PosAbility – Apr / May 2022 by 2A Publishing

Apr/May 2022

MAGAZINE TIME TO TRAVEL Take a well-deserved break at a UK destination of your choice

SIGN LANGUAGE

MS WEEK

Discover London’s first sign language café teaching you to order in BSL

Raise awareness, share your story and find your community

AHEAD OF THE Centre of gravity is translated for easier tilting As the child grows, so does the Little Wave Arc Lightest folding tilt-in-space paediatric wheelchair

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Editor: Rosalind Tulloch Staff Writers: Katie Campbell Designer: Fionnlagh Ballantine Sales: Danny McGonigle

Welcome APR/MAY 22

Ros EDITOR

pring has officially sprung, Easter is just around the corner, which means only one thing; eating our body weight in chocolate Easter eggs - check out our wide selection of recommendations on page 32, including vegan and dairyfree options. Hopefully, this year it will also mean getting together with family and enjoying some safe and well-deserved reunions. The Oscars this year saw CODA announced as Best Picture, making history as the first ever film with a Like us on Facebook Search for ‘PosAbility Magazine’

predominantly D/deaf cast to win. The wonderful thing about this movie is that it has D/deaf actors playing D/deaf characters - we all know how rare it can be that disabled characters are actually played by disabled actors – so the use of sign language is authentic and natural and the actors have drawn on their lived experience. And guess what media… the film won an Oscar for it. Keeping on topic, we have a great article by Celestine Fraser who recently visited London’s first sign language café Dialogue Hub. This unique café is entirely staffed by baristas who are D/deaf or hearing impaired, and customers are taught how to order their coffee in BSL via an instructional menu that teaches you how to sign your order. Find out more on page 24.

CONTRIBUTORS

Sam Renke, Mik Scarlet, Dan White, Jane Hatton, Ian Taverner, Celestine Fraser, Phoebe Jenkins, Emily Davison. Kayleigh O’Neil

DISCLAIMER

PosAbility Magazine is published by 2A Publishing Limited. The views expressed in PosAbility Magazine are not necessarily the views of the editor or the publisher. Reproduction in part or in whole is strictly prohibited without the explicit written consent of the publisher. Copyright 2022 ©2A Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved. ISSN 2049-2251

Contact Details: 2A Publishing Ltd, 20- 23 Woodside Place, Glasgow, G3 7QL Tel: 0141 465 2960 Fax: 0141 258 7783 enquiries@2apublishing.co.uk posabilitymagazine.co.uk

This issue also covers disability representation in the media, UK travel options, camping, MS Awareness Week, career support and much more.

Apr/May 2022

MAGAZINE TIME TO TRAVEL

We hope this issue will help take your mind off the desperate state of the world today, our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine. Let’s hope humanity prevails. Follow us on Twitter @ PosAbilityMag

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Take a well-deserved break at a UK destination of your choice

SIGN LANGUAGE

MS WEEK

Discover London’s first sign language café teaching you to order in BSL

Raise awareness, share your story and find your community

To find out more about subscribing to PosAbility Magazine turn to p66

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APR/MAY 2021 | ISSUE 66

T EN

GCELL EG

EGGS

07 FYI News, stories and updates

32 EGGCELLENT EGGS With Easter just around the corner, we scoured the shops for the best eggs - including free-from and vegan options

13 PRIDE IS ALL I NEED Nothing gives Sam Renke the fear like a dreaded brown envelope posted through the door

35 A LIFE OF UNCERTAINTY This year’s MS Awareness Week focuses on the theme of uncertainty

14 GOING FOR GOLD A round-up of ParalympicsGB’s triumphs at the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics

19 COOKFULNESS Ian Taverner walks us through a recipe for delicious honey and ginger poached plums

38 TIME TO TRAVEL UK-based holidays for those looking to get away this year

42 HOT STUFF The latest must-have products

45 ON YOUR BIKE 20 CAULIFLOWER SHOW STOPPERS Making use of the humble cauliflower in delicious seasonal meals

23 QUALITY OVER QUANTITY Mik Scarlet explains what lead him to understand how precious life can be

24 A SIGN OF INCLUSION Celestine Fraser takes us on a trip to London’s first sign language cafe

26 DISABILITY EQUALITY AWARDS Scope launch awards to recognise people who are championing equality and inclusivity

British bicycle manufacturers Islabikes have created a bike for people living with achondroplasia, the first for mass-markets

46 NEW OPPORTUNITIES Euan’s Guide ambassador Tina Hodgkinson shares her experiences of travelling to historic venues as an expert on renowned author Agatha Christie

48 COOKFULNESS WORKSHOPS We speak to our very own Ian Taverner, aka Mr Cookfulness himself, about his cooking workshops held as part of the Footsteps Festival

53 KIDS’ CORNER Family camping holidays, new and notable products for kids, and columns from Dan White and this issue’s Future Voices contributor, Kayleigh O’Neil

28 SEEING YOURSELF ON SCREEN Phoebe Jenkins explains why disabled people need to be included in every step of the creative process

30 VICTORIALAND BEAUTY Emily Davison speaks to Victoria Watts, whose indie skincare company creates personal care products designed to be better identified by people living with visual impairments

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62 EVENBREAK’S CAREER HIVE Discover the support on offer for disabled people looking for employment

65 COPING WITH REJECTION Recovering from a knockback is hard on your ego during a job hunt, but Jane Hatton explains how to bounce back, even when it seems tough

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We all welcome a little extra assistance now and again, particularly when travelling alone. Thistle Assistance is an initiative to help you feel safer and more comfortable when using public transport.

thistleassistance.com

FOR YOUR INFORMATION News and stories from around the world

INCLUSIVE TRAVEL PHOTO PROJECT elebrity Cruises has launched a new image-led project to increase the representation of all underrepresented groups in travel marketing material. The All-Inlcusive Photo Project is aiming to start a shift in the way travel companies market their services and address the lack of diversity in travel imagery. The project comprises photos from acclaimed photographers, including Annie Leibovitz, herself an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community; Giles Duley, an English documentary photographer; Naima Green, a Black, queer New York-based photographer; and Jarrad Seng, an Australia-based photographer, filmmaker and creative director of Malaysian-Chinese descent. The images include shots of ParalympicGB wheelchair basketball player Amy Conroy, wheelchair dance champion and disability rights advocate Monique Dior Jarrett, professional model Jillian Mercado who lives with muscular dystrophy,

plus many more. The images taken will be included in a free-to-use, open source, travel image library to encourage businesses in the travel industry to use these to promote a more inclusive travel marketing environment. “For far too long, ‘all-inclusive’ in the travel industry has meant everything on your vacation is included in one price. We set out to challenge this conventional thinking by imagining the phrase through the lens of others,” said Celebrity Cruises president and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. “What Annie and all of the talented artists involved in this project have captured so beautifully, is that for vacations to really live up to the marketing moniker ‘all-inclusive,’ then they should start by using images that are inclusive of all, not just a few.” “As global brands, we have a powerful platform to act as a catalyst of positive change. We know we have more work to do and we hope we inspire others to join us on this important journey. By leveraging our collective travel industry might, we can begin to make travel marketing truly ‘all-inclusive,’” said Michael Scheiner, Celebrity Cruises’ chief marketing officer. allinclusivephotoproject.com

WORKPLACE SUPPORT CHAMPIONED mployment Minister Mims Davies recently opened the new headquarters of Thriiver, a company that enables growth for individuals and organisations by supporting more disabled people and people living with mental health problems back into work. The Mid Sussex MP praised the work by employers and specialist service companies who are championing diversity through innovation in training, coaching and technology. She was treated to demonstrations of some of the ways the company supports people into employment, or to thrive whilst at work or in education. They included assistive technology, which can boost productivity or support individuals with an impairment or neurodiversity such as dyslexia. She also watched a specialist coaching session working on specific skills to enhance job prospects. “I was delighted to visit Thriiver today to see the invaluable work they are doing to support people searching for jobs, and helping them with accessibility whilst they are in employment,” she said. “We want everyone who can work to find a job, progress in work and thrive in the labour market and it is organisations like Thriiver who are helping to make a crucial difference to people’s lives.” Thriiver chief executive Lawrence Howard said: “There is a forgotten army of excluded workers who have a lot to contribute to our country, especially at a time of labour shortages. With the right help to boost their skills and confidence, they can prosper.” Thriiver works with employees and their managers to find practical strategies to improve an individual’s confidence, communication skills, concentration and ability to cope with stress. The company has developed a series of Pathfinder programmes that support individuals in regaining confidence in their own skills and abilities. Thriiver is already working with Serco and Jobs 22 to move people from welfare into work and is discussing further partnerships. thriiver.com

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CALL FOR ACCESSIBLE HEALTH INFORMATION he Sight Loss Councils have recently launched a petition calling on government to implement measures that allow full access to healthcare documentation for blind and partially sighted people. In 2016 the Accessible Information Standard (AIS) was introduced in NHS England to ensure that information was available in an accessible format, for example, Braille, audio or large print. Five years on, and research conducted by Sight Loss Councils has shown that 90% of blind and partially sighted people still do not receive health information in an accessible format. It has also shown that over half of local NHS bodies have not developed any policies to ensure this standard is employed. The #MakeHealthAccessible petition asks the government to adopt the following five measures:

Make sure every NHS Trust, GP practice and health body is required to have a local accessible information policy with clear monitoring measures Make sure all NHS staff receive core training in accessible information and how to communicate with patients and service users appropriately Make sure all NHS bodies consult with blind and partially sighted service users on local implementation of accessible information and seek regular feedback on the effectiveness of their systems Require NHS England to monitor the implementation of the accessible information standard and produce an annual report on engagement with it Require the Care Quality Commission to take on a specific responsibility for inspecting AIS compliance as part of their standard review programme. Full details of the campaign can be found at sightlosscouncils.org.uk/campaigns/ accessible-information-standard.

LIVING WELL WITH PAIN ootsteps Festival is an online celebration of living well with pain. It has been designed by people who live with and professionals who work in pain management, and it brings a creative approach to living well with chronic pain. It is an online event that is completely free to attend and it features many different workshops and zones. You will find everything from talks on the benefits of wild swimming to interactive workshops in cooking hosted by our very own Ian Taverner, aka Mr Cookfulness (you can read more about these on page 48). They have an eight-week course running on mindfulness-based stress reduction, they host chats on pain research papers and they have a regular informal session called Create and Chat that allows you to meet other people living with pain and make connections. Find out more at livingwellwithpain.co.uk.

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CP TEENS UK HOST SPORTS DAY children and young people with physical disabilities recently took part in a Have-a-Go Day in Sheffield to try out various disability sports. Held at Sheffield Hallam University’s Athletics Stadium, the day was hosted by the charity CP Teens UK and in partnership with CP Sport, WheelPower, Limb Power and Dwarf Sport UK, and funded by Sport England. The day was packed full of fun and allowed the attendees to get a taste of a variety of disability and adapted sports.

