Yesterday was a very hard draining day for me you see the next stage of Welfare Reform was going through The House of Lords so me and all my friends in twitterland as I call it were tweeting all the Lords, Dames, Ladies and let's not forget our feisty Baronesses.
We have been at it for months as it is extremely important they take their time and get it right not just push it through like the last time, I work on a day to day basis with the people who are bearing the brunt of the last governments welfare reform.
They targeted people who had been on Incapacity Benefit for 2 years and under moving them onto the new Employment Support Allowance and anyone who had their contracts terminated through capability directly were put on ESA instead of Incapacity Benefit. Once again a money saving exercise for the government and the only people whom benefited from it were the companies doing the work, companies sprung up all over country in the most inaccessible places to help disabled people gain new skills and get them back to work.
#but#where#are#the#jobs#for#people#with#disabilities#?
HOW can they do this if they can't even get through the door of the building, why did DWP not look at this and redress it after all they should have a duty to do so as they have contracted these organisations to carry out their work.
#reasonable#adjustments#spring#to#mind
WHY is it that the workers employed to do this get a BONUS for every person they transfer from one benefit to another REMEMBER they have not got them a job the staff even told me if they did not meet their targets they also would be penalised REMEBER THIS IS PEOPLES LIVES THEY ARE DEALING WITH but seemed to me more like being paid based on sales like merchandise, there were so many complaints about the way people were being treated and the assessments that were being used.
People being asked about what medication they take just in case they were FAKING their disability - workers using Google to search for peoples medication to see if they THINK they actually need it or if it is for the condition described is it just made up to stay of work or were they cheating the system "Are they Doctors" NO
#Indirect#Discrimination.
Then they started to target people on long term Incapacity Benefit to get them of it and onto Employment Support Allowance to once again save the government money people who were still unable to work or get to the places some becoming even sicker throughout the process because of the stress of it all and that itself made their conditions worse.
Please#remember#there#is#still#no#jobs
Have you heard enough? Sorry am just beginning to lift the lid on things WHERE are the jobs? WHO in the government is going to push for TRUE EQUALITY in the workplace because right now every jobcentre plus across the country will tell you that there are so many disabled workers having their contracts terminated by their employers. We now have so many highly qualified workers already being made redundant so who would be giving a person with a disability the chance to get into work. Yes of course there are some organisations out there but not enough.
No support either for them as CAB have been doing a fantastic job but they have been struggling to cope with the vast amounts of people needing help with the rise in Employment Appeals & Tribunals and Appeals and Tribunals for ESA and DLA and their funding has been restricted or reduced once again leaving people who could not wait 4 or 6 weeks for an appointment.
People who are still employed but are not in a union or people who have union representation but are being let down as no one willing to take on the big boys = Employers because that's what they are x
So what happens they end up being referred to me x don't get me wrong all help them all but WHY all the other organisations are funded to do this and I don't see anyone jumping in to offer me funding for my workload.
People contact me through Facebook, Twitter, friends, finding my case on the Internet or word of mouth, the last person I helped was told to contact me by the EHRC helpline worker when she contacted them for support.
So what makes me do this work that no one else will do x that's easy as I promised myself 12 years ago when I became disabled that If I could re-educate myself get a bit better I would fight for all the people who can't fight for themselves as I have been their myself and I myself did not understand how hard people with disabilities lives were until it happened to me.
God it was like someone took the rose tinted glasses of my face and flung them away, I never knew anything about my own rights and seriously had to learn the hard way to remove so many barriers and jump through hoops you would never believe, loads of people who become disabled or end up with an illness also contact me and I go and help them change their live by enabling and empowering them to make the most of what they have OK so they can't do what they used to but they can change with a little help and support from Me x
Every time I go to help someone else it's like looking in the mirror at me all those years ago, at first I was very embarrassed to be disabled and seriously struggled to cope with my physical disability let alone the depression that came along with it but now after years of working to make things better for my peers I am no longer embarrassed to be disabled or admit I had depression as if it were not for my disability I would not be the person I am today.
So after watching and hearing the Live debate in The House of Lords I sat last night in floods of tears knowing once again what will happen to the very same people who have not yet had the chance to rebuild their lives from the last time or are still going through it today they are the ones who are going to be pushed further into despair again with the new coalitions welfare reform as they are far more harsher than the last and the Local Authorities and the NHS will bear the brunt of these decisions believe me in the end this whole money saving exorcise will cost the government Billions.
Why#should#the#same#people#be#penalised#again
I am currently setting up a fund to help them and if anyone can help me I would seriously appreciate it just drop me an email at archibal3@aol.com.
Till the Next Time Susanas

