Sir, - I am writing in response to the recent Government announcement of £6 million for disabled people (The Irish Times, October 28th).Charity is cheap. I find it offensive that the Government treats disabled people as passive, docile children. £6 million would have covered many times over the cost of preparing and monitoring employment equality and equal status legislation covering disabled people. Instead, we are given treats and sweets as a way of ensuring we remain on the margins. Yes, I would be the first to say it is hard to turn down essentials. But these don't improve long-term prospects.In a booming economy, 85 per cent of disabled people are unemployed or are in lowly-paid jobs or in what is termed long-term training. It seems patronising to offer£6 million for computers and power wheelchairs when the windows of opportunity are inaccessible without the backing of anti-discrimination legislation.Please understand my rudeness for not being thankful, but short-term plans are irrelevant, just like piecemeal money. They won't make any difference without strong legislation. - Yours, etc.,Rosaleen McDonagh,Herbert Lane,Dublin 2.