One of the sports on offer was frame running. Frame running is a para athletics event for people with cerebral palsy and other neurological conditions affecting balance and coordination. A three-wheeled frame is used with a seat and a chest plate, which provides support and stability. Paralympian, Sophie Christiansen CBE came along to support the event and had a go herself at the dynamic and exhilarating sport. Tully Kearney MBE and CP Sport Ambassador was also in attendance to try out some new sports away from the swimming pool. Other sports available included wheelchair racing, adapted cycling, seated throws and boccia. Ellie Simpson, founder of CP Teens UK, said: “It has been great to see all of the smiling faces today and the sense of achievement our participants have clearly gained from this event. As a charity we are absolutely passionate about promoting, providing and delivering opportunities for people with physical disabilities, especially social opportunities, and sport is one of our key focus areas and tools to enhance and transform lives”. For more information about CP Teens UK visit cpteensuk.org.

CODA MAKES HISTORY WITH OSCAR WIN he Oscars were incredibly memorable this year, and not just because Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage! The Apple TV+ film CODA won the coveted Best Picture Academy Award at the glittering Hollywood ceremony. The first film with a predominantly D/deaf cast to ever win an Oscar. The film follows a hearing girl living with her D/deaf family as she pursues her dream of becoming a singer. The film showcases a predominantly D/ deaf cast, and lead actor Emilia Jones studied sign language for six months

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Undercover Autie @UndercoverAutie Yes I have a debilitating and incurable chronic illness, and do I have access to treatment? No. But are my symptoms stable? No. But are my doctors empathetic and try to help the best they can? No. But do I at least have my mental health? Also no.

Christie T @CLadnerFreeman Don’t you love when you have a super complicated medical/ disability issue and someone suggests a standard treatment? Like you’ve never thought of that before? It’s my favourite

to be able to deliver her performance. The film made history for several reasons as Troy Kotsur, who plays the father in the film, was the first D/deaf actor to win Best Supporting Actor, the film itself was the first ever streaming film to win an Oscar, and it is only the third film with a female director – Sian Heder - to win Best Picture at the Oscars. Sian Heder also scooped the award for Best Adapted Screenplay. 1986 Oscar-winner Marlee Matlin, who plays the mother in the film, was a driving force behind ensuring the cast was predominantly D/deaf and the family were played authentically by D/ deaf actors – something we know is not common in the film industry. There has been much commentary and debate from the D/deaf community around this film, but it is great to see D/deaf roles being filled by D/deaf actors and hopefully this recognition will open doors for disabled actors in the future.

Your Fav Disabled Hottie @Niyonce143 I hope the Will Smith and Chris Rock situation show people that joking about people disability and/or health conditions is disrespectful. Not all jokes need to be made and not all are funny.

Chloe Timms @clotimms It’s me! Hopefully I got across how restrictive my life and future is because any savings I have I’m forced to use on basic needs - washing and dressing etc. Social care contributions penalise disabled people.

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DEAFINITELY THEATRE CELEBRATES 20 YEARS eaf-led theatre company Deafinitely Theatre has announced the full line-up for their 20th anniversary season, including a new show staged on a bus. The line-up of shows includes James Baldwin’s Getting There, produced by Toucan Theatre and Oxford Playhouse, in association with Deafinitely Theatre and Be Free Young Carers. Staged on an Oxford bus, the show explores what life is like as a young carer, and the roles they play within their families, schools and local communities. Alongside this will be the premiere of Deafinitely Theatre’s artistic director Paula Garfield’s Everyday, which is based on interviews with D/ deaf women and non-binary people who have survived domestic abuse. Everyday stars Fifi Garfield, Kelsey Gordon, Zoë McWhinney and Bea Webster, and will open on 20 May before embarking on a national tour.

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A series of short films had already been announced as part of Talking Hands, which explores the experiences of D/deaf people during the pandemic. Abigail Gorman’s Life, It Goes On and The Woman I Am by Samantha Pearsall will be released in the summer, alongside three previously announced shorts: I Still Blame Myself by Lianne Herbert, Melissa Mostyn’s Keeping Hope, and EJ Raymond’s Lockdown Hairy. Paula Garfield, artistic director of Deafinitely Theatre, said: “We are so proud and excited about the forthcoming 20th anniversary year for Deafinitely Theatre. From our collaboration in Oxford on a bus with Getting There to our main production of Everyday at the New Diorama Theatre in May and on tour across the UK in June. We’re so thrilled to be breaking down taboos and stereotypes of D/deaf people and showing what we can achieve and what makes up our rich and diverse D/deaf community in 2022 and beyond. We’re so pleased to be working with more D/deaf writers, particularly on our short films – Talking Hands – which are giving a voice to members of the D/deaf community from a range of backgrounds – LGBTQIA+, non-binary and others.” deafinitelytheatre.co.uk

Simple tips for everyday living with sight loss From personal care to everyday activities, whether you’re learning for the first time or building on your existing skills we have clear advice to help you. Our advice can help you carry out daily living activities with sight loss, independently and confidently.

Visit guidedogs.org.uk/life-skills

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struggle or pick and choose work or socialising over emergency support, was short lived. I guess many of you reading this can sympathise and strangely this gives me comfort and sickens me in equal measure.

SAM RENKE

So, this is where I am. I can keep my care package and pay the substantial fee, but in my eyes, this would mean I would have a reduced quality of life. It would limit the number of times I went out and I would struggle to pay for utility bills, especially with the increasing rise in living costs. Or, do I forgo my support and risk it for a biscuit?

COLUMNIST

Our favourite teacher-turnedactress, Sam Renke, brings you her take on life and the colourful experiences it throws her way.

PRIDE IS ALL I NEED

f there is one thing that gets every disabled or chronically ill person’s heart to race, their palms to get sweaty, and their body to fill with dread, it’s a brown envelope landing on our doormat. I am an eternal optimist, but when it comes to this unwanted visitor my mind instantly prepares me for the worst. No puppies or rainbows, not even a ninety-nine-pence voucher for McDonald’s. No, time has taught me that a brown letter equals uncertainty, change and a shake-up in the way I live my life. A reminder of a society that doesn’t see my worth. A nod to the fact that I should feel grateful for anything I’m offered, rather than recognition of my legal rights and for wanting to live. PIP, ESA, direct payments, they all catch my breath. If you are lucky, it’s the news you’ve been waiting for; the support you need and are entitled to, but like the hand of God, what is given in one instant can be taken away just as swiftly. Support axed, judged and deemed not “disabled enough,” or in my case informed that I have to contribute a

substantial amount of money towards my care package. A local authority’s way of recouping funds from the pandemic. I’m speculating, of course. I could spend this column discussing the ins and outs of my journey through the welfare system - I could tell you that it’s taken me a decade to go from a local authority representative telling me that if I owned a microwave then I wouldn’t be entitled to support. Countless appeals, form filling and sleepless nights, to finally some relief ten years later. Thirty hours of support, a combined package of direct payments and Access to Work. Believe me when I say that I’m so proud that I have fought for all that I am owed. Yet the feeling of everything finally going smoothly; knowing I didn’t have to

After the anger and frustration subsided, I was able to see my options rationally. I promised myself that I will no longer be at the mercy of a system that packages itself as a caring welfare state but equally makes disabled people live a confined and fearful existence. I will of course appeal again - no one should pay for support in a disabling world, irrespective of their income or circumstance. I didn’t choose to live in this sh*t show. In the meantime, I’ve been pushing the parameters of what I thought my body was capable of and spent the past few weeks relying solely on me. Pottering around my home, challenging and experimenting with how I do things. Not to go down the dangerous “triumph over adversity” narrative, but I’m bloody proud of what I’m accomplishing each day, big and small. Support shouldn’t come with a clause. We shouldn’t have to push ourselves just in case one day we will be left high and dry, but there is a sweet satisfaction in knowing that I can. In fact, the pride I feel is indeed priceless.

“time has taught me that a brown letter equals uncertainty, change and a shakeup in the way I live my life”

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Going FOR Gold BY KATIE CAMPBELL

Photo: ParalympicsGB/Flickr

The Winter Games showcased the triumphant power of sport in the wake of both COVID and international crisis he 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympic Games were one to remember: ParalympicsGB made history, earning their first-ever gold medal on snow in a men’s event, the very first medal in a snowboarding event, and saw one British athlete surpass themselves as the nation’s most successful Winter Paralympian of all time. ParalympicsGB sent its largest delegation of athletes since the 1988 Innsbruck Games, with 13 of the 24 athletes making their Games debut, and saw Hope Gordon become the first-ever British woman to compete in the Women’s Sprint Seated Cross Country. She finished 17th in the event, despite only taking up skiing a matter of months ago. Phil Smith ParalympicsGB’s Chef de Mission at Beijing 2022, said: “These have been an historic Games for ParalympicsGB with so many magical performances across the team. “This is the most competitive squad we have ever taken to a Paralympic Winter Games and is testament to all the hard work, excellence and incredible resilience of the athletes and the support staff that I have the privilege to work with and call teammates.”

Photo: ParalympicsGB/Flickr

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Great Britain would come 14th on the medal table, with host China, Ukraine and Canada taking the top three positions. The Games were especially memorable for the Ukrainian team, whose delegation of 20 athletes earned 29 medals - their most successful haul to date, despite fears that they would not be able to attend the Games after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In the spirit of the Games, a number of athletes expressed their support for the Ukrainian athletes, including gold medal-winning American cross-country skier Jake Adicoff, Ukrainian-born American multi-disciplinary powerhouse Oksana Masters, and ParalympicsGB’s own Millie Knight.

