Time to engage with disability, not seek to make political capital

AS a non-verbal child my eight-yearold autistic son struggles to be heard or make his wishes known. The world must be a difficult, confusing and frustrating place for him much of the time. We have tried so many ways to provide a functional method of him getting his message across.

It dawned on me this week that sadly there is a parallel here with raising autism awareness and making the case for proper services. Sadly, the problem is often with those who should frankly know better. I have slowly discovered that politicians, policy makers and professionals are where the real work needs to be concentrated.

Notable exceptions aside, I have been disappointed at the lack of appropriate responses to concerns or issues raised. In the last few months we have experienced social work managers who have declined invitations to visit, emails and letters to the local and national press that have sought answers about the Government’s autism strategy and local services that have failed to receive any acknowledgment. Four of our five parliamentary candidates declined invites to come and find out about our son’s needs as we could not attend hustings.

Disability is often used to make political capital or provide handsome salaries and positions for individuals. Is it perhaps time there was more engagement with those affected? Duncan F MacGillivray, Oakcrest, 60 Victoria Road, Dunoon. WE note that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has carried out its threat to refuse to answer questions from Disability News Service (DNS) editor John Pring (“Inside Track: DWP and its dispute with a disability warrior”, The Herald, April 22). Mr Pring is an experienced journalist, who has been reporting on disability issues for nearly 20 years. He launched DNS in April 2009 to provide in-depth reporting in both the specialist and mainstream media on issues that affect the lives of disabled people.

Numerous disability groups rely on the Disability News Service to keep them informed. By refusing to communicate with Mr Pring, the DWP is refusing to communicate with millions of disabled people. The actions of the DWP are counter to transparent government and freedom of the press, upon which a functioning democracy rely. We consider the actions of the DWP to be highly offensive and discriminatory.

We fully support Mr Pring and insist that DWP perform its public duty to talk to the press without bias or favour. John McArdle, Black Triangle Campaign; Dr Stephen Carty, Black Triangle Campaign; Linda Burnip, Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) Steering Group; Debbie Jolly, Co-Founder DPAC; Bill Scott, Inclusion Scotland, and 44other signatories (available to view at heraldscotland.com), c/o Black Triangle Campaign, 17 West Montgomery Place, Edinburgh.