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A disability double standard of Paralympic proportions

Anthony Sharwood

by Anthony Sharwood

06 Sep 12:25pm

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Filed under: Disability, Ndis, Paralympics, Sport

40 comments

We’re all loving the Paralympics this week, and trotting out the platitudes and clichés like they’re going out of style. Yes, that was a deliberate use of cliché.

It'd be great if we had as much love for the NDIS as for Paralympians like Australia's 800m T53 winner Richard Colman

Truth is, sometimes there is a place for platitudes. When you watch a bloke like Matt Cowdrey, who overnight swam the 50m freestyle with one arm in a time less than five seconds slower than the able-bodied world record, there’s not much else to say except what a wonderful, brave competitor the bloke is.

The ABC is to be congratulated for showing over 100 hours of Paralympic action, which is a damn sight better than America’s rights-holder NBC, which is showing just four one-hour delayed highlights packages across the full 11 days of Paralympic competition. Way to pay tribute to the 20 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans on the team. But we shouldn’t feel too self-satisfied about the Australian public’s enthusiasm for this event.

This week, we have seen yet more circular debate over the NDIS, led by the Qld premier Campbell Newman who has a firm mandate to cut down on profligacy, but who has been nothing short of recalcitrant on the NDIS issue.

As the editor-in-chief of this website, David Penberthy, put it today in a news.com.au story which features a heart-rending array of letters he received directly from people caring for the disabled:

“The [NDIS] plan has been hijacked by political squabbling and funding disputes and is only 5 per cent operational, meaning thousands of families are being forced to wait as it proceeds on a piecemeal fashion for just a handful of participants around the nation. “

While this battle rages, a huge swag of us settle back in our armchairs each evening and celebrate those brave athletes like Australian equestrian Hanna Dodd, who has a rare type of spina bifida and has to pop her own dislocated joints back in while in training due to a lack of support staff.

She also can’t take the industrial-grade painkillers most of us would need to get through that, lest she violate the Paralympic doping rules.

So many of us admire Hannah Dodd’s guts, then pretty much forget her and her fellow Paralympians for another four years as readily as we disregard the hundreds of thousands of disabled Australians just like her who aren’t athletically inclined, or who are unable to be.

Our Paralympians receive about $11million a year in Australian Sports Commission funding. You don’t see anyone arguing over that.

So why are so many questioning a funding regime which would allow disabled people from all walks and wheels of life the right to conduct their day-today lives with dignity?

Without being too preachy, we’d do well to learn to value our disabled people whether they’re swimming, riding a finely manicured mare or merely just trying to get to the toilet without assistance.

Comments on this post close at 8pm AEST

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40 comments

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    • Tim says:

      12:47pm | 06/09/12

      “So why are so many questioning a funding regime which would allow disabled people from all walks and wheels of life the right to conduct their day-today lives with dignity?”

      Because it’s expensive.

      I support the NDIS but simply arguing that we should do something because it may help someone else is too simplistic an argument. It’s the same argument used by some people that we should open our borders to any asylum seeker that wants to come here. It’s simply impossible to help everyone.

      Funds are limited and can only go so far. We need to ensure that we get the best bang for our buck with relation to the NDIS implementation.

      Reply

    • colin says:

      12:57pm | 06/09/12

      @Tim 12:47pm | 06/09/12

      How wildly and impetuously altruistic of you, Tim.

      Would you think it too expensive if it saved your misanthropic backside should you be doomed to a life of unremitting disability that you could never escape?

      Methinks the tune you sang then would be quite a different one.

    • Rose says:

      01:11pm | 06/09/12

      Long term the NDIS will mean a decrease in funding needed for the disabled as more and more are assisted to become taxpayers and fewer of them are restricted to using expensive live-in facilities as their parents age and can n o longer care for them. The likely improvement in their health means a smaller cost burden for the public health system and a reduction in the messy duplication of services. Less disabled people will fall through the cracks too. Disabled people will be able to accept only the services they require, no longer being forced to accept one size fits all care packages, and they will finally be able to tailor care packages to their needs, accessing services that were previously denied them.
      NDIS makes sense compassionately and economically!

    • Tim says:

      01:13pm | 06/09/12

      Ah Colin,
      my sister is in a wheelchair and has been her whole life. I grew up seeing many disabled people daily and all the suffering they go through.

      And my argument is still the same.

      It must be wonderful to be so empathetic and caring that you get to ignore the realities of life.

