Had he been writing about black people being absent from mainstream life, Simon Hoggart (Diary, Saturday August 25) would have been branded a racist. As it is, the 8.5m disabled people whose existence he doubts have no legal means of redress whatsoever against such abuse. Since discrimination, as disability rights activists have said all along, is perfectly legal within the terms of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, all one can do it seems is quietly point out two simple facts: only 2% of disabled people are wheelchair-users, more of whom would ride the trains if they and/or the stations were accessible. I am a disabled person; my partner, friends and work colleagues are all disabled people. None of us is a figment of anyone's imagination. We're real and we bleed when we are cut. Deborah Sowerby |