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Cripples have many (many) reasons to be angry

The Angry Cripple

by The Angry Cripple

23 Feb 05:40am

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Filed under: Angry Cripple, Compensation, Disability, Disability Equipment, Society

106 comments

Last week, The Punch introduced you to The Angry Cripple, a new anonymous contributor. This week, AC explains that despite the complaints of some, s/he will remain anonymous, and reveals the source of the name.

I’m angry for good reason. I’ve used the word cripple for good reason. And I’m anonymous because I have to be…

Sometimes life's a beach; sometimes, a bitch. Pic: CARA.

Whatever I write, some will agree and others will disagree. Some will be downright nasty. I read on another forum that if I turn out not to be a person who uses a wheelchair, there will be blood.

So, my anonymity will remain. It doesn’t matter who I am. I could be a parent or carer of a person with a disability, a deaf-blind actor, a teacher at a special school, a student with MS, or a person with a severed spinal column.

So get over it. There are plenty of more important things to worry about.

Like kids with autism being king-hit at school while others kids watch. Like people still living in institutions that reek of stale piss with 20-year-old faded prints of kittens in bows on the walls, slurping from bowls of lukewarm gruel that has been driven for an hour from “central” to save staff from cooking on-site.

Like children in wheelchairs they outgrew three years ago deforming their growing spines. Like our mentally ill being locked in prisons for lack of treatment options.

This is not some bullshit made-up list. It’s not even exaggerated. I have seen all of these things.

So yes, I’m angry. I have a right to be. And I’ve become sick of waiting for bureaucrats, parliamentarians and governments to do something about it. If my voice can anger you enough, if it can make you talk, if it can make you consider that disability could happen to any one of us, at anytime, then maybe you will start raising your voice too.

And I’ll tell you where the name for the column came from.

I saw this guy a few months ago. I’d been terrified to meet him having followed his posts on a networking site for a while. He calls himself a “crip” and he’s probably the most bitter and twisted person with a disability I’ve ever managed to avoid.

Anyway, his contributions on this Facebook page were always pretty pointy, often downright nasty and I had vowed to dodge him as long as humanly possible.

I got it all wrong.

We were at some conference, when I saw him outside, alone, with his crocheted op-shop nanna rug on his crippled lap, head down, looking for all the world like his dog had just died. I went to see if I could be useful.

Turns out he’d been listening to some bloke talk about life after breaking his back in a “compensable” accident. An accident that was deemed someone else’s fault, which meant he got an insurance payout. He was talking about how he’d gotten his camper trailer retrofitted to be wheelchair accessible, and how he hired his wife as his support worker, and he’d bought an off-road wheelchair so they could still do the big trip around Australia they’d planned together with their six-year-old daughter.

The Crip wasn’t so lucky. He didn’t have anyone to blame for his disability.

He was born with a major physical disability and spent his childhood, abandoned by his parents, in institutions and a series of foster homes. He’s got no “carers” in his life, but a series of ill-educated, poorly paid, transitory support workers. He only gets to shower twice a week (unless a public holiday means he misses one), and he has to go to bed at night at whatever time the worker turns up.

He’s not allowed to hire his own workers, or choose his own wheelchair, and his $379 pension per week ain’t payin’ for no adapted caravan. Actually, that loot barely pays his rent and food, let alone his medications, his catheters or the taxi to the doctors. He gets 1.5 return trips per week by accessible taxi subsidised, and the rest is full fare. The buses don’t all have ramps, so he can’t rely on them either.

Compensible guy lives a decent life. Not flash, but human.

The Crip is stuffed.

The Crip is angry.

Most commented

427Australia, you have nothing to fear but fear itself
371There's no one Thomson won't burn to save his skin
353"Gifting", "journey" and other words we hate
313Thomson didn't answer the question everyone is asking
300Animal experiments won't cure me from cancer
262Who murdered the Arts degree?
246A big day for Thomson, who thus far is guilty of nothing...
231South Australia. It's the middle bottom bit.

106 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • Trude says:

      06:07am | 23/02/11

      Clearly all these cripples don’t understand the position the government is in. There’s so many, much more important things to spend money on than making sure cripples are treated with decency, respect and compassion.

      I used to live down the street from a group of units which were used so that people with mental disabilities could live amongst society. 1 unit always housed a ‘responsible person’. That person was always whichever of the tenants was least disabled. The grounds were a mess, the units stank bad enough that you could smell them from the street. It wasn’t uncommon to find a tenant standing, confused, on the street with cars having to go around him, or another wandering around naked in mid-winter. Sometimes if you knocked on the ‘responsible person’s’ door, he’d even be sober enough to do something useful for a tenant. But it’s all ok, they were out in society and costing very little to ‘care’ for, so I’m sure they and their families were grateful. I know I and my neighbours just adored having to guide the hapless wanderers back home, out of harm’s way, several times a day. I know those who lived either side were overjoyed those times when smoke alarms went off because certain officials didn’t consider that toasters, electric heaters and such aren’t really safe for men with the minds of small children. Just think, those neighbours got to experience the rush of banging on the doors of just stopping a fire before it got too serious, several times. Just think, if the government spent money on cripples, interesting situations like that might not happen again.

      Reply

    • TChong says:

      06:29am | 23/02/11

      OK trude, so whats your answer- lock all of these harmless men up , in old style “Mental Hospitals”?
      Move the whole lot out to Woop Woop ?, or be willing to pay taxes for fully staffed, proper facilities ?
      I support the last option, but unfortunately not enough tax payers agree,
      how about you?

    • acotrel says:

      08:12am | 23/02/11

      If you’re in a wheelchair, you’ll know what it means to be invisible.  It’s like cleaning staff in hospitals - nobody sees you!  And as for the mentally ill, there is a well known need for psychologist counsellors which has never been met.  Even when Jeff Kennett sold off the mental hospitals in Victoria, the money was never turned to that purpose!

    • CD says:

      08:21am | 23/02/11

      @TChong…here’s a clue. Try reading Trude’s comment the way they were meant. Who’s the one out there helping those disoriented people? Trude or you Champ?

      Funny thing bigmouth. You don’t have to pay more taxes to help because who the hell says they’ll get to the right place anyway?

      You can just get off your computer butt and actually help with your time.

      Nah too much trouble for you right?
      Better you sit at your keyboard and whine to the world misrepresenting anyone you read inc the writer of the article.

      I’m referring to your other ignorant rant below. Hey all these crips have the right to find their staff right? How about they just send you the bill personally?

      You’re a troll.

    • Lazy Jesus says:

      09:03am | 23/02/11

      lol @ ‘computer butt’ comment.

      Worst attempt at an insult I’ve seen in a while.

    • TChong says:

      09:17am | 23/02/11

      And you CD are very angry , and wrong. As usual.
      The issue is too complex for your comprhension, obviosly, as I wasnt advocating that disabled people run up open ended bills .
      thats the very point I’m making.
      Everyone, including The Disabled need to compromise, (as unfair , as that is), otherwise the costs of “Health “would be all consuming.
      Be less angry, and try reading.
      As for “hands on”, I work in the industry.
      Whats your “hands on “experience? Nothing. ?At all?
      It shows.