    • MyJoy says:

      01:14pm | 06/09/12

      @Tim
      Every able-bodied person is just one second away from disability.  If this nation cannot care for its most vulnerable to the best the ability and willingness of their population to put their own needs (wants?) aside for another, we are a poor lot. It is easy to be cavalier until you walk in another’s shoes.  Also help does not have to cost. How much time do you volunteer to help vulnerable people??

    • colin says:

      01:27pm | 06/09/12

      @Tim 01:13pm | 06/09/12

      “Ah Colin…my sister is in a wheelchair and has been her whole life…”

      Perhaps she is, but that isn’t YOU suffering there, is it?

      My statement still stands; it is people like you who say, “I agree…but…” who always mange to put the kibosh on any really philanthropic venture. Who gives a damn if it’s expensive? What sort of excuse is that? Saving people’s lives, education, food production are all “expensive” too….And you say that having empathy is a bad thing..?

    • Al says:

      01:34pm | 06/09/12

      colin - how about someone who technicaly can claim a disability support pension, but chooses not to. Instead they work full time, pay full taxes etc.
      Why is it wrong to bring up the idea of cost?
      With any program, no matter how compassionate, there should ALWAYS be a cost benefit analysis.
      Here is an example, would you prefer to spend $20billion to assist 1 severly disabled person with an ultra rare condition for 20 years or spend the same $20billion to assist 100000 people with a slightly less serious disability for 20 years?
      I know which I would prefer, but apparently that is being a callous bastard.

    • MyJoy says:

      01:35pm | 06/09/12

      @Tim
      You have seen your fair share of disability if your sister is wheelchair bound, so I withdraw my question about volunteering in my previous post.

      Would the lives ofyou,  your sister, parents, not have benefitted from an increase in funding levels to meet her need?  So much is wasted on unnecessary things by all levels of government.  It is a matter of priorities. The well-being of our disabled,  ill and elderly should be one of our top priorities.

    • Watcher says:

      01:43pm | 06/09/12

      @McJoy
      Actually, yes, you can. Contrary to politically correct opinion, you can put a price on a human life and governments have to do it every day, eg
      “Do we spend $5B on hospital staff, or $2B on anti-smoking campaigns to keep people out of hospital”
      Unless everyone in Australia is prepared to pay an unlimited amount of Tax, then the government has to choose how much money goes where…and it can’t go everywhere, there’s just not enough.

    • colin says:

      02:09pm | 06/09/12

      @Al 01:34pm | 06/09/12
      . “Why is it wrong to bring up the idea of cost?”

      OK, here’s a scenario:

      You have a young child who has been badly injured in an accident. The doctor says, “We can save her, but it’s going to cost a lot of money…”

      Do you then say, “Screw that; I can’t afford it…”? Or do you say, “Yes; of course, I’ll pay whatever it costs…”

      Now, apply that same feeling to some poor soul who is mortally trapped for the whole of their (probably shortened) life without being able to move, or speak, or eat or go to the toilet by themselves…Would you then also say to the carer of that person, “How much is this going to cost me..?”

      Whatever it costs, we can afford to pay. We are a rich country and our taxes are meant to pay for such things. You and I are able-bodied; we are the ones able to make money and support our lifestyles, free from disabling physical encumbrances…So, yes, bringing up the question of cost IS wrong if you actually need to be told.

    • dovif says:

      02:25pm | 06/09/12

      MyJoy

      Every person in the world could die every single minute
      Every person in the world could win the lotto every single minute
      Every person in the world could be killed by a suicide bomber
      Every person in the world could create a baby every single minute
      Each of those baby could be disabled
      Each of those baby might become the next Einstein

      What is you point. The government’s role is not to look after every single person in Australia, the government’s role is to manage the public money to ensure Australian can achieve the most out of our collective resources.

      The government is not a charity where every kids gets a final wish, where every australians get everything they want paid for. If that is their role the tax rate would be 90%. What you discribed is the role of a charity.

      The government’s role should be to manage the budget, to ensure Australian business is not discriminated against (Carbon tax) and to create wealth for all Australian (ie ensure we have jobs) If they do those things properly, and all Australians have money, perhaps all Australians, including the disable will be better look after.

      It seem that this government thinks rich people are the enemy, and that people cannot look after each other. I completely disagree, people like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates helped far more people then this government could ever have done

    • dovif says:

      02:25pm | 06/09/12

      MyJoy

      Every person in the world could die every single minute
      Every person in the world could win the lotto every single minute
      Every person in the world could be killed by a suicide bomber
      Every person in the world could create a baby every single minute
      Each of those baby could be disabled
      Each of those baby might become the next Einstein

      What is you point. The government’s role is not to look after every single person in Australia, the government’s role is to manage the public money to ensure Australian can achieve the most out of our collective resources.

