Access to work

When eventually progression sets in they sent somebody to
collect it all so some other disabled person can make use of it.

They did leave a few cushions I had “compromised” by sitting
on for a couple of years and I sadly forgot to give them
The backup copy of the very expensive software.

I passed my 10th year of unemployment in December. Glad to hear about all you folks being assisted at work, but can’t help wondering why my local Job Centre + were bemused, when I asked for some sort of help into work. They couldn’t seem to understand why someone in receipt of ESA was darkening their door; sort of “you get money, yes, what do you want here?”

I’ve told this tale before, so won’t repeat it all, but surely there is more available than just a leaflet for Remploy? This was from the supposed DEA in the JC+.

Hi Cat, thanks for replying. Both my daughters are well, in fact, the eldest will be 17 tomorrow.

I live in the east of Scotland, and regarding Remploy (In partnership with Maximus), they are now one of those “Crapita” type agencies; the ones who claim the credit for the client finding a job on the governments’ job site. (Whatever it’s called these days)

I didn’t really mean to open up this old wound again, I am well aware of the meaning of the term “parked’; it’s just I can suddenly, out of the blue, be surprised anew that they allow us to sit on benefits for decades, slowly rotting away!

If I hadn’t been getting divorced at the time, I might have been more persistent with my employer back in 2009, back when there might have been a chance at re-training. (Little chance, the office was up two flights of stairs, with no lift, and I was an un-educated bus driver!)

It’s hard enough for folk my age to get back into work, never mind if they are disabled or ill, I wouldn’t exactly be enamoured of a guy with a 10 year employment gap; there would have to be some sort of government backed incentive scheme on offer.

I’m pretty much answering my own question here. If the government really cared about helping us back into work, we would be getting constantly prodded and directed towards this scheme or that. The fact they don’t, tells it’s own story.

Cat wrote:

Hi ranald

Been a while hope you and the girls are well. Think your experience must be bad training and management in your branch as when I worked in job center for a spell many years ago the branch themselves had a disability liaison officer to aid their own staff. So really no excuse for not knowing the gate way access to employment for disabled. And no disabled employment isn’t and shouldn’t be simply remploy, whom I actually thought was gone.

What area is it you live in ranald?

I did once try to set up a food bank, independent of the Trussell Trust, but they have a unique advantage over most others – church halls; those cavernous spaces that are ideally suited to the running of foodbanks!

Today I fell badly in the house, hurting my wrist. I also cracked my head on the pavement recently, resulting in an ambulance callout. I took the sensible decision today to order a pair of walking poles. I have struggled with my self-doubt for far too long on this subject, it was time to just do it. I came to the belief that my feeling ashamed to use walking aids was secondary to the bigger issue. Ambulance staff are hard enough pressed, and certainly don’t need the added pressure of over proud MD sufferers demanding their attention.

also, I’m thinking longer term as will train to teach and may need to move about more after covid bubbles cease.the downstairs loo is in a building I have to walk to, but its not far- the distance of maybe 4/5 bus lengths. The staff toilet in my regular building is upstairs.

Pips, I think you will find a scooter of immense help.I use mine regularly, but I also use the walking poles to keep me going as long as I can. I have tried to visualise my body as a battery. the more you use a battery the more it runs down. Come the time you need it, say to start a car, and you have not recharged it, then it will fail, much as you feel so tired and need to nap. So by using it on long journeys around school then you conserve your energy for later. You will find a balance which suits you I am sure. I have had lots of fun on my scooters over the years I have had them. One of my granddaughters renamed them zum-zums so that helped me to adjust to them. I have used them to get reluctant children into hospital and had races on the promenade with them. I know one chap who turned his into a harley Davidson lookalike. Please do consider the option and let us know how you go on.
Mike

Well, access to work called me today to tell me that they don’t fund medical aids and a mobility scooter for work is classed a this, and they never fund electrical items anyway?!?! Bizarre when i was advised to apply! Oh well, perhaps their rules have changed?! Suni (soton neuromuscular team) said it isn’t a medical aid as I can walk so she will look into it…..