“I was Refused Freedom Pass Dispite my Disability”
Message posted by youcef on 22 April, 2008:
Hello there,I was Refused Freedom Pass
I just found out yesterday that Lambeth Council may have a blanket of policies against Disabled people who are asylum Seekers. My Freedom pass was canceled and that is because I am asylum seeker (what?) it was valid till 2010, I lost it and only asked for a replacement one but they said awe sorry that was an error we shouldn’t have given you one. And then was talking to myself,’ I have been issued a Freedom Pass since when I first came here 2002, so how can they make the same mistake for all those years? That’s just none sense! So, I wrote to Mr. Mark Plonka, the acting manager of Accessible Transport Unit at Lambeth Social Services and yet no response...This is really really frustrating and disheartening.
An article was on South London paper and the editor contacted some councils, Lewisham, Wandsworth, Southwark they all said YES we do give disabled asylum seeker Freedom pass because we believe they are important to our local residents.
I’m an active guy and I do loads to my community, I did explain that The Freedom Pass is my legs and without it I’m 24/24 housebound but did they care! NO! oooo well what can I say guys,
The reason why they named it Freedom Pass is because it offers a great amount of freedom to people in special need such as myself, and makes their daily life easier. What Freedom do I have now? NONE! Additionally I’m isolated from my local community, and that will only make me more dependent on others. What a Freedom Pass could bring to the life of a person like me is beyond their widest imagination, and to be honest with you, it’s vital to my independency. It also encourages me to go out there and get involved.
I do not think when anybody suffers anything as devastating as a spinal injury that you could imagine he/she would be able to live their life to the full as they did before, especially of what I have been through (I suffered considerably). Nevertheless if the help and support I requires are met then there would be a great chance that my perspective of my life would change, my perception of my own disability may change as well and hopefully I would see myself as able in other ways.
Finally, I would like to highlight that others in similar position like me are being turned down, and they will only end up isolated from their community and will be depending on others for their basic needs.
My Freedom Pass was valid till 2010, and I want to say it again “It is my legs” and the Council have made a big mistake by not issuing me with a replacement one because without it, I wont be able to do my basic things which is my shopping therefore I hope the council will reconsider it’s decision.
I have set up an online petition http://www.petitiononline.com/youcef34/ and a video on YouTube just go on YouTube and type youcef1973 and there you’ll see my video
If you have any advice than please feel free to contact me on youcef1973@hotmail.co.uk
P.S a message to my Council, beware that Disabled Legislation exist and that the pain you are causing me and causing to others is enormous (SHAME ON YOU) and justice will be done
Youcef B
Reply by youcef on 09 July, 2008:
Hi all, I won back my Freedom Pass and awarded £100 on top of it. The council had admited that an error was made and I received a formal appology with £100 award and ofcourse that they now reunformed their stuff that there is no immigration rules on a Freedom Pass. thank you all who signed my petition. cheers- Go back to list of have your say topics.
Reply by youcef on 22 April, 2008:
Is there any justice in the world?