THE MEDALS

ParalympicsGB started out strong on the first day of the Games, with Millie Knight bagging a bronze in her first medal event of the Games on the slopes. The skier came third in the Women’s Downhill Visually Impaired with guide Brett Wild; fellow Brit Menna Fitzpatrick finished not far behind in fifth place. Millie said about her first medal of the Games: “Crossing the line with a smile on my face was our number one goal – we genuinely didn’t believe we were at the level that would get us a medal. This bronze is something very special. “This medal ranks above our silver four years ago in PyeongChang – we are every different people and have gone through some tough things and it’s changed us. The conditions were perfect, absolutely unbelievable. The snow was amazing and the course had fantastic features. It was so much fun. We genuinely did not think a medal would be achievable, especially with the standard at the moment.” Sunday turned out to be a monumental day for ParalympicsGB, with Neil Simpson taking the country’s firstever men’s gold medal on the slopes and Menna Fitzpatrick breaking records. Neil was guided by brother Andrew to gold in his debut Games, claiming first place in the Men’s Super-G Vision Impaired. “I am just really thrilled, it’s not really sunk in yet. This is our first season doing Super-G. Initially, when we came down and Andrew said we had gone into first place, there was a bit of an anxious wait,” Neil told reporters after his historic victory. “I wasn’t thinking about it being a winning performance, I was just thinking that it was a good run. We

Photo: ParalympicsGB/Flickr

put it all down on the line and really went for it, and I’m just very happy with the performance – it felt good.” Menna Fitzpatrick earned a silver medal in the Women’s Super-G Vision Impaired, becoming the most decorated British Winter Paralympian in history. Menna had experienced some turbulence before the Games, breaking her leg just before the pandemic and being unable to ski with usual guide Katie Guest because of the latter testing positive for COVID before the Games. She said: “Gary and I have trained quite a long time and have been building up the relationship, and that really helped coming into this. I am super happy he is my guide I couldn’t wish for anything better! I am so happy to be the most successful British Winter Paralympian; that is not what we came out to do today though. We went out to ski well, so to come out with a silver medal and a pretty amazing title as well means we are delighted. Just before the pandemic I broke my leg, Gary was guiding me at the time, and he was a great support during my rehab and to come through that and COVID as well make this really special.” On Monday, Menna took to the slopes and added another medal to her record-breaking tally, taking bronze in the Super Combined Visually Impaired, bringing her medal total to six across two Games. Neil Simpson also added to his own medal haul, nabbing bronze in the men’s Super Combined Visually Impaired. Menna said of her medal-winning performance: “We left ourselves a bit of work to do in slalom and the plan paid off, of going out there and putting down a pretty decent run, so we are super, super happy. The confidence is really,

Photo: ParalympicsGB/Flickr

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Photo: ParalympicsGB/Flickr

really high - it was quite a tricky slalom set actually with tight turns and lots of combinations. It was tough but really good fun to smash it in the slalom.” ParalympicsGB had another first on Friday, when Ollie Hill earned Britain its first-ever medal in snowboarding, taking bronze in the men’s Banked Slalom SB-LL2. His fastest run was milliseconds faster than fellow Brit Owen Pick, who performed a personal best on the slopes. Ollie told reporters in Beijing: “I can’t really sum it up right now other than I am absolutely stoked. I said earlier in the week I felt I had a bit more confidence in the banked and we have proved it today. It was important to put down a good first run it took the pressure off a little bit. “I wanted to push, push, push for the gold but I felt the second run was a bit slower the snow was caving in a bit. I have had some ups and downs but it’s been amazing - to think I have come away with a medal, I cannot put it into words. “I have been off social media which has been quite nice but as soon as I get home I am sure it will go a bit wild. My sisters will be on the phone to each other crying their eyes out; they have helped me so much through this. My mum and dad will be so proud too.” “Some quotes have been edited for clarity.”

Photo: ParalympicsGB/Flickr

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THERA-Trainer tigo

Exercise Bikes and Equipment for Disabled People

IN MADE NY GERMA

tigo Exercising is possible from a chair or a wheel chair Exercising of legs and/or arms is possible Improves metabolism and vitality Active and passive movement (with or without motor support)

Encourages cardiovascular system Improves levels of stamina and flexibility Strengthens the muscles Increases mobility

Rental plan available: Regular exercise at a low price? With THERA-Trainer UK you can choose whether to rent or buy. Choose the right bike that suits both your needs and your budget - Contact us for a free and no-obligation demonstration at home or request a brochure. THERA-Trainer UK Ltd. T. 01908 564100 | info.uk@thera-trainer.com | www.thera-trainer.co.uk Please note our name change – Medicotech rebranded to THERA-Trainer UK on 1st January.

Cookfulness BY IAN TAVERNER

Ian Taverner is the author of Cookfulness, the cookbook designed for those living with chronic illness and pain. Every issue Ian will be contributing an exclusive new recipe, complete with his unique cooking format and hints and tips to allow everyone to make tasty, nutritious meals in their own kitchen, and in their own time.

HONEY AND GINGER POACHED PLUMS A beauty hot, warm or cold!

HINTS & TIPS

Don’t shake the pan when you put the plums in or they can break apart

If you want to go a step further, carefully take the plums out of the pan, turn up the heat under the sauce and bubble it to thicken for a lovely syrup

You can freeze these for use whenever you want

WAYS TO CHANGE Change the levels of honey and ginger to suit Add some chilli flakes for a surprisingly great kick Try different fruit, rhubarb would be fantastic too!

Give Yourself Time – when you need to take extra time, take a step back and breathe

METHOD

KEY – steps marked for when something really important is needed

Add the honey, water, ginger and a sprinkle of salt and pepper to the pan

Hints & Tips – to help you throughout and after

On a medium/high heat on the hob, heat until it bubbles all around the pan

Cookfulness Playlists – get your best tracks going! Difficulty rating: ** Serves: 4 Cooking time: 5-7 mins Give yourself time: 30 mins Preparation time: 15 mins

Carefully add the plums skin side down to the pan and arrange in a single layer Turn the heat down to a low/medium KEY set timer for 4 mins

YOU WILL NEED

Turn off the heat and sprinkle with fresh mint leaves (optional)

Knife Chopping board Deep wide frying pan Tablespoon Teaspoon Garlic press (if using fresh ginger) Large mixing spoon Timer

Serve hot on ice cream, meringues, with a crumble top or cold on natural yoghurt or just on their own you decide! Follow Ian’s Cookfulness journey on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook all @Cookfulness

INGREDIENTS

Cookfulness is available in hard copy & e-book on Amazon / BookshopUK / Waterstones

4 large firm plums or 6 smaller ones cut into quarters 1-2 tbsp honey* 3 tbsp water ½-1 tsp ginger paste / crushed ginger** Salt and pepper Fresh mint leaves (optional) *depends on how sweet you like it **depends on how much heat you want posabilitymagazine.co.uk

Cauliflower SHOW STOPPERS BY ROSALIND TULLOCH

Make cauliflower the star of your dinner plate and reap all the nutritional benefits that this humble vegetable has to offer. Cauliflowers are packed with nutrients and vitamins, they are naturally high in fibre, B-vitamins, vitamin C, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and a whole host of other nutrients that you have probably never heard of. They are low in calories, great for vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan diets, can be used as a side dish or they can show off their versatility as a show stopping centrepiece. It may be humble, but it is indeed mighty.

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CAULIFLOWER SOUP

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER If you are catering for varied dietary requirements for an occasion and you are looking for something impressive, yet simple, to bring to the table, a whole roasted cauliflower covered in spices will provide you with the drama and deliciousness you are looking for. Simply remove the leaves and trim the stalk at the bottom to ensure it stands securely on a baking tray, then mix up a marinade to cover it in. Try mashing up some garlic (or use garlic puree) and add smoked paprika or harissa paste for extra spice, loosen this up with some of your preferred oil and then pour all over the cauliflower using a brush to cover all the florets. Roast in the oven at 180C fan for approximately 40 mins – depending on size. Once you can slide a knife into the stalk easily you know it is ready. Serve at the table and slice into steaks to impress your guests. You can try out so many different flavours with cauliflowers so try out your favourite spices or look up some inspiration online to help you create even more delicious dishes. If you want to use roasted cauliflower as a side dish, simply separate the florets from the stalk, toss in the marinade and pour onto a baking tray to roast in the oven for 20 mins – perfect as a side dish or to dip into your favourite sauce as a snack.

If you are looking for something comforting, warming and satisfying to eat, then soup is often the answer. It is simple to make, it doesn’t use up a million dishes and you can curl up on the sofa holding a warm bowl to soothe your soul, while you watch your favourite film. Soup is a great way to use cauliflower, and if you make a big pot it is great to freeze for future meals when you are in a hurry or don’t have the energy to cook. If you have time, it is great to roast the cauliflower with some cumin and coriander to get more flavour out of it – pop the florets on a baking tray, sprinkle with the spices and some seasoning and roast for 15 mins. Add chopped onion and garlic to a pan with some oil to fry for a few mins before adding the cauliflower and 750ml of veg stock, bring to the boil and simmer for 15-20 mins before blitzing it in a blender. Season to taste and add a splash of single cream to finish it off. If you want to make a big batch so you can freeze it, just double everything in the recipe. Once it is blitzed and smooth to your liking, allow to cool before dishing into Tupperware boxes to store portions in the freezer.

CAULIFLOWER FAKEAWAY Cauliflower is so versatile that it could replace almost any meat in any curry. This meaty veg offers a filling and substantial alternative to chicken, lamb or beef on any takeaway menu. Having a takeaway on a Friday or Saturday night is a ritual in many homes across the UK, it can be a delectable treat for the whole family and gives everyone a night off cooking. However, takeaways are not renowned for their health benefits and not all will cater to certain dietary requirements. They can also be very expensive, which is not ideal when we are living with such high living costs. Making your own “fakeaway” is not only a more affordable option, but it is much healthier, and you can ensure that no potential allergens have managed to sneak their way in or any crosscontamination has occurred without your knowledge. You will find so many recipes for cauliflower curries online, so whether you like a super-spicy sauce, or prefer a mild coconut flavour, you will be sure to find something to your liking. You will find some tantalising options for vegan and gluten-free cauliflower curries online, and they will be worth the extra effort to make for your weekend treat. Leftovers are great the next day, or you can freeze them for another day too.

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Pleasure? LOOKING FOR

HOT OCTOPUSS CAN GET YOU THERE

Hot Octopuss are back and they are bringing the sex to Naidex again! Hot Octopuss like to think of themselves as the cheeky rebels of the sex toy industry and encourage people to discover pleasure in unconventional ways. They are back at Naidex to bring pleasure to the masses with their amazing range of Sex Tech! This year Hot Octopuss will be bringing even more products, including their brand-new launch - Pulse Interactive, the app-controlled toy that links to other interactive devices (perfect for longdistance partners) and porn videos, making the content fully interactive allowing consumers to really feel what they see. ot Octopuss have recently promoted Kelly Gordon (previous Head of Inclusivity) to Head of Creative and Kelly will be in attendance to answer any questions about their products or about intimacy in general on stand G104.

L O N D ON

REINVENTING PLEASURE

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Kelly started with the company with a huge passion to make sex and sex education inclusive and brings herself to the forefront by sharing personal stories to educate others in the arena of sex, pleasure and dating. Like a lot of people before social media, growing up Kelly didn’t even know any other disabled people (apart from her own brother) and didn’t have any role models in mainstream media with disabilities to look at when it came to feeling confident and knowing where to put herself in the dating arena. Kelly hopes to be this person for others and hopes that putting herself at the helm of Hot Octopuss will help her reach out to others. Hot Octopuss are working tirelessly every day to increase their product offering, promote visibility and to start conversations around pleasure for disabled people. So go and meet Kelly at Naidex (stand G104) for a chat and a special show discount! You can also check them out online at www.hotoctopuss.com or listen to their podcast Pleasure Rebels, simply search for them on Apple Podcasts.

