The Importance of Being Earnest

I plan to write on this blog about my love of sparkly, shiny, happy things- all the fantastic stuff that makes my life so good and my heart sing.

However, sometimes I will have to indulge my not so shiny earnest side, as there are things that are important to talk about.  They are important to me as they touch my life, my children, my heart.

Today I received an e-mail, which included details of this blog:

http://onemonthbeforeheartbreak.blogspot.com/

I need to write about this blog today as its contents means something to me.  It means something to me as my daughter is profoundly disabled.

Due to her disability she is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).  In her case, DLA helps to pay for her motability car, or for extra incontinence products, or for the extra premium in special needs childcare costs needed whilst I go out to work.

I know what it is like to have a life event that appears from the leftfield; in my case it was the birth of my daughter.  I therefore know the value of a benefit that helps you get back on your feet when the rug is pulled from under your feet, or when it feels like a juggernaut has been unexpectedly driven through your life.  It doesn't have to be a disability like my daughter's cerebral palsy that would make you value DLA - it could be that you have an accident and need it whilst you recover, or that you are diagnosed with a chronic illness.  It could happen to me - or any one else I know.  DLA is everyone's benefit.

That's why I wanted to write about the government's DLA Consultation period which ends on the 14th February.  The proposed changes could adversely affect disabled people if the reforms are made incorrectly.

The Government is talking of introducing Personal Independence Payments (PIP).  The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) appears to be a case of cuts dressed as positive reform. Disability rights groups and charities have uniformly condemned the proposals, warning of dire consequences. The list of those affected includes: people who are mobile with aids; people with disabilities so severe that they are unable to be very active; care home residents; those who receive local authority care packages. Most other disabled people will suffer through needless reassessments upon the introduction of PIP, and re-testing every few years even when a condition cannot be treated.

Please help bring a stop to this.  It does matter to you and your family and friends, it really does.

Please take a minute to look at the blog, and if you agree with it sign the petition.

Tomorrow I promise to stop being earnest and write about the shiny, exciting, sparkly, sequinned parts of life.