Invisible Disability? See http://www.myida.org/disabled.htm

I have an invisible disability but I do need to use a number of different Disability Aids and so I could possibly help others to obtain suitable affordable equipment.

I use:

A tall Vehicle with an automatic gearbox ; A sprung Walking Stick ; Wedge Cushions ; Lumber Supports ; Australian Saddle Chair ; Memory Foam Mattress & Pillow etc

contact me on:  help@mikes-bits-and-pcs.co.uk

About Me:

At 35 I sustained sciatic nerve damage in an RTA leaving me in constant pain and my condition will not improve unless I can completely avoid sitting down normally.

I received D.L.A. for 3 years but having drastically altered my way of life I am now able to walk and generally cope better than back then and I would not like to go backwards. I cannot over-emphasis how much the learning of Tai Chi has helped me.

However that does leave me financially disadvantaged as I am not fit for a return to full-time work and my previous employer, JF Faber Ltd of Leyland, did not want any design engineers working part-time so just dismissed me ~ I am currently taking them to an Employment Tribunal; the hearing is in May 2011 (& I am representing myself)

I can understand why some disabled people do not seek to improve their own fitness when state benefits are immediately stopped - the system creates a very negative cycle of dependency instead of helping people back to work gradually.

Prior to my accident I was a £25k/year Mechanical Design Engineer & in training to become a £75k/year Commercial Helicopter Pilot. I finally had to stop working in 2003 despite various hospital treatments, although if my employer had been a little bit more flexible and had provided the equipment I needed, I could be working part-time for them even now! I had to stop flying & give up cars with manual gearboxes too.

Now I am in receipt of £5k/year Incapacity Benefit ~ DWP allow me to earn an extra £1k/year called 'Permitted Work' (aka Therapeutic Work) ie. £20/week for 12 hours work hence the 'below-minimum-wage' rates I charge at 'Mike's-Bits-and-PCs' my part-time self employed business. That is one reason I concentrate on helping OAPs.

~ If you're wondering? Yes, I have to file a S.A. Tax Return each year too!