Practical support for disabled people is essential - and we should all provide it says Tressa Burke, chief executive of Glasgow Disability Alliance
We all need other people to make our experience of life worthwhile.
Support is a fundamental part of being human – whether that support is emotional, practical, information or something else. Support can come from many sources, such as family, friends, neighbours, colleagues and organisations.
Disabled people often require practical support and personal assistance (which is simply another source of support).
Access to this kind of support is not a luxury. It is fundamentally important for independent living, for having choice and control and for living a full life.
We often take for granted the freedom that we have and how much choice and control we have over our lives
Tressa Burke
Practical support, including personal assistance, enables disabled people to play an active role in their families, communities and to contribute to wider society.
Take Lena, for example. She was socially isolated with reduced mobility and had become very depressed. She wanted to get out but wasn’t able to because she had no access to a wheelchair outdoors or physical support to use one, even if this was possible.
Public transport was also not accessible to her.
Working with a PA meant that Lena could get out and take part in social activities with other older people. She was able to join a social club supported by assistance as well as transport and through this, she found out about other opportunities available.
Through receiving one to one support and assistance, Lena was enabled to attend the club. She is now supporting other older people to come along, including Isabella who was also isolated and recently bereaved.
Lena says: “This has completely changed my life. If it wasn’t for the support and assistance, I wouldn’t be outside the door. It gives me purpose and something to look forward to. And now I’m even able to help other people which I never thought possible”.
Lena's story shows how personal assistance and practical support can mean the difference between feeling isolated, lonely and helpless to feeling confident and playing a fuller role in society.
We often take for granted the freedom that we have and how much choice and control we have over our lives.
Disabled people simply don't have the same choice and control as the majority of their fellow citizens. This is why we believe personal assistance and practical support is a fundamental right for independent living.
To make this right a reality we need to see a joined up approach between agencies. We need to see resources being used more creatively.
Play your part by raising awareness when and where you can.