    • Joelm says:

      10:57am | 23/02/11

      They also have many (many) reasons to be thankful.
      Thankful that they live in a country which provides as much welfare as it does.
      Put things in perspective, a Massive percentage of the worlds able bodied people live in far worse conditions, and the disabled people in those countries are lucky to survive at all, certainly no support from their governments.

      Being angry and unappreciative of Charity, essentially spitting on the hand which gives what little you have, is a great way to ensure you will get no more.

    • Not yet disabled says:

      11:11am | 23/02/11

      TChong - great to hear your support for taxpayer funded fully staffed proper facilities. I think you and Trude are actually on the same page, but that your anger has gotten in the way.
      Trude wrote:  “Just think, if the government spent money on cripples, interesting situations like that might not happen again”
      and you wrote: .”..willing to pay taxes for fully staffed, proper facilities ?
      I support the last option, but unfortunately not enough tax payers agree,”
      I *think* Trude’s point was not locking people away or moving them out, but rather that the “responsible” people should be just that.

    • Trude says:

      02:16pm | 23/02/11

      @TChong - I don’t think you read the sarcasm in my post. I’m disgusted at the way the disabled are treated.

      Had those people on my street had a trained carer looking out for them, rather than the highest functioning being nominated as carer, they would not have been constantly in danger. Had a cleaner been sent in once a week the poor men wouldn’t have been living in pure filth.

      Many times I led the man who’d stand in the middle of the street and the one who was often out naked, back to their units. They were not fit to be looking after themselves without professional carers. I’m all for the handicapped being a part of society, rather than locking them up, but not for them being left to just fend for themselves, without help, when they’re clearly not able to.

      There needs to be middle ground between community members doing their bit and professional care as well.

    • JART says:

      03:12pm | 23/02/11

      same old drivel from chong chongs, i doubt you do any work let alone work in the industry, considering the amt of trolling you do… go troll another forum for once, your opinion is elementary, pedantic & pathetic.
      hahaha computer butt… big square bargeass

    • Georgina Denford says:

      05:44pm | 23/02/11

      @ TC Chong.

      FYI, the disabled do nothing BUT compromise. Every single day is compromise.

    • S.L says:

      06:22am | 23/02/11

      Angry Cripple in what state does the “Crip” reside because your heartbreaking story of 1.5 (how do you get a .5?) subsidised return taxi trips then he has to pay full fare is the biggest load of crap I’ve read for ages. I’m starting to doubt your integrity as a supposed member of the disabled community. As the punch has my email address feel free to contact me personally as I don’t care if I’m anonymous or not!
      If you are going to “stir the pot” do some accurate research…...........

      Reply

    • Angry Cripple says:

      06:32am | 23/02/11

      SJ: I only wish it were crap.  80 vouchers every six months = 3.3 trips (less than 2 return trips) per week.

      From http://www.sa.gov.au/upload/franchise/Transport, travel and motoring/application transport assistance.pdf

      “What benefits are available to SATSS members?
      SATSS provides members with 80 personalised vouchers for
      subsidised taxi travel every six months. The subsidy applies to
      the first $40 of a taxi fare, the member must cover the full
      amount of any fare over the $40 maximum fare limit.
      Membership is divided into two categories:
      An Ambulant Member (those who are able to walk
      and who are not confined to a wheelchair) receives 50%
      subsidy (maximum subsidy of $20 per voucher) and pays
      50% of the fare themselves; or
      Members confined to a wheelchair receive 75% subsidy
      (maximum subsidy of $30 per voucher) and pay 25% of the
      fare themselves.
      If the taxi fare is over $40 the member must pay their required
      contribution plus any amount over the $40. For example, if the
      taxi fare is $42.50, an Ambulant member (50% subsidy) would
      pay $22.50 ($20 plus the $2.50 over the $40 fare) and the
      SATSS voucher would cover the remaining $20.”

    • S.L says:

      08:02am | 23/02/11

      Reading between the lines I assume Mr “Crip” is in South Australia. In NSW where I live when your TSS book runs out you get another one. Recipients get a 50% subsidy up to $30.00 ($60.00 full fare). As far as I’m aware it is unlimited travel as I know many who travel everyday and have done for the 23 years I’ve worked in the taxi industry. That’s a lot more than 80 trips every six months. If that’s what you have based your 1.5 subsidised trips on then why didn’t you say so or am I supposed to just take it as gospal.

    • persephone says:

      08:07am | 23/02/11

      You also get a Federal allowance of either $83 or $116 per fortnight to cover travel costs.

      In Victoria, taxi fares are half price. Even quite small communities, such as my own, have FREE transport for the disabled, provided by the local health services, either provided by volunteers (in individual cases) or by the community bus.

      Not saying it’s all beer and skittles; not saying it isn’t grim; but it’s also not as bleak as you paint it.

      Oh, and recently went to the opening of disabled accomodation - wheelchair bound guy in a three bedroom flat, with facilities far better than I can afford in my own house.

      He seemed pretty happy with the way he was being looked after by the community.

    • deb says:

      06:29am | 23/02/11

      How lucky most of us are.we whine when we hurt ourselves and cant play footy or have to take a week or two off work.
      Then i am one of the Lucky ones,my husband cares for me when the demons of epilepsy take me off on some trip far away.
      When i come back he is there.
      LUCKY.

      Reply

    • James1 says:

      09:45am | 23/02/11

      I know.  Last week I opened my laptop and it wouldn’t connect to our wireless broadband straight away.  So I opened the internet connection manager, but still no dice.  In the end, I had to restart the laptop to get it to connect.  Needless to say, I was outraged.

      Reading TAC’s article above, I feel terrible for my outrage.  If the worst problem I have to be outraged about is waiting five minutes to go online, I should definitely count myself as one of the lucky ones.  I can’t even imagine being stymied at almost every turn.

    • elhom says:

      06:07pm | 23/02/11

      I had no shoes and felt pity for myself. Then I met a man with no legs .. so I stole his shoes.

    • Pete says:

      06:57am | 23/02/11

      we used to have facilities for people who needed to be in them, I’m not saying they met all the needs of the residents, but they were certainly better than what we are left with.  This is all down to some guy soemwhere who was tasked with finding governments(s) extra spending money without raising taxes so that you and I would have better facilities. Mind you, they all said the money from the sale of all this real estate that these facilities sat on would be ploughed back into modern places for these folk. Sadly, that didnt happen.  The first to be affected were people with mental health problems. I still remember the cries from government(s) of how much better it would be if these people could be part of the community now they live in well ventilated accomodation, under bridges or doorways ignored by us. Yes they are part of the community, the forgotten part.  Then the same was applied to people with other disabilities who ends up looking after them? their old age parents who pray everyday that they dont have or contract a life threatening condition so their loved ones will have someone their to care for them.  I have also seen the squalor you speak of, the product of a disinterested government(s) who know most of these people dont vote anyway.  So what next, probably the baby boomers will be disenfranchised. It’s happening already if you go to a nursing home you have to sell your family home if you have one so that it can subsidise your stay there.

