I'm so angry . . . .

[bigginger]

Well done

[Furrtiv]

How's your search going, Bigginger?

BTW, are you a disabled operson? Because I thought that that actually helped with job hunting, as they have to positively help the disabled back into work?

[bigginger]

Not registered disabled, but going to have a word with the disability officer anyhow and see if they can help. Yhe illness certainly limits the things I can do pretty severely

[Furrtiv]

Can your GP not help you? Some things might be easier if you're registered disabled. I had a friend who suffered quite badly from ME and it took a long time for her to convince various authorities that she was actually very ill.
MS is a recognised, understood condition, if your GP is willing to help, it could improve your situation?

[Orkney]

Pal of mine is to the point of being debilatated with MS now. he had terrible trouble getting the disabled living allowance, and it was in fact the good people at the local MS society who took care of all of that for him.
He was a bit hesitant to approach them initially, but no sooner had he done so rgretted not doing so earlier.

[Matt]

Shame your not down here Jonathon, I know someone who is extremely good at bodywork (used to work for ford) but she won't be wanting to move

[d_harris]

For those with reasonable credit ratings (I know that excludes some on here but no names being mentioned) Banks are ALWAYS looking for staff, it can be pretty boring and soul destroying sometimes but heck, its money.

[plastic_orange]

I worked in a bank 33 years ago before I joined the Fire Service. I almost left at the first Tea break as I didn't like it. I stuck it out for 3 years till I saw sense. The way folk without much money were treated was disgusting, plus the poor financial advice given to people was shocking.
I started on £480 per year in 1972 - and I don't think relative wages have improved.
In my opinion - get a trade (at the moment) as they are among the few making decent money, but this can change. My son works in Retail (Honours degree), and this is another area of staff exploitation, poor conditions etc etc.
This country is going down the tubes fast.
Hope you get sorted with a job though.
Have you tried the Police, Fire Brigade, Prison Service, Ambulance Service yet?

Pete

[bigginger]

Me? They all have fitness requirements ******************

Edited by me - don't much want this to be on permanent record, even though I know it now probably is, somewhere

[paulhumphries]

Me? They all have fitness requirements, and the random loss of feeling in one or several limbs/head/face etc would seem to preclude them, as it does driving work (odd conditions on my licence now) and fine work with my hands - lost feeling in the ends of my fingers 15 years ago, and it never returned

I know it's "political" but maybe relevant.
I've been "disabled" all my life due to duff leg that has got worse.
I was a Civil Servant for 20+ years and then in an accident that left me with minor brain injury, spine damage and triggered other conditions.
I've been diagnosed with ME, start of Parkinsons, loss of use on my right side,
liver disease as well as the leg problems.
The Goverment, as a caring employer, didn't want me to return to work nor were willing to try and find me alternative position. I was offered "jump or be pushed" early retirement.
If you have them treating their own employees that way, seeing they already employed me as a disabled person, then that sums up what I think of their policies for getting disabled back into work.

BTW as I was born disabled and my health has deteriate since but I don't qualify for Mobility Allowance.
I used to wear "Forest Gump" calipers on my legs and am on the waiting list to have one again for my left leg now.
Work that one out .

Paul Humphries

[twincamman]

Speaking as someone who has what is classed as a learning disability, I can only agree about the Govt's attitude to people with disabilities.
I'm a civil servant, and the discrimination I've experienced is pretty typical. I've had assumptions made about my ability to do certain tasks, without even letting me attempt the tasks. If they'd spoken to me about their concerns I may have had some respect for them, but it was all done by e-mail behind my back. This is despite me having an IQ of 127, and being better qualified than my managers (who have ass-licked & back-stabbed their way to the top).
So I'm doing an OU degree in psychology, aiming to go into skills coaching for adults and teens with learning disabilities.
I can't wait to write my resignation letter, when my mortgage ends in 3 years time

[paulhumphries]

BTW as I was born disabled and my health has deteriate since but I don't qualify for Mobility Allowance.
I used to wear "Forest Gump" calipers on my legs and am on the waiting list to have one again for my left leg now.

Just in case anyone thought I wanted it for a Mobility car or even the cash towards running a car I should have added I applied for Mobility Allowance on the advice of my doctor.
I need another caliper for my leg and the NHS ones are horrible metal and leather things that clamp to your leg & shoe.
I can get a "private" one custom made out of carbon fibre that is lightweight and easilly concealed under normal trousers.
Basically an external knee joint.
The specialist supplier quoted between £900-£1200 but you can use the Mobility Allowance to pay for such limb supports.

Paul Humphries

[Furrtiv]

Gosh, I really have nothing to complain about, do I?!

But I now have a job, I start on Monday to train to be a meter reader (utilities meters). The starting pay is low and it's temporary, on-going work to begin with, but basically if I stick it out, there's an uncapped bonus scheme based on number of meters read per week, and I can get a company vehicle and after a few months, hopefully get taken on as a permanent member of staff.

It does sound like the Government treats people with any form of disability horribly - I have an inkling of this, as I have suspected for years that I have both a slight form of Asperger's and discalculia, but it's incredibly difficult to get any form of diagnosis. Numbers look odd and backwards to me, and I cannot do any but the most basic of calculations in my head, and even then it takes me a few minutes. So guess who got put into the remedial maths class at school?


I've also had a major probelm relating to other people throughout my life - everything I do around people is an act really, otherwise if I behaved as I wanted I'd have no friends and poeple would really hate me. Basically, if something doesn't concern me directly, I have absolutely no interest in it. That can be interpreted as selfishness, when it's not. I also can't read emotions and vocal inflections, so I come across as incredibly gullible and lacking any form of tact. It's a constant, almost physical effort to behave "normally" around other poeple. Animals, on the other hand, I'm fine with. Life's weird.

[aupickup]

get a trade

well ok its not bad, but we do not really earn the amounts that folk think we do

working for someone as a qualified joiner and doing 44.5 hours a week i am lucky to clear £1400 a month

must go back self employed this year

[bigginger]

Congratulations, Furrtiv
a

[Orkney]

Yes well done - good to hear you havn't let it beat you!

[Furrtiv]

Hehe, 1400GPB a month is more than I've ever earned, so don't moan!

[bigginger]

You and me both!
a

[aupickup]

[Kevin]

I've also had a major probelm relating to other people throughout my life - everything I do around people is an act really, otherwise if I behaved as I wanted I'd have no friends and people would really hate me.

That sounds really awkward to deal with and I can see your point of view as we do tend to regard people a little bit like the cover of a book rather than whats within unlike animals who take you for what you are rather than what you should be.
Still Furrtiv if you are going to the National this year you will soon see what a mixed selection the rest of us are