My first experience of Richmond AID was when I walked past and went to the library next door. I was advised by the Jobcentre to apply for Disability Living Allowance and I remembered walking past Richmond AID so went there to see if I could get a form. When I came in, I remember it distinctly, because I came in through the back door. It was packed and there were a lot of people in wheelchairs. I remember thinking I don’t have a disability and everybody would be too busy to support me because I wasn’t disabled enough. I spoke to Andy on reception and he phoned up for me to get the DLA form. I was very shaken at the time trying to come to terms with everything. I went home, got completely freaked out about the size of the form and did not fill it in. I was very depressed at the time and did very little for the next six months. I live alone and was too frightened and anxious to go out of the house on my own. I often didn’t speak to people for days at a time.
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