Where to start? One of the things that people say they value about Independent Living is that we don't go in for scaremongering or histrionics. We do try to highlight positive stories where we can, and when we deliver bad news, we aim to be balanced, and make sure that we aren't hyping things up, so to speak.

But the constant onslaught of stories about cuts to disability benefits is having its effect: I am struggling to maintain my "glass half full" attitude. The latest news about Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is particularly tough, following as it does on the £30 a week cut to ESA for those who are judged able to participate in some work-related activity.

The idea of PIP is to help cover the additional costs of a disability, and you may remember there was a brief consultation about the daily living component at the beginning of the year. The government has now announced the changes that will be made in assessing eligibility for the benefit, which will result in 200,000 people losing the payment completely and a further 400,000 getting a reduced amount. You can read more here.

Some of my best friends are lawyers, but there is no denying the fact that their services do not tend to come cheap, and increasingly, people find that they are contemplating legal proceedings without being able to afford representation.

If you are in this situation, perhaps with problems concerning welfare benefits, special educational needs, community care or housing, there is another possible means of support.

A McKenzie Friend is a lay representative who can help with your case, take notes in court, and quietly give you advice during proceedings. They can't normally address the court on your behalf, but having someone by your side can make a big difference to how you feel about taking on the challenge of being a Litigant in Person.

We have an interesting article contributed by Sophie Daws, who has turned her own experience of fighting her way through the social care and education system on behalf of her disabled children into a business providing low-cost lay representation for carers and disabled individuals.

The situation is slightly different in Scotland: McKenzie Friends are allowed, but can't charge for their services.

It is upsetting for anyone whose parents are getting older to realise that they aren't coping with daily life as they did before. And it's an experience that more of us are having to deal with.

A recent survey has found significant numbers of people over 70 unable to keep on top of housework and gardening; not using upstairs rooms because of stair problems; not cooking themselves proper meals...

As an Independent Living reader, you already know that there are answers to most daily living and mobility problems – so please pass the word to any relatives or friends who may be struggling! We can provide information about adapting your home; applying for benefits; products to help with mobility and daily living; telecare and live-in care services to give support.

You can read the article about getting older and feeling trapped in your home, here

Regular readers will know that we are big fans of Remap, the unique charity which uses the engineering skills of volunteers to come up with individual solutions to a range of daily living and mobility problems.

I tend to think of Remap volunteers as retired engineers - which many of them are - but there are younger contributors too, as you will be able to read in an article about how apprentices at Jaguar Land Rover have helped eight-year-old Keeley Cullen, who has cerebral palsy, carry on horseriding.

She has been enjoying this activity since she was three, but, following an inspection, the stable where she rides was told that she could no longer be lifted manually on and off the horse. Find out how Remap solved the problem here.

What better way to raise funds for hearing dogs than with a Dog Walk?

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People launched their annual fundraiser, the Great British Dog Walk, last week at the Houses of Parliament. There are walks scheduled at beautiful National Trust properties around the UK from now until June 4.

Since it was set up in 1982, the charity has trained more than 1000 dogs to help their hearing-impaired owners manage daily life more independently. And as the CEO Michele Jennings (pictured here) also pointed out: "Hearing Dogs make the invisible disability of deafness visible – with their burgundy jackets the public can tell ‘this is a deaf person at the other end of the lead and I need to consider them, by talking directly to them’".

Find out more about how you can take part here

A dear friend slipped on the stairs recently, fortunately sustaining no serious damage, though she remarked ruefully that "younger people trip downstairs, people my age have...a...FALL". So I thought she and you would be interested in some recent research which shows that far from falling more, older adults actually have a lower incidence of falls.

The statistic we are all familiar with is that one third of people over 65 falls each year. A four-month study of university students found that more than half of them fell during normal daily activities... as we get older we probably get a bit more cautious, because we become more aware of the risks of injury. Whether young or old, therefore, our fall prevention area is full of useful information!

I was very sorry to hear about the cancellation of this year's Tribal Series Paratriathlons, Para-swims and Para-runs; Britain's only mass participation disability sporting events. A glimmer of hope has emerged with news that grassroots charity Arctic One will be hosting a Para-Tri festival at the end of May at Dorney Lake in Windsor – more details next time.

If you have something you'd like to get off your chest, don't forget our Readers' Letters. Share your thoughts with the rest of the Independent Living community...

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Until next time, all good wishes,

Frances