"And what is your e-mail address " I said to a customer the other day when processing a new order." It's pigswill fly.co.ect" said the Mum on the other end of the line.
"That wouldn't by any chance be a reference to your experiences trying to get what you need for your disabled child would it? "
And so began another long complicated, sad, frustrating story about my customers fight to help the foster children she looks after.
Sadly I have to report that it is a story I hear ALL the time.
Why is it so difficult for the families who live with disability to get the things they need, let alone the things they want to help them to cope with the additional requirements they have.
It all seems incredibly complicated , inconsistent, spread out and a lot of hard work for families to get help advise support funding services and so on.
Happily amongst all the aggravation I also hear many heartwarming, inspirational funny and wonderful stories about the many exciting achievements great and small my customers enjoy.
These are a few things I have observed in the six years I have been speaking to my customers.
1. Unless you live with or are directly connected to someone with a disability, there is a lot of serious lack of understanding , or education about what it is all about.
2. The help available is totally inconsistent around the country.
3. Many areas of the health care industry are severely out of date.
4. Things are slowly improving.
5. The Internet is a great medium to harness the power of the needs of families and will be highly influential in improving understanding of those who live with disability and those who don't.
I wonder if you agree with me?
Maybe pigswill fly one day after all.