MIK SCARLET COLUMNIST

Follow Mik on Twitter

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY n Monday of this week, something happened to me. After 41 years of living with chronic neuralgic pain caused by nerves trapped in the wreckage of my spine, I was given a nerve block. Even before the big needle went in, as the local anaesthetic took effect, my pain lessened. By the time I climbed off the CT scanner’s table my pain had stopped. Gone. Vanished. Over the next 24 hours I was almost euphoric. I did notice that I had developed arthritis in a few joints, but the ache from those was nothing compared to the nerve pain. Of course, life is never that straight forward is it? Within 24 hours I was sat in another doctor’s office, expecting the usual quick follow up chat about something completely unrelated to my pain, only to be told I need urgent surgery -

“That ward changed me and taught me that life is so precious. It also proved that the only way to live is to seize every day like it might be your last”

@MikScarlet

with a recovery period of up to three months of bed rest. The surgeon was very sure it was essential, but I’ve been here way too many times before. I left fuming at the unfairness of it all, but also sure that I should hold fire on going under the knife. “Why?” I hear you ask. Throughout my life I’ve faced this choice more than I would have hoped. Choosing whether to seize the day and wait until my body craps out so badly I have no choice but to give myself over to the tender care of the surgeon’s knife, or to give up on today for the promise of a possible better tomorrow. For many non-disabled people this seems an obvious choice. Go for the surgery and health in the long term, but my life has taught me to be cautious. From the beginning of my surgery journey aged 15, I saw another side of life. I was mistakenly diagnosed with cancer and was put in a terminal ward. It was soon discovered that I wasn’t dying, but remained because I had started treatment. I then had two months watching every one of my fellow ward mates die, many in awful ways - too awful to mention here, or for an innocent fifteen-year-old to witness. That ward changed me and taught me that life is so precious. It also proved that the only way to live is to seize every day like it might be your last. One day it will be. If I’m honest, I have ever since. Along the way, this view on life has been reinforced time after time. When a surgeon tells you that you need to suffer now for a possible brighter tomorrow, it isn’t such an easy choice. If I’m truthful, I know I won’t be going for the surgery. Not this year, anyway. I’m going to enjoy being pain free for once. I’m going to see my friends, party, and travel. I want to make music,

art, and love. Yes, my medical situation might worsen, but if I cannot escape the knife then my choice is taken away. I much prefer having to be operated on than choosing to do it. I’d rather be crashed into, than cause the crash. Which brings me to my last thought. During the nightmare of COVID and lockdown, I’ve seen so many of my disabled friends becoming gripped with fear over being ill. The idea of being clinically vulnerable has cut into their soul and made them afraid. As restrictions lift, this fear isn’t lessening but taking hold in a way that is harming them. Of course, many of us are in the awful position of knowing we’d be in trouble if we caught COVID, but is it worth giving into that fear of possibly being very ill, maybe dying, and to stop living? If you stay locked inside you’ll be safe, mostly, but what are you giving up? Being disabled is all about being denied the right to do what you want, as you want, so are we really ok with imposing this shrinking of our world on ourselves? Over the last five years, I’ve had so many amazing friends die. Not from COVID, but really because their bodies had reached the end of the road. Each of them died after really living. They enjoyed their time as much as possible. I’d rather die like that, than get more life and not be able to really live it. Of course, be sensible and take care, but don’t let the terror grip you. You don’t have to be as extreme as I am, but please try to balance the quality over the length. I will admit I grew up with the mantra of “live fast and go out in a blaze of glory, leave a beautiful corpse”. At 56, that’s not exactly going to happen anymore, but I’ll live as fast as I can, enjoy it all and see where it takes me. It’s been a fun ride so far!

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A SIGN OF INCLUSION BY CELESTINE FRASER

Discover London’s first sign language café welcoming everyone to enjoy a coffee, learn a little BSL, and encourage communication between D/deaf and hearing communities rains. Announcements. Voices. Whistles. Ticket machines. These are just some of the sounds which make Waterloo Station one of the noisiest places in London. But just minutes away, tucked behind the station, on a busy street seconds from the London Eye, a small café is providing an oasis of quiet from all the noise: Dialogue Hub is the city’s first sign language café.

lots of apologising and a few replays of the video, I communicate my order to the barista. Hakan Elbir, the cafe’s owner, comes over to tell me that “Please” and “Thank you” are the same sign: a flat palm moving away from the chin. “Welcome to our deaf café,” Hakan says proudly, as we sit down. “You can drink coffee everywhere but you can’t communicate with D/deaf people

From the outside, it looks almost like any other café. Bold black letters announce its name, “Dialogue Hub”, on a colourful sign. In the window, a customer sits perched at a marbled bar, his focus absorbed by his Macbook. Through the glass, we can see a raised counter, distressed wooden floors and a couple of aproned baristas. This could be Starbucks, Pret, or Cafe Nero. Blink and you’d miss the asterisk below the front signage which in tiny white writing reads “this is a British Sign Language Café!”. Once inside, this becomes a little more obvious. I am greeted by two young baristas who sign “hello” and “welcome” in BSL. There is no music on. Next to the counter, a huge screen displays several dozen changing videos of a barista signing the BSL for anything you could ever want to order from a coffee shop: from a croissant to a passion fruit kombucha. The barista points me to a tablet on which I can see the entire menu. When I choose what I want —a peppermint tea— it opens a video which teaches me how to sign my order in BSL. With some hesitation, Image: Stephen Iliffe/Deaf Mosaic

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everywhere.” Hakan is a Turkish social entrepreneur. He is hearing, but has worked for many years with the D/deaf community. His background is in museums and in experiential learning: the process of learning directly through experience. Back in Istanbul, he ran immersive experiences which aimed to break down the “communication problem” between D/deaf and hearing and disabled and non-disabled people. “We are living in our own bubbles,” he says, “it’s not common to have D/deaf people in your personal life, so people need this opportunity to come and talk directly with D/deaf people to learn that they are not so

different.” Hakan is fluent in Turkish Sign Language but he stresses that though a misconception prevails among the hearing that there is one universal and international sign language, this is not the case: in reality, Turkish and British Sign Language are —like Turkish and English— “completely different” languages. Once in London, it struck Hakan as surprising that though the city was multilingual and multicultural (with an estimated 151,000 BSL users across the whole UK), there was no sign language café. In April 2021, he opened Dialogue Hub and in the months since they have trained and employed at least twelve baristas, all of whom are D/deaf or hard-ofhearing. Almost all of his employees have previously faced barriers to accessing employment — not, he says with some anger, “because they are not good baristas, but because they are D/deaf.” This is ‘audism’: the discrimination against D/deaf or hardof-hearing people. It is widespread, pernicious and endemic in our culture: a consequence of a world designed for and by a hearing majority. With deafness considered the second most common disability in the UK, audism clearly contributes to our staggering disability employment gap: in 2021, the employment rate for non-disabled people was 81%, while for disabled people it was only 52.7%. Dialogue Hub has a longer-term goal of increasing the number of deaf cafés in London and beyond to give more job opportunities to D/deaf people. They hope that this will expand their social impact: encouraging hearing people to learn more about deafness, BSL and D/deaf culture. “My favourite part about working here is educating hearing people”, the barista tells me, via an interpreter. Hakan has pressed a button on the tablet on the counter and within seconds, like a genie in a bottle, a BSL interpreter has popped up on the screen. This is made possible by a partnership with InSignLanguage, an app which helps D/deaf and hearing people communicate in real time

Image: Jerry Dobson

via interpreters, encouraging more meaningful interactions between the D/deaf baristas and hearing customers. But the café also has a number of loyal D/deaf customers. Hakan gives me the example of a young D/deaf student who comes to the café “all the time” to drink coffee, hang out with the baristas and finish her homework. “For our D/deaf customers,” he says, “it’s a centre of attraction. A community.” Suddenly, two young women enter the café. They are in a world of their own: their voices are raised and they are chatting loudly. Without taking in her surroundings, one of them announces that she would like an oat milk latte. The barista signs that he is D/deaf, and then gently points her to the tablet which teaches her to place her order in BSL. The woman

doesn’t get it: again she repeats—and louder this time—“oat milk latte”. The barista is kind and patient, but insistent: again he points her to the tablet. “We have to order in British Sign Language,” her friend eventually cottons on. The woman is startled, and then embarrassed: Oh! She is flustered, but willing to learn the sign for oat milk latte. She orders in BSL. With their coffees in hand, the two women make their way out. They are smiling, giddy and a little breathless from the unexpected experience of being pushed outside their comfort zone on a coffee run. “Some people can adapt”, says Hakan, “and some cannot.” But those who are able to adapt are amply rewarded: they have been exposed to a new language, a new culture, a new way of being in the world—when all they had asked for was a latte.

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SCOPE LAUNCH DISABILITY EQUALITY AWARDS 2022 marks disability charity Scope’s 70th anniversary and in celebration they have chosen to launch their inaugural Disability Equality Awards. These awards have been designed to celebrate the achievements of individuals, community groups, businesses, and role models who are championing disability equality and inclusion. ecent research conducted by Scope has shown that disabled people believe that society’s perception of them has worsened during the pandemic, with 28% of disabled people surveyed believing that they are seen more as being a burden since the pandemic began. This research is disheartening to read and shows that the battle for inclusivity is still an uphill one, but one that will be fought and will be won. These awards will hopefully go some way to lifting the morale of the disabled community, shining a light on the incredible individuals and organisations that are helping to pave the way for equality and inclusivity. We are assured that these awards are being co-produced with disabled people, ensuring that disabled people are behind everything from the decisions being made on the

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award categories, to the running of the event itself. Alison Cowan, Scope’s executive director of fundraising and engagement commented: “As we mark Scope’s 70th anniversary this year, there’s still so much more to do to achieve a society where all disabled people enjoy equality and fairness. “In our communities, in our workplaces and online, disabled people still face a barrage of negative attitudes. Disabled peoples’ ambitions, talent and potential go unrecognised. “While society has changed dramatically since 1952, for disabled people, many of the same prejudices and barriers still exist today. And the pandemic has exacerbated many of those barriers. “But there are some incredible people who over the last two years have been fighting for change, standing up for their rights and calling out outdated attitudes about disability. “We hope the Disability Equality Awards will recognise the fantastic work being done by so many individuals and organisations to bring about social change, and we hope their stories will inspire the next generation.”

HOW TO ENTER

The Disability Equality Awards are open for nominations now and close on 29 April. The awards will be judged by an independent panel of leading public and professional figures from the disability community and the shortlist will be announced in June with successful entrants being invited to join a ‘hybrid’ celebration in Autumn 2022. There are eight awards up for grabs, so start nominating your family members, friends, peers or colleagues now! Check out the categories available for entry:

ACCESSIBLE ORGANISATION This category rewards organisations for inclusion and accessibility. This could be for creating an inclusive workplace or for developing products and services with accessibility and disabled people in mind.

MEDIA MOMENT This award recognises a media moment involving disabled people that has had a powerful impact on championing disability equality. This could be a soap or drama storyline, entertainment TV show, film, podcast or any other mainstream format that has helped shift attitudes on disability.

JOURNALIST This award recognises an individual journalist (print, broadcast or online) who has gone above and beyond with a piece of investigative reporting, or who has shown strong commitment to disability equality through a sustained body of work.

ROLE MODEL This award is presented to a disabled public figure who has used their platform to campaign for disability equality and change attitudes. Role models could be celebrities, social media influencers or professional leaders with a substantial reach. We’re particularly interested in how they have engaged their social media following and networks to achieve change.

SCOPE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD PURPLE PIONEER This category honours an individual, or a group of people, who have been nominated by others for their achievements around disability equality. This could be either a disabled person or a non-disabled ally who has raised awareness of disability issues or changed attitudes in their community. Rather than a specific campaign, this category recognises the work people have done that has positively affected those directly around them.