      So I get the feeling that you are not exactly what you say you are, your anger and broad exposure lead me to think that you have a lot of involvement with people who do have special needs that are being grossly underaddressed. 

      You may be crippled, but I think you are being crippled by your frustration, anger and duty of care in a system that is geared to sweep things under the carpet rather than addressing things.  I think you care a lot about these victims. so much so, that you come here and raise our awareness of their plight.  You will get abused by those who are embarressed by these victims and you will be praised by others, but you have raised our awareness of their plight and for that I thank you. 

      We need to be reminded.  You may have noticed that I used the word goverment(s) throughout my reply. I did that because they are all guilty, regardless of state, jurisdiction or politcal persuasions.  We have let them do this without as much as a whimper of protest.  I hope you find some peace through your writings.

      Reply

    • hot tub political machine says:

      09:55am | 23/02/11

      Yes, in the area of mental health we got rid of our institutions in favor of community care - which was a good thing because the institutions were not often great places.

      But then, as a society we very wrongly failed to adequately fund community care and the mentally ill ended up back in institutions anyway - prisons.

    • Arty says:

      10:44am | 23/02/11

      The policy in the UK was called Care in the Community, it soon became known as Neglect in the Community.

    • TChong says:

      06:59am | 23/02/11

      AC- you sound to be angry for the wrong reasons.
      Hilighting the story about the para recieving compo ( as surely , even you would agree, he should be entitled to) makes your rave sound that its based on jealousy, seriosly bad and destructive mindset, when dealing with disabilities.
      Why be angry when someone gets a pay out?
      You fail to explain why the blogger was “not allowed to hire workers, or choose his own wheelchair”
      I’m not awre of any law that prohibits him doing either, assuming of course that he is paying for the service or product.
      If he isnt, and the service is provided,or subsidised, then that is some what differnt situation, and may not be as simple as you imply.
      BTW, nice to see that you have changed your tune a little bit since last weeks attempt to create your own hierachy of most to least deserving.
      Stay angry , if it keeps you motivated, but stop letting it blind you, and drop the jealousy.

      Reply

    • Pete says:

      08:02am | 23/02/11

      I dont think he was angry that they got a payout, he was angry because of the inequality of the system, if you have a disability caused by the actions of others you are far better off than some one with a congenital disability

    • malohi says:

      09:42am | 23/02/11

      TChong, I agree.. again.
      The comparison between the guy with the payout and the other guy presumably on welfare is rediculous.(read on Pete)

      The logic leads to arguing that if a person got a large payout for having thier arm chopped off at work (from the work’s insurance etc.) then surely a person born with one arm should be entitled to such a pay out from the government from birth… It would be unfair if otherwise right??

      AC, Why be angry at the tax payers who provide and the government who support, better than I presume the majority of countries in the world ?
      Anger would be better placed being angry at (regarding the crip for example);
      1. The family that didn’t support him;
      2. The bludgers (able bodied let’s say)  already leaching off the welfare system;
      3. The crip himself for not being enterprising enough to make money himslef, he has time to rant on facebook, why not an external uni degree? why not an online company?.. oh thats right if you are a minority and are loud enough, work is only for the chumps.

    • Angry Cripple says:

      11:30am | 23/02/11

      Malohi: you wrote: C, Why be angry at the tax payers who provide and the government who support, better than I presume the majority of countries in the world ?
      Anger would be better placed being angry at (regarding the crip for example);
      1. The family that didn’t support him;
      2. The bludgers (able bodied let’s say)  already leaching off the welfare system;
      3. The crip himself for not being enterprising enough to make money himslef, he has time to rant on facebook, why not an external uni degree? why not an online company?.. oh thats right if you are a minority and are loud enough, work is only for the chumps.

      I am not angry at the Taxpayers.
      What good would would come of being angry at the family who didn’t support him, who are now all probably dead anyway?
      The bludgers leeching off the system are obviously a problem, but even if you got dropped half of current DSP recipients, if wouldn’t be enough to fund those with severe disabilities in a way that would meet the UN Convention on treatment of people with disabilities. It’s not cheap to care for people with severe disabilities to any reasonable standard.
      The Crip concerned has a myriad of severe health and mobility related issues. With a full-time support worker he probably could (and certainly would try) to run a small business. But we don’t provide that. And while we’re talking about employment, does anyone know anyone who has gotten a job through the very well funded Disability Employment Network (DEN). Please ask them to email me - angryozcripple@gmail.com

    • Anne71 says:

      01:00pm | 23/02/11

      TChong, I don’t think AC was angry that the paraplegic got a payout. I think s/he was angry because someone who has been in a wheelchair all his life and passed from pillar to post isn’t entitled to a red cent apart from the pittance the Government allows him. And all because, as AC pointed out, there was no-one “to blame” for his/her acquaintance’s condition, whom they could sue for a similar payout.
      I’m glad that the paraplegic got a decent payout and can enjoy a reasonable quality of life as a result of it, I really am. But I’m just sickened and saddened by the way AC’s acquaintance has to live, simply because the Government doesn’t regard his quality of life as a priority. Seriously, how would you like to have a shower only twice a week and only go to bed when someone can spare the time to help you do it?
      I believe that a society can be judged by the way it takes care of those who for whatever reason are unable (as opposed to unwilling) to take care of themselves.  If we judge Australia by that standard, I can’t help but feel that we are simply not making the grade.

    • mary says:

      07:39am | 23/02/11

      I don’t know what the answer is either but I do believe that society as a whole needs a mind shift and include people who are not quite as able as others instead of locking them away. I am pointing the finger squarely at family members. With few exceptions, if we all had a change of heart most of us would be able to accommodate one of our lesser able rellies. So that they wouldn’t need to be locked away in institutions/share houses etc.

      I think that Australian of the year 2011 Simon McKeon is showing us all how to do this. Actually when I look around me I see lots of people do this, moving interstate to be with their aging parents etc, I just think that we need more of it.

      Reply

    • Reg says:

      07:55am | 23/02/11

      “So yes, I’m angry. I have a right to be. And I’ve become sick of waiting for bureaucrats, parliamentarians and governments to do something about it”

      Well do something about it pal. Nobody likes a whinger… cripple or otherwise.

      Reply

    • Angry Cripple says:

      08:00am | 23/02/11

      What would you suggest Reg? (and yes, I am heavily involved volunteering in community service)

    • rob foster says:

      09:29am | 23/02/11

      Yes Reg, what can he do. One vote wont make a difference at the next election, so it is up to big mouths like you to help.

    • malohi says:

      09:49am | 23/02/11

      Run for government if you are so righteous, there are better places than blogs to see how many people agree.
      Or, draft a bill and put it before parliament, right now you are an angry infant screaming about the problems. An educated adult would propose solutions. Can’t draft a bill? An external law degree can be done in 3 years.

      But that may be too hard, better leave it to the government and complain from anonymity hey?

    • St. Michael says:

      10:20am | 23/02/11

      @ Malohi: he can’t draft a bill and put it before Parliament.  That takes being a member of Parliament.  And you only get to be a member of Parliament if you kiss the arse of either unions or big business, or if you wear an outrageously stupid hat or outrageously stupid opinions.