      The government is not a charity where every kids gets a final wish, where every australians get everything they want paid for. If that is their role the tax rate would be 90%. What you discribed is the role of a charity.

      The government’s role should be to manage the budget, to ensure Australian business is not discriminated against (Carbon tax) and to create wealth for all Australian (ie ensure we have jobs) If they do those things properly, and all Australians have money, perhaps all Australians, including the disable will be better look after.

      It seem that this government thinks rich people are the enemy, and that people cannot look after each other. I completely disagree, people like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates helped far more people then this government could ever have done

    • Tim says:

      02:29pm | 06/09/12

      MyJoy,
      of course extra money would have helped and i’ve said that I support the NDIS. I personally think it’s a cost that we can bear.

      I also agree with you that in this country we should be able to take care of people who mostly through no fault of their own are or have become disabled.

      But my original point was simply answering the question posted by the author, and the answer is “money”.

      There are thousands of worthwhile spending initiatives out there and we have to ensure that the money is spent wisely and in the best places.

      Colin,
      and it’s people like you who are really good at spending other people’s money. We don’t live in a magical fairy land where funding grows on trees.

      Here let me try this empathy game:
      We should give every disabled person $10million dollars
      We should give every pensioner $10 million dollars.
      We should give every unemployed person $10 million dollars.

      Hey, I’m really good at it, I just solved all of the country’s social problems. Now, what problems do you want me to solve next?

    • colin says:

      03:00pm | 06/09/12

      @Tim says: 02:29pm | 06/09/12

      “Colin…and it’s people like you who are really good at spending other people’s money. We don’t live in a magical fairy land where funding grows on trees…”

      Er…for a start, Tim, it’s MY money too. And, if you care to re-read my last post to you I said,

      “Whatever it costs, we can afford to pay. We are a rich country and our taxes are meant to pay for such things. You and I are able-bodied; we are the ones able to make money and support our lifestyles, free from disabling physical encumbrances…”

      I did not say, “money grows on trees”, nor did i say it was inexhaustible; What, you think the government is going to - somehow - take ALL of your money and give it to disabled people? What sort of skewed thinking would ever make you believe such a thing? It will just be added to our tax. We can afford to pay tax. We are able-bodied. We should help our fellow humans. What part of all of this do you not understand..?

      And as for your silly, “let’s give everyone $10million strawman well, that’s just another example of your silly “logic”

    • Shane From Melbourne says:

      03:09pm | 06/09/12

      Can’t afford the NDIS but can afford to give a paid six month holiday to working mums aka Paid Maternity Leave by imposing a 3 Billion dollar tax upon employers. We can afford middle class family welfare crack cocaine but we can’t afford a national disability insurance scheme…..skewed sense of priorities…..

    • Al says:

      03:18pm | 06/09/12

      Colin - re: “Whatever it costs, we can afford to pay.”
      No, we can’t, there is a finite amount of funds available.
      The money has to come from somewhere.
      I am not saying it shouldn’t be funded, I support an NDIS. But we also need to make sure we are providing an overall benefit.
      BTW: I love that you assume I am able bodied. I am actualy able to claim the DSP, but choose not to. I work FT and pay my taxes and support my own disability costs.

    • Al says:

      03:26pm | 06/09/12

      colin - also, if I had “a young child who has been badly injured in an accident. The doctor says, “We can save her, but it’s going to cost a lot of money…”
      and the ‘lot of money’ was 20 x the full government income stream for the next 20 years yes, I would say let them die. Even if it was me personaly I would say let me die.
      It is called facing the reality that there are NOT unlimited funds available and that it is NOT possible, or even desireable to try, to save every single person ‘no matter the cost’.

    • Tim says:

      04:19pm | 06/09/12

      Colin hmmm,
      “Er…for a start, Tim, it’s MY money too”

      Unless you’re putting in $6B, you are advocating the spending of other people’s money as I said.

      “And as for your silly, “let’s give everyone $10million strawman well, that’s just another example of your silly “logic”

      Yes it’s completely a strawman. Oh wait:

      “Whatever it costs, we can afford to pay”

      “So, yes, bringing up the question of cost IS wrong if you actually need to be told. “

      So yes, I do think that you believe money grows on trees.

