Disabled slacker Dave Studley 32, has hit out at people who expect him to be an inspiration to others.
Dave has been in a wheelchair since he was run over by a moped delivering him a pizza. "To be honest it was a blessing" he says. "Before the accident I was having to spend several hours at a time on my feet. I had a job in my local Spar which was getting in the way of playing X-Box and watching telly. After I got run down though I was getting loads of sympathy and people were happy to let me sit around the house. I have been playing hours and hours of World of Warcraft, it's been brilliant. However, just lately I have noticed a change in people's attitudes and I think that is down to other disabled people performing inspirational feats.
"For instance you get kids like the local 16 year old who has just done a marathon on crutches. It's fine raising loads of money for charity or whatever but what they don't realise is that it increases the pressure on disabled people like me who really can't be bothered to do anything. Straight after the accident I went out and bought one of those full on electric wheelchairs where I only have to push a lever to make it move. It's got a headrest like Stephen Hawkings one has which is great for sleeping. The day after that kid was in the papers I had two comments from people asking what's wrong with my arms and why couldn't I wheel myself about."
The war in Afghanistan isn't helping either, there are loads of young blokes coming back with limbs missing but instead of getting hammered and adapting to life on wheels they go out and form basketball teams or go to the South Pole with Prince Harry. Nobody says anything explicitly, but I can see them thinking that even if I don't go out canoeing or rock climbing then I should at least get a job, and with this bloody Disability Discrimination Act there are ramps and lifts everywhere so I am fast running out of excuses as to why I can't.
Fellow long term disabled idler Ray Fulop agrees. "The Eighties were a golden age for us disabled" he says. "There was loads of sympathy around then, plenty of benefits and people willing to lend a hand. Now it's all about independent living and getting us into work. People used to see a wheelchair and want to know what they could do to help, now they walk past and ignore you because they think you will be offended if they offer to go and get your shopping for you."
"I didn't ask to be disabled says Dave but this is what fate held in store for me and I am dealing with it in my way. I just want to be left alone to finish Modern Warfare 3. I have always hated sport so I don't understand why society demands that I take it up now that I can't walk".
His Mother however says that she is realistic. "I don't expect him to climb Everest, or even do his own laundry but he could at least make the effort to go to the toilet unaided. After all he has only broken his ankle and he will be out of plaster in a week or two."