      “You fix it then,” which is basically your argument, is not valid as an argument.  It’s an intellectually dishonest debating tactic which suggests that just because you don’t have a certain qualification you are not competent to raise a criticism.

      For example, if my ship’s about to crash into an iceberg I have every right to be screaming at the captain to change course.  He doesn’t have to know my name.  And he also does not have the right to yell back at me “You come up ‘ere and try doin’ the job I do, it’s hard, innit?!”

    • malohi says:

      11:23am | 23/02/11

      St michael, bills dont necessarily have to be presented by a member of parliament. But even if your misplaced statement was accepted, my point still holds, the ac can compile the research and propose ideas in an a document for analysis and accompany the document with a DRAFT bill. He could then give the document to the relavent minister to put forward.

      You say it yourself down further that the government is painfully slow and inept at such things, so do the footwork and expidite the process.

      And yes that is my point, if you want something changed bad enough you should help yourself. If i take your analogy with a ship crashing the ac would be akin to someone screaming hysterically. When a better option would be to do everything you could to help the captain steer the boat, or steer it yourself . But i guess there is less accountability screaming.

    • Davida says:

      12:06pm | 23/02/11

      @malohi,
      Your view seems to defeat the purpose of a forum.
      Whilst Angry Cripple is studying for an external law degree to draft his bill, maybe you can study an external journalism degree, become Editor of Punch and determine the merit of content based on your own “no whinge, no dissent, no venting or sharing” platform.  Until then…......

    • Angry Cripple says:

      12:36pm | 23/02/11

      malohi: I have done what you suggested, to no avail. So I’m here. Any other suggestions?

    • Angry Cripple says:

      01:01pm | 23/02/11

      mahoni: slight correction. I don’t have a law degree. Can’t really afford one (not a whinge, just a statement of fact). Unless you’d like me to take out a huge HECS debt that I won’t be able/asked to pay back.

    • malohi says:

      01:38pm | 23/02/11

      AC, thanks for your replys.
      You have drafted an amendment bill? that is commendable, any links?
      Next step would be find someone in parlaiment empathatic with your cause to introduce it. If not then assist getting someone elected who will be. Internet is powerful.

      And Davida your comment implying that I think ac articles are without merit is unfounded and simply wrong. The ac’s points are alarming and very relavent, it is great that the ac (and the punch) is giving the plight of the vulnerable a platform. And the ACs volunteer work is noble.

      However as Reg said intitially this article comes across as winging. I do not need a degree in journalism to agree with this.The AC asked for suggestions for change. The answer I gave is changing the legislature. I gave a plan on how to expidite the process. And guess what, somewhere along the line someone will need a law degree to do so.
      So take you veiled adhominums somewhere else Davida.

    • Jugg says:

      09:16am | 23/02/11

      As I said last week, ‘the Crip’ is fast tracking himself/herself into oblivion with ‘rant’s rather than calm, deliberate and considered approach to issues.  Watch how fast ‘the Crip’ is dropped by the Punch and disappears - having changed nothing (the Editors will only take so much).  Anger doesn’t change the world, common sense does.

      Reply

    • St. Michael says:

      10:22am | 23/02/11

      If you’re planning on waiting on common sense from Parliament and the vampire bureaucracy attached to it known as the public service, you’ll be waiting quite a while, because whilst anger doesn’t change the world, nothing changes the system.

    • Likes Joining Dots says:

      10:54am | 23/02/11

      @Jugg

      I’ve read a lot of rants and anger on The Punch, ranging from earlobes and speedos to sushi eaters and the reply button not working. Perhaps, just perhaps having a ‘rant’ in this case does not automatically warrant exclusion.

      AC wrote - ‘If my voice can anger you enough, if it can make you talk, if it can make you consider that disability could happen to any one of us, at anytime, then maybe you will start raising your voice too.’

      That does not sound too unreasonable or beyond common sense.

    • Jugg says:

      11:15am | 23/02/11

      @ Michael

      I never mentioned parliament having common sense.  The more the disabled groups in our society unite, send out a common message and present organised and sensible points of view, the more they will be heard.  Other minority groups have a voice because they got organised.  Look at Breast Cancer as a great example.

      @ LJD

      Where did I say ‘exclude’?  In fact it’s the opposite.  Yelling and bitching won’t get you anywhere.

      Never mind, yell away!  Achieve nothing and be written off as a crack pot.

      Sounds like a much better plan.

    • hot tub political machine says:

      09:46am | 23/02/11

      Just don’t say anything bad about journalists AC - or else Jame Massola will out you.

      Reply

    • Taxpayer says:

      10:42am | 23/02/11

      All I hear is: “Rah rah, give me stuff. It’s my RIGHT to have stuff given to me. I was born, don’t you know? Now give me what I’m owed from your pocket. I’m sick of people keeping what they’ve worked for; it’s mine, damnit! Stop spending money on things other than me!”

      The government is not some abstract entity with endless money from nowhere. Government money is taken directly from your friends and neighbours against their will, under penaly of imprisonment. It’s exceedingly poor form to be ungrateful towards both those people giving you services for very little pay, and those who pay for those people to give you services. You don’t have a right to other people’s money just because you were born.

      In any walk of life If a person recieves anything at all, from a wheelchair to a snickers bar, they should say thank you. It’s only good manners.

      Reply

    • Not disabled yet says:

      11:06am | 23/02/11

      Thank you Taxpayer. God forbid your insensitive arse gets injured in an earthquake, or your kid is born disabled. In fact, why don’t we just kill anyone who has an incompensible injury, and that way we won’t have to spend your taxes on such inconvenience. Maybe you think you can insure against disability, but last time I looked, there was no insurance policy against premature birth and resultant cerebral palsy. But hey, those folk aught to just suck it up while you enjoy your snickers bar.

    • Catsidhe says:

      11:18am | 23/02/11

      Ah: the Libertarians speak up.
      All I hear is “Rah rah, mine mine mine. It’s my RIGHT to take from socialised systems like Police, Firefighting and roads, but never pay a cent! I’m sick of people asking me to pay my share of the common good, it’s mine, dammit! Stop asking me to spend money on things other than me!”
      Some day I’d like to see Libertarians presented with a bill for the market price for all the services they don’t even realise they’re getting out of their taxes, and see the look on their faces as their told to pay up or do without.

    • Fiona says:

      12:13pm | 23/02/11

      Taxpayer - I am normally fairly polite but really, you are an arse.

      As the mother of a severely disabled child, I can tell you, the system is completely broken and WASTES millions in taxpayers money. And yes, my husband and I are taxpayers. It is VERY difficult to adequately provide for your disabled child in this country. The system is complex and degrading, and reduces one to begging. You meet obstacles and hurdles at every turn.
      Like many others in the community with disabled children, we are in the process of clearing out our superannuation (you know, OUR money)  to pay for modifications to our home to enable us to get our son in and out safely in his wheelchair. So there goes the retirement fund.

      And I’ve said it before - I could get more money from the government for being a stay-at-home mum than I get for caring for a severly disabled child. How is that right?