As Scope turns 70 this year, we honour a disabled person who has spent their life fighting for disability equality. To qualify for this category, the person needs to demonstrate how they have been dedicated over a significant and sustained period to the goal of bringing about change for disabled people or shifting attitudes around disability.

CAMPAIGN This award recognises a ground-breaking and impactful campaign aimed at achieving disability equality. The campaign can have taken place on a local or national level and can have been an in-person, marketing or online campaign.

YOUNG CAMPAIGNER This category recognises a young disabled person (up to 25 years old) who is speaking out and taking action on an issue that affects them. This could be to improve accessibility or attitudes, for example within their community, school, college, university or beyond. Just like with the campaign category, this includes both online and in-person campaigning.

To nominate someone for a Scope Disability Equality Award, visit scopeawards.co.uk.

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SEEING YOURSELF ON SCREEN BY PHOEBE JENKINS

Phoebe Jenkins explores the importance of including disabled people at every set of the creative process, to ensure disabled stories are told genuinely and authentically

eeing yourself represented on screen is a feeling so strong and pure that sometimes it feels like a blessing. The excitement that goes hand-in-hand with finding a character that you can relate to on a deep, personal level is a wonderful experience - one that should never be rare. Yet for disabled people, it seems we are continually drawing the short straw when it comes to the way that disability is represented in the media. How is it that there are one billion disabled people in the world, yet we are barely able to get quality, inclusive, genuine representation in the media? How is it that there are so many of us, yet we’re not booking the roles that are supposedly telling our stories? It begs the question: why is this happening? What is going wrong? And, most importantly, what can be done to fix it? A lot of things can be done, and not all of them are systemic changes that might take longer to enforce, but

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creative changes. In order for the representation to be a realistic, honest portrayal of life as a disabled person, you need to be able to draw from authentic experiences. For any role in the creative process, disabled people need to be involved step-by-step in telling a story about disability. When a non-disabled person tells a disabled story, no matter how many disabled people they might know or how many experiences they’ve had with a disabled person, it will never be as authentic as it would be if a disabled person was telling a story that they’ve personally experienced; an experience that they’re able to deeply relate to because of their disability. Oftentimes, when disabled people aren’t in charge of overseeing - at the very least - the characters and media that is supposedly representing the community, the representation becomes a way for non-disabled people to be seen as saviours, or for our lives to be depicted as a tragedy. Usually, this form of representation in media produces a non-disabled

character taking pity on a disabled character, thereby making the audience sympathise with the nondisabled character because they had no choice but to give up their life, or to be a good friend, family member or person to someone they would rather not, solely based on their disability. It’s as though we are not seen as strong enough characters to have our own stories; there is always a nondisabled character around to drive home, what they believe to be, the fact that we are incapable of existing in a world without non-disabled people’s help when in reality, we are suffering and struggling to get by in the world because of them; because of the disadvantages and oppression that they have created to keep us under their thumb, in both real life and the media. Sia’s movie Music features a character who is a caricature of autism played by a neurotypical actress; Artie Abrams from Glee is a wheelchairusing character whose personality is poorly developed outside of his disability, that being his only storyline throughout the entire six seasons of the show, played by a non-disabled actor; Me Before You is a movie and a book both created by non-disabled people, for non-disabled people, exacting living with a life-altering disability as life-ending; and Chemical Hearts sees a non-disabled actress playing the lead character, as well as the book being written by a nondisabled author, whose disability miraculously cures itself at the end of the film in order to save a happy ending, among many others. This even extends into theatre, with Nessa Rose from the massively acclaimed stage show Wicked only ever being portrayed by a non-disabled actor in its nearly 15 years of being on the stage, and whose character is often seen as helpless by the masses,

whose disability is simply what ails her and is something to be ashamed of and needing to be cured. While these depictions of disability are disheartening, there exists good examples of authentic, positive and realistic representation far beyond those mentioned. A Quiet Place features more sign language than spoken language in both films, with a disabled character and actor centring the plot. Eternals introduces Makkari, Marvel’s very first disabled superhero, and the only D/deaf superhero on the big screen. Sex Education strove to create a conversation around disability and sexuality, showing how disabled people are still desirable and able to be sexual should they want to be with their character Isaac - introduced in the show’s second season - played by George Robinson, an extremely talented disabled actor. As We See It and Everything’s Gonna

Be Okay set forward the narrative that autistic people aren’t helpless, they simply need accommodation; that autistic people are perfectly capable of living a happy and productive life not in spite of their autism but alongside it. CODA, an Oscar-winning film that, while centring on a hearing girl who is a part of a D/deaf family, helped show that deafness doesn’t mean ignorance, and it doesn’t mark the end of a happy life. The moral of the story is, if you want to accurately and respectfully represent disabled people, you need to be fully committed to making it as positive and accurate as you can make it. Have disabled actors, writers, crew members - even do something as simple as reaching out to disabled people to educate yourself enough to represent us. After all, who can tell our stories better than the ones who have lived it? Our lived experiences

are far greater and more realistic than what non-disabled actors, writers and creators can conjure up in their minds. Disabled people matter. Our stories deserve to be told with the same care and extravagance as nondisabled stories. We are more than ‘just’ our disability, and it’s high time Hollywood, and the entire creative industry, changed some things so that the industry can be accessible and really committed to doing right by their disabled counterparts. Tell our stories. Help us tell our stories. But do it right, because if you’re not doing it right, if you’re not committed to really telling our stories in the best and most authentic way, then you’re not really telling our stories. Listen to us. Hire us. Let us, at the very least, guide you in making disabled stories. Your creations will thank you for it.

why is this happening? What is going wrong? And, most importantly, what can be done to fix it?

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VictoriaLand BEAUTY BY EMILY DAVISON

From skincare start-up to universal design champion, Victoria Watts is on a mission to help change the world for people living with visual impairment

lorida-based mother of four, Victoria Watts, was like many aspiring entrepreneurs starting up her indie skincare company, VictoriaLand Beauty. However, when her fourth child Cyrus was born blind in 2016, Victoria decided to take her brand in a whole new direction to help people like her son living with sight loss. “I started to realise as he grew that there really wasn’t anything in the way of personal care products made for the visually impaired. It was then that I pivoted and decided to relaunch VictoriaLand to make it accessible for people like him.” Cyrus lives with a rare eye condition called FEVER. Affecting 1 in 100,000 births, the condition impacts the retina and can cause progressive vision loss. When Cyrus began to develop and started to navigate his world. Victoria observed just how much of the world around him wasn’t made to be accessible for people like him. Now at the age of five, as he begins to grow in independence this fact is becoming more of a reality. “In the bath he reaches for his shampoo and it’s not the right bottle. Everything is packaged so generically and it’s very hard for him to distinguish.” Victoria, aged 47, began to explore ways to make her brand packaging more inclusive and her passion for universal design was born. For two years she worked closely with the Lighthouse Organisation, a US-based sight loss charity, to develop a tactile symbol system that she named the Cy.R.U.S System, in honour of her son. Each product from the VictoriaLand skincare line features a unique raised symbol, making the products distinguishable by touch. Additionally, the product boxes also feature an embossed QR code which links to an audio track that includes important information on the product such as the name, ingredients, and directions of use. When Victoria began to research statistics on sight loss and found that the only accessible brands on the market featured Braille, she felt the need to make her products fit the needs of all. Which is exactly what universal design as a concept seeks to do. In the US alone it is estimated that only 10% of the sight loss community are Braille users. Yet despite her admiration for Braille and advocacy for this skill to be a part in her Cyrus’ life, Victoria believes that the need for more universally designed products that can be accessed by all, is key for her and the whole of the consumer-packaged goods industry. Victoria’s work towards universal design has also received global recognition. This year she celebrated a major

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success when Victorialand won an award for Universal Design from PAC IOU this year, marking its first ever year running. Victorialand has already received praise and approval from the sight loss community since its relaunch. Blind YouTuber Molly Burke, who currently boasts 1.9 million subscribers, commended Victorialand in her videos on blind-friendly beauty brands.

THE FUTURE OF THE CYR.U.S SYSTEM Since launching the CyR.U.S System with Victorialand Beauty in 2020. Victoria is making plans to scale up the CyR.U.S System to become a globally recognised enterprise. Currently the CyR.U.S System has seven patented symbols that were launched with Victorialand. However, Victoria is passionate to roll out the system across all categories for consumer-packaged goods and to see it become the universal standard for the consumer industry globally. “My hope for the CyR.U.S System is that it becomes the standard, the universal symbol system,” Victoria said. “That you will find it on all consumer-packaged goods. I want to be able to walk into a store and see it on products on the shelves.” The CyR.U.S System now has a certification seal, like other certifications such as Leaping Bunny or Made with Organics. Victoria’s hope is that one day this will be something that many brands will aspire to achieve by implementing the system on their packaged goods. Victoria’s advocacy for universal design also extends to smaller and start-up brands. Being an indie skincare brand Victoria knows the financial challenges of making a brand inclusive. However, her efforts paid off and she is passionate about teaching and enabling other brands to find cost effective solutions so that they too can utilise the CyR.U.S System without any financial barriers. “We don’t want it to be a barrier for other brands. We’ve come up with innovative solutions and options to provide to brands that are interested,” said Victoria. As the concept of universal design continues to grow, so does the CyR.U.S System. Victoria is already in conversations with some large, well-known brands who are interested in implementing the system on their own packaging. “It’s so widely beneficial! It not only helps people with visual impairments. But it also benefits people with dyslexia or people who don’t speak the same language. At the end of the day most of us have some degree of vision loss and this system will benefit all of us,” added Victoria. Victoria remains committed to the future of the CyR.U.S

System as she continues to drive its message and appeal to more brands and industry leaders to come together to work on expanding the system to what it needs to be. Cyrus is one of the 285 million people in the world living with sight loss that face the daily challenges of accessing the world around them. For many, shopping for goods and accessing products is an ongoing struggle and one that only the growth of accessible products can hope to tackle. For Victoria, universal design is the way forward. So that when Cyrus is of an age where he can shop independently for products, he won’t face the challenges that many others like him have faced for years. It will take the collaborative efforts of so many others that share Victoria’s vision to change this narrative and end inaccessibility within the consumer-packaged goods space. Visit victorialandbeauty.com for more information on the beauty products and you can follow on Instagram @victorialandbeauty.

Eggs

EGGCELLENT

BY KATIE CAMPBELL

Painting Easter eggs is great, but a little bit of chocolate is better. Don’t get lost in the hunt we’ve scoured the shelves for some of the best Easter eggs available on the market, including nutand dairy-free options to make sure everyone gets their fair share!

