A heartfelt cheerio!

That’s what I have to say regarding both the Olympics and the recently deceased Paralympics.

I’m also glad to say I thoroughly enjoyed watching both – many thanks to the BBC and Channel 4.

It really tickles me pink to say the closing ceremony for the Paralympics, I felt, was better than the closing ceremony for the Olympics.

Seeing the pop band band Coldplay and allowing a disabled man to fulfil his dreams of being a drummer for the band was a fitting tribute to the games.

Seeing both the rapper Jay-Z and Barbadian singer Rhianna performing made me forget the offensive words by one of the Channel 4 commentators, who called the one Barbadian athlete performing at the games ‘a token’ entry.

All’s well that ends well.

&&&&&&&

At the same time, I have to admit, I’m not surprised with the crowd and athletes who booed the British Government minister George Osborne who attended an event on day five of the Paralympics at the Olympic stadium.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is vital for many disabled people; including Para Olympians, as many simply don’t get the sponsorship money or lucrative advertising deals the athletes from the Olympic Games get, especially when the games are over.

Furthermore, not every disabled person could compete in the games - my chronic fatigue, (no control over my) eye movements and lack of mobility, all due to Multiple Screlosis, mean I can’t move fast enough.

I also have asthma, which also brings on more problems. Now, due to the hay fever in the summer and flu/cold in the winter, it makes it very difficult for me to keep my weight down, which I'm concerened about as diabetes is a condition my dad has.

I assure you, I’m no welfare snob or a person who prides themselves on being in this way: it’s just the way it is.

I once prided myself on being a person who could get up and go anywhere I wanted. Now I can’t.

London is an expensive city and the DLA helps me to keep my head above water.

As it’s thanks to the DLA, I’m able to get my shirts amended to zips, as it’s embarrassing for me to always get my mum to button up my shirts (I can no longer perform this simple act), before heading to work.

I’m not going to reveal where I work but the top bosses who employ me know of my condition.

I did inform the Government department of Work and Pensions (DWP) of this job, as I’m so proud that I can still contribute to this country by having tax and national insurance deducted from my pay.

Even now, I get a work colleague to pin my tie on me; another signs me in. We do have an electronic card that clocks us in but we are still expected to sign in.

If I’m needed to start early, I pay for a taxi to collect me, so I get to my destination in good time. If it’s a late booking, again I take a taxi to drop me from the high street, around 11pm, to my home address.

The taxi firm I use now give me a £3.00 reduction off my fee; such is the frequency of me using these cabs!

I also have to send my clothes to be dry-cleaned as I can’t iron my clothing anymore. Again that’s the way it is for me in the here and now and for the majority of us who are disabled.

I’m more than aware of the need to tighten the public purse strings and have experienced this from all political parties. The closure of six libraries in the London Borough of Brent by the Labour-run council still aggravates me, for reasons I’ve stated before, in earlier notes.

But two wrongs will NEVER make a right. We disabled people shouldn’t be made the vulnerable scapegoats for this country’s financial problems, yet that what seems to be the case.

That’s why Mr George Osborne received the reception at the Paralympics only deserved of an unwanted rodent.

I still remember what it was like for me in the early days of my disability.

I stayed indoors all day as I was frightened of the outside world. I and other disabled people know those days are likely to return under the reform plans of the DLA.

Looking and hearing the hostility of the crowd speaks for itself.

It was the British disabled performers and their families on that day making it clear to George Osborne, David Cameron, Nick Clegg and everyone in the current coalition that this reform isn’t wanted by the very people it’s suppose to benefit: the disabled people of the United Kingdom.

PITCHING UP A TENT/BUILDING AND CHARGING AN ENTRANCE FEE SHOULD REMAIN WITH RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT!

To see more details about why so many of us are unhappy at the proposed changes, click here.


Light and Peace

Andria

P.S to see more of my work, click here.