• WE have words such as racist, homophobic, Islamophobic…

But organisations which ignore and discriminate against people with disabilities are not usually described as institutionally disablist.

One issue is that many people, myself included, have invisible disabilities. So the first hurdle is to convince a service provider that you are indeed disabled and need “reasonable adjustments” as required under law.

Some time ago I applied for assistance in moving my 25kg recycling bin to the regulation distance from my gate. Visiting officers told me that there was nothing wrong with me and I would need to get a letter from my doctor.

The current hype from the council about support during the cost of living crisis rarely addresses disability issues, yet I understand about 25 per cent of the population have some form of disability.

Much of the literature churned out cannot be read by persons with low vision. My attempts to get this changed are ignored.

Road closures around Gospel Oak greatly hinder people with mobility issues and their carers. Simple technology would allow them dispensation for their cars to avoid fines if they went through closures. Again ignored.

No proper personal evacuation plans exist for helping people in high-rise blocks to escape if there is an emergency.

Many council public buildings have very poor acoustics. The Camden Council meeting I attended earlier this week had no speech-to-text device for the hearing impaired. Indeed the organisers did not even mention the support available to people with disabilities.

My growing experience of discriminatory action against myself with, at this stage relatively minor disabilities, leads me to the question of whether large parts of the council are institutionally disablist?

Perhaps, like the London Fire Brigade, the council should consider conducting an independent report and gather examples.

My own and friends’ experiences alone would make interesting reading. Fortunately none of us are yet severely disabled.

MICK FARRANT, NW5