Make Your Own Chocolate Easter Egg

This adorable kit allows you to make two of your very own custom decorated milk chocolate Easter eggs using delicious Belgian milk chocolate buttons that can be easily melted down with adult supervision. It also comes with sweets for decoration (or for stashing inside, you’re the boss of your kitchen) and a cute little paper chef’s hat so you know exactly who’s head chocolatier in your home. ChocOnChoc.co.uk | £14

The Ruby Jewel Egg

You can always feel good about yourself enjoying a little nibble of chocolate from Harry Spectres. They source the finest quality and most ethical chocolate - this specific egg is made from ruby chocolate, a newcomer to our shelves, which has a distinctly fruity, somewhat bitter but still beautifully smooth flavour. The company also trains and employs autistic people, and reinvests their profits to provide employment, work experience, and support. HarrysChocs.co.uk | £14

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Filled Easter eggs are an absolute treat, and this incredible egg from Cutter & Squidge is loaded to the gunnels with deliciousness. An artisan vegan chocolate egg, the halfshell is loaded with vegan caramel ganache-filled eggs and Oreo cookies. The edge of the shell is coated in chocolate sprinkles, and it also contains vegan honeycomb digestive crumb dreambar. Totally plant-based, this egg is egg-free and can be delivered anywhere in the UK! CutterAndSquidge.com | £21.99

Chocolate Ice Cream Egg

When is an Easter egg not an Easter egg? When it’s an ice-cream cone, apparently! This fun egg comes upside down inside a biscuit cone that’s filled with popping candy, topped with white chocolate sauce drizzle, biscuit crumb, a 99 flake, and a couple of mini chocolate eggs! There’s something for almost everyone on this egg. Wait. No. Icecream. Ice-cream egg? Whatever it is, it’s brilliant. Aldi | £6.99

H!P Salted Caramel Oat Milk Easter Egg

This vegan Easter egg is made with oat milk, which gives it that rich, smooth, creamy flavour that people who enjoy milk chocolate but can’t partake often feel they miss out on. As well as being plant-based, it comes in plastic-free packaging, and is made with 41% single-origin Columbian cocoa, so it’s all-round good chocolate that you can feel pretty good about tucking in to. HipChocolate.com | £8

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Cookies and Cream Vegan Easter Egg

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Nut Free Solid Chocolate Egg

Made in a factory that strictly prohibits the use of nuts, this solid chocolate egg is an engineering feat. It’s comprised of 42 individual chocolate chunks, giving it a hefty overall weight of 750g, but providing enough chocolate for the whole family to enjoy! This specific egg is dairy, egg, nut, and wheat free, and is made in small batches by hand in the UK. The Solid Chocolate Company on Yumbles.com | £26.99

NOMO Cookie Dough Crunch Easter Egg and Bunny

NOMO means “no more missing out,” and there’s certainly something for everyone with this Easter treat. Free from milk, gluten and egg, it’s also made in a factory which strictly regulates its ingredients, ensuring all confectionary is also free from tree nuts and peanuts. The creamy chocolate egg is cookie dough-flavoured, and contains rice cereal and cocoa pieces for a little extra crunch. TheVeganKind.com | £7.20

White Chocolate Rabbit Egg

This absolutely stunning Easter egg is made with highquality Swiss white chocolate, and is hand-decorated with milk chocolate stippling, a white chocolate Easter rabbit and spring flowers. It’s such a beautiful egg, there’s no way you could bring yourself to eat it - well, you might not, but we could. Pass it over. Bettys.co.uk | £12

Gold Chocolate Robot Egg

Inside this caramelised white chocolate egg are two tiny robots! If you’ve never tasted caramelised white chocolate, you’re in for a real treat - it’s creamy like white chocolate, but tastes almost like caramel, and has beautiful toasty notes. Each half of this fabulous egg is studded with an individual milk chocolate robot. Chococo.co.uk | £13

Hotel Chocolat White Chocolate Easter Egg

A take by the famed chocolatiers on a soft boiled egg gone splat, despite its beauty, this is an egg meant to be smacked on a kitchen counter just like its inspiration. Made using white chocolate that’s a minimum of 36% cocoa solids, this egg melts in your mouth and has a beautiful, smooth and creamy flavour. HotelChocolat.com | £10

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Life OF Uncertainty A

BY ROSALIND TULLOCH

MS Awareness Week will take place on 25 April - 1 May this year and the theme is focusing on the uncertainty around living with multiple sclerosis S is an unpredictable condition that affects each individual differently, and can have varying symptoms for everyone. This makes living with MS very uncertain. The MS Society has recently conducted a survey on this very topic and they will use the responses from this to raise awareness of MS and what it means to live with such an unpredictable illness.

Belonging to a community can give you a feeling of support and strength

They are also encouraging people who live with MS to share their stories, they want to collect as many real-life stories as possible to help share experiences through the MS community. Opening up about your personal experiences of living with MS can be difficult, but it can make such a difference to other people’s lives. Whether you are a parent, a student, a grandparent, an athlete, a lawyer, a teacher, it doesn’t matter what your life circumstances are, your story will most likely be relatable in some way to someone else living with MS, and sometimes that is all someone needs to feel supported and understood. The MS Society website has plenty of “coming out” stories to help give you the confidence to write your own, so check them out on mssociety.org.uk and consider sharing your story, you never know who it might help.

FINDING YOUR PEOPLE Belonging to a community can give you a feeling of support and strength. Knowing that other people out there

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are encountering the same challenges that you are and being able to relate to similar situations can be reassuring and uplifting. Over the last few years online communities for disabled people have developed across the board, from Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, to blogs, forums and dedicated websites. These online communities can provide support, humour and comfort, alongside helpful advice and useful information, from recommendations on accessible venues to advice on sharing your diagnosis with others. With this in mind, we are showcasing some great online personalities to follow, all of whom are living with MS and sharing their experiences online.

IT’S A SH*T BUSINESS Steve Domino started his blog It’s a Sh*t Business, back in 2009, so to say there is a lot of content there would be a bit of an understatement. Steve was diagnosed with relapsing and remitting MS (RRMS) in 2005, which he describes as putting a bit of a “dampner” on his musical career, alongside growing up and getting older. His posts are wide and varied, but his writing style is humourous and he is open and honest about the topics he discusses around MS. Scrolling back through his blog posts you will find musings on Access to Work, PIP, planning for kids, having conversations with work colleagues about MS and of course the last two years have seen COVID-19 and vaccines crop up quite a lot. Check out Steve’s blog at itsashitbusiness.blogspot.com to enjoy his clever and witty writings.

A 30 MINUTE LIFE Robert Joyce was diagnosed with MS when he was 23, now in his 50s he lives in Ireland has two wonderful children and has run several of his own businesses. In 2014, Robert’s life was changed by a minor car crash that resulted in a return of his MS following 10 years of remission and the added challenge of a consistent headache. His life is now conducted in 30-minute blocks to manage his symptoms. He has been blogging since 2017 and he also has a podcast where he introduces some posts and discusses comments, and interviews various people from the chronic illness community and healthcare arena. Well worth checking out. Visit a30minutelife.com to read more from Robert Joyce.

DINOSAURS, DONKEYS AND MS

TRIPPING THROUGH TREACLE

Heather started her blog in 2016 when she was recovering from a relapse of MS. She is a teacher, actor and MS Society support volunteer. As you can tell from the title of her blog, she likes dinosaurs and donkeys and you will find Dizzy the Donkey featured in most posts, retelling their adventures together and giving tips and advice. Heather shares her experiences of living with MS and covers topics around CBD, teletherapy, life insurance, health anxiety and much more. You can also buy cute merchandise that features Dizzy the Donkey.

Jen is a single mum to two wonderful daughters, and she has been living with MS since she was 15 years old. Now in her 40s, Jen discusses how her life has changed and what her new life looks like now, where she rocks a mobility scooter which increases her independence. She openly discusses the benefits she finds from healthy eating, meditation and yoga, while recognising that this may not be right for everyone. Jen also keeps a blog about her HSCT (haemopoietic stem cell transplant) journey, which may be of interest to some MSers. Her blog is enjoyable and relatable, and it covers everything from disability and mental health, to travel and cocktails.

Check out dinosaursdonkeysandms.com for tips on living with MS and cute knitted donkey photos.

You can red more at trippingthroughtreacle.com.

SHIFT.MS This is an online community created by people living with MS for people living with MS. It is a social network specifically designed to support thousands of people living with MS by connecting them to fellow MSers. The site provides a platform for people to ask questions, seek advice, share experiences and gain support. They also produce films, by, for and about people living with MS, which tell compelling stories, share real-life experiences and feature world -leading experts. They have a community of over 40,000 people living with MS, so you are bound to find some advice, help, tips and support from this community. Join the Shift.ms community at shift.ms.

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Time Travel BY ROSALIND TULLOCH

The last two years have limited our ability to travel and holiday as we please. No city breaks, no relaxing country retreats, no adventure holidays with the kids, at some points not even a day trip to the neighbouring region for a change of scenery. While we are still not free of life with COVID-19, travel has once again become a possibility for those of you desperately hankering after a break. Many of you will naturally not be feeling confident enough to venture abroad, so we have focused on breaks in the UK this issue to show you just how easily you can find a trip to suit your tastes.

FAMILY HOLIDAYS

If you are looking for a holiday that will keep the kids busy and offer a lovely relaxing environment for adults, then Aviemore could be the place for you. Aviemore is a town nestled in the Cairgorms National Park in Scotland. It is popular all year round as it attracts the keen skiers for winter and everyone else for summer! It is a very familyfriendly location and is well catered for with Landmark Forest Adventure Park located in nearby Carrbridge. This adventure park is set in a forest and is full of fun activities for little ones, from the Dinosaur Kingdom to the Lost Labyrinth, the forest nature trail and a tropical hot house.

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They have worked hard to try to ensure as many of the areas are accessible to wheelchair users as possible, but there are certain rides and attractions that cannot be accessed. They offer a “green card” system to support anyone who struggles with queues, they offer concession prices for disabled visitors and carers, and they have a limited number of wheelchairs available to use on site. In addition to this you have the Highland Wildlife Park located in Kingussie, just seven miles from Aviemore. This wildlife park is home to some amazing animals, from amur tigers and polar bears, to arctic foxes and red pandas. There is a drive-through reserve that allows you to drive around in your own vehicle and stop at your leisure to watch European bison, red deer, Przewalski’s horses and much more. The wildlife park itself is very steep and rough in places so may be inaccessible to some wheelchair users, but the majority of it is wheelchair accessible, as is the café and Visitor Centre, where you will also find accessible toilets. Aviemore is a bustling small town so you are well catered for with cafes, restaurants and shops. The surrounding countryside is beautiful and the lochs offer a great place for water sports, picnics, or simply relaxing. visitaviemore.com

COASTAL HOLIDAYS

If you are looking for somewhere to visit with beautiful sandy beaches, views out to sea and a sunny climate, Cornwall could be right up your street. Located right on the coast of the southwestern tip of England, it offers the most picturesque setting with harbour villages, amazing sandy beaches with aqua blue water, and it is famous for its wonderfully fresh seafood. Beaches are notoriously not the most accessible, but there are a couple of beaches in Cornwall that have sand chairs available to allow wheelchair users to access the beach, and flat walkways that run the length of the beach too. You will also find the famous Eden Project, home to the world’s largest indoor rainforest and plants from across the world, all set in huge Biodomes that will take you hours to explore. Accessibility is well considered throughout, allowing everyone to experience the incredible magnitude of this project. The Eden Project is an educational charity and social enterprise that aims to educate visitors on the importance of the relationship between people and the natural world. It is an attraction not to be missed if visiting Cornwall. If seafood is your thing, you will be spoiled for choice. Cornwall is home to the restaurants of some of Britain’s best chef’s, including Nathan Outlaw, Paul Ainsworth and Rick Stein. visitcornwall.com

