Something I struggle to contend with is being a disabled journalist. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do – but there’s no denying that the media does not speak well about disabled people and benefits claimants.
That’s putting it fucking kindly. To put it unkindly: the media perpetuates dangerous stereotypes of disabled people. They continuously regurgitate Tory bile for clicks and newspaper sales with no care for how it affects real people. As I wrote last week, the media is how most people form opinions, so to only give one side and not challenge it is dangerous.
It’s further dispiriting knowing how hard I and other journalists work to get real stories and views into the press and seeing our pitches completely ignored.
Case in point: when I was offered my place in the Deaf and Disabled Peoples’ Organisations (DDPOs) coalition going to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) to hold the government to account, I pitched that story to every mainstream newspaper and got absolute tumbleweed. But then to instead see them gladly stuff their pages with hate from the DWP is just insulting.
So onto the week!
The sporty men are still at it
Last week saw, to give him his official title (bestowed by me) Exercise Bore Joe Wicks bullshit about how everyone has ADHD because of junk food. Due to the enormous backlash Wicks had to make an “apology” on Instagram.
He clarified that what he actually meant is he thinks too many people are misdiagnosed with ADHD and food is a factor. And he doesn’t see how that is so much worse. It’s almost like the man has a book to flog on kids’ healthy eating or something…
Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton’s even shitter brother went on Loose Women and let the internalised ableism spew forth. Nicholas sees himself as no longer disabled because he “pushed through” and forced himself to stop using a wheelchair and walk again.
This is a dangerous enough narrative, but to then go on national TV and be given the space to talk about how your life was sad and hopeless whilst you were in a wheelchair, on a show that has a wheelchair-using panelist is just vile. Nicholas’s view of his disability is honestly the most tragic thing about him, but the media feeding that and calling him inspirational helps nobody,
Another week, more DWP bullshit
On Monday 15 April the news broke that thanks to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), unemployed disabled people could be up to £2,800 worse off. This is thanks to the forced rollout of those on old-style benefits being moved to Universal Credit.
However – absolutely coincidentally I’m sure – the night before DWP boss Mel Stride revealed to the press that there had been a spike in people with ADHD claiming PIP and suggesting that it’s influencers’ faults.
That’s right.
We all think we have ADHD cos some kids on TikTok said so, it’s not that these incredible people speaking about their experiences mean others have realised they aren’t broken or wrong.
A significant line in the Times article about this was that Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is “given regardless of work”. It almost insinuates that those who work shouldn’t be entitled to benefits. It completely ignores that PIP is there to help us manage the extra costs of disability. Though I guess it fits when DWP have been trying to quietly make it means-tested for years.
Three Tory scandals yesterday but headlines about “sicknote” skivers
Thursday 18 April was a fucking banner day for the Tories. Mark Menzies using tens of thousands of Tory funds to pay off “bad people” (and getting a dog pissed – wtf??), Jonathan Nunn accused of horrific domestic violence, and then one of Rishi’s donors having £14m in assets frozen.
That’s of course while we still have more coming out about who sent their cocks to William Wragg’s blackmailer, and Liz Truss cunting about all over telly with her terrible joke of a book. So what’s the front page of the Telegraph today? That’s right you guessed it! “PM Vows to end sicknote culture”.
Rishi claims he’ll strip GPs of their powers to sign people off the sick and the corporate media has no trouble repeating this without pointing out how dangerous that would be, and also who the fuck else is gonna do it? Oh that’s right: unqualified job centre workers who have to do their job or they’ll be fired.
It seems Rishi thinks bullying disabled people is more important than holding all his corrupt MPs and donors to account.
Funny that.
It’s almost like disabled people who are too scared to stand up for themselves are easier to squash than the rich and powerful. Well, think again dickhead.
Disabled joy: Girl Unmasked is a Sunday Times bestseller!
God knows we need disabled joy this week and I’m so glad that this one features one of my close friends. The incredible Emily Katy is such a force for good in this world. Having been through the ringer as a teenager, sent to a psyche ward instead of supported with her autism, Emily is now raising awareness of how much we need to protect and support autistic young women.
That’s why it’s the best news ever that her incredible book Girl Unmasked was a Sunday Times Bestseller! I’m so very lucky to know you Em – and I’m so glad your important message and autistic joy is being spread to the world.
And finally… some figures
Policy in Practice revealed yesterday that last year £22.7bn was saved in unclaimed benefits. That’s a rise of £8bn since I first reported on this issue in 2021. £8.3bn was saved just from unclaimed Universal Credit, which is higher than the £8.2bn they claim was lost in “fraud and error” of all benefits last year.
Again, I’m sure it’s a pure coincidence the DWP aren’t crowing about this.
That’s why we need to arm ourselves with this which they cannot fight against: pure stats. Take these figures and shout them from the rooftops.
Until next time, fuck the Tories and don’t believe everything you read.
Featured image via the Canary
