Sunnier Days is the very personal name I have given to the ‘vehicle’ enabling me to make some of my ideas around disability a reality. Those close to me refer to my positive attitude, my love of sunny holidays and because my projects (the blog, work with Hackney council and DisabilityLib) are about improving things – Sunnier Days felt right and was born!

So what is this project about? You may remember last May I decided to find a venue, inspirational speakers and market an event for disabled people. My friends, family and blog readers gave positive feedback, however the guys in the BBC ouch chat rooms were more sceptical. I managed to get a great venue in Shoreditch – London, the BBCs disabled tv presenter Natasha Wood and disabled model Sophie Morgan, and 20 people attended! It was the first time I have ever done something like this. It was challenging, scary, great fun, uplifting and a big learning experience.

The feedback showed that there is an appetite for dissemination of inspiring and informative information to disabled people, their friends/family and professionals. The down side was the costs associated with hiring a venue, putting on catering and transportation to the event. I continued with my blogging, looked at social networking sites and pondered many other ways of providing a platform for debate, sharing and positive change around disability.

More recently the ability to run a seminar online was brought to my attention. Part of my new years’ excitement was around the prospect of running the Sunnier Days events (like last Mays), but straight to someone’s living room.

Having a disability called Spinal Muscular Atrophy I have been a member of the charity for my impairment since birth – www.jtsma.org.uk – (I was also on the board of trustees for 2 years). We have partnered up to launch this idea for their members and my blog followers. ‘Seminar in your slippers’ has been officially launched this week!

To see my cheesy promo video and to download the flyer with full details, please click http://www.jtsma.org.uk/seminar_in_your_slippers.html

Feel free to retweet this, email friends and phone anyone who might find this useful. I hope, even with a couple of tweaks from these 2 seminars, that ‘seminar in your slippers’ can become a great innovative way of delivering informative and inspirational details to the living rooms of the disabled community. Please do sign up, join us on the scheduled dates and provide feedback so we can achieve this!

Exciting times hey

In light of the recent cuts to government spending, we (Martyn Sibley of London and Richard Currie of Manchester) are writing to convey our deep concern at the affects they will have on the disabled people of the UK. We are only 2 of 10 million disabled people in Britain, but our views are by no means unique. This letter forms our contribution to a large online campaign – 1 month before heartbreak. Many people are blogging today to urge your good selves to consider aspects of the Disability Living Allowance and general disability reforms, and how they will truly work in the ‘real world’.

The DLA provides vital financial assistance for the extra costs incurred as a result of being disabled. The consultation is looking at tougher assessment criteria (to reduce the number of claimants) and even withdrawing the vital transport component of the allowance. It ends on 14^th February 2011. Furthermore there are discussions to disband the Independent Living Fund, assisting disabled people to live full, self directed lives. Please don’t break anyone’s heart on Valentines day. Or for that matter, ever!

We would like to start by acknowledging  the social, legal, economic, political and technological improvements of the past 50 years . With the social model of disability being enforced through laws and motions such as the Disability Discrimination Act and the UN convention , disabled people have seen vast improvements in societal inclusion. We both have had happy childhoods, met good friends, accessed our education system to Masters level and have ambitions the same as anyone. We personally strive for full independence using our electric wheelchairs, accessing social care provisions and using DLA for the extra costs we incur as disabled people.

As a positive recognition of the coalition government, we are glad you see the merits of Personalisation. The key here is that it may not be for everyone. With such a varying scale of impairments in the disability world, person centred plans are vital. Where possible, people should direct their own provision of services, giving them the flexibility, choice and control they deserve. When certain tasks and responsibilities are simply too much, this must be recognised and solved innovatively with brokerages and other support services. Really the crux of Personalisation is to improve disabled people’s lives, not to cut costs and corners. Please ensure there is enough money in the coffers. It is difficult to employ a PA to carry out care-work 24/7 under the minimum wage. Furthermore without the foundations of care in our lives how can we work, be financially sustainable, socially engage and be happy and healthy?

Unfortunately, even in 2011, this all has not resulted in full inclusion. Physically there are many buildings, transport links and leisure activities that are not accessible. Attitudinally many people still have cautious and incorrect views on disability. It is widely known bus and taxi drivers get agitated because a wheelchair user requires a ramp. Employers often feel concerned of disabled peoples’ ability to carry out a job, instead of assessing them on actual merit. We already need to improve a lot of things despite the progress made. So why make such regressive policy decisions?

