.If you can use the internet to speak you don't have social problems

[belvederebabe]

Perhaps we are 'hoist be our own petard' as news from inside the DWP states that internet use now assumes 'social contact' invalidating descriptor 13: Coping with social engagement due to cognitive impairment or mental disorder.

The changes slated from 'Coping with social situations' with three gradients of 15, 9 and 6 points to just one category of 15 points for:

'Engagement in social contact is always precluded due to difficulty relating to others or significant distress experienced by the individual'

or, in other words, total social isolation; was bad enough.

Now there are new means to bypass this descriptor by slyly using the term 'Social Engagement' to include activities on the web.

The disabled have by-and-large been ignored on the web, see google trends if you're in doubt, but niche sites and small communities

however they are facilitated are sure to find this a particularly cruel blow.


Hi don't know how true this is but copied it of another forum... hope they don't mind...

Just cos I can talk to you lot on here incognito does not mean I don't get anxious in social situations esp if I feel I am being judged or watched... How many jobs do you know of where you can ask questions on the web market research perhaps but if it takes 3 hours to do something that should take half an hour don't think you would keep the job very long....

[muffie02]

ah just tell them you never talk to anyone on the net - just use it for research and paying bills - AND NEVER NEVER admit to being on farcebook or titter ( tho why people want to be is beyond me ) -

and anyways doing that probably breaches the UN charter on the rights of disabled people

article 2 :To take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability by any person, organization or private enterprise; ""Discrimination on the basis of disability" means any distinction, exclusion or restriction on the basis of disability which has the purpose or effect of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal basis with others, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field. It includes all forms of discrimination, including denial of reasonable accommodation;"

article 4 : To take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability by any person, organization or private enterprise;

To undertake or promote research and development of, and to promote the availability and use of new technologies, including information and communications technologies, mobility aids, devices and assistive technologies, suitable for persons with disabilities, giving priority to technologies at an affordable cost;

Article 21 - Freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information

States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities can exercise the right to freedom of expression and opinion, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas on an equal basis with others and through all forms of communication of their choice, as defined in article 2 of the present Convention,

Article 22 - Respect for privacy

1. No person with disabilities, regardless of place of residence or living arrangements, shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, home or correspondence or other types of communication or to unlawful attacks on his or her honour and reputation. Persons with disabilities have the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.


now i am no lawyer (other than a barrack room one ) - but to me saying one does not have a problem with social interaction because one uses the net - probably breaches one of the clauses above somewhere

and what of those who dont wish to talk to others ?? or conversly OTHERS dont want to talk to ?? for instance - forums - imparting information and opinion - or a social network ??

so far as i am concerned i have read an opinion on a screen - and have replied to that opinion via the same method - i dont know you - you dont know me - we have not actually "TALKED " as would be defined by most people - i am "talking " to a machine - i dont know if you exist or not at the other end - you may not be who you claim to be - or even a machine "talking " back - of course this is debatable

i for instance have no freinds - or family in the imediate area - i neither KNOW or wish to know my neighbors ( they are students in the main ) and i certanly do not communicate with them on the net -( i am forced by unfaverable terms to communicate with some utilities and gov departments via the media but is this social interaction ??? )

IMO this clause is blatent t discrimination - as some with agraphobia or other forms of social isolation problems may ONLY be able to interact with others AT ALL via a pc where as they would not person to person

( PLEASE TO NOTE : NO SOCIAL INTERACTION WAS COMMITED DURING THE POSTING OF THIS POST - MY PC HATES ME AND I HATE IT !! - I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT TAKE IT DOWN THE PUB OR ON A DATE - OR EVEN TO THE CINEMA - AND IT NEVER TALKS TO ME - JUST BLEEPS AT ME AT INOPERTUNE MOMENTS - IS STUBBERN - WONT DO WHAT I ASK IT AND COLLECTS DUST LIKE ITS GOING OUT OF FASHION ............. I WANNA DIVORCE !!)