Needs hardly seem moderate to me (From York Press)

Needs hardly seem moderate to me

8:08am Thursday 23rd August 2012 in Letters

I’M 72, with Asperger’s Syndrome. I completed the consultation questionnaire in June, adding several comments/questions, expecting a proper reply in July. Wrong, two months later silence from the council. After four years searching in vain for a local befriender, and a nightmare 18 months complaining to City of York Council , I was assessed with five moderate needs (out of seven – a complication mentioned nowhere – do five moderates trump one substantial, etc).

But I then fell foul of York’s mean means test, being only moderately poverty stricken. I have to pay to be spoken to monthly (not weekly). Four years later, I discover the means test is all discretionary; York never told me and blamed the government.

So York council has lost all interest – not a word. How many more have they lost, who “choose” not to afford needed help?

Under ‘Autism Strategy’ they should find know about and involve all of us. Silence! And cost effective to meet moderate needs, etc. Read it, dear leader, and learn.

Mr M Cook, Lowfield Drive, Haxby , York.