With disabled people finding access to qualifications more difficult, trying to change attitudes and access to jobs in an already very difficult labour market, and having less disposable income because of the many extra costs incurred (more expensive travel methods, purchasing and repairs to necessary equipment, central heating costs, extra rent to provide space for PAs…), why slash DLA?

We know there are people claiming it who should not. We totally agree this should be stopped too. However is it the core reason our country is in debt? No. Is it fair that while stopping the fraudsters, people who really do need DLA are worried if they will keep it, worried how they will be assessed (we for one are not attempting to run on any machine to fall over and prove our disability), and others may not even bother applying when they ought to? No.

Furthermore, if you are to disband the Independent Living Fund, supporting 21,000 disabled people with their care needs, consider this. If local councils struggle to financially support 50% of our care now, how will they fill the void left from the ILF, when their overall budgets are being slashed as we write this?

The point is with so much positivity to celebrate, but with so much more to improve, why make decisions that will entrench disabled people back into poverty and exclusion? We say:

• Invest in disabled people with Personalisation social care, but for the right reasons. Listen to the challenges disabled people face, work with us to find solutions and be willing to fund this properly. In the long run, the spending and investment will lead to disabled people with better education, better skills for the workplace, better chance of being given employment (encourage remote working to become the norm when appropriate) and the means to live happy and fulfilled lives
• Acknowledge that DLA assists with the huge additional costs of being disabled – care and mobility. Stop anyone from claiming falsely, but in a way that doesn’t scare monger disabled people and doesn’t portray an image of lazy, slacking scroungers. Work with disabled people on the assessment methods and don’t break our hearts!
• Keep the ILF. Or at least find a plan to fill its void. One that will be effective. Do not cause unnecessary stress to those who rightly use it and will always require social care funding

Feel free to send any responses, thoughts or questions to martynsibley@hotmail.com and lets work together. The deficit can be cut and disabled people can be supported to live inclusively. They are not mutually exclusive occurrences.

Kindest regards.

Martyn and Richard

http://martynsibley.com/

http://thebrokenofbritain.blogspot.com/2011/01/more-one-month-before-heartbreak.html

In some ways this is no bad thing either. You can easily google for what the ILF is, their history and for policy documents on independent living. What is more difficult to find is the real way in which recent events affect an individual such as myself. While I am going about my intricately balanced but effective care based life, the seeds of doubt have begun to enter my conscious.

For those who haven’t read my blogs on my care: I require 24/7 care to enable me to hoist, dress, cook, clean and have personal care. My needs were assessed by my local authority who have an obligation to provide the services I require. I am also a member of the ILF who enable more severely disabled people to access additional funding, enabling a more independent life to be upheld. Through these 2 funding channels I commission and pay 3 people to cover my care rota through the year. Having this support ensures I not only eat, drink and wash, I am able to live a fulfilled life; both career wise and socially. Hopefully my blog captures this essence and inspires others to live life to the full too.

So when news arrives the ILF will be finished by 2015 my ears pricked up. I know there have been lots of consultations around government policies and budget spending, so I didn’t jump to conclusions. Then yesterday the fateful letter arrived explaining; they had written in June of potential changes, worked with coalition government on the options, Maria Miller announced the funds closure in 2015, they will be in touch to consult on how they will fill the void in 2011.

It is a good thing that as a service user effected I am meant to play a part in the next steps. However to take away half of my care package means I would ‘suggest’ to them (understatement of the century) something should replace the void. I can only see for the sake of simplicity that the local authority would just be expected to pick up the tab. However knowing getting the amount I currently have was difficult when I moved to London. Then with the recent government cuts for local authorities, is this really the case?

If the void is filled, I dont care in what way, I will be happy and continue life as I do. However having ILF stopped and being potentially moved to another framework is bound to cause teething problems impacting my life.

