Dotty M

How do I feel about the announcement of the disability benefit cuts? I am horrified. One of my children is 16 (almost 17) and she's autistic and she's got severe trauma which was caused by being in the wrong school environment and she's been denied education for the last three years. I've been fighting CAMHS and school.

I know, because she's out of compulsory school age, I've also lost Universal Credit for her because she's not in school or education of any thought. Now, the DWP get picky for her, because we haven't been able to access the mental health support that she desperately needs and a therapeutic understanding education.

We're looking at starting with a tutor so she can gradually work up to hopefully going to college. She's a wonderfully bright kid.

Now it is the education system and the healthcare system's direct fault that she's in the situation she's in. And yet, the government thinks the solution is to cut her money or deny her access to being able to claim PIP. It's horrific.

And it's not just that - it's the fact that now we have to see in the media and on programs and everywhere people discuss us as people who scam the system and are ripping people off, and it's just disgusting. I'd say it's a disability hate crime that we're experiencing.

It just needs to stop.