      Taxpayer - I truly hope that you never have to suffer the misfortune of seeing one of your children disabled, or a grandchild. It is completely devasting and those in the system will tell you - it is broken and hopeless. Your lack of compassion and any foresight or understanding is terrifying. I truly, truly hope that your opinion is not representative of the wider community.

    • A different taxpayer says:

      01:39pm | 23/02/11

      My taxes aren’t taken against my will.

    • VickiPS says:

      03:47pm | 23/02/11

      @Taxpayer:  “You don’t have a right to other people’s money just because you were born.”  You do, actually. 

      Besides, the people who bleat about “keeping what they’ve worked for” are generally not talking about that at all.  They’re demanding the right to use their money in order to take other people’s money for doing nothing.

    • Kane says:

      05:18pm | 23/02/11

      @VickiPS

      Huh?  Just how is it that you have a right to other peoples’ money just because you were born?

    • VickiPS says:

      06:12pm | 23/02/11

      @Kane:  It’s pretty fundamental to our institutions of law and government that people aren’t left to moulder and die if they lack the capacity or means to maintain themselves.  That has to be underwritten by by the taxpayer.

    • Taxpayer says:

      09:03am | 24/02/11

      I’m picking up two themes of rebuttal, both nonsense.

      1) Commie claptrap about commons and society etc. I’m OK with welfare, just not unlimited welfare. Already one third of my tax bill goes to welfare. I know where my taxes go, do you? Find out here: http://www.wheredomytaxesgo.com.au/

      2) “Have a heart”, “just because you’re not crippled” etc. This arguement is nonsense too because feelings don’t trump reality. Welfare comes from a finite supply of taxation. One could cry an ocean of tears and hug a thousand bunnie rabbits, but there still would not be enough tax to satisfy everyone with their hands out; be they old, unemployed, crippled or homeless. All we can do is find some taxation level to which we don’t kill the goose that lays the golden egg, then ration that money accordingly.

      If we were to cut out the middle-man, and parents and carers of disabled people were to go door-to-door demanding money, what kind of reception would they get? If they then recieved money and abused the person giving the money because it was not “enough”, what kind of reception would they get? Welfare is a privelage, not a right. It is and will always be finite. It is and always will be rationed. Someone will always want more service than can be provided… always. So, those in reciept of an oversubscribed system should at least have the good graces to be grateful to recieve anything at all. You lot seem to think beggars have a right to be choosers.

    • Huey says:

      10:52am | 23/02/11

      Didn’t someone (politician) propose we have a disability insurance scheme like NZ has?  Don’t know how it works but all disabled get funding for what they need. A bit of human dignity should be a basic state of being in our First World society not dependent on accidents of birth or circumstance.

      Reply

    • shelf says:

      12:13pm | 23/02/11

      I think it was Nick Xenophone (sp). There are a number of organisations for people with a disability who are pushing for a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

    • Linda Tilley says:

      01:17pm | 23/02/11

      The sooner they bring in a disability insurance scheme the better. Every society should be judged on how they treat their less fortunate (poor, ill, etc.) and currently, as a society, we are lacking.

    • Chad C Mulligan says:

      02:51pm | 23/02/11

      We have.  But soon won’t.  Opening it up to ‘competition’ I’m told.  Last time they tried that premiums went down.  Hurrah said the govt.  Lasted about a year and then the premiums started to creep up.  My trucking company owning brother was told by his insurance broker to expect 100% increase in five years.

    • BT says:

      10:55am | 23/02/11

      It’s simply testiment to the general population’s mentality i.e if it doesn’t affect me then I don’t give a rats. It’s not just the disabled that are neglected, it’s our elderly, our sick and dying, our children - anyone who vulnerable with no financial or physical protection. We don’t care enough for one another - we treat our dogs better than we treat our disabled and their run down carers.
      We don’t really care that 105,000 people are homeless because if they all have homes, then demand for housing would fall and the value of your property would decrease - we can’t have that can we? We can’t have all people gainfully employed because then demands for wages would increase so the ones who are the most neglected in life remain poor to fund our lifestyles. Look at the stats, unemployment is usually kept at a steady 5% - just enough to keep wages down. It’s the way our society is arranged and it stinks.

      Reply

    • Alannah says:

      11:14am | 23/02/11

      Until the public change there opinion of these people nothing will be done. An old lady can have a fall and people will rush to her aid, if a cripple fell out of their chair people will turn a blind eye like they can’t see them on the ground. What this person is trying to say and all coments have missed the point is. We can walk out our front door tomorrow and end up crippled with a disability and who’s going to be there to pick you up? NO ONE that’s the problem. they get very little money with over the top travel and medical expenses, i personally got the feeling they had to choose either to eat or see a doctor while reading this because they don’t get enough money. It’s not just about society not catering for there needs but also the fact they are living in poverty and are unable to finance social activities that we all take for granted. Most people would find a better job if they were earning just $375 per week because it’s not enough to cover our bills yet these people don’t have a choice. You would think with all the money the government was giving away to overseas aid that an extra $140 on top of the $375 wasn’t out of the question! However if this were to happen the land lord would want there cut and then so would everyone else and these people would be no better off it sucks. I think employers should be given government incentives to employee some of these people as they aren’t 100% useless and could give hope to others in there shoes that life doesn’t always suck and they do get a look in. They are humans with feelings and they deserve respect and an opportunity like you and I.

      Yes there will be some who will never be able to work but it’s only a hand full most have a sound mind. Even if it’s photocopying, dusting, watering the garden anyone in a wheel chair can do that. 4 hours a week $20 an hour and you try getting around in a wheel chair; would be like winning gold lotto to them.

      Reply

    • Dan says:

      11:37am | 23/02/11

      I hate this world when I read stuff like this. I feel very sorry for “theCrip”.
      I wish I knew him when he was younger. I could have offered to be his friend and helped with the loneliness.
      The system is unfair and it sucks.

      Reply

    • Angry Cripple says:

      12:25pm | 23/02/11

      Dan, there are plenty of younger “The Crip”. Please contact your local disability supported accomodation agency. They should be able to put you in touch with someone who is isolated and could do with someone to go to the pub, watch a game, or just go for a walk at the beach, or if you’re so inclined your local group home could always do with some gardening, or someone just to read stories. Thanks for your compassion.

    • RM says:

      12:39pm | 23/02/11

      The most sincere comment here

    • Yak of the Goldfields says:

      01:41pm | 23/02/11

      @ Dan. You have restored my faith in my fellow man.

      We are trying to get our eldest into a shared house arrangement where he can reside with other disabled persons so they can learn to look after themselves and live independently. He will have to at some point in his life. We won’t be around forever.

      What we would have given for him to have a mentor such as yourself. I hope there are more out there like yourself, Dan. Bless you.

      I’m off to find a tissue, I must have something in my eye.

    • BT says:

      02:08pm | 23/02/11

      Dan - Will you marry me?

