Access by Various artists

Wish we had one of these festivals in Wellington.

I'm not involved with this, think it may be great for some, but as for the rest, I deal with disability, know many disabled and their issues, and while some "festivals" may support and promote their cause, that is not what is the priority in my eyes.

Participation in culture and other social life, and work, is important, I just fear, the government is not doing enough to honour the many claims they make.

So that may be beside of the point re this event, but it must not be forgotten. Take a stand, be firm, demand and challenge, that this government does do more to disabled, that is physical and PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND PSYCHIATRICALLY diagnosed ill, to be supported, and cared for, as for the level of needs they have.

Take a stand, be firm, demand and challenge, that this government does do more to disabled, that is physical and PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND PSYCHIATRICALLY diagnosed ill, to be supported, and cared for, as for the level of needs they have.

I do not understand what you are saying here.

Of course such a festival is good and deserves all kinds of support, but my additional comments were re some other concerns I have for disabled, particularly those with (often not so visible) mental health issues.

The government may offer help for some disabled, but those with mental health issues do often have to fight for needed support, even for simply having their conditions being acknowledged and accepted. There is still a lack of accessible, affordable treatments, and instead we get questionable approaches that WINZ now use, all geared to simply get people off benefits, no matter whether sick and disabled or not, as work is now considered “therapeutic”.

“Malingering and Illness Deception“, a book by Peter Halligan, written and published with the cooperation and support of Professor Mansel Aylward and Gordon Waddell:
http://voxpoliticalonline.com/tag/mansel-aylward/
“Found: The book that helps the government smear the sick as ‘malingerers’”

http://www.meactionuk.org.uk/Malingering_and_Illness_Deception.pdf

http://global.oup.com/academic/product/malingering-and-illness-deception-9780198515548;jsessionid=75D0839C520F67362E1672C628E1A218?cc=nz&lang=en&

And here in New Zealand, the same “approaches“ recommended by Mansel Aylward have been adopted by MSD and WINZ, following „advice“ Paula Bennett and a hand-picked “Health and Disability Panel” received.
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech-medical-professionals

A presentation by Work and Income’s “Principal Health Advisor” Dr David Bratt, using selectively picked “data” from selected, controversial “research”:
http://www.gpcme.co.nz/pdf/GP%20CME/Friday/C1%201515%20Bratt-Hawker.pdf
(see pages 13, 20, 21 and 35, where he likens benefit dependence to “drug dependence”)

More is found via these links:
http://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2013/09/07/the-health-and-disability-panel-and-its-hand-picked-members/
http://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2013/09/02/medical-and-work-capability-assessments-based-on-the-controversial-bio-psycho-social-model/
http://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2013/12/28/designated-doctors-used-by-work-and-income-some-also-used-by-acc-the-truth-about-them/
http://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2014/06/21/work-ability-assessments-done-for-work-and-income-a-revealing-fact-study-part-a/
(some further parts can be found on ‘nzsocialjusticeblog2013’)

http://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2014/10/04/advice-to-winz-beneficiaries-facing-medical-examinations-and-work-ability-assessments/
http://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2014/10/05/work-has-fewer-health-benefits-than-mansel-aylward-and-other-experts-claim-it-can-cause-serious-harm/
http://nzsocialjusticeblog2013.wordpress.com/2014/10/19/nz-finance-minister-bill-english-insults-beneficiaries-with-mansel-aylwards-work-will-set-you-free-approach/

Sorry to distract a bit, I hope others may share more info re the festival and who and what is behind it all.

Of course such a festival is good and deserves all kinds of support

And also the subject of the actual post. Bit rude, dude.

Crashing in like that has probably deterred people who want to talk about that topic.

I’d be happy to host a discussion about the issues you raise, but this shouldn’t be it. Cheers.

Sorry, I accept your point. I will bear this in mind in future and endeavour to focus more on the topic.