A VISUALLY-impaired man has decided against moving to Guernsey because local provision for his condition is simply not good enough.
Michael Lindsay, 35, was planning to buy an open market house for his future retirement. But he was so shocked by the lack of social support for people with visual impairments, that he decided against the move.
‘It seems absolutely disgusting that it just doesn’t seem to be recognised as a disability. The help available in Jersey is the same as in the UK, so I’ll be looking to put my hard-earned cash into that island instead,’ said the husband and father.
‘There is no disability allowance, public transport is not [further] subsidised and facilities are not user-friendly if you are visually impaired. I find it all absolutely disgusting.’
Mr Lindsay suffers from a degenerative eye condition. He is totally blind in one eye and will be in the other within the next few years.
The Hampshire-based businessman, who owns a company that supplies arcade machines, said he was lucky to have set up his business before his condition set in. He said he felt sorry for local people of working age who were unable to work full-time because of their disability. They did not get enough support, he said.
‘When I visited, I spoke to quite a few people about the shortage of services for the blind and visually impaired.
‘They all told me that they feel the way they have been treated by the States, or should I say ignored by it, is totally unacceptable.
‘Being blind or having severely impaired vision is most definitely a disability and it should be viewed as such.’
Health minister Hunter Adam was surprised by Mr Lindsay’s comments and said that Health and Social Services definitely considered blindness and visual impairment to be disabilities.
A spokesman for Social Security added that having these conditions gave no automatic right to supplementary benefits, but anyone who was unable to work would be means tested to see if they were entitled to unemployment benefit.
There is no disability allowance as such in Guernsey. The nearest thing was an attendance allowance, which would be paid to someone needing full-time care.
Article posted on 12th September, 2008 - 2.29pm
10 Article Comments
Well said Hunter.
Seems another sob story sans credibility.
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If this gentleman can afford an open market property then he will have no problem with his disability,good that he’s off to Jersey!Guernsey’s loss is Jersey’s gain!
Donald
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It seems strange he’s got all this money and he’s immediately looking into what handouts he can get. Maybe he’s from the Isle of Wight aswell.
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Neil
You are being just as derogatory as the Guernsey woman you were clearly thinking about when you insult the Isle of Wight and its people.
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You guys have completely, and conveniently, missed the point.
Sure, this man can afford to look after himself. But he was trying to draw attention to others on the island who have a visual impairment but aren’t as financially secure (or as vocal) as he is.
Or would your solution be to ship all of them off to Jersey too?
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Mr Lindsay is shocked by the lack of social support for people with visual impairments in Guernsey so he will take his hard-earned cash to a place where there is already help available. If he wants to help the disabled, don’t the Guernsey people need his money and involvement more than those in Jersey?
Or have I misunderstood? Was Mr L hoping to benefit from support already put in in place at the expense of a territory not his own?
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Ted
I think your understanding of this matter is spot on.
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Do we want to encourage people with conditions to move here?
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Bit upset to read people with ‘conditions’ not encouraged to move to the island, I think this case is a joke but not everyone is of this frame of mind, people buying on the open market should not expect any handouts, do keep in mind however, how many go to the mainland for treatment under the NHS. Catch 22 or what.
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Jackie that is a stupid and hurtful thing to say.
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