    • mary monica roche says:

      11:55am | 23/02/11

      the politically handicapped politicians want to help the money handicapped rich people and business handicapped big business of Australia with big handouts , big concessions and big favours..
      As a result, the politically handicapped politicians have no money, no concessions , no handouts and no favours to help the mentally crippled, the physically handicapped.
      They will have to earn their money the hard way , “these bludgers”.
      The poor are ” undeserving Bludgers”
      The rich are the ” deserving needy”

      Reply

    • Shane From Melbourne says:

      12:07pm | 23/02/11

      The sad irony is that genetic screening of both potential parents would prevent some preventable potential disabilities from arising. Then there are the self inflicted disabilities that arise when the mother overindulges in alcohol, tobacco and other drugs during pregnancy. The Angry Cripple should be angry that there are preventable disabilities occurring that are needless.

      Reply

    • batler says:

      12:41pm | 23/02/11

      Shane, I’m on DSP due to numerous chronic, untreatable illnesses. Most of them stem from my lack of immunity, brought on by a tainted blood transfusion. If the Red Cross had spent an extra 5c testing blood for raised ALT levels, which indicate Hepatitis C, I would have still been working and living a full and active life. It took 18 years for the Hep C to be diagnosed, and I still come across doctors who don’t believe me when they ask how I got it. I battled on for almost 30 years, raising a family, working and doing voluntary work til it all got too much.

    • Mork says:

      12:17pm | 23/02/11

      The selfish attitude of people in this thread is truly disgusting, I wonder if any one of you can even imagine how difficult living with a permanent disability would be.

      Reply

    • shelf says:

      12:26pm | 23/02/11

      One of my children has a number of disabilities. I imagine in later years i will become his carer, for i don’t want him ending up in a sub-human house/facility/institution. (I have seen my share of such facilities). This means my dream for retirement is out the window. I appreciate the Govt doesn’t have an bottomless pit of money, however my experience with trying to get respite care and assistance for him (physio/OT/etc)  has been nothing short of woeful. I love my son dearly and because the Govt knows parents share these same feelings, they can rely on me being the cheapest carer available for him.

      Reply

    • Destiny Known says:

      06:07am | 24/02/11

      We know this road well….this is where we are going. The government can’t get votes out of people like us, we’re not cute like baby seals. There isn’t many of us. Take your physically or mentally disabled children in to your local members office. Let them wreck it….every day. Maybe then our elected representatives will get a feeling of what its like inside the home of a disabled child.

    • MD says:

      12:55pm | 23/02/11

      Cripple isn’t a very nice term, I prefer ‘Rolling Courage’

      Reply

    • Human says:

      12:59pm | 23/02/11

      I think this is where Humans fail as a collective bunch. We try to be too humain, never leave a man behind. That’s what is holding human’s back from progression. As well as the greedy people who are extremely self centred and only want to make money and back stab others. Untill people are more logical in the way they think, the Earth is just going to continue to be come a toxic wasteland full of zombies and angry cripples.

      Reply

    • Shane From Melbourne says:

      04:45pm | 23/02/11

      I’m ready for the zombie apocalypse….

    • Distressed says:

      01:02pm | 23/02/11

      “Care in the community” is a con. So is “mainstreaming” children into the education system. Both these things came about because the government saw them as a means of saving money. 
      They managed to get on side a group of highly articulate and very able people with disabilities who also fought for those things because they saw it as “normalising”. Parents took it up because it is far better to be able to say “My kid goes to Bloggs Road Primary” than “My kid goes to Bloggs Road Special School”. They then continue to maintain that their child is better off - although the child is no longer getting specialist teaching, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy or any of the specialist help available in a well run special school.
      Many of the kids go through hell (believe me I have interviewed many of them at length) but they put up with it and even say little because they also believe it makes them like everyone else and that it is what their parents want.
      It is sending the wrong damn message to everyone.
      The same goes for institutions. We need some institutions. They need not be like the old ones but they do need to be there. It is not right that parents approaching their 80’s need to care for a physically disabled child who can do nothing for himself or herself…only to be told “No there are no places and s/he is so far down the waiting list you had better prepare his/her sibling to take over the responsibility. Yes, that happens too. I am dealing with just such a case right now and I know of at least three others.
      So, we have a con job on our hands and money gets wasted on making buildings accessible when they do need to be made accessible, on arts programmes that only a few can use and which then fall flat on their well-funded face.
      Angry Cripple, I can guess who you are. Believe me you know very little about how many people are in dire need because of the sort of demands you and your ilk make.
      Oh, and for the record, I have a visible and an invisible disability.

      Reply

    • Chris says:

      01:58pm | 23/02/11

      Could not agree more! Not just a con but a super-con. Institutions do not have to be big faceless buildings….keyhole developments in the community but with the needed facilities. Village type housing but with the needed facilities. None of this “dump them” attitude.

    • Munro says:

      04:15pm | 23/02/11

      I’m a person with a Physical Disability and I for one am very glad to have been able to attend Mainstream Schooling. I also believe that it’s because of children with a disability going through mainstream schooling that people with a disability aren’t considered “scary” or as different from someone without a disability. When I am out having a drink at the pub it’s the older generation that will come up to me to say something like “it’s really good to see you’re out” - where else would I be? Hiding in the closet? whereas the Younger generation will just say hi as if nothing is different.  Institutions are terrible after doing case studies on the old system and I can’t see how or why we would re-introduce institutions.

      I’d also like to point out i’m pretty disappointed seeing some of the old school thoughts. Some people really need to place themselves in the shoes of someone with a disability.

    • stephen says:

      01:30pm | 23/02/11

      2 points from a relative of 2 people with an intellectual disability

      1.  Disability insurance is something first proposed in the Whitlam era!  Those at the pointy end know full well how expensive a lifetime of care can be.
       
      2.  Lets not go back to - shudder- institutional care.  My relatives live on their own in the community with their own carers via a families managed organisaiton to facilitate staff & do the admin. a) this costs 1/4 of the old group home state based care and b) gives them a life undreamt of before, of relative independence and fulfillment.

      Reply

    • woppadingo says:

      01:35pm | 23/02/11

      Fair enough that you are angry dude.  It would totally suck having a disability.  And also, using PC terms like ‘physically challenged’ is an offense to those who are really suffering for their disability.
      There are not so many severely disabled people in the country that the federal and state government(s) could not afford to provide better facilities and services to them.

      Reply

    • AFR says:

      02:12pm | 23/02/11

      Hmmm…... I see what your saying, but you must admit the parking situation is pretty good for the disabled. In the Sydney CBD - Parking all day for free.

      Reply

    • Anon says:

      02:12pm | 23/02/11

      Let me explain something to AC and others. Our daughter started out in an excellent special school. My wife and I were then told she had the “wonderful opportunity” to attend a mainstream school. Now she was having physio, OT, speech therapy and special assistance with her classroom work from a specially trained teacher.  I asked how that was going to be replaced.
      The answer was that she would get physio twice a week and one lot of speech therapy (to assist with feeding problems) as long as we transported her to and from. She would also be provided with a teacher aide for an hour a day to help with classroom activities.
      Now my wife and I both work in order to help cover the very high medical costs associated with our daughter’s disability. Getting her to therapy immediately after school is not an option unless her grandmother does it - and that would mean our other children giving up their after-school activities.
      We were told that refusing the transfer was not an option and that my mother would have to give up her time (and freedom) in order to see to the therapy - or one of us would have to give up work to do it.
      Now, this is our daughter and we love her dearly. We have not solved the problems or found a way around the financial difficulties we now face. 
      All this has come about because of the push to “integrate”. Our daughter is not integrated. She is lost, lonely and unhappy in the mainstream - all because a government saw a means of saving money and a small group of much more able people with disabilities did not have the guts to acknowledge that what they wanted was not necessarily right for everyone.
      If “Angry Cripple” thinks he is angry then he has no idea how some parents and many young people feel.  Say anything though and we are told we have had a “bad experience” and that “for most people” it is a positive. Nonsense. Most people are just too frightened they will lose the little support they have got if they complain.
      What is needed is some honesty in the debate and the right to say, “This is not working.”

