While the Paralympic Games were a great success in portraying disability in a positive light, unfortunately this mom-ent has been overshadowed by fears of disabled people that benefit cha nges may hit their ability to live independent lives.

The fact that Atos, a private company involved in implementing proposed welfare reforms, was a major sponsor of the Games, brings the issue even closer to home.

As with so many of the issues surrounding disability, prejudice often plays a greater part in causing distress than any medical condition. One of these concerns is fitness to work.

The truth is there is a big difference between being capable of working and of fulfilling a formal employment contract.

Consider arthritis, cancer and severe depression – sufferers are likely to need more time off than the vast majority of jobs can provide.

Sadly, some sections of the media still feel depression isn’t a real illness, but would you like a suicidal bus driver taking your children to school? Obviously, there are major health and safety issues to consider.

The need to reform the welfare system is a real issue, but one we can’t afford to be either short-term or mean-minded over. Crucial is the ability of the disabled to be able to do the work they are capable of and see the results in their pocket, but at the same time have the security of income comparable to their able-bodied and minded colleagues.

This requires flexibility in the benefit and tax system. For instance, the possibility of more financial assistance for those employed, particularly during periods when unable to attend work, perhaps balanced with a higher tax rate to make it fair. Employers need more help too – for instance tax breaks to allow overmanning when employing the disabled, thus ensuring enough staff are available for jobs to be promptly completed in a competitive commercial environment. Another essential measure would be to improve educational access, as when you are less employable than the average citizen, additional skills and qualifications may be necessary to put disabled workers on a level playing field. At the moment, unfortunately, it is a case not of the poor man being disabled, but the disabled man being poor.

A R & K A Wainwright

Upper Fenn Road

Halstead