The Latest ‘Disability'

It’s a few years ago now since I posted about the latest disability in children, commonly labelled Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). More and more children were diagnosed with this ‘aliment’ and schools encouraged parents to take their children to the GP.  Why?  Schools receive extra funding for children with recognised disabilities and ADHD had become a disability. thus qualifying for benefits.

It’s my firm belief that the lack of quiet time in primary schools goes some way towards children developing ADHD plus the lack of exercise many suffer these days.

Of course ADHD has been around for years.  Thirty years ago a neighbour’s child - a really pleasant wee girl - ran her family and school, ragged.  The parents were into ‘healthy eating’ and the mother thought she could do no wrong, but the wee lassie just couldn’t sit still for more than a minute. So often her mother said “She’s ants in her pants” and laughed.  It was her primary school headmaster who suggested a visit to the GP would be wise and the GP diagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and the wee girl was given a sedative to help her sleep.  Fortunately the GP didn’t leave it at one visit and a prescription and investigated further. After a basic allergy test it was found the girl was allergic to one of the E colourings in her mother’s favourite orange juice (freshly pressed of course).  There was no talk of ADD being a disability or the taxpayer providing extra funds for the family. 

Of course that was 30 years ago and things have changed.

Now ADD or ADHD is an acceptable disability.  Sadly.  The label provides an excellent opportunity for parents to take no responsibility. Why should they when extra money is coming into the house?  

The latest nonsense is that people who are classed as obese are entitled to disability benefits. Not only is the taxpayer helping overweight folk to eat, we (the taxpayers) are also going to give a reward to GPs who identify the ‘obese’ on their lists.

So, let’s sum this up. If you overeat your GP will class you as obese and therefore you will qualify for disability benefits.  Not only that but your GP’s practice will gain financially.  A win-win situation for those involved - except the poor taxpayer, once again.

Now that obesity is recognised as a disability, expect many more grossly fat people applying for all the relevant benefits while some elderly sit in their cold homes, too embarrassed to admit to anyone they can’t afford to heat and eat.

In the past 30 years I notice my principles and values are insignificant now. Soon they will be non-existant. A roller coaster which has good far too fast to stop.

Tweet