THIS STORY’S PROOF WE NEED DISABILITY TSAR

AFTER two years of reporting on the cruel reality of life for so many disabled Britons, I thought I’d be hardened to tales such as Omar’s. But they still shock me.

Just like the story in January of 40-year-old Olga Freeman, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility after suffocating her severely autistic ten-yearold son Dylan last summer. She was suffering psychosis triggered by the relentless nightmare of trying to look after Dylan with zero help or support.

Or the mother-of-three, caring alone for her eight-year-old son who is blind, partially deaf and severely autistic and requires tube feeding – who ended up hospitalised after collapsing with sheer exhaustion.

Another mum was refused help at home so had to put her children into care, and was then barred from seeing them due to lockdown only to later discover they’re so distressed they’ve begun to self-harm.

The Mail on Sunday has been battling for Government action, alongside an army of campaigners and, at long last, it seems as if Ministers have responded. Boris Johnson announced plans last week to inject an extra £12billion a year into the social care system by hiking National Insurance payments. Whatever you think about the increases in tax, it’s a noble pledge – but extra cash alone will not solve the problem.

Disabled people, in particular the most vulnerable, may need support in housing, day-to-day care and from the NHS. But one of the biggest challenges faced by their families is that there isn’t a joined-up approach, and so they end up being shunted from pillar to post, constantly told they are someone else’s responsibility.

Omar was told his social worker couldn’t help with housing problems because it ‘wasn’t her remit’. This is exactly why The Mail on Sunday has called for the appointment of a Government disability tsar – someone who can connect the dots.

Until this happens, I fear that it’ll be a case of throwing even more money against a wall and hoping it sticks.