WHEN able bodied people struggle to find work as unemployment rises, getting jobs is sure to be even more difficult for those who are disabled.

Their physical or mental handicaps are an extra hurdle to overcome in the quest for employment.

In a perfect world, of course, they would not be...but we don't live in a perfect world.

If they are unable to find employment, disabled people are forced to eke out a living on benefits.

With the extra costs of everyday life faced by people with disabilities, getting along on benefits is a meagre existence.

We are told that the Disability Rights Commission estimates that one million disabled people would like to work if only they could get a job.

When the government, in the person of Work and Pensions Secretary Alistair Darling, announced that efforts were going to be made to give real help to disabled people seeking work, it was difficult to see how anyone could disagree.

Support, rehabilitiation and proper training opportunities are certainly needed.

As the department's East Lancashire information officer says: "We must change from a system that provided no help to get into work, no support and no rehabilitation to one that provides active help on a regular basis."

But, as we know, the government's plans, and particularly the regular MoT style health checks that they include, have actually been criticised by MPs from all parties and greeted with anger and apprehension by disabled people in East Lancashire and elsewhere.

The reason is the fear that, while the new systems have been presented as giving new opportunities to people who sorely need them, that is merely a smokescreen.

The true motive, according to the detractors, is simply to save cash by forcing people off benefits.

Only time will show which view is correct.

As the new measures are implemented we will either see disabled people taking the roles they deserve in the workplace or slipping further and further away from the lifestyles enjoyed by their able bodied counterparts.

If the latter happens, it is up to all of us to show that we DO care.