SPA BREAK

Two years of living through a pandemic has taken its toll on our mental health and wellbeing, and it still continues to do so. What better way to help you unwind and practice a little well-deserved self-care, than booking a luxurious and relaxing spa break? Careys Manor and SenSpa is located in Brockenhurst, Hampshire and it looks like the perfect place to take some time to unwind. SenSpa is a luxury Thai spa that focuses on the health of the mind, body and spirit. It offers authentic Thai therapies with state-of-the-art spa facilities, and accessibility has been considered thoroughly to ensure each guest can access as much as possible. They have massage tables that can be hydraulically lowered for access for wheelchair users, a pool hoist to access the swimming pool, lifts to access the relaxation rooms, gym, and other areas, and most facilities are located on the ground floor. They ask guests with any access requirements to let them know in advance so they can ensure the appropriate rooms and facilities are reserved, meaning you can focus on relaxing when you are indulging in an ESPA Balancing Facial, a Shakti Total Body Boost, or are relaxing in the AlphaSphere Deluxe sensory experience. Careys Manor, home to the SenSpa has only one accessible room with a wet room, but it has many ground floor rooms that are wheelchair accessible and they have some disability equipment available on request for your arrival, including bed raisers, bath boards, bath seats, raised toilet seats, shower steps, detachable handrails and a DeafGuard. The public areas, dining rooms and gardens are all wheelchair accessible. careysmanor.com

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THE BIG EVENT IS BACK FOR 2022! The Big Event is being held at the NEC in Birmingham on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 May 2022, your one-stop-shop to see everything available on the Motability Scheme. peaker Sessions are back and bigger than ever! Running across both days, you’ll hear from the experts about latest Scheme news, electric vehicles, new car technology, WAVs, adaptations, accessible days out, and much more.

ALL THINGS CARS! On Friday, Motability Dealer Partner Relationship Manager James Horne will delve into the everchanging world of cars. Hear the latest updates from the motoring industry and what to consider before visiting a dealership.

ELECTRIC MOTORING There’s many Speaker Sessions for those interested in electric motoring, including talks from our new home charging partners Ohme and Easee, who will discuss home

charging units and the installation process.

PLUS, VISIT THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFO HUB New for 2022, come and visit The Electric Vehicle Info Hub to chat with friendly experts and discover if an electric vehicle is right for you. There will be a range of electric cars on display, a chance to get hands on with home charging units and discover the latest app charging technology. The full Speaker Sessions line up and further information on display, accessibility and COVID-19 safety measures can be found at motabilitythebigevent.co.uk.

NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE BIG EVENT IN PERSON? Don’t worry, we’re live streaming all the Speaker Sessions PLUS exclusive live interviews, product demos and Q&As hosted by Helen Dolphin MBE, available to view here (motabilitythebigevent.co.uk) from 9:30am on Friday 20 May 2022.

Find out everything you need to know about the Motability Scheme, in fully-accessible venues. Join us at an event near you

Open 9am - 4pm

→ The Big Event, NEC, Birmingham - Friday 20 and Saturday 21 May 2022 → One Big Day, Westpoint, Exeter - Saturday 23 July 2022 → One Big Day, Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate - Saturday 13 August 2022 → One Big Day, Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh - Saturday 17 September 2022

Find out more at motabilityonebigday.co.uk or call 0800 953 7000 Please quote MO1036I To test drive the cars you must bring your full UK driving licence and sign our test drive declaration on the day. Full Terms and Conditions can be found at motabilityonebigday.co.uk. One Big Day is organised and hosted by Motability Operations Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

MAKE YOUR MOVE TO THE NEW GENERATION

DIFFERENT BY DESIGN®

Discover the fully electric premium MPV Mercedes-Benz wheelchair accessible vehicle

heelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) dealer Lewis Reed, have launched the very first electric version of the popular Mercedes-Benz V-Class – the EQV. It will be on their stand at Naidex on 6-7 July at the NEC, Birmingham for you to have a good look at. What a car it is, there are so few options for larger families to go green these days, especially if needing a WAV, yet this ticks all the boxes. Its exactly what you’d hope for. The EQV’s emphasis is on luxury and versatility. It brings extravagant levels of sophistication, intelligent systems and technology, making your driving experience comfortable whilst helping to keep you safe and benefiting the environment. Every vehicle supplied by Lewis Reed is bespoke and customised to ensure it meets the requirements of the individual which can vary incredibly from one user to the next. This car can do all this as well as being kind to the environment and to your pocket.

to use, providing a choice of up to five passenger seats and two wheelchair positions. Wheelchair access is at the rear using the sophisticated Fiorella Twister lift allowing a swivel base to rotate the lift by 90 degrees, allowing quick and easy access to loading and tie-down operations with maximum safety and comfort.

Available in three models; the Sport, Sport Premium and Sport Premium Plus, in full electric mode, this car produces zero tailpipe emissions, dramatically lowering smog and greenhouse gas emissions.

You can also follow Lewis Reed on Twitter @lewisreedgroup or Facebook @lewisreedwavltd.

Although you can hardly hear a sound from the drive system, you’ll be impressed by how effortlessly the 204 hp (150 kW) electric motor accelerates. When it comes to charging options, Mercedes me charge is standard for three years with the EQV. The battery is also under the floor allowing for all that welcomed extra space everyone needs. The EQV comes with a comprehensive range of control options and flexible seating positions to offer practical solutions for the wheelchair user and their carer or family. The adaptable floor-mounted rail system is quick and easy

Once again Lewis Reed has successfully developed a new and unique product for the WAV market and more importantly given more choice for the wheelchair user.

INTERESTED? Lewis Reed offers a free demonstration at your home if you’re interested. Scan the QR code to see their digital brochure, or visitqrco.de/lrdigi. You can contact Lewis Reed on 0151 343 5360 or visit lewisreedgroup.co.uk.

We bring you a mix of the most innovative and helpful products on the market today

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PIVOTELL PILL POPPER Removing pills from blister packs is difficult for weak fingers. The Pivotell Pill Popper is an aid to pop tablets easily and quickly from blister packs. Approved by the Swedish Rheumatism Association, this solution with an adjustable opening for small or large pills, makes managing medication easier and more accurate. Prices from £19.99 01799 550 979 pivotell.co.uk

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MOTOMED LOOP The versatile MOTOmed is a great way to build endurance and strength at home. The LOOP model offers passive, assisted and active training modes - a great low impact way to replace lost movement, boost circulation and help range of movement. Used extensively in UK hospitals and rehab centres. Prices available on request medimotion.co.uk

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WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL PRINTS Looking for something colourful to hang on your wall? Check out these abstract prints of wheelchair basketball players. They come in a variety of sizes and colour options, so you can find the colours that suit your home and your taste. Choose from a variety of individual designs and make your friends jealous next time they pop round. Prices from £20 Not On The High Street – Pixels To Paper

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ID MEN LEVEL 4 PANTS Incontinence experts Ontex have launched their new iD for Men Level 4 pants. Providing extreme comfort and a perfect fit, the all-round stretch, elastified material has a thin and flexible core to ensure that the pants fit like real underwear. The pant has been designed to stay in place, not lose its shape or become bulky even when saturated. This fully breathable material means a healthy skin and no sweating, and they have an odour control feature. Prices from £8.00 ontex.com

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MERA CARE SHOWER TOILET Specifically designed to put the user in control, the Mera Care Shower Toilet is smart, stylish and easy to use. Its advanced technology gives users increased bathroom independence. With adaptations available, the toilet will fit different individuals’ needs, leaving users feeling cleaner with a comfortable, convenient and hygienic bathroom experience.

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THERA-TRAINER TIGO The THERA-Trainer Tigo enables individuals to exercise their legs or upper body from the comfort of their home. Regular power, endurance and mobility training with THERA-Trainer Tigo facilitates functional recovery and improved motor skills, and helps individuals achieve their therapy goals. THERA-Trainer Tigo allows effective exercise in all phases of rehabilitation. Prices from £3,095 thera-trainer.com

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ON YOUR BIKE British bicycle manufacturer Islabikes have created a brand-new cycle designed specifically for people living with dwarfism ummer and cycling go together hand in hand. On a beautiful, bright, clear day, there’s nothing more fun and freeing than hopping on your bicycle and taking to the cycle path for a day of exploring. Plus, it has the added advantage of being a terrific form of exercise! Islabikes have just this year revealed their brand-new Joni bikes, designed specifically for cyclists living with achondroplasia. The Joni bike was developed with extensive input from members of the Dwarf Sports Association (DSA), who assisted with both the design and testing stages, and saw company founder Isla Rowntree spend a weekend cycling with DSA member Steve Scott, who showed her which aspects of the bespoke-built custom cycle he was using at the time did or did not work. The lived experiences of people living with dwarfism helped to shape and inform the Joni bike, which sports a proportional frame, curved handlebars, and specially designed brakes, among other things.

The company, who have made their name by offering thoughtfully designed children’s bikes for over 15 years, was inspired to create the Joni model after years of being asked by people living with dwarfism if they could try the company’s children’s bikes in the hope it would allow them to get back to cycling. Speaking to the Guardian, Islabikes’ managing director, Tim Goodall, said that while many people felt like this was their best option even though the bike didn’t entirely accommodate their needs, Islabikes felt that it was an issue that would be better rectified by creating a specific, well-designed bike to suit the needs of people living with achondroplasia. This has culminated in Islabikes becoming the first company in the world to mass-produce bikes designed for people living with achondroplasia, as other companies offering the service do so on a bespoke basis. To reflect that, while Islabikes usually only ship their cycles to Europe, the Joni can be bought by anyone, anywhere in the world, after being manufactured in small quantities at their headquarters in Ludlow, Shropshire. Tim Goodall said: “To mass produce, you need a mass market, and mass markets are usually average; average height, average weight, average arms, average legs - you name it, it’s average. That’s great if you’re average, but dreadful if you’re not. We are determined to overcome the barriers that prevent cycling. For the Joni 20 and 24 that means manufacturing them locally in small batches, something we are incredibly excited about.” Islabikes’ Joni cycle comes in two wheel sizes: the Joni 20 is designed for riders over 115cm, while the Joni 24 is designed for people over 125cm. Alongside this, Islabikes also offer starter bikes for children living with dwarfism: their Cnoc bike comes in two wheel sizes, 14 and 16, for children 90cm and over and 102cm and above respectively. The Joni cycle is priced at £899, with a wide assortment of accessories available to complement it, including a rack and propstand. For more information on the bikes, visit Islabikes’ website: Islabikes.co.uk

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NEW OPPORTUNITIES Euan’s Guide London Ambassador Tina Hodgkinson, shares her love of world-renowned author Agatha Christie and the new opportunities that her research has opened up to her across the UK.

he last couple of years have been particularly stressful for everyone, so Euan’s Guide London Ambassador, Tina Hodgkinson, decided to set herself a challenge to re-read every Agatha Christie book chronologically. Being a fan of Agatha Christie since childhood has allowed Tina in recent years – thanks to the support of the Euan’s Guide ‘Agatha family’ – to research, write and give talks about the renowned author. This has meant going to festivals and seeing the sights related to the famous books. Tina shares her experiences of being an enormous fan of the world’s best-selling author of all time, and her experiences of the accessibility of some of historic sights and venues she has visited.