I first started blogging nearly 3 years ago then stopped as I kind of felt I was blogging into space and there was no one reading them, you see there was supposed to be a huge launch by Sunday Mail but not sure what happened anyway the date came when we were to start but we all had no further contact with the Sunday Mail so we really were in space sending blog after blog dropping in on each other's blogs to leave comments and good wishes then one by one we stopped. I think it was too new then and we felt we were hidden in the underneath of the paper with no one to bring us up to the top,

I tried twitter shortly after for a couple of weeks but did not know much about it then and was too busy helping others so I stopped tweeting but over the last few months I have been on the most amazing journey of my life in Twitterland making new friends and learning what to do, it's quite addictive once you know how but the most amazing thing in here's the people so many people from different walks of lives but the majority I have met to date are disabled activists or carers and their families so here is me having the time of my life building the movement with all my new friends on twitter, It's actually time for us to CHANGE the way things work, we have the ability, skills and so many talented individuals in here that it's time we stopped being virtual bloggers and become the real ones.
Gone are the days that everyone bought a paper this is why the papers are starting to charge for their websites as they are not daft and have to change their ways of working to get the money in but we are the change as it's always been the case in the disability movement that the media only want to contact us when there is an issue about disability or they need a comment for their stories, well times are changing and we should be included and involved in all things that affect our lives and not just invited in when they see fit as we should have the same coverage as anyone else so we are no longer going to try and convince the media we are becoming the media because every one of us are taking their stories they put out and having to re write them to get the right story out.
There is an old saying in the disability movement "Nothing about Us Without Us" well you have had your chance and not grasped the qualities we have to offer so instead of us running to the media we are starting to see the media coming to us and this will become more and more apparent in the next few months so here I say to all my friends, get your blogs posted on every website keep hitting them every day with the correct stories and maybe just maybe we'll see some of you going from virtual to reality as that's where you truly deserve to be not hidden behind the scenes or underneath the surface..

I am so proud of everyone of you in here and think you all are the most amazing Inspirational people I have ever met and I am so honoured tthat you have let me into your lives, so let's get out there today and show them what we are made of take the words of wisdom from our fellow friends and blast every newspaper radio tv network and MP after 10
.
Be the Change

Till the next time Susanas

Up early as am going to the car boot in Earl today with my family then heading to Kinross Market, this is also a good way for me to get in some exercise as you kind of forget how far you walk when your shopping.

Must admit though I can't walk as far as I used to and feel the difference in how far and how much I could do compared to last year.

I love rummaging, I was born for it, and sometimes I do not even buy anything but just enjoy looking. It is also good retail therapy as am just back from London and will be heading back on Monday night to judge Radar's People of the Year Human Right Awards.

This is a fantastic opportunity I have been afforded for the second year hey but no easy task as there is a huge amount of papers to be read and videos to watch to finally sieve through all nominees and come to a decision on who should win each award.

They are all very worthy of an award as each person or organisation has done something truly spectacular to even reach the finals.
Better get ready to go or my family will be moaning lol, then we will all come back to mine for a lovely Sunday dinner.

Missing my oldest daughter and my grandsons lucky them are sunning it up in Tunisia can't wait to see them all on Monday when they return.

Till the next time susanas

Huge Thanks to mobilty scooter because without this would not have been able to do this today, bonus to help me go further negative seriously have to remember use swivel seat as hurt my pelvis andhip manouvering on and of it x need to get used to it me thinks lol

I came across this article via The Press and Journal http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1846159 and thought I would share my opinion with you, Max you are totally an Inspiration you have been through so much but here you are out there trying to help others, isn't that just the way of it something happens in your life to make you change and reading about Max has allows other to understand the barriers he has had to overcome yet we can achieve so much if we put our minds to it and if other could only see what we could offer instead of what we could not the world would be a far better place for all.