      Your comments show that you have zero concept of where funding actually comes from and how we need to maximise our benefits from a finite funding pool.

    • MyJoy says:

      01:00pm | 06/09/12

      What I have watched of the Para Olympics in comparison to the able-bodies ones have left me wondering, why do we spend so much on the latter.  These Para Olympians could teach their able-bodied brothers and sisters a thing or two.  It is wonderful to see the last person home getting as much applause as the one who came first.  It is about the spirit to compete and finish the race not about who gets the most gold.

      I find these folk, competing against what life has thrown them as well as the competition of the Olympics, inspiring.  We should be helping all the disabled of whatever age to the maximum we can and not count the cost.
      Those who care for them, paid and unpaid, deserve medals too.

      Reply

    • Lord Blackadder says:

      01:07pm | 06/09/12

      We can find $250 million dollars for the National School Chaplaincy Program, but somehow just can’t find the money to support the less-able members of our society.

      Pathetic. Just pathetic. Proof that our priorities are severely out of whack.

      Reply

    • MyJoy says:

      01:39pm | 06/09/12

      @Lord Blackadder

      From the feedback I have heard of the positive results of the School Chaplaincy on the lives of many children I suggest this is one program that is worth every small penny spend on it. 

      There are plenty of other areas of real indulgence in the unnecessary that money can be found in.  Let us not let blind prejudice dictate how money is spent on the vulnerable, children or disabled.

    • Lill says:

      03:47pm | 06/09/12

      Well said. Lord Blackadder. There was a chaplin at school when I was there, she ran movie nights and lolly drives with the Christian kids, the rest of us got nothing from her. Such a huge waste of funds.

    • NigelC says:

      04:23pm | 06/09/12

      $10.5b cf $0.25b hmmm only 40 more programs to do away with.

      When you have found all $10.5b I reckon your comment would be really worthwhile.

    • glenm says:

      01:11pm | 06/09/12

      Ant, Just what is this ” funding regime” you speak of ? As far as we know Gillard hasnt acually allocated fudning for the whole scheme , only a mickey mouse trial of which the bulk of the funding will go to the adminstration.  No one I have heard has questioned the need for an NDIS.  Maybe Gillard should take a leaf out of Cambell Newmans book and reduce the size of the federal government administration to free up money for these individuals. I would guarantee that thier carers would be far better at controlling the funds than this government.

      Reply

    • Justin of Earlwood says:

      01:48pm | 06/09/12

      A cost of $10.5 billion (net) in the first full year of the NDIS. The article was on The Punch the other day. That’s nearly 3% of the entire federal budget.

      So if we assume we’re not going to pull that out of our arse some how, how will it be paid for? It’s either withdrawn from somewhere else, or taxes have to be increased, or a combo. Seeing as the major parties refuse to be frank with us & propose tax increases, they’ll need to cut elsewhere.

      So will the “just get on with it merchants” please nominate what’s going to be cut from the budget? I think it should be a tax increase or a levy, but they’re not going to do that, so get over it & tell us what’s to be cut instead. Remember, it’s got to get through, so forget about pie in the sky or bleeding heart proposals, find something that most will agree to drop for $10.5 bil in total, & you’ll deliver the NDIS.

      Government budgets are not a magic pudding. You can have all the goodwill & aspiration you like, but in the end it needs to be paid for.

      Reply

    • Susan says:

      01:54pm | 06/09/12

      This week I needed to find a service station that would offer driveway assistance to a mobility challenged driver.  When you go through such an exercise - something you would think fairly easy to determine and resolve - you would understand that in 2012 we are a long long way behind in addressing equity issues for all.  I support the NDIS and any schemes that increase independence and life quality and that also enable people to better work alongside those who do not need NDIS help.

      Reply

    • The Other Martin says:

      02:00pm | 06/09/12

      Voluntary taxation is the solution to this issue. All the people who want to contribute to this worthwhile scheme - send your money to the government and they will ensure it is used to met their ends - I mean the scheme’s ends. I will not await the flood of donations because the simple truth is we only want this, and similar schemes, as long as someone else has to pay the bill. This simple fact cancels out the moralistic argument that people trot out when they propose schemes such as this one. If you want it - pay for it!

      Reply

    • Shane From Melbourne says:

      03:16pm | 06/09/12

      Not a problem- as long as I can opt out of paying middle class family welfare, I am quite happy to pay for NDIS, short term unemployment benefits (kicked off after a year), disability pensions and old age pensions. Even happy to pay for infrastructure like roads, public transport, hospitals etc. I like this voluntary taxation idea since if I don’t pay for middle class family welfare, I can save a heck of a lot of money on tax…....

