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Regional secretary with the National Education Union
The degradation and cruelty of constantly having to ‘prove’ you’re disabled
RUTH HUNT reminds us of the day-to-day fear that’s invading disabled people’s lives

THE announcement came through on April 23 that Stephen Smith, 64, had died. 

The story about Smith had first been broken by Liam Thorpe of the Liverpool Echo, back in February, when he had been found fit for work despite having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), osteoarthritis and an enlarged prostate.

When Smith became ill with pneumonia he was hospitalised. His weight dropped to a skeletal six stone. Due to his precarious health, he had to seek permission from the hospital to attend his appeal. In less than three months, he was dead.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
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