ADMIRING AGATHA’S WORKS As a disabled woman who often feels marginalised by society, the subversiveness of the stories in which Hercule Poirot, a Belgium refugee, and Miss Marple, an older woman, are often dismissed by the other characters, but invariably outsmarts them, is deeply satisfying. For me, the fun of the whodunnit is sieving out the genuine clues from all the red herrings, finding out the suspects’ guilty secrets, only to discover at the denouncement that I’ve invariably got it totally wrong. Agatha’s stories are particularly strong on plotting. And Then There Were None, where ten strangers are invited to an island and are murdered one by one, is one of her most ingenious and my personal favourite. Agatha’s reputation as the Queen of Crime was firmly established in 1926, with the publication of the ground-breaking, The Murder of Roger Akroyd, a Poirot story with the most astonishing, final twist. It was also the RNIB’s first Talking Book back on 7 November 1935. In reading Agatha chronologically, I’ve gained a deeper appreciation of her work. She is much more diverse and nuanced than she is usually given credit for. There are lighter-hearted stories such as A Murder is Announced, a Marple story where the local newspaper pre-announces that a murder will take place, and Mrs McGinty’s Dead where Poirot solved the murder of a cleaner. Crooked House, The Hollow and Ordeal by Innocence focus on the psychology of the characters and complex, dysfunctional family relationships, they make for deeply unsettling reading.

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Agatha also wrote some stories with supernatural themes, The Sittaford Mystery, with a séance proclaiming murder, witchcraft in The Pale Horse and the extremely creepy short story, The Dressmaker’s Doll. The Clocks, a Poirot story, investigates a murder in a blind woman’s home and it has a very interesting final twist, and take on disability. Often overlooked are the six books Agatha wrote under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, psychological dramas about complex relationships and emotions. Giant’s Bread, the first Westmacott, is an epic story of friendship and love. Agatha also wrote a very touching and funny memoir, While Come Tell Me How You Live about her work on the archaeological excavations in Syria. With Agatha you can never get bored as there is so much to choose from.

AGATHA CHRISTIE FESTIVAL The highlight for me last year was attending the annual International Agatha Christie Festival in Torquay, Devon. The festival offers a choice of activities, including talks with celebrity guests, theatre and film screening in locations along the glorious English Riviera. The festival’s organisers and volunteers at each event are extremely welcoming and friendly, and also very approachable if you need help. Most of the events are held at Torre Abbey, in its spacious, historic Spanish Barn. On site there is a café serving delicious home-made food, with indoor and outdoor seating, and museum galleries. All the buildings have stepfree access and there are accessible toilets. The tranquil gardens are particularly impressive, filled with beautiful, fragrant, plants and shrubs and there are plenty of benches to sit on.

EXPLORING TORQUAY Torquay Museum, the local history museum, hosts events and has a gallery devoted to Agatha, containing some of her personal effects as well the chance to see the art deco study from the ITV adaptation of Poirot. The museum has many fascinating galleries, a small café and step-free access throughout and an accessible toilet. A highlight of the festival is an Agatha Christie play or reading at Paignton Theatre. A charming, small, local theatre with step-free access seating in the front row and an accessible toilet. A must see for all Agatha fans is Greenway, her holiday home now owned by the National Trust, in a stunning location overlooking the River Dart. The house is laid out as it would have been in the 1950s and feels very intimate thanks to the Christie family who have kindly donated many personal items. The ground floor is step-free but upstairs is only accessible by stairs with a handrail. There are extensive gardens, the ones near the house are on level ground, but there is an extremely steep path leading down to the boathouse, which featured in Dead Man’s Folly. There’s a restaurant and accessible toilets. Torquay itself is a charming seaside town, with a mild microclimate, palm trees and other lush vegetation. The sea front and harbour are all on the flat, and step-free buses make it easy to explore the surrounding area. Away from the sea front, Torquay quickly becomes hilly, so for accessibility I would recommend accommodation near the sea front. During my visit I stayed in two hotels. The Grand Hotel, which was very conveniently situated directly opposite the railway station. It has excellent step-free public facilities including a bar and separate restaurant, although, the guest bedrooms have not been adapted, the hotel staff can attach stick-on grab rails to the bathroom and provide a toilet frame. The Premier Inn Torquay Seafront have accessible rooms with wheel-in showers. They also offer a bar and separate restaurant, with step-free access and an accessible toilet. The next International Agatha Christie Festival will be from 10 to 17 September 2022. Find out more at iacf-uk.org. Tina is speaking at this year’s festival again – feel free to say hello! Read a review of disabled access around Torquay when attending the festival at EuansGuide.com.

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Cookfulness WORKSHOPS Our regular recipe writer Ian Taverner, aka Mr Cookfulness, has been delivering free cooking workshops as part of the Footsteps Festival. They are designed to help everyone get into the kitchen and enjoy cooking delicious food, at their own pace. We found out more from Ian about how to get involved with these refreshing cooking workshops When did you start your cooking workshops online? These began in March 2021 when I did my first workshop. I was so nervous making this first recording because I had absolutely no idea how it would be received. I just did what I do; cooked, had fun, made mistakes, laughed, and got some dishes out at the end! That was the first one of series 1, although I didn’t have a clue at that time if there would be any more. I am now on series 3. There are six workshops per series so I am definitely getting better at this! Can you tell us a bit more about Footsteps Festival and your involvement? The Footsteps Festival is an incredible online experience for anyone living with chronic pain and/or associated conditions, and also their family and friends, as they are also directly affected by this. Set up by a mixture of health professionals and people with real lived chronic illness experiences, it was initially going to just be for a year during 2021, to offer people and their families the chance to experience different ways to get creative, try new things and become part of an amazing online community that was being built. They approached me right at the beginning to see if I would do cooking workshops and of course, I jumped at the chance. Well I didn’t actually jump, that would hurt too much! The Festival offers such an amazing array of opportunities for people, from a weekly create and chat session, to sessions on everything from mindfulness, wild swimming, health and nutrition, entangling, sleep, and, of course, me! It is constantly being managed and updated to provide the best possible support and opportunities for people. I only wish I had had access to something like this for the many years when I felt there was no way out. As the first year has been so incredibly successful, it is going on to another year and I am incredibly proud and privileged to be a part of this amazing team.

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What do your workshops involve? In each series I will do six workshops, which run every Friday at 2pm, and the current series runs until Friday 8 April. They last for about an hour, the first half is a video that I have pre-recorded showing how to make three different dishes. I prepare everything sat at my kitchen table, to show how you can widen your kitchen and make the cooking experience so much happier. I usually have a theme for each week, so it can be anything from three recipes using baked beans, to the current ones where I am doing anti-inflammatory/low FODMAP recipes. I show how you can adapt ingredients, how useful your freezer is, and the different ways ingredients can come, so that you are able to cook and prepare no matter the type of day you are having. During the video people can ask me questions using the comments feature. After the film, we go live and I take questions, firstly the written ones and then people have the chance to ask me anything, either in the comments or verbally if they want to. We have an amazing chat about everything, from hints and tips to preparing and cooking, to different ingredients, people asking for help with certain issues they have, there are no barriers! I

Do you enjoy doing these? I can’t tell you how much I love these! The making of them is fantastic, dreaming up dishes that I can make, recording them and getting that side done. Personally, that gives me so much pride and confidence in myself that I am able to do it. My family love watching the process of me doing them too, even the dog has appeared in some! The sessions themselves though are just incredible. Seeing and hearing people, every week, taking small steps towards trying to cook, trying new things, not worrying about things going wrong, just enjoying the way there, that’s just priceless. I learn so much too, about concerns people have, problems with specific ingredients or utensils or dishes. It is very collaborative with sharing of ideas and tips, sharing of failure and successes, its wondrous! I would like to do these for forever and a day, well as long as people will still have me anyway! How do people get involved? All you need to do to book your place for the entire series is go to: my.livewellwithpain.co.uk/festival/ street-kitchen/cookfulness/ will try and take suggestions from these amazing chat sessions as to what I can build for upcoming workshops, so I am constantly tailoring them to people’s needs. Do people need anything special to get involved? Absolutely not! Firstly, they are FREE! Anyone can donate to the Festival to help with the running of it, but it isn’t mandatory and you can just enjoy the show. A lot of people are naturally very anxious about being seen or heard on Zoom, which I absolutely understand. The great thing is that you can attend, join the link and then switch off your camera, switch off your mic, and just watch. If you want to ask a question you can write one in the comments section. If you want to ask something in person you can turn your mic on and leave your camera off, it is entirely up to you. You don’t have to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. There is absolutely no pressure, it is very relaxed and just great fun.

Here you can see what’s coming up and the dates they take place, you can click on the Booking button and then you will be sent a link that you can use for every workshop in the series. It is run over Zoom, so once you have your link, just click it at 2pm on a Friday and enjoy the session! If for any reason you can’t make one, then the recorded elements of the show will be on the Festival’s website and YouTube channel. Also, the ingredients list I use for each dish within each workshop are added so you don’t have to be scribbling things down and missing things as a result! You can follow Ian Taverner on Twitter and Instagram @cookfulness and follow Footsteps Festival @FestivalPain on Twitter and @footstepsfestival on Instagram.

What do you hope people get out of the workshops? I just hope that people can see that there are ways you can cook, not only cook, but absolutely love cooking and everything about it. I hope to turn cooking from a position of hate and anxiety, to one of joy and passion. Turn ingredients from the “same old same old” to new and exciting. Turn shopping from hateful and painful, to wondrous and positive! I also hope they get a sense of community from seeing and hearing from other people living with chronic illness, and from me too. I hope that it can help build some confidence, some passion and some pride, which I know from personal experience can be taken away from you when living with chronic pain and illness. Most of all though, I just hope people have some fun. Cooking really can be a part of therapy!

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G u est appearanc

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c a r C Ja m es Baroness OBE Ta n ni Gre y-T h o m pso n

6th & 7th July NEC Birmingham #Naidex #AnythingIsPossible

Naidex

Will you be attending the flagship event of the disability community?

aidex is back once again to help show that anything is possible. Reunite with friends, old and new, this summer on 6-7 July at the NEC, Birmingham for Europe’s leading event supporting independent living.

WHAT IS NAIDEX? Naidex is Europe’s most established event dedicated to supporting people with disabilities. An interactive two days showcasing a wide range of solutions and technology to improve mobility, accessibility, and independence. Naidex is for everyone, and welcomes anyone who is living with a disability, