My 3 hour 'out and about help'

You might well wonder how a young girl, young enough to be my daughter , employed by the Parkinson's Disease Association , had the GALL to tell me I was 'lucky' to have 8 hours of help per week. 5 Home Help hours and 3 Personal assistant hours. The former 'helper' cannot take me out for 'insurance' reasons, the latter can.

The problem is political in my view. a) has she any clue about human rights, b) disability equality c) disability rights.

No, her perspective is merely based on what disabled people DON'T get. Her baseline is low, not about equality. It goes like this...you have 8 hours help, many have none, ergo you are 'lucky'.

It didn't go.." 3 hours out of your house is outrageous, and yes, I know disabled people with no help to get out of their houses and it's a downright disgrace, infringing every disabled persons right to equality of opportunity, freedom of movement, and dignity and respect".

So how has Ireland and Irish professionals come to have this lower than low baseline of what is decent and humane?  Is it a 'culture' that says Disabled people have always to be grateful? (yes), is it defeatism that professionals feel no more can be achieved? (yes), is it discrimination not challanged because thats too difficult? (yes). Is is low standards in a country where low standars are merely judeged to be standard!? (yes) and so much more...

I am outraged enough to start this blog, waving my wooden spoon to stir the complacent, politically lazy, defeatist professionals who are supposed to be acting on my behalf.

she said I had 'misunderstood her', no I did not. She was unwilling to be outraged on my behalf, on the behalf of those who live with Parkinson's. She wanted me to be 'grateful' for the scraps from the table.

So from my new wheels, this raging Dr will rage that disability means what it's always meant ...'dis-abled by professionals, agencies, government departments, attitudes, prejudice, families, community...' etc, etc.

I am NOT disabled by Parkinson's, it restricts me true, and walking is now almost impossible, but I am 'able', totally 'able', the 'dis' is added by all these people and attitudes..and I'll be damned if I will accept the 'dis' gladly or submissively.

Down with the 'Dis' I say...down with the 'dis-ers' .

We don't need helpers or professionals who keep the 'dis' and throw out the 'able' in patronising sub-standard service provision.