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

[ladygzb.livejournal.com]

Let's be clear here: he took away the tool that you use to walk. He kept you trapped as clearly as if he put handcuffs on you. Holding someone against their will is the legal definition of kidnapping.

Someone who thinks it's okay to do that *casually* needs as hard a kick as you can give them. If that means consulting the police or a lawyer, then it might. That's not over the top; that's protecting yourself and other disabled people who this jackass might power-trip on in the future.

[jackandahat]

The thing is, I was sat at the time. And I suspect had I said I needed to stand, he'd have given it straight back. And that is what they'll no doubt say when I make a complaint tomorrow. That there was no intent to keep me in the chair, yadda yadda.

[ladygzb.livejournal.com]

But his intent doesn't matter. What was going on with you doesn't matter.

What he DID is what matters, and what he DID was to take away your means of locomotion. Even if it was temporary--after all, how could you know that when he did it?

Not only that, but it *is* abuse to take someone's freedom like that--even temporarily--and make someone feel that helpless, that trapped. It doesn't matter what he was thinking; all that matters is what he did and what it caused.

If he'll do it to you, he'll do it to others. If you complain and also make sure he ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT DO IT AGAIN, then he can't do it to you *or* to anyone else ever again.

[pauamma]

Or taken away his shoes.