Fears for a cold winter
18 October 2011
For the first time in a long time, many people will have woken
up to a frost this week - and will have turned the central heating
on without a second thought. But for some people with learning
disabilities, that isn't an option. In fact, some people with
learning disabilities, their families and carers will have greeted
the frost with trepidation; with the fear that this may be the
beginning of another winter like the last one. If it is as bad -
and the long-range forecasts have predicted that it might be - it
could put people into major financial difficulties and for some it
will be a choice of heating or eating. Those at greatest risk are
the people with learning disabilities and their family/carers who
have a fixed income - generally what they receive in benefits - and
who have little chance of supplementing that. With inflation
running at 5.2% - boosted by rising gas and electricity prices -
income does not stretch as far as it did even a few months ago.
There are only so many cutbacks people can make in their lives and
many have been cutting back for some time. Some might say 'get a
job' to increase income, but that is much easier said than done.
Unemployment is rising - currently 2.57 million, the highest for 17
years - and competition for jobs is increasingly fierce. Also,
people with learning disabilities often don't compete on a level
playing field. For instance, disability discrimination is meant to
have been outlawed but anecdotally still goes on - sometimes
unwittingly - among employers. Sadly, it appears that little help
will be forthcoming. The government's latest word on how to combat
rising fuel costs - shop around for the best deal - is patronising
at best. Otherwise, there is the annual 'Keep Warm Keep Well' campaign, which offers
hints and tips on staying warm and healthy in winter and advice on
applying for things like the Warm Front scheme that provides
heating and insulation improvements. This helps to a point, but for
many people with learning disabilities, the hope will be that the
weather forecasters have got it wrong.
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