Opinion: In my view - Listening to the disabled
Mary Mulligan, MSP
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Last month I was delighted to attend the launch of the 'Handle With Care' report in the Scottish Parliament. While the report was laid before the Parliament by Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People, Kathleen Marshall, the crucial point about this report was the contribution of the young people with mobility problems affected by moving and handling policies. At the launch, a DVD of the young people allowed them to expand on what was said in the report.
What the young people found most difficult to deal with was the embarrassment and indignity that could be caused when being moved. They spoke about feeling like a 'package' and said people did not ask them how they wanted to be moved, as if they were too stupid to know what was going on. They were hurt that their feelings were not considered.
The parents' concerns were similar. They felt helpless seeing or hearing of their child being humiliated. They wanted them to lead as full a life as possible, not excluded from activities because service providers were over-zealous on health and safety rather than the rights of the child.
There are a series of recommendations in the report. But really it is very simple. As a society we have to want to make life as good as it can be for children and young people with mobility problems. We can start by listening to them and their families. What works when they are being moved? What makes them very uncomfortable or is actually painful? Do they need mechanical help, or is it more of a hindrance? How do we make it possible for them to take part in activities, rather than looking for the reasons why they cannot?
It is our attitude that needs to change. In the report, young people bluntly tell us where we have been going wrong. They also helpfully tell us how to make it right. Let each of us consider what we can do.