Should the void not be filled, the dread kicks in. With half the care package I would turn to my PAs and announce a pay cut. The likelyhood of anyone working 3-5 days straight for 24 hours is remote. They are great people and care for me deeper than just a job, but its not economically sustainable for them as people. So, then comes the point of would anyone of the right qualities work for this? No. Could I cope with less hours? As I need help to get to bed, to turn over in the night and to get up, I would need support for those hours. But then I need help in the day to use the loo, make drinks, food, go to work. This all before I might like to visit a friend every now and then… You can see the dilemma. At this stage I may need to move back to Cambridge after quitting my job and selling my flat, rely on friends and families good will, lose my independence and not be even a shade of my current self.

So whether an answer is found or not, there are a lot of worries and concerns I have right now. With 4 years to go I need to win the lottery or get rich quick. However apart from those options its a scary prospect right now.

What do you think to this and various other recent government announcements?

Arriving at the Best Western hotel, which Srin booked while we were in San Fran, we hit the same initial problem. Yep, the shower was not a roll in. On asking at reception there was nothing they could do and blamed hotels.com for the mistake. This was a moment I am well used to and Srin agreed that with 4 days left, bed baths would suffice. Srin complained after the trip and hotels.com apologised and gave him a voucher. He suggested we use this for a weekend travel next summer, maybe to Amsterdam.

Having the usual teething problems and mass unpacking session, we were struck by something new – sun and warmth. Having been so ill before the trip and with winter in full swing back here, it was a must have for me. Overall I was apprehensive (and it came to be true) that LA was more about areas with history, than something more specific or tangible. This history was also more around entertainment, movies and TV than politics etc. However we were all tired and well travelled so I think sitting on the beach, looking at the cool views of the coast and cruising through Hollywood/Bevery Hills/Sunset Boulevard etc was perfect. Checkout some of the pictures http://www.flickr.com/photos/martyn_sibley/sets/72157625513550662/.

The first full day we hit Malibu beach and Santa Monica Boulevard. The home of Baywatch and lyrics of Sheryl Crow, we were really living the dream. The Sunday we took a short drive up the amazing Pacific route 1 (which goes through San Fran and up to Canada). The views here were stunningly beautiful and we sat with our lunch feeling so inspired by the drive. Afterward we drove down Hollywood boulevard, but didn’t do the walk of fame because the xmas lights were being switched on in front of crowds of people. Having asked one cool copper where, we hit Hollywoods viewing platform at the Griffiths Observatory. This is where on the video I got carried away and did a cheesy martynsibley.com plug.

Monday we found Rodeo drive, Beverly Hills, Bel Air and Sunset Boulevard. We did a piece on the video for the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. I wanted a cocktail on Sunset Boulevard and knew it hit Malibu beach from a couple of days earlier. Having drove for 30 minutes around 4.45pm towards a beautiful sunset, not a bar was in sight. We found out the lively part was eastwards (the other direction) on Sunset Boulevard which was gutting. The good news was we reached the beach on our last night for this picturesque sunset and poignant moment for the trip.

We then headed toward Manhattan Beach, near to our hotel, for the last evening. One of my best times in LA was this area. One of the nights, we all had our favourite meal in an Italian/Greek restaurant there. We also found a truly American bar with sports memorabilia and a pool table. The people there were welcoming and it reminded me of a West Coast ‘cheers’ bar. I asked if Tina’s Margherita could be powered up with a little more alcohol. I thought the bar tender was mortally offended, but as I was chatting to Ted and Pete (my 60 year old mates I made through booze) the bar tender came around. Next thing he’s pouring extra shots and telling us we were cool UK/Austrian peeps. This night was also when I taught Srin he could play pool, checkout the photos of the grudge match. Tina and I vs Srin and Hugh. We drew 1-1.

Now the other almost spiritual part of the trip related to my teenage years. Please do not laugh but I was a bit of a wannabe gangster when I was 12 or so. The first album I bought was Warren G, Regulate and had to place my thumb over the ‘parental advisory’ label. Needless to say, loving my west coast rap such as Dre, Snoop etc, we had to visit Compton, Inglewood and Long Beach. We found KDAY 935 radio station for the pilgrimage to Compton on route to Manhattan Beach. Srin couldn’t believe I knew every lyric. My hairs on my arms stood up and I was buzzing. Sad but true. I was really living the dream at that point. “Westside!!!”.

On the last day I grabbed some souvenir presents for people back home, lapped up the last rays of sun, and felt a little nostalgic. I also turned my attention back to the UK and how to apply some learnings on the trip when home. At the airport we were delayed by 2 hours because of the snow back home. Security was a bit crazy, having to get touched all over and be swabbed for explosive traces, but hey its 2010 right. Tired and going through the mental preparation for flying – will they lift me ok, will my chair be ok, will my bum last the journey etc. Jack Black then comes through the doors. We all had to double take the situation.

Jack Black was amazing! I spoke to his wife, while the others chatted about movies with him. She was really cool too. Then I seized the moment and asked if I could be cheeky by filming him for my blog. He said sure and asked what it was for. I explained it was for disability and he launched into 4 takes as per the end of the trips video. I have since cut the smoothest version which is here http://martynsibley.com/jack-black-singing-martynsibley-com. Amazing. He took my card and said he will look me up on Facebook, fingers crossed. I grinned the whole flight home.

On landing in snow and 0 degrees after being awake 24 hours was hard. To add to this the car broke, again. Srins dad kindly dropped us off at the Long Stay car park to save my hands getting the ‘claw’ from the cold. We threw the bags in after he headed, I hit the button and… nothing! I was pretty close to panic with no sleep, the cold and my health. Fortunately the customer service office provided warmth and an eventual jump start. I slept so well that night and realised all is well that ends well. I may at some stage look more broadly at the US vs UK for disability, but for now this ends the personal accounts of this trip, an absolutely great one too J

We had managed to book the Vegas rooms before leaving the UK too. We went for the MGM Grand on the strip. With so many rooms, 2 theatres, casinos, shops, swimming pool and many restaurants, ‘grand’ doesn’t begin to describe it. We hit our first disability related hitch on arrival. The valet parking wasn’t totally geared up for side ramps, but we sorted them out. Then the showers in the ‘accessible’ room had steps. I learnt some valuable tips from Srin on this trip. I have always had such a positive attitude, but sometimes to my detriment. I have never complained about anything, but realised sometimes it is a principal thing when you are treated incorrectly, especially due to disability. As Srin had lugged his shower chair all the way there, a roll in shower made sense. So we went to reception and explained. They were great. They placed Srin in the fully accessible room and due to a shortage, Tina and I were bumped into the ‘Celebrity Spa’ room. Most luxurious! Ironically it also had a roll in shower. Due to lack of head support, I used 2 MGM grand plastic bags over a pillow, innovation in disability hey… Then the transformer that allows UK wheelchair chargers to work in the USA broke down. Srins wouldn’t work, but before we headed to spend $200 on a new one, we managed to use mine. This meant doubling up on charging, but we made it work. The A-Team of disability collaboration J

Having settled in, we just wandered around the hotel and marvelled. It is honestly something I have never seen in my life. So many lights, machines, noises and atmospheric touches, all arranged to encourage gambling and money making. Cynical I know, but it is true and spectacularly clever how it is carried out. Having slept well after the journey we used the following day to explore the strip and hotels. With so many sights within one road, that one day wasn’t enough, but we ticked off the main places. We used the very accessible monorail, due to the freezing temperatures. We were unlucky with the weather in San Fran and Vegas, apparently we brought the UK climate with us. Highlights of the day were the sight from the top of the Stratosphere hotel, Hugh doing a Base Jump from the bloody building (twice), seeing the Gondolas at the Venetian (Venice replicated inside a hotel) and enjoying a good drink with the guys.

Our second (and last day) in Vegas we crammed a lot in. We took the car out to Arizona, so we actually hit 3 states in a week. This was to see the Hoover dam and Lake Meade. I gave a little spiel on the video about how it was man-made to tame the Colorado river in the early 20^th century. The view was spectacular. Then we made it back to our hotel to watch Cirque du Soleil. I lost myself for this hour and a half. A magnificent show of mystery, dance, acrobatics and escapism. So cool! We then used the last few hours for a couple more drinks and some GAMBLING. To be honest I am not a big gambler nor rich to squander my $$$ but “what happens in Vegas…”. Srin hit the roulette table, we all tried the slot machines and I did some Texas hold ‘em Poker. Having won my first hand I got a little cocky and then lost it again in a blink. Think I will stick to Poker with a £10 in each, winner takes all. Less financial risk this way

With the bags packed and ready to head to LA, there was one final drama in Vegas. The MGM grand is known for famous boxing matches. Hugh is also a keen boxing fan. Having gone off for a wind down drink after helping Srin to bed. He returned 4 hours later a little sheepish. Srin had been worried about the time he was gone and the story transpired that a random drunk guy ended up taking a swing at Hugh. He grazed his face but Hugh dived away. In an act of self defence Hugh planted a swing of his own on the guy too. Security swooped and asked Hugh to explain the events in front of CCTV footage in a quiet room, hence the delayed return to Srin. Pretty crazy stuff but all is well that ends well. Tina did a good share of the driving to let Hugh recover from the trauma and we headed to my ‘West-side’ pilgrimage the following morning. Pictures of Vegas and the rest of the trip are on http://www.flickr.com/photos/martyn_sibley/sets/72157625513550662/

With warmer climates and the promise of stardom, tune back in next time for Los Angeles, my meeting with Jack Black and a cold/snowy return home!

It is not unheard of to say planning is key, but with my disability and additional needs it is 10 times more important. Having completed my trip of a lifetime to Australia 5 years ago much of the steps were the same. However this trips original idea was conceived back in May at the Sunnier Days event I ran http://martynsibley.com/video-of-sunnier-days-event-3. My friend Srin said during the seminar he was planning a trip to South Africa for his social enhancement. I mentioned my interest to join him. Soon after I coincidentally had a catch up call with my ex girlfriend and now good mate Tina. She said if I needed help with care she would be happy to assist. Unfortunately the trips costs ran away and we knocked the safari on the head, but stated a trip of some description would happen that would be hardcore!

We looked at Brazil and Cuba first. The problem here was access but more so the time we had before November to nail it. Cuba did not even have an accessible vehicle anywhere. I will make one of these destinations happen in future but nonetheless they were dropped for now. Having been to New York, Florida and DC we felt confident in USA access, plus the west coast was unexplored terrain. Suddenly San Francisco, Vegas and LA looked do-able but challenging.

When booking a holiday I go about it as anyone else, but as you saw sometimes I have to take practicalities into account and be flexible. Once we knew California was the one, we checked flight prices. Airlines are obliged to cater for wheelchair users but if the prices are similar the bigger airlines are safer bets for service. So we went with BA as it was a good price and a direct flight. As soon as you have booked your flight, go through the airlines website pages to indicate your disability and needs. Information required varies and often a phone call may be necessary too. For me they need to know my chairs dimensions, that I need the chair until boarding at the gate, I need assistance lifting on the plane and that the chair has dry cell batteries.

Regarding accommodation, having been messing about with the destination for too long and knowing the USA was good for disability, we were quite relaxed about not booking everything before we flew. We booked the San Francisco hotel straight away. Using the normal rule of location and price like anyone else would, a couple were identified. Then using their website and making a couple of calls we ascertained whether they had accessible rooms and roll in showers. We stayed at http://www.sfocp.com/. Simples.

Transportation in the past has been accessible taxis or public transport. In America you need the freedom of a hire car anyway, but with a wheelchair its the sensible option. We tracked down 2 companies using google (“wheelchair accessible vehicle hire”) and http://www.wheelchair-getaways.com/ could take both wheelchairs for £1000 less than their competitor. Their service also enabled us to have the car delivered to San Francisco and leave it on our departure day at LAX airport. The car door jammed on day 2 and they were amazing by coming out on a Saturday and giving us a replacement. This one also had some issues and they allowed us a better (third car) before the 10 hour Vegas journey. Not ideal but the company ensured it didn’t ruin our trip. So Srin and I were both fully transportational, while Hugh (Srins PA) and Tina were insured and ready to drive on our Cali road trip.

Packing is always a little stressful. I boil it down to the essentials on a list and anything else can be bought and replaced. However being disabled means the essentials are sizeable. Srin brought his mo-lift hoist and shower chair. I have often hired a hoist after googling local organisations and managed without showering. Being a longer trip, bed baths would have struggled to keep me from smelling so I was glad of the shower chair. I had to remember my sling for the hoist (the material placed under me, attached to the hoist – a crane type machine to lift me), the knee pad to stop my knees getting pressure sores at night and my chair charger. I just kept my luggage within the weight limit but I know Srin struggled. If issues arise at check-in explain to the people there are disability aids present, they should make special allowances for you.

