Why do able bodied people have problems with disabled people having getting benefits?

Question

There are loads of people on here that think it's "unfair" that disabled people get parking badges, benefits, motability car schemes, etc. I'd give it all up just tohave my body back for a day. The government isn't discriminating against ab;e bodied people but trying to help disabled people live as much as a normal life as possible. Why do many people on this board post abuse towards disabled people? I'm honestly interseted to know as it might help me help able bodied people understand why I get benefiits.

Answer 1

There is a lot of abuse of the system which is sensationalised by some media so some people become very angry without stopping to think about the situation or the stereotypes their using.

There are people in the UK (I'm presuming that's where you're based) that don't agree with any of our systems for taking care of the people who need it.

These people would rather scrap any benefits, save the money and return to a time when the sick and poor were left in the streets dying of the most trivial things.

Thankfully they seem to be in the minority, most of society wants to fix the systems holes stop the louses who abuse it.

Unfortunately I don't think anyone is capable of changing narrow minded peoples views, but I would put money on them claiming everything going if something unfortunate where to happen to them.

You usually find the people mouthing off about these issues are the same people who think A & E should halt everything to pull a splinter out of their toe instead of having to wait a couple of hours whilst actual sick people are treated.

Answer 2

In their daily lives, the general able bodied public tend not to consider the state of being disabled, possibly apart from a fleeting thought. I myself was probably guilty of the same. Until I became disabled myself.

I remember one time when I got out of my car after placing my badge on the dash, a middle aged woman came up to me and haughtily remarked , "There aren't many disabled spaces here, don't you think you should have parked in one of the other spaces. My elderly mother has real problems finding a disabled space here".

I was stunned, and suggested she take a look at the badge displayed. Then went on to tell her, quite directly, that I had breast cancer which had affected my bones and I could barely walk far. She was so very embarrassed and apologised profusely. I doubt she would ever forget that, and I'm sure she learned a valuable lesson that day.

At that time, at first glance no-one would guess I was so ill. I looked attractive and healthy. No-one would know the pain and distress I suffered. However, now that I walk with crutches or a stick, it's more obvious, and people either say nothing or do offer their assistance.

I think more people are becoming aware due to the Government's DDA directive being established by local councils in the UK. However, as with other popular political issues the simplistic reductionist view of solving the problem will always be more readily adopted by the ignorant and uneducated, fed to them by Murdoch's media.

Nevertheless, some disabled drivers, though, do themselves have a rather arrogant attitude and think they can park just anywhere even if it causes an obstruction or hazard. It's nothing to do with being disabled - they annoy me, too!

Answer 3

I am so sorry that you feel people on here say bad things about disabled people. I don't think I have noticed it, but then it is not personal to me.

I am sure that a lot of it is simply that people really do not understand the expenses that come with being disabled.

I work at a Special Ed Centre and I am always appalled when I see the price of appliances etc ;but you have to be involved to get the picture.

I always make our fully able students and volunteers have a day when they are either wheelchair bound, blindfolded or their hands are tied closed so that they can have a better appreciation.

I know that no one can be in your body for you, but it does help them to see a bit of your reality (especially when they need the bathroom).

Maybe everyone should have a try once in a while and then they maybe they would comprehend a bit better.

Get out there and speak at schools and clubs. make your voice heard and things will start to change a little. From raindrops to puddles to rivers. You never know!

Answer 4

Unfortunately people in the past have abused the benefits for sickness, etc so people assume everyone is. Some people require different assistance which alot of us take for granted. Just as someone may require a car or wheelchair to be mobile, an abled bodied person expects seats or lighting to be available at all times. These items enable abled bodied people to function normally? Just think about it for a minute. What aids do able bodied people demand compared to others. Plus i've noticed that most disabled parking places are taken up by idle people who cant be bothered to walk that little bit extra.

Answer 5

I think it is perfectly acceptable that people with disabilities have benefits, especially since most public areas are not accessible to people with mobility problems.

I am not disabled but I have experienced something similar. I am dyslexic, I have problems with spelling and grammar. When I was at university doing my undergraduate degree and my masters degree I found that many other students thought it was very unfair that I got to do my exam in another building, that I got the use of a computer and 15% more time to do my exam. It used to annoy me, using a computer helps my because I get to use spell check. But on a daily basis I have to work twice as hard anyway to make sure I keep up with everyone else.

It does not bother me too much, as at least the university understand my needs. What really annoyed me was hearing another student complain that 'it was not fair that the girl with MS got to use a computer to do her exams'. Now that is just unfair, the girl, has MS and it caused her great pain in her wrist to write for a long time. The other girl was ignorant and unfair, I am sure she would not feel the same way if she was the one with MS!

