Blog: Steve Topple, "Hi vis vests? Sunflower badges? Next, disabled people will have to wear black triangles."

[Andy]

Herein lies the problem with the chronic illness area of the disabled community. Oh, and that statement in itself will probably raise a few eyebrows. Yes. People with invisible diseases and illnesses are part of the disabled community, however much some people want to segregate them.

The problem is that too many sick and chronically ill people are failing to apply politics to the abuse, dismissal, neglect and human rights violations the system metes out to them. Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is a perfect example of this.

But whatever the reasons for PACE trial, what we do know is that it was intentionally designed to maintain the notion that ME was, in part, ‘all in people’s heads’. And that the best treatments for it were talking therapy (‘think yourself better!’) and exercise (work harder you work-shy hypochondriacs!’). It is undoubtedly a medical scandal that firmly has its roots in our political and economic systems.

Yet many people living with ME still view it as an issue of medical negligence, and nothing more.

I understand why. When you are already struggling to get medical professionals to even acknowledge your diseases, illnesses and impairments are real, the politics of why they’re not is probably the furthest thing from your mind.

But that needs to change. Because otherwise, people living with ME, and sick and chronically ill people more broadly, will be sleep-walking into a dystopian future.

https://mrtopple.com/2019/04/06/hi-...led-people-will-have-to-wear-black-triangles/

 

[ladycatlover]

This article from Mr Topple is too long and covers too much stuff in one article.

I don't like how he's attacking Frances Ryan, a disabled journalist who over many months (years?) has been showing how things like ESA and PIP are making life difficult for disabled people. She's been great in her support of all disabled people, and has consistently reported on how current UK government policies impact on the lives of sick and disabled people.

Personally I thought the lanyards for invisible disability people was a good idea. If I ever used an airport I'd be happy to wear such a lanyard since I look fine but it alerts staff to the fact that I'm not fine. Bring them on for the railways too!

Maybe I'm just an old fogey.

 

[Unable]

I started to read this article, but got annoyed when he wrote against the Sunflower lanyards. I’ve used one a couple of times, and the system works brilliantly. I look totally healthy. Before the lanyards, I remember once asking could I short-cut one of those zig-zaggy lines for queuing and was told, absolutely not! Next time, wearing a lanyard, I was discretely ushered to a shorter queue without asking. It worked a treat. No fuss.

Anyway, I didn’t read more of the article.