To be honest parts of the journey itself is harrowing, but I have learned to pre empt issues and chill out as much as possible. Up at 5am, I drove Tina and I to Heathrow (having worked all day and delivered a training session in the evening the previous day). We managed with the luggage getting on the bus from the car park to terminal 5. The boarding went ok but as the video shows I am a little vulnerable here. The 11 hour journey on a different seat hurts my bum and I need help eating and moving. Tina was ace. So after nearly 24 hours I was back in my own chair and acquainted with Srin and Hugh in California.

Tina had not met Srin or Hugh, I hadn’t met Hugh and so we were 4 people thrown together by fate. Srin and I have SMA and met at a http://www.jtsma.org.uk/ conference where we arm wrestled years ago. We hadn’t ever spent so much time together either. It all clicked straight away though. We took a ride into San Fran that evening to a cool organic restaurant. However Tina and I hit the sack by 9pm and knocked out.

The next morning we had the car issues as mentioned but we still managed the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the Pacific ocean at Golden Gate park. The video indicates the view but wow. I had goosebumps all day long. I love travelling for that feeling of new experiences, new people and new thoughts. These kicked in straight away I can tell you. Any stress from London, work, chest infections etc dissipated.

On the Sunday we took the most amazing trip to http://www.yosemitepark.com/. Tina was very excited as she is a keen climber and had heard lots about this place. Unfortunately November means there is snow there, being a mountainous terrain. So having marvelled at the views we hit a sticking point. We were unable to enter the actual park without snow chains for the car. Costing $75 we felt it might not be worth it and it all sounded quite treacherous. Suddenly we all came over brave and said we’d come all this way and should bite the bullet. Check out the pictures on flickr! Luckily the resident Austrian knew how to attach them as the 3 brits had no clue. http://www.flickr.com/photos/martyn_sibley/5227496828/in/set-72157625513550662/ I can say it was totally worth it. We saw the rock face El Capitain through the beautiful falling snow and astounding waterfalls. We were all in awe.

On the way home the first running gag occurred. All road trips need them. A cute waitress was asking after our accents and where we lived. She then came back and said – “can I ask you a question”? we said of course. So she proceeded to ask if London is a big place in England. Bless. The rest of the trip we would ask each other, if we could ask a question. Silly but got a giggle everytime. On the Monday we explored more of San Fran. That evening we met my dads friend from school days who lives out there now. He took us to an amazing Japanese restaurant http://www.benihana.co.uk/ where they juggle, cut and cook the food in front of you http://www.flickr.com/photos/martyn_sibley/5227592104/in/set-72157625513550662/.

Overall San Francisco was very good for wheelchairs. Having the car solved transport issues but I think in the city we would have managed. Most buildings were accessible and the people were great. It is known for being a liberal and open city and I really felt that. I love diversity and openness. I really felt San Fran offered this and our stay there was magnificent. Final analysis after part 3 but needless to say we left happy and set for our 10 hour road trip to Vegas on the Tuesday. Brace yourselves for this one.

I know people follow my blogs because there is some fun stuff and inspirational pieces from time to time, but I have appreciated others would like more detailed information. For example in the holiday video I shot how I am lifted from the plane to my wheelchair. The trip also highlighted the many extra things I have to plan and think about. Therefore my new beginning starts with the coverage of the California and Vegas road trip by giving hints and tips on how I manage travel with my disability. Clearly sometimes a blog is self expressive or detail is not required, but where possible, and beyond the travel vibe, I will breakdown the information in a clearer format. The fun and inspiration will continue too of course.

Regarding the 12 day trip with Tina, Srin and Hugh here is the link to the video http://martynsibley.com/video-california-and-vegas-road-trip. It lasts 9 minutes but is crammed with amazing shots of San Francisco, Vegas and Los Angeles. Allow it to buffer first for a smooth watch. I am then going to write 3 blogs over the next week:

1)      Planning the trip and San Francisco

2)      Las Vegas and how I lost it all

3)      Los Angeles and snowy flat car batteries

Another reason for a new beginning is the endorsement for my website www.martynsibley.com by a very famous actor. Checkout the end of the holiday video blog for when I met Jack Black at LAX airport. Absolute legend of a guy and the skit is perfect! Thank you Jack.

