Stop Calling the Disabled 'Scroungers'

I am part of a charity called The Powerhouse which serves women with disabilities. NONE of the women of this charity are scroungers. Yes, they need benefits and are wholly dependent on a welfare system through no fault of their own. This makes them 'dependent' but this word does not translate into 'scroungers'.

Tomorrow disabled people will be holding a vigil outside Parliament at 1pm to oppose the proposed cuts set out in the Welfare Reform Bill. Their call is for the Government to call a halt to the 20% cut in Disability Living Allowance, among other cuts proposed. A report called 'Responsible Reform' was written by people with disabilities, some of whom have fallen ill through the stress of putting together this comprehensive set of evidence and counter proposals. Their struggle affects all of us because a society's values system must be based on a mix of individual, community and natural justice ethics.