Cuts - This makes me sick to the stomach

Image copyright of Kim-Leng Hills © 2007-2010. All rights reserved.

Having been brought up in two different countries, there is definitely a massive contrast in care in society, obviously with it being a cultural thing. I've always been so grateful for how Britain has continuously maintained a support system for the disabled, elderly, and the mentally and physically ill, having services there which thousands benefit from. In Malaysia, it's all about your family and dealing with things together; when someone in your family is disabled then you do all you can to look after them in your own home. My mother's sister is disabled and even with her own upbringing on growing up on an old bamboo estate, all the children in the family had to leave home and stay with cousins and aunties so that she could be looked after and get the attention she needed. That is how it's always been for my family in Malaysia, my grandmother dedicated her life to looking after her until my grandmother died, and the responsibility was passed down to my mother's youngest sister to look after her, whilst my mother's eldest sister comes by every day to help. For over 40 years it's been this way, not just with my Aunty but with all other members of my family out there; your family are your carers and if you can afford a maid, then the maid will help look after them. You don't get state benefits. They also don't believe in having mental health support out there either, so no counsellors, therapists, psychiatrists are there to help through things, and don't even get me started on any form of a free public health service.

Over in England, the big bad financial cuts have been made and they've most definitely made sure that absolutely every one has been impacted by this. As a Freelancer, Student and Co-Director of a Creative Arts Therapy organisation, I'm pretty much screwed to oblivion thanks to this lovely government. I spent today researching the impact on philanthropists funding the Arts and how much reliance will be placed on their donations and acts of good-will. Whilst I was looking, I began to get somewhat sidetracked and found this article written in the Guardian newspaper about how the disabled have been greatly affected. Reading this article practically made my stomach turn; I have moderate to severe asthma, which is classified on paper as a 'long-term illness and unseen disability'. I've experienced losing my job due to my asthma, and I've also experienced life in a wheelchair and/or bed ridden due to it. Asthmatics have to fork out for our own life-saving medication which the government refuse to make free on prescription, but they're also cutting all funding for anyone on Employment Support Allowance and any benefits that are there to help disabled people living in care homes. Their reasoning for this was for the government to save £135 million, by cutting  the mobility funding that helps disabled people in residential care get out of their homes to see their family, friends or to get to the shops.

I've no idea if this country is regressing or what, if anything it's definitely making me understand how much we rely on what the state gives us for free. But then again, it's a cultural ideology which leads to how we deal with things; as we have aids open to the public, we of course apply heavy reliance upon this in order to 'function' in our daily lives. Eradicating the funding and subsequent aids will inevitably cause detrimental effects on the thousands (380,000 in the case of disabled people living in care homes). If anything, it leaves me feeling exasperated and fearful about the future. I try to do as much humanitarian work as I can, working with the elderly and with children -- these cuts are going to push agencies to ask for as much volunteering and philanthropic help as possible. The government's cuts on two things I feel incredibly passionate for; Arts and Disability, have only provided me with even more drive to do what I do, and bring as much help as I can to those who need it.