Help Blind People

[Hammer]

Hi all

Please read the below and sign in support of the petition
++++++++++++-+++++++++-+++++++++-+++++++++-++++
A major campaign has been launched to put pressure on the Government to
upgrade the amount of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), that a blind or
visually impaired person receives at present.

Currently every person who has a significant problem with their eye sight,
is entitled to receive the Lower Rate of the Mobility component of the
allowance.

The petition aims to gather as many signatures as possible, so that the
Government will consider changing the current entitlement for blind and
visually impaired persons, from the Lower Rate to the Higher Rate of the
Mobility component.

There is a minimum requirement of 10,000 signatures to be submitted before
the matter will be looked at.

The petition is being hosted by the 10 Downing Street website.

If the Government were to upgrade the level of DLA a blind or visually
impaired person receives, this could mean an extra £1500 a year, for a
blind
or visually impaired person.

The extra payments mean that blind or visually impaired persons can travel
more freely and with a lot less hassle.

<a href="http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/DLAandTheBlind/" target="_blank">http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/DLAandTheBlind/</a>

Cheers Hammer

[Hippy]

Hmm.
Not sure on this one.
Personally i think there is a LOT of money that goes into the community to help blind people, Audio fire alarms now compulsory, tactile pavements at crossings, audible signals at crossings, signage has to be to DDA guidelines etc.
I dont really see how an extra £100 a month could help the blind 'travel more freely', surely that money would be better spent in the actual transport system so they can travel more freely?

And why is this coming from a mobility grant? is it different from a disability grant?
Is a blind person less mobile than any other person?

[Hammer]

Is a blind person less mobile than any other person?

Try keeping your eyes closed all day and do the normal things you do. Let's see how mobile you are then.

[Hippy]

Well i'd still be mobile, i just wouldn't be able to see where i was going.

I'm not trying to be harsh, i just dont see why £100 extra a month would benefit the blind in terms of getting around. It's not like they can put it towards a better car, it would have to be for train/bus/taxi fares really, in which case, i'd rather see the money go straight into the transport industy.
They already get a disability allowance.

Say i was to walk around all day with my eyes shut. How would an extra £5 (or whatever) for that day help me?
What would help me get around is audible instructions warning me of roads and telling me where i was. Information points in public places. Induction loops fitted into things like bus stops so i knew how long my bus was going to be.

[Dangerous Bob]

Speaking as a biker, I can state that there are already plenty of blind people on the road.

You'd use the extra cash for paying non-payment fines, wouldn't you?

[Claw]

We had a close family friend whom we would "look after", and when I say look after I mean doing the things he couldn't do like cutting his garden hedge, lawn, and similar jobs that required a lot of visual coordination, as well as good company. Besides that he did everything else himself. He was blind from birth, was a talented piano tuner and keen gardener.

He knew his way to the local shops, and either took a bus or was given a lift to other places he wanted to go to that he knew. Having extra money in his pocket would not have added anything to this at all. There were a lot of care systems in place already that gave him a great deal of freedom.

Personally I feel that to just throw more money at him would have been purely a sentimental approach as opposed to a suitably practical one. The write-up you provided doesn't give any indication as to how an extra £100.00 would help in the practical terms of mobility.

This said, if a non-emotional argument was put forward highlighting the realistic benefits I might change my mind. Until then, I'd like to know who is really asking for this extra money... I don't think it's the blind.

Hippy's suggestions were brilliant tbh...