At 12.30 the chancellor took to the floor and began. The next feeling I felt was confusion. The onslaught of self justifying comments and numbers almost made my head implode. I managed to stick with it and draw out some of the main points. It seemed from my need for broader decisions that local councils will see large cuts, employment is preferable over people on benefits, a green Britain is a hot agenda item, social care and personal budgets are not being cut, childrens tax credits are being withdrawn from higher income families and many other points were made.

To home in and analyse some areas close to me would be around social care. The announcement of not cutting any budgets and backing the personalisation agenda is good. The problem is this issue is not just on money but strategy. While the money is vital the government still need to look at where and how they spend it. Furthermore the right support is needed to maximise the benefits of the personalisation agenda. I hope this is seen through as a policy as much as a budget decision.

The general points of getting people into work also concerned me. How a person is assessed is a landmine, especially with individuals who have fluctuations in their impairment. Furthermore even if a disabled person is attempting to find work, they along with many employers only see barriers in the way. It is fine to aim for those well enough to work to do so, but it comes back to education and awareness to the public on facilitating disabled peoples inclusion. Lastly, how about those who really cannot work, despite the fact they may want to, but their disability prevents them. How must they feel about their government today insinuating many negative connotations on them?

The decision around anyone on benefits receiving no more than the average household. This sounds ‘fair’ but what about the fact that being disabled costs more. I need to buy expensive electric wheelchairs every 5 years, if I go on holiday I require an accessible vehicle which costs more and I have to buy more antibiotics in the winter with my chest infections. So if I did not work, earned the ‘average households’ income in benefits, but needed the above – is this fair?

A last fleeting thought was around transport changes and a greener Britain. I couldn’t see any real initiatives to improve the infrastructure for wheelchair users, more details may be needed. However with this green agenda, which I fully support, there is a flaw. Disabled people often cannot access public transport. I can only use 1 in 3 tube stops in my home city of London. So in not using public transport I have a carbon footprint (wheelprint if you like) higher than the average person. So all in all being a disabled person could make me feel a drain on public funds and like a polluting maniac.

Fortunately I know I am none of the above. I am also aware I am looking at the examples to highlight where the decisions today were wrong. The fact is the deficit does need reducing eventually and the decisions could have been worse. A governments worse constraint is that of being in power as they cannot please everyone. The reason I have sensationalised some of the above is  because it is easy to agree with their comments on stopping benefit cheats. The problem is how to stop them without mistakes and adding stress to those who genuinely do need support. There is 2 sides to every coin and I am trying to communicate the other side to Mr O.

I believe with a little investment in myself and other disabled people the future is less expensive and better for the economy. As a supported, happy and understood person I thrive. As an unsupported, unhappy and misunderstood person I am less healthy in body and mind. This costs more to the public purse. When governments realise investment in disabled people, job creation and infrastructure pays off in their own arenas, the deficit will be a problem solved in the longer run anyway, but with less pain on those who least deserve it.

Also I have been busy and preoccupied this week with my annual sleep study. To some extent I could say “please see blog from 1 year ago” to explain my night last night. I will not repeat the overriding events that occur at every sleep study. However I was a bit nervous because after last year I had the worst winter ever health wise. I have been fretting that the study may reveal a deterioration in my general breathing overnight etc. I am happy to say after some tests and chats with the doctor there has been no longer lasting effects. I do need to return in December to try out a cough assist machine. This will help my weaker cough move any infection from a normal winter cold. So with no long term effects and some technology to help ‘if’ I have a bad winter this year, I am feeling brighter and relieved. They also said that I can use the machine at home next year. This may mean I actually get some proper sleep too for the study.

The hospital trip did unfortunately impact on the talk I was due to deliver tonight for the local council. Despite my intent on putting health first, I still endeavour to never let people down. I know they understood the reasons but I was looking forward to doing this tonight – c’est la vie. I will make the next one the best ever!

So other than sleep studies and missed talks I enjoyed the spurs game last Wednesday, stayed in Thursday through to Sunday. However Saturday night a friend from secondary school visited who I hadn’t seen in many years – was good to catch up. So Monday I drove back to mums and worked at home yesterday and today around the overnight hospital trip. Got back just in time for the new series of the apprentice. Highlight – “my first name wasn’t mummy, but ‘money’!” Was that for real?