matter that I find it hard to learn implicit, unspoken rules, because I don't think there would be many of them!
The impression that I got from the magazine is that you are committed to using sensitive language, so I hope you will understand why I am drawing this to your attention.
Anwen Grant, by email

Give disabled people time for consultation
If Anne McGuire (minister for disabled people) wants to see “real and lasting change” and wants to listen to disabled people, perhaps the first thing she should be working on is the Cabinet Office and their recommended length of time for consultations. A reasonable consultation period, for any group or organisation that wants to meaningfully involve and consult with disabled people is six months. Many user-led organisations of disabled people can only afford to produce quarterly magazines or newsletters. Three months just isn’t long enough. Also, many forums that disabled people attend only happen quarterly or less.

Time and time again, when I highlight that three months is not long enough, the same excuse is thrown back: “We meet the Cabinet Office recommendation of three months,” and they refuse to allow longer. It’s high time the Cabinet Office made some “reasonable adjustments” to enable us to be more fully involved!
Sally Dixon, by email

Pavement plea to town of Caerphilly
Is it a lot to ask for my wife and myself to use our pavements? I use a battery-powered wheelchair, my wife a scooter. For us to get to our local town of Caerphilly, we have to stay on the road. Our pavements either have brambles, weeds, trees, or signs up or on the floor, making it impossible to use the pavements. Or you get cars parked on the drop kerbs.
Mr & Mrs S Lewis, by email

Am I part of an invisible population?
I was born with cerebral palsy 42 years ago and it has pleased me greatly to see the positive change in attitude that has taken
place regarding disability in this society of ours.

People are definitely more educated these days, and I write as someone who experienced years and years of ridicule when growing up.
Vast improvements have also been made in terms of access to public buildings. But why don't more disabled people go out socially?
I rarely see anyone with a disability using all these wonderful, wheelchair-friendly facilities we now have at our disposal.

At times, I feel like I'm part of an invisible population. Is it the cost of going out that's prohibitive?
Rick Bowen, Altrincham

Demand larger signs and bigger print
I would like the authorities to ensure public signs are more visible for people with eyesight disabilities.
So often the size of print on signs in stations and even in hospitals showing the way to other wards is small and pale.
The signs in supermarkets are often quite small and telephone directories no longer have the area name in large print on the spine of the phone book. It can be difficult to read articles in magazines when words are printed over the top of strongly-coloured artwork! We need to
press for larger signs and clearer print on everything. 
A Wills, Middlesex

 Have your say
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