Tag Archives: news

Benefit Proposal Changes

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Hello all,

As you have probably seen in the news the previous government wanted to make changes to benefits such as Personal Independence Payment and Universal Credit.

Changing the benefits system would mean a huge challenge to some of the most vulnerable in society. Making claimants worse off.

The benefit changes which I am going to focus on are Personal Independence Payment. This is because as as a Disabled person this is something which I am more aware of.

I fully understand the Labour government has a deficit which it needs to fix. I fully support the idea of getting people who can work into work, if it is the right decision. But not all Disabled people can work. Not all areas of our society are accessible, which reduces Disabled peoples access to not only work, but life in general.

The fix cannot just be take benefits away and people will work. There are so many more layers to this.
Disabled people need access to specialist equipment, such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, Braille displays etc, which can cost a lot of money, they then ned to be able to access buildings which are not always accessible. The ‘Get Britain Working Again’ has so many different areas to it which need to be addressed it is not as simple as ‘heres a job go do it’. At least not for Disabled people.

The changes being proposed are things like replace money with vouchers. How long will it take to implement this? How many business are going to have to wade through filling in forms to replace a voucher given to them by a Disabled person just so they can exchange goods and services? Business will either stop serving Disabled people, making them even more marginalised, or the business will go out of business because they can’t keep going with lack of money while they wait for the vouchers to be exchanged back into cash. Meaning less services for Disabled people. Leading to more marginalisation.

Disabled people need better access to support and that is not going to come from putting more barriers in their way.

Follow stories of Disabled people online and you will see how unfair the system really is. Follow charities such as Scope (click here for Scope) and read about their campaigns to help Disabled to get the support they need. 

I am on Threads @VisuallyImpairedPip

I am in no way affiliated with Scope, I just think they do a great job.

Taxis

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Hello all,

This year there have been a lot of major changes in the layout of the city where I live. One of these changes has been the taxi pick and drop off near the bus and train station.

In order for me to get a taxi I now have to walk out of the station down a pathway and turn right onto a main road. The taxis are parked in a line up the hill. There is not really a pathway for you to walk up and get into the taxi. It is just a small curb designed to stop cars going into the wall.

The other day I was getting my taxi and found that the taxis were facing up the hill instead of down. This means the passenger side is now no longer on the ‘curb’ side.

I was confused at first as it was not what I was expecting. These taxis are council run and there were no emails sent out in the news letter regarding these changes. They did mention a change to other taxi pick up points but not these.

This now means I need to walk up the tiny ‘path’ which there is no room to swipe your cane what so ever. 


The image below is from when the taxis were facing down the road.
 

Looking down a hill with taxis on one side, with no usable path. A bus is parked on the other side facing up the hill.

You can see on the left there are a row of taxis with the ‘curb’ I am referring too. You will also notice there are busses on the side other of the road. Pedestrians are now expected to walk up this narrow ‘curb’ and out onto a road which is used by busses on the other side. It is also used by vehicles coming up that road which have just dropped people off.

The bottom road onto this road looks like the image below. This is a very narrow road.
 

Looking onto a road, adjacent is a small narrow road with cars parked in the small bays at the side. Two Victorian style building are either side.


A narrow street with parking bays on the left hand side.

I have written an email to enquire bout this situation asking who I can email directly.

This situation is not safe even for people who can see.

Yesterday the taxi man at the back of the queue got out and helped me to get to the taxi at the front. He asked me if I needed help in getting a taxi. He gave me his arm and guided me up the the hill and helped me into the taxi. The taxis are always very helpful and understand my frustration at this new situation. They assured me one of them would see me waiting and walk me up to the front taxi so I can get in safely.

But it does still mean we need to walk in the road.

It takes away a level of independence from me where I can get into a taxi and get home.

I am understandably not happy with the council about this and it is no way the fault of the people who drive the taxis. They are doing what they have been told to do. They have always been amazing and very helpful. I just wish the council understood the impact this is having on Visually Impaired and Blind People.

Since writing this we have had an update from the council where they have said the train and bus station is re opening January 5th. Which means those busses will be moving back into the Interchange. However until then I need to put up with this situation.

I am really hoping when all of this work is done our city will look amazing and people will enjoy the new renovations. I think it will look lovely.

Merry Christmas to you,
Thank you for reading,
Philippa B.