Great minds think alike, you are right it is always important to raise awareness at all levels. I wish you well on your journey and will be looking in on you diary once in a while.
Anyone reading this can follow Max's Journey here www.everythingispossible.org.uk
or maybe meet up with him along the way x am quite sure he would appreciate a friendly face. Please support Max
A True Hero

Till the Next Time Susanas

I am writing this as my letter 2 weeks ago caused a bit of a stir, I received two letters regarding this so I will explain, Firstly, I have never said at any point in time that I was against this, as it is not for me to tell anyone that they can or can't do this, the choice is their own.
I know the person who wrote the letter and also have the same admiration for her. I have so many disabled friends all over the world with different opinions on this and it is definitely not my intention to influence any of them, some have signed up to Dignitas like Mary Smith and others have signed up to Not dead Yet.
Quite a few of my friends have been on ventilators for the majority of their lives and wish to lead as full a life as possible but last year one Amazing Lady where I drew my Inspiration from Baroness Jane Campbell was rushed to hospital and her husband had to fight with the doctors to have her resuscitated as the doctors did not want to do this as they thought it was in her best interests to switch of her ventilator.
Here is a woman who has lived her life and done so much for her disabled peers as she sits in The House of Lords yet a doctor in a hospital with no knowledge of who she was or a care about who she was IS making a decision that she should not live. Oh WHIT NAh
There are many of my disabled colleagues all over this and other countries that want to live even if others think they would be better of dead they don't and I have to support all my peers so will not now or ever try to influence anyone's decision regarding this.
A lot of the work I do is people contact me as they have either become disabled and need my support or have been diagnosed with a condition and need my help to help them cope with their condition or terminal illness to lead as full a life is possible but the whole reason I wanted to bring it to peoples attention was to raise awareness like I said of the legal implications against vulnerable people as it could be left wide open to serious abuse of the disabled and elderly from care home staff and other medical professionals to make the decision based on the cost of drugs and the space created in homes and hospitals all over the country. In the same letter it also stated that you could marry at 16, well this is actually not true because if you have a disability you are not classed as an adult until 18 and even then if it is up to social work they can intervene to stop the marriage if they see fit.
This happened to a young couple from Glenrothes there marriage was stopped and she was pregnant and was told that when she had her child they would take it into care, this young couple got support from someone and decided to run away to Ireland where they set up home attended all anti natal classes then when she went into labour and had her child the social work turned up and took the baby of into care.
Because Fife Council had sent out information saying the child would be at risk the Irish authorities removed the child as soon as the mother had it. There was no consideration for these young parents, they could have been supported with parent classes and monitored to ensure everything was going ok but this did not happen.
In fact what Fife Council did was they discriminated against the mother because of her disability and breached the father's human rights as they never even considered his rights in the matter, Anne Mc Guire who was the minister for disability in 2007 signed up to the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and this young couples rights are clearly protected under this as
Article 23
1. States Parties shall take effective and appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities in all matters relating to marriage, family, parenthood and relationships, on an equal basis with others, so as to ensure that:
a. The right of all persons with disabilities who are of marriageable age to marry and to found a family on the basis of free and full consent of the intending spouses is recognized;
b. The rights of persons with disabilities to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children and to have access to age-appropriate information, reproductive and family planning education are recognized, and the means necessary to enable them to exercise these rights are provided;
c. Persons with disabilities, including children, retain their fertility on an equal basis with others.
Section 4
States Parties shall ensure that a child shall not be separated from his or her parents against their will, except when competent authorities subject to judicial review determine, in accordance with applicable law and procedures, that such separation is necessary for the best interests of the child. In no case shall a child be separated from parents on the basis of a disability of either the child or one or both of the parents.

Yet section 4 was clearly breached in this particular case as it is very clear that no case will a child be separated from the parents on the basis of a disability of either the child or one or both of the parents.
So there has to be more done to ensure this does not happen again as they are entitled to family life just the same as everyone else.
The second letter I received was just asking for a copy of the Bill in question which I will copy and post it to the person who requested it.
I also hope Jim Taylor who left a comment on my blog page seen this article x
Susan Archibald or Susanas as am known in Sundaymail blogs
Ambassador for Independent living Movement

Until the NextTime Susanas

I attended an event in the Scottish Parliament yesterday to hear more about Margo's Bill, I have taken a lot of time to consider both sides of this and was looking forward to open debate, I did raise my hand about forty times throughout this debate but never got the opportunity to speak.
I had also flagged an e-mail around all of the MSP's to alert them to this Bill as there are so many legal implications regarding this Bill for disabled people that I have to raise awareness at the highest level.
I am adding a link to the Bill so you can read it firstly then look at my comments below http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/bills/38-EndLifeAssist/b38s3-introd.pdf
If you check the eligibility the 2nd one clearly states people who are permanently physically incapacitated to such an extent as not to be able to live independently and finds life intolerable.
in other words Disabled.