    • Cynicised says:

      04:10pm | 06/09/12

      It’s matter of prioritising resources already collected by income and other taxes, Martin, We already contribute funds to the Federal Government who have the job of distributing them. All we are asking for is for an equitable system of support for the disabled and their families from those funds.

      Voluntary Federal taxation does not strike me as a great idea.  Who would pay for the dole the enemployed, for instance, if they weren’t obliged to from tax revenue? Instead of asking for the compassionate only to contribute to expensive but worthwhile schemes, (philanthropy and charities notwithstanding), we as a nation need to support the disadvantaged in our supposedly civilized society as a group. Or stop calling ourselves civilized.

    • Willie says:

      02:26pm | 06/09/12

      Ant
      Just as the normal Olympians aren’t heros these Olympians aren’t brave. Matt Cowdrey might be a brave man but swimming with one arm is not the reason. If there wre a chance he might drown then it would be brave.

      Reply

    • AD says:

      02:34pm | 06/09/12

      I have Spina Bifida as well and just to get funding for a new wheelchair is just turning out to be an absolute nightmare!! Its ridculous to say the least. Even to apply for a house through dept of Housing NSW you can on there for 10 years++++ (Which is the point in my case again)

      Honestly as a person with a disability I am sick and tired of being screwed around whilst other people can get what they want easily!! Its time the politians stop trying to buy our votes and actually give a damn about us!!

      Reply

    • Susan says:

      04:26pm | 06/09/12

      I’m sorry you’re having such issues.  There are so many disability programs but they really seem to largely target one or two major areas of need such as work for intellectually disabled people or carer needs and problems.  Important issues without a doubt but I find people with lesser issues; those not in a wheelchair but with some significant mobility impairment, really battle to get heard.  I would certainly try here if you haven’t already and are being very mucked about:
      http://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/news-and-publications/publications

      I went to a different ombud on another issue and got great assistance.

    • JoniM says:

      02:47pm | 06/09/12

      “We’re all loving the Paralympics this week, and trotting out the platitudes and clichés like they’re going out of style.”

      Well, I am not !
      I have absolutely no interest in the event, and I assume most other Australians also have no interest, based on the TV ratings figures.
      Its obviously providing the stage for some great achievements and personal satisfaction for the disabled participants and their family and friends, but lets not kid ourselves, its not the blue ribbon of spectator sports extravaganzas. That’s why it is only covered on the ABC and in limited coverage.
      So don’t assume or make it up, ant !
      As for the NDIS, I am sure we all want to see a real scheme in place for the disabled, their carers, and families. But as Tim says it will take a lot of funding if we are to seriously improve the lives of these people. We need far more than the political only announcements of Gillard and Co last month with no realistic funding committment in place to deliver it.
      So then ant, we need to prioritise who we need to help most “to conduct their day-today lives with dignity?”  Who deserves the focus of our limited funding resources? Taxpayers are already in the hole for $239 billion public debt today and looking even worse every day, and then their is our own $1.7 trillion in personal debt !
      So who should be the most deserving of our efforts and funding ?
      Who’s crusades demand more attention ?
      Should it be the disabled ?
      Should it be the millions of refugees ?
      Should it be our poor indigenous ?
      Should it be our slipping school kids education ?
      Should it be the poor folks with bad dental problems?
      Should it be the planet and the Green initiatives?

      Who would have thought it could be such a challenge, when it can be written up so easily in just a few paragraphs?

      Reply

    • pa_kelvin says:

      03:07pm | 06/09/12

      I actualy thought this was going to an article on the Paralympians, not an excuse to bring up the NDIS debate ,again…..

      Reply

    • Robert says:

      03:16pm | 06/09/12

      What I like best about the Paralympics are the competitors! That may sound trite but lets have a look at all of them - whether they won Gold, Silver, Bronze all the way to the last.
      These wonderful people have put the so-called “able-bodied Olympians” to shame. Most have had to cope with some pretty raw deals throughout their lives. They have come thorough the almost inevitable teasing & insults whilst at school and then been discriminated against in the work-place, by prospective employers and in their Private lives.
      Their performances have been truly magnificent. They, unlike so many of those precious poppets the able-bodied Olympians, have take part in the true spirit of sporting behaviour. Even those who failed to win a medal have come across as having thouroughly enjoyed just taking part.
      Compare their behaviour with the weeping, wailing & carrying on by so many of the others who threw virtual tantrums because they had missed out on some little medal.
      We are told that Sponsors are very thin on the ground when it comes to our & all Paralympians. That is a great shame.
      Maybe the buying public can force those Sponsors to change their minds as to whom they sponsor.
      How about we only buy goods & services from companies who give massive support to Paralympians?
      Paralympians have demonstrated the they, unlike some of the Olympians, know the real meaning of “Sportsmanship”.
      Maybe some of those organisations here who make grants to athletes could extend that financial assistance to those with Disabilities and who really do need outside financial assistance - for many the prosthetics, the equipment, the human assistance they need are an extremely expensive part of their lives - in competition or just living normal lives.
      For Example:
      Recently one of those “charities” - I’m not sure if that is the correct title but it will have to do -  made grants to a number of able-bodied athletes who have shown some promise for the future.
      One of those recipients spoke of “how financially difficult it was”. What she failed to mention was that:
      (a) She is perfectly capable of going out & getting a part-time job just like lots of other would-be elite athletes do. But she won’t.
      (b) Her parents have a post-tax income in excess of $180K.every year.
      (c) Her grandfather is a multi-millionaire
      (d) Both parents & grandfather are fully supportive of her & her parents have been those ghastly type of people who are living their failed ambitions through their daughter. Push, push, push. “You MUST succeed”-types.
      How do I know this? Because she is my great-neice.
      She does not need outside financial help and it is time the organisations making those Grants put in place Means Testing so that those who really do need financial assistance can get it and not spoilt brats living out thier parents failed dreams.

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      05:28pm | 06/09/12

      Paralympians get $11 million a year ?
      Soccer Australia gets $8 million.

      Work that one out.

      Reply

    • James Carthew says:

      06:25pm | 06/09/12

      “Steve Jobs and Bill Gates helped far more people then this government could ever have done” actually that’s a total load of rubbish. Bill gates in his best years had $68 Billion dollars. The GDP of Australia is over $1 Trillion dollars. The Australian government in one decade spends on healthcare more than $1 Trillion. Bill Gates cannot come close to the Australian government in terms of buying power. Steve Jobs on the other hand was a JOKE in terms of charity. He was well known for not being a charitable person. Certainly not anything like Bill Gates has become in his later years. Don’t assign to people unrealistic roles. A Billion people giving $1000 each would easily outweigh all the billionaire’s in the world’s wealth combined.

      Reply

    • Ian says:

      06:28pm | 06/09/12

      $350 million to promote women’s involvement in leadership overseas? Not even our own country? Priorities, priorities…...

      Reply

    • Luigi says:

      06:56pm | 06/09/12

      I reckon it is the reasonably well off who are squealing about programs like this.  They see everyone except themselves as bludgers and most of them get middle class welfare.  Gives me the craps.  I see people in Karratha getting gov’t money when they make 200 grand a year, a house, utilities, a company car to drive around for private purposes.  Give me an effing break.  I work for an NGO than scrapes to make ends meet.  My heart is so heavy for you “haves” who feel you are getting cheated.  Australia, the egalitarian society… CRAP!

      Reply

    • Nemesis12 says:

      07:05pm | 06/09/12

      Perhaps she is, but that isn’t YOU suffering there, is it?

      I am a husband and carer and believe me I suffer, every single day. I suffer watchuing her and knowing I am helpless to stop the disease which is slowly destroying her life. I suffer as I work and strive to give her a good life, but receive little help because I am a “working carer” and hence not eligible for a lot of the help others get..I suffer because the one I love most dear in the world sits and cries and asks why her….and I see so many others take their lives for granted.

      Carers suffer, sir.

      Reply
 
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Colgo 23 May 13 10:38PM

RT @NASA: Amazing views from the International Space Station of Pavlof Volcano erupting in Alaska. http://t.co/vqBkkiOful

Paul Colgan

Colgo 23 May 13 10:30PM

US Google Doodle features a girl's touching depiction of her father's return from Iraq http://t.co/4LiRFOntTY

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From: Hasbro, go straight to gaol, do not pass go

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They should update other things in the game too. Instead of a get out of jail free card, they should have a Dodgy Lawyer card that not only gets you out of jail straight away but also gives you a fat payout in compensation for daring to arrest you in the first place. Instead of getting a hotel when you… [read more]

From: A guide to summer festivals especially if you wouldn’t go

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Gentle jabs to the ribs

Superman needs saving

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