      Reply

    • Fiona says:

      02:25pm | 23/02/11

      I really sympathise with your situation. We only have to look at the system in the UK to see that wonderful supported education options are possible. If they can do it - why cant we? We should not have to sacrifice the lives of our other children to provide the basics for our kids with disabilities - and this is precisely what happens in this country.

    • stephen says:

      02:14pm | 23/02/11

      Capitalism tells us that in all the stories of our life, and amongst the glories and misfortunes of our worth , that there is one avenue left which makes all human effort unneccesary : compensation.
      No, not the monetary one ; I’m referring to one supposedly inbuilt in us, that can, we are told, pass angels and happy fortune-cookies in front of our eyes as we wrestle with the wheel.
      It comes in the form of a God. And whenever people with this sort of disability get a hearing from an agency which has been chartered to help, I know from my experience of a friend, that, in the end, money or practical help is not the best offering, but prayer.
      Prayer is begging, and sorry to waffle earlier on here, but I have been in the presence of the aforementioned friend, when she was offered just this kind of ‘help’. A verbal barrage of bullshit which was meant to make her feel better, when what she needed was somewhere to live !
      You can’t feel better if you are homeless, and incapable of self-preservation.

      Reply

    • St. Michael says:

      11:36pm | 23/02/11

      In God’s defence, his alleged Son was at some pains (going by the four evangelists, anyway) to demand that people actually give to the poor and actually do good works rather than sit up the front of the church, er, synagogue, and proclaim how great a bunch of Jews, er, Christians they were.

    • Richard says:

      02:19pm | 23/02/11

      This is not an issue just about disability, it’s an issue about giving people a fair go.  Isn’t that we Australians like to think we do?  Well clearly we don’t: if one person gets a lifetime of support through compensation and another just gets a lifetime of marginalisation, that’s not fair.

      We need a system where EVERYBODY who needs support as a result of disability gets a fair go: support for their early years and for education, employment, therapy and living in a community with good relationships.

      Universal entitlement could be brought about through a scheme such as the national disability insurance scheme currently proposed.  This is something we could all support. Details are on the Every Australian Counts website.

      Reply

    • wise owl says:

      02:44pm | 23/02/11

      We can’t afford to take care of those who can not take care of themselves in a way in which Australia should be able to afford to because we are paying gigantic amounts of welfare each year. Our annual Federal welfare bill, currently $125,000,000,000 if you extract it from it’s hidden pockets within the budget e.g. youth allowance from Education etc.., is a National Disgrace. 800,000 disability pensioners which does not include those on wokers comp or those who are privately insured, is a National Disgrace. A massive amount of money is not available to people who genuinely can’t take care of themselves. Whilst you have Socialist Governments in power as we do now, you’ll never get anywhere because the resources will never be available.

      Reply

    • Kate says:

      11:22am | 24/02/11

      Oh yeah, great idea. Let’s cancel Youth Allowance. Then people won’t be able to afford to go to uni. You do realise people need a tertiary education to do all the jobs that people rely on, eg doctors, teachers, nurses, accountants, scientists etc?

      I don’t think it’s a “national disgrace” that people like me, without rich parents to support us, need some help while we study in order to afford basic living expenses (and believe me, we do not get paid much). I work part time while studying, I pay taxes and will do so for the rest of my life, I see nothing wrong with accepting Youth Allowance for a few years so I can afford to get an education.

    • Outside the Box says:

      03:31pm | 23/02/11

      Couldn’t we just send the crippled off to fight in Afghanistan or Iraq?  Think about it.  It’d give the target something to laugh at, while our snipers pick and choose their targets.  Everyone’s a winner!  Crippled-numbers go down, numbers of trained soldiers *stop* going down and we can go back to hating each-other without sending our boys abroad!

      Reply

    • pete m says:

      04:15pm | 23/02/11

      Did Punch need to publish this moronic comment?

      The crip - keep up the fight to be heard!

    • Ronni says:

      03:52pm | 23/02/11

      Middle class welfare has a lot to answer for. Do families with an income of $200K+ really need Family Tax benefit B or 50% of their childcare costs reimbursed??? Or do families who have a combined income of $150,000 who will receive paid maternity leave need a baby bonus of $5,000? Meanwhile those who have never had the opportuntiy to earn anything continue to live in facilities that resemble slums and be fed gruel because the govt says they have no money! And parents in their 80s are forced to continue their lifetime of caring. Can seniors not pay something towards their public transport? If you have had the opportunities in life that most retirees have enjoyed I believe you can make a contribution towards the services you use. And then there might be more money to care for those who due to their severe or profound disability from birth have never had these opportunities.

      Reply

    • wise owl says:

      01:57am | 24/02/11

      Ronni, I’m not sure you can get the baby bonus and paid maternity leave. FTB B cuts out at family income of $150k no $200k+. You are barking up the wrong tree I think. People earning more than $100k pay about 80% of all income tax paid in Australia. Even taking the few benefits families get who earn between 100k and 150k would save the Government only a tiny amount in relative terms. Agree with you on childcare costs, however I wouldn’t pay them to anybody . I would abolish welfare of all types completely to all groups except the profoundly disabled, who I would give a lot more to.

    • Taxpayer says:

      09:17am | 24/02/11

      Ronnie, you’re right on the money… so to speak. The current tax distribution priorities are all out of whack. We could run many hospitals, issue many aids & equipment and run and many group homes for the cost of our arts funding. FTB should be scrapped completely. I reckon we could deliver boosts to meantal health and disability funding as well as general tax cuts if we cut all those programs that don’t deliver real services. Arts, the ABC, multiculural commissions are all wants. Nobody needs them, so we should cut them. FTB and other circular money flows are plainly stupid and should be cut. If we do that, we can give a lot more money to people with real needs like the sick, homeless, mental and disabled.

    • rights says:

      07:17pm | 23/02/11

      i do not have any answers for how the government can take better care of the disabled or elderly. i do however take great responsibilty for how i treat others and the respect every person deserves.
      i support every statement that the government needs to put more into this issue.
      i myself believe the government pumps money into many things i could care less about.

      Reply

    • Alanna says:

      08:25pm | 23/02/11

      My daughter is disabled, Cerebral Palsy, she is 12,  she want more than anything a bellt button ring. I love her.

