Dispiriting to read in the papers the research carried out
by the great charity Parkinson's UK.
A survey of 2,000 people with the condition reveals some
shocking numbers. 1 in 5 have been mistaken for being drunk. 1 in 10 have been
verbally abused or experienced hostility in public because of their condition.
60% feel uncomfortable or nervous in public. One man was even arrested during
the Olympics because police thought he looked suspicious.
As Steve Ford, chief executive at Parkinson's UK, said:
"Life with Parkinson's can be challenging enough, but when that is coupled
with feeling scared to even go out in public for fear of freezing in a busy
queue and being tutted or stared at, life can feel incredibly cruel”
And yet what ACEVO members tell me is that this kind of
public hostility to people with disabilities or conditions like Parkinson's is
exacerbated by the “debate” on welfare that we are currently being subjected
to. Ministerial talk about strivers and benefit scroungers encourages this view
that there are people faking or exaggerating their disability or health
condition in order to live the life of Riley on benefits.
The research from Parkinson's UK is a timely reminder of why
we should be acting to improve public perception of long-term conditions and
disabilities, not exacerbating the public hostility people already face far too
often.
1 comment:
It's for this reason that I wrote a book about early onset parkinsons, so that those with this disease, those who know people with it, and those who know nothing about it can learn more about how it makes us feel.
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