Since my last post, I've been thinking about the facts and statistics regarding disabled people here in the UK. Here are some of my findings.....

* There are 9.4 million disabled people in England, which equates to 18% of our population.

* 45% are males. 55% are female.

census 2011

* The prevalence of disability rises with age - 1 in 20 children are disabled, compared with 1 in 5 of working age adults, and almost 1 in 2 over state pension age.

Office for Disability Issues updated Department of Work and Pensions Estimates based on Family Resources survey 2009/2010

* Only 17% of disabled people were born with disabilities. The majority acquire their disability during their working lives.

*Less than 8% of disabled people use wheelchairs. The majority of impairments are not visible.

* People are more likely to become disabled if they have a low income, are out of work or have a low educational qualification.

Papworth Trust disability facts and figures 2010.

MMMMmmmm and not for the not so factual bits.... these bits are just shyte...

* 38% of people believe disabled people are a burden on society.

* 28%of people believe there is ill feeling around the perceived extra support given to disabled people.

I would guess that the same 28% read The Daily Mail.....

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* 27% of people think disabled people are treated differently because there is a lack of knowledge around disability.

* 65% of people have admitted they avoid disabled people because they don't know how to act around them.

BT - Ready, Willing and Disabled Event 2011

* 180 disability hate crimes are committed every day in this country. EVERY DAY!!!

And that is just a taster of the facts. You can check it out in it's entirety for yourself at :

                               www.efds.co.uk/resources/facts_and_statistics

I've ran out of things to say. Kind of leaves me a bit speechless.