When the people who claim to help are the problem.

[jackandahat]

Right now I'm looking for work, and I've just been sent to an agency - Remploy - who deal with getting disabled people into work. I'm hard of hearing and I have arthritis so I walk with a cane.

I was sat with "my" advisor, Jonathan, getting lectured on how I would be wonderful in this job and I had to think positive thoughts. He yet again pulled the "All you need is adaptive technology" speech - I've discussed with them several times that adapted phones just don't work for me - I've never met one that does, and frankly, it's too much of a bloody struggle.. I was sat down, my cane was propped against my backpack.

The other advisor - I don't know his name, call him Stupid Fuck - picked up my cane and put it behind his back, and started giving a speech about how now no-one would know I was disabled, and I had to think of it like that.

The only thing that kept me from getting up and punching him was knowing I'd lose my benefits if I did. Oh yeah, and the fact he had my cane.

Did I mention this is an agency designed specifically to deal with getting disabled people into work?

So there was absolutely nothing I could do. If I did anything, they'd have stopped my dole money and I wouldn't have been able to afford to, you know, pay rent and eat. I told Jonathan that being told "You don't look disabled" is not helpful, but I was too much in shock to work out what to say about the cane thing - when I go in tomorrow I Will be having words with Stupid Fuck, I just didn't know what to do and he was standing over me.

Anyone else faced this kind of thing? Any ideas what to do/say to him? (I know the obvious is "Put in a complaint", but if that's how the staff act, I suspect they'd laugh in my face.)

Comments

[jackandahat]

Believe me - the only thing that stopped me from hitting him was knowing I'd lose my benefits. Considering the last person who took my cane was trying to rob me at the time, it was a serious reaction.

I'm somewhat calmer now, urge to kill fading, but I'm trying to work out "what next" - I need to have a word with him, and my adviser, and possibly their boss. I did wonder if I was overreacting, because I know I'll get accused of that, but everyone else seems pissed too.

[jadelennox]

no, you REALLY weren't overreacting. Even people who aren't in disability services should get reported to their managers for taking away the adaptive aids of a disabled person. People who work in the disability services profession should without question know better.

You need to report him to his agency. There has got to be some bureaucratic paper trail.

I mean, seriously.

[jackandahat]

I figure I'll get told "You were sat down, so it's not like you were using it" - that's part of why I'm trying to come up with a good analogy, because I feel that will probably get things across better (Given they clearly don't understand why it's an issue.)

[ladygzb.livejournal.com]

You don't lock someone into a room just because you expect someone not to be going anywhere for the next few minutes. You don't take and hide somebody's glasses, just because they happen to have their eyes closed for a moment. You don't take someone's seeing eye dog just because they happen not to be walking anywhere at this moment. You don't take someone's wheelchair just because they happen to be using another chair briefly.

YOU DON'T DO THAT. And if, against all logic, you DO do that, what you've done is constrain someone against their will--kidnapping them.

[niqaeli]

The glasses comparison might make the point in a way; most people understand that glasses are not something you take away from the person who wears them. Even if they've taken them off for a moment, you don't take them. Not even when you'd "give them back the moment you asked."

Or they might not... but these people may understand it in the context of glasses since they are more commonly used.

[jackandahat]

Yeah - I was thinking I'd point out he'd be pissed if some random dude (I don't care if he works there - I don't know his name, to me he's just some random guy) grabbed his wallet for a demonstration. But glasses is a good one.

[lady_ganesh]

It also might be good to point out that the last person who took your cane away tried to rob you. It sends/reinforces the 'this is outside acceptable behavior' message.

I'm so sorry.

[jackandahat]

Unfortunately I've found when I point this out, people get all defensive and "But you know I'm safe, don't be so paranoid!" - but yeah, I do intend to use it.

[lady_ganesh]

Ugh.