Answer 6

Presumably they assume that most people getting Incapacoty Benefit etc are lying scroungers who won't work. That is just ignorant. I would like to know how they distinguish between a genuinely disabled/sick person and a "lying scrounger" who is abusing the system.

I was signed off work because of anxiety (agoraphobia) and severe depression which made it impossible for me to get to work (panic attacks, I couldn't go out of the house) or cope with a day's work, but plenty of people seemed to think because it was not a physical disability I was just being lazy and deliberately avoiding work. If they had seen me every day for weeks trying to go to work and sitting there shaking and feeling sick/vomiting and faint for one and a half hours before the boss had enough and sent me home they might not have said that. It was impossible for me to do my job at that time.

As far as disabled parking spaces, well it can be frustrating when you're desperately late and stressed and need to park your car to get to an appointment or something and the only spaces available are "disabled" and "mother and baby" ones which are empty!!!! I can relate to that but then yes I do know disabled people have to have somewhere to park because its not like they can just hop on a bus if they need a wheelchair. My BF's mum is registered disabled and it does really help her to know she's not going to get endless parking tickets everytime she goes into town, because she really can't get about on buses and she needs to use her car everyday.

Perhaps if there were better parking facilites and the government didn't constantly try this shite about "everyone should use the bus instead" (yeah right have you any idea how bad public transport is?) people wouldn't get so pissed off about this!

Answer 7

You may become disabled at any moment (i sincerely hope not),
and if not disabled at an earlier age, you certainly will be hindered
by old age and need help. It is all a question of reciprocity and
humanity, those able who help now will most certainly deserve
to be aided later. Think about it from this point of view and it will
answer all your questions. I should know since I was an International athlete and now, at 69 am hindered by disability and need help from others, including you. Please give the matter some
thought as I am certain that you will agree? And above all, those
problems with the millions with AIDS in Africa, India that are
helpless. Mr Gates is leading the way with charity and deserves
our recognition for his efforts. But I refer mainly to family and
friends who will help you if needed. Cheers - Iain

Answer 8

I think part of it comes from the difficulty in determine if someone is really disable, or using some other person's placard. It creates a resentment. You also need to remember that is has been less than forty years since Eugenics was popular, and the National Eugenics Movement is currently making a come back, with our abilities to alter DNA.

When I was young, teachers would tell me that I either should not have been allowed to live, or sterilized, so that my damaged genes could not continue to pollute the human gene pool. There was active sterilization projects at county hospitals, though mostly targeted as those with mental disorders, such as depression, and learning disorders. If I remember correctly, it has been exactly 40 years ago that the programs were stopped. Still, old bias keeps returning. We all learned about the civil rights movement, but little is taught about those who lived their lives in special homes or hospitals, for the disable. Never going out to a movie, for dinner, or even around the block.

I may have been a very different person, if not for my sixth grade (1968) teacher at Lincoln Elementary in Escondido, Ca. His name was Mr. Manthey, and he was a Polio Victim. He showed me how to fight against stereotyping. I often wish I knew how to find his grandchildren, so that I could tell them what I thought of him.

Answer 9

I suspect it stems from the lazy and idle exagerating problems in order to get various allowances, you seem to have been witnesing a backlash, which i doubt is intended to be targeted towards what i might losely call the genuine disabled.
As for disabled bages, i think we have all seen what appear to be abled people getting out of cars and using their orange badges. I am aware of people using their fathers or mothers badge to cheat the system and avoid parking charges.
Whilst i do not trust the system to govern let alone administrate the provision of disabled badges i doubt anyone in their right would hold it against a disabled peson the right to have a badge..... its just the rotten few that abuse the system have caused people to have doubt whereas otherwise they wouldn't have.

Answer 10

Cuz they are stingy. Somebody well known said the poor will be with you always and that guy shared but many of his followers think they do not have to or that they should give it out to who they want. Some of these same followers suport aggression and think it is OK to send soldier to get maimed and then they dollout very little to these same guys. It is disgraceful. The very people who rip us all off with all sorts of bussiness scams want the disabled to exist on pettyful little. Example how it works, we give more money to Israel each year than it would cost to give every American excellent health care. If they did take care of the poor and invest in education then they could not give money to oil companys and Israel It is all messed up. The drug companies gave out vacinations which caused a great increase in autistic children but they are nto very interested in taking care of these kids they damaged, same with coal burning electric companies. There is only so much in the pie and some people want more than their share and do not care who they hurt to get it. Your elected officials know all this and they are not telling you. Wonder why that is.