      Reply

    • Vic says:

      08:31pm | 23/02/11

      I don’t think people release how fragile we all are.  One slip or a fraction to much or too little of some chemical produced by our hypothalamus and we can become these people we would rather ignore.  I thinks our views would change considerably.  But these people don’t vote and the people who genuinely care about them are statistically not significant to open a politicians eyes . So less is spent on them than the scumbags in prison or porkbelly projects like roads to some pollys mates farm.

      Reply

    • I know what is valuable in life says:

      10:42pm | 23/02/11

      Big shock to me when I became one of the ‘Crips” - did not realise the disability came with an automatic “stupid” subtitle from just about anyone I had to deal with.  However, I have been thoroughly enjoying the fight back and subsequent victories and sometimes apologies. I don’t want “Sorry” I just want respect for me person and my abilities.  I was very fortunate in that I used to work in the disability field in a previous life and many of my former clients have been highly valued friends for many years and their wisdom and understanding and “no-strings attached” friendships have been my life-line. Thank you.

      Reply

    • Lizzie says:

      11:25pm | 23/02/11

      My son had a terrible time at school. We knew there was something very wrong with him but doctors & teachers told us that he was just bone lazy. He seemed to us to be a an intelligent boy, he learnt to read quickly but couldn’t write very well. One day a doctor who was a family friend asked us if we were doing anything to help our beautiful son & we just shrugged our shoulders in frustration. This doctor referred us to a neurologist he knew to be really good & after ordering some tests the diagnosis was that our boy had petit mal epilepsy & was having a small seizure every 40 seconds, day & night. The lack of caring by teachers left our son with no desire to learn & he’s just drifted through life making bad decisions as he looks for a place to belong. It’s just heartbreaking.

      Reply

    • Sparkly says:

      01:07am | 24/02/11

      The situation AC seems to deal with on a regular basis is distressing and there doesn’t seem to be enough government funding to fix it all but volunteering is difficult.  I have had the opportunity, the motivation and the willingness to assist any group that could use my help over the last two years and have expressed my wish to volunteer my services to the major (or those I am aware of) organisations to volunteer and haven’t had a single reply to any of my approaches in that time.  What more can I do?

      Reply

    • Bernard says:

      03:42am | 24/02/11

      Instead of being so angry Crip should probably consider getting a job. Just because you are crippled does not mean you can’t work. I know quite a few people with disabilities who contribute to society and they are much happier people for it.

      Reply

    • Abraham's Dad says:

      07:10am | 24/02/11

      Give them heaps AC. My Missus is getting stuck in as well for our son and has come up against everything you talk about. Check out her blog at Fatiguecity blog.

      The only answers i see in the big picture are

      1. The disability levy (medicare levy equivalent) that is proposed and supported by some
      2. A Facebook/equivalent centre of action to support improvement
      3. Full time lawyers employed by an outside non-government funding arrangement to push test cases through courts

      No other person would put up with the crap that you and other high needs people have to. It is a disgusting society that attacks those that can’t fight back. Social Justice Ha!

      You are already standing up Bro!

    • Angry Cripple says:

      07:23am | 24/02/11

      Thanks Abraham’s Dad. I am personally not in a bad situation, but so many are in truly shameful situations. Your ideas are great. The productivity Commission report will be release next week.
      And Bernard? Who says I don’t work?
      And guess what, there are plenty of people with physical disabilities who also have a host a medical issues and/or multiple disabilities who cannot work without one-to-one support, which is not provided.

    • Kim says:

      08:56am | 24/02/11

      Wow, I’ve heard it said that the measure of a nations greatness is how it treats the the least of it’s citizens.  If measuring is like grading in school, way to get that slacked D- Australia.

      Reply

    • Danzig says:

      09:37am | 24/02/11

      More reason for an Euthenasia debate.  Why let them be in institutions and stale piss, when we can end their suffering and ours.
      If we can euthenise other animals for small things like broken legs, then surely we can do it for our own species.

      Reply

    • malohi says:

      07:32am | 25/02/11

      Wow, Dan’s comment to Danzig’s. The spectrum of human compassion.
      From faux-benevolence to “burn it with fire.”

    • Benevolent Malcontent says:

      06:13pm | 18/11/11

      Danzig,

      This is the problem with people like you. You don’t have a solution so “let’s kill them?”

      The last person to think that way shot himself in a bunker in Berlin.

    • Paul says:

      09:56pm | 02/03/11

      sarcasm in written form never works, there is no tonal expressions or facial clues, sarcasm is not recieved at all well in the written form communication…
      as for the reality, disabled people come in many types (of disabilities and levels of disability), have many situations (employed or unemployed & unemployable), and are serviced to various levels, (from none to good to awaiting several years to get any)  Having read these post i feel sick, what a stupid bunch you all are. Im a very angry cripple myself, im ready to start sharing them around to get change, any one want a serious disability cos im more than willing to do a procedure on you….  until you been on the wrong end of the stick you dont get it!  If you aint gonna fix it the get nazi on us, im so sick of this uncaring country that has hardly adavanced in its 200 years, but govt can only reflect the attitudes of those that put them there.

      Reply

    • SkepDad says:

      12:54pm | 09/03/11

      As a society, we define a certain standard of living as “acceptable”, and it is not unreasonable to apply government money to facilitate that standard of living for everyone, to the extent that they are genuinely unable to provide it for themselves.  We can say that as a human in Australia, we can legitimately, and fairly, claim to be entitled to that. 

      What we must accept is that there are hugely varying standards of living above that acceptable level and that, as sad as it is that I don’t have the same lifestyle as a supermodel or TV personality, I can’t claim to be entitled to it.  Similarly there are people living a lifestyle we would consider well inferior to mine, but still above the acceptable level. Levelling that playing field is called communism, and that’s not what Australia’s about.

      Disability is an issue that can affect any person at any time, including before their birth.  It can and frequently does render the victim unable to provide themselves with an acceptable standard of living, and as such as a society we should be prepared to foot the bill for the difference.  National insurance, through an initiative such as the NDIS, is a sensible, socially responsible and pragmatic way of administering acceptable standards of living for those unable through disability to provide it for themselves.

      The real enemy in the disability sector is not funding (though that is always an issue) nor compassion (though if the comments here are broadly representative, we have a long way to go there) but waste and inefficiency in service delivery.  The armies of dedicated, compassionate disability workers in government departments, NGOs and the corporate sector, many of whom have personal experiences of disability, are watching with horror as the limited funding goes too much to one person and not enough to another.  They shake their heads as money is thrown at problems without the ability to track the results to ensure it’s working.  Without a consistent national approach, with controls to prevent fraud and assess outcomes, the disability sector will remain a swamp.

      Reply

    • Benevolent Malcontent says:

      05:56pm | 18/11/11

      As a person with three separate disabilities, I have encountered every conceivable kind of abuse, have had to live with a convicted criminal (who was also disabled) and have encountered corruption and laziness from support workers. I could say more, but decency doesn’t permit.

      I am sick and tired of hearing about people’s priorities. I’m sick of wars that cost trillions. I’m sick of the Church interfering in stemcell research. I am angered by the “there there disabled person we’ll mollycoddle you and wait till you die and then take you to the grave.”

      It’s high time better social and medical policy was endorsed (and yes I do consider old age a disability).

      Reply
 
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