Dear Editor, May I take this opportunity to award the Guardian my prize of the week "Lets Slag off Disabled People" award. Firstly we have Simon Hoggart (25th August) disputing the numbers of disabled people in UK (8.5m) because he cannot see us in trains or planes. May I politely inform Simon that no he wont see us BECAUSE thousands of us are still locked up in institutions or our own homes because we cannot get out of bed let alone access a phone to book a train journey 48 hrs before we need to travel. Even for those of us who can if you're a wheelchair user there are two spaces only on each train. Perhaps it's a good job we do not have access to travel because if all 8.5m of us did there would be no room on the train for Simon. Oh happy days. Polly Toynbee (24th August) mistakenly suggests that the Disability Rights Commission has allayed themselves to the anti-abortion fanatics. Nonsense - in consultation with disabled peoples' organisations the DRC are seeking equality within the Act. Surely it cannot be denied that to allow termination up to the date of gestation for impaired (disabled) foetuses must say something about the value placed on disabled people in today's society. Ms Toynbee fails to point out that the majority of disabled people in the UK have acquired disabilities. Anne Pridmore Disabled and Proud. PS Simon for your information I am neither a paraplegic nor a victim. |