If this was the case when I became disabled 11 years ago, this could have been me, as I did struggle to cope with my life and even through the pressures of fighting to work and being discriminated against by my employers Fife Council pushed me over the edge but let me be very clear, I would not be the person I am today if it was not for my disability yes at first it was very difficult but I learned to adapt and get over the many barriers that I was faced with and have went on to achieve so much in my life and now work tirelessly to help others cope with their conditions and go on to achieve their own goals in life.

Another criteria that angers me is the fact that young people from the age of 16 can request this as long as they have a terminal illness or are permanently incapacitated and cannot live independently and finds it intolerable, we should be ashamed of ourselves if we sit back and let this happen as we should be supporting and enabling people young people to live as Independent life as possible and have the same chances as everyone else and this Bill obviously clearly does not do this

At 16 you can't vote or drink but this would allow you to be able to DIE

The mere fact that it can be left to people in care homes to be part of this is also a disgrace and could clearly abused or seen to be the easiest option to save people money on staff and medical care x

There are so many pieces of this Bill in the current state that have to be challenged and find it appalling that Margo McDonald does not even think that it refers to or threatens people with a disability shocking but then again a lot of people in society do not understand about disability and sometimes choose not to until it affect them or their families.

We deserve the right to stand up and protect our peers from the miss use this Bill could bring.

Till the next time Susanas

This blog is short and sweet as am on my way out for a family dinner to celebrate but I Just thought I would let you all know that I was elected to Fife Health board, I am so excited can't wait to get involved. This is an opportunity for me to use my own personal experience to improve the service provided.
I think we gain so much experience as a patient that it is very important to try and put something back and allow the professionals the opportunity of sharing our experience.
It also allows me to use my own personal experience of disability to help the NHS look at new ways of working and incorporate the social model of disability.
I am also very keen to be working with the existing board and the new ones, hey; I hope they are just as excited to be working with me.
I am getting prepared for tomorrow as am of to the Scottish Parliament for a discussion surrounding Margo Mc Donald's End of Life Bill. All right about it after I have been
Until the next time Susanas

I am standing for Fife Health Board Elections because I want to put something back, when I became disabled over night I struggled to cope with my physical disability and also ended up with severe depression. It is thanks to the NHS staff at the most difficult time in my life that I am the person that I am today.

I found myself in a deep dark place I had never been before, one my lifelines was the Pain Clinic as only Dr Steve Gilbert seemed to understand fully my condition and made me feel a little better in myself and I had to learn all over again to walk again. I was in a wheelchair for nearly two years but eventually learned to walk again step by step, I joined the pain group and was soon sharing tips with other people who also suffered from chronic pain, at first it is very difficult but over a period of time you learn what works for you and also how to cope with it, it also allowed me to help others cope and turn their lives around the way I had.

I have had a very busy and interesting life since then as you can see from my candidate statement and believe my disability has pushed me forward as I have done a lot more with my life since I became disabled than I ever done before. I had to learn about the law to take my own employers to court for disability discrimination; this was no easy task and took me over 5 yrs as I lost an Appeal, Tribunal, Court of Session before finally winning my case in the House of Lords which changed the UK Employment Laws for disabled workers under reasonable adjustments.

I am a very determined and committed female who will work hard for the Health board and can use my own personal experience of disability to help the NHS with accessibility and new ways of working, this will also allows me to turn my own negative experience to positive for others.

I am an International activist who has campaigned and worked hard to influence policies and strengthen new and existing equality laws.

I am self employed Disability Specialist/Speaker so can easily change my own working commitments to suit the Health Boards needs and all the roles on my candidate statement are voluntary.

I hope you support my application and give me your vote.

Thanks

Till the next time Susanas

I stood in the General Election against Gordon Brown to raise awareness of the need for fairer representation of people from all walks of life in the parliament that do not have to be in a political party, granted, I work with all parties to promote and achieve equality across the board but feel we continually are back at meetings years on without peoples basic needs being met.

To find out how many polling stations are actually fully accessible and I will give you an update on this shortly as I am currently making a video to highlight my findings and hopefully shame Fife Council as if people are not able to access the building they can't vote, yes, they can vote by post but they should be able to decide this for themselves and not just have to because they have no choice.

It is quite amazing how many voters have a disability yet to date no party has specifically targeted their needs but promise them the moon & the stars to get their vote, even scare them into voting for them by telling them the opposition will cut their benefits when it was actually their policies that started this in the first place.

The need to raise awareness of the good things people do in their life instead of the negative stereo typing my peers face as they are made out to be benefit cheats, to emphasise what we can contribute to society if given an equal footing.

To inspire my peers who might want to look at this as a future career move by standing for Councillor, MP, MSP or MEP

To raise awareness of the lack of accessible buses, taxis, housing, Inclusive Education and a whole new approach to supportive learning to allow everyone to have the same chances as their non disabled peers.

A much needed National Care System that fully supports Independent Living and is delivered with a clear focus of human rights and dignity, develop & Implement a new strategy to end disability poverty & financial Inclusion.

Repeal section 141 of the Mental Health Act, removing the discriminatory rule that an MP subject to compulsory powers may lose their seat after 6 months and most importantly Independent Living.

The need for real equality and justice, focussing on a step-change in enforcement of equality legislation and joined-up action to prevent and combat bullying and violence against disabled people at home, at school and in our communities.

By ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled People, the United Kingdom has committed to delivering real change in all these areas.

Also I need to raise awareness also of the fact of the cost £500 to stand as a candidate so hence the reason that there are not very many Independent MP's, then you needed 47.000 leaflets for your constituency which most people would not be able to afford.

The hardest was the amount of time an Independent candidate has once they are able to register, I could only register between the 14th - 20th of April where as the parties were registered from August the year before.

So is it a fair system? Definitely NOT

It also gave me the opportunity to address Gordon Brown in front of others to ask for a ramp to be fitted to 10 Downing Street, as I went back and stood beside him at the count he shook my hand and said we have a ramp Susan, so where was it when me and my good friend Mary Ednie went to 10 Downing Street, we never met Gordon as he was in his bed as he had just flown back from Dubai.

The point I was making was completely missed by Gordon and Sarah Brown as if they had taken a minute to even discuss it properly they would know that I meant a permanent ramp, not a lot to ask for, not a huge cost but what a huge statement this would make to the rest of the country about accessibility, shame it fell on deaf ears.

I also watched as Gordon read his speech which was clearly written in 14 Point Bold, how would he be able to do his work if he did not have accessible information yet the government and local authorities fail to supply this to the people that need it.

I will go and have a meeting with Gordon, now that he is not so busy and try and see if I can convince him to join me in making a difference for so many others not as fortunate as him. I have redressed this with the work I was involved in with the new Equality Act that comes into play in October so hopefully we should see a real change in accessible information.

No matter which party are in power or run the local authority, Scottish Government etc, if it affects my peers, their families and the organisations that work for them I will campaign and challenge their decisions if it has a detrimental effect but will also support all of them to improve peoples lives.

This has been a huge learning experience for me as I have never stood Independently before but will again for the Scottish Parliamentary elections next year but this time, I will be asking people to vote for me instead of me telling them not to.

Till the next time

Susanas

My news this week will probably see some of my fellow bloggers and my friends and allies all over the country jumping for joy so all not keep you in anymore suspense; I am now officially registered as an Independent candidate for Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath which means "yes" I will be standing against Gordon Brown in this General Election.

As you all know I fight for my peers and to make society more inclusive and I work with all parties to achieve this, I have so many friends in all the parties and hope this will not change but after the expenses scandal and the whole way the investigation was carried out it has made me more determined for the need of Independent MP's and who better to throw there name in the hat than me.

I mean now we are hearing that the 3 people will now be getting legal aid, loads of ordinary workers on low incomes can't even get it, a disgrace yes they are now unemployed as of this week but they will be given 160.000 pounds when they leave parliament so they should use their own cash to pay, I have no sympathy for them they should have all been flung in the Jail.

So, I better get of this computer and get out and campaign, this one is not only for my peers but it is also about the way our pensioners are being treated as some of them are to proud to ask for the benefits they are entitled to, it is also for our workforce on frontline services, the voluntary sector and lets not forget the illegal war, well I feel I have given enough and have to get out on the trail x

Hey, I wonder if the Daily Record will make our blog better when they realise I have been typing away on their website alonside the rest of my fellow bloggers, hidden behind the scenes, not realising I already blog for them x maybe they will write an article of support for me where i will be able to raise awareness of this site and my fellow friends.

Fingers crossed, by the way, I have no money for this campaign so will be having to rely on people power and will be asking everyone on a national basis to fly a white ribbon on their cars, buses, lorries, scooter, wheelchairs, buggies ect to show the big boys we are important so please try n help with your friends etc xx tell as many as possible and lets show them we can achieve anything if we put our mind to it x

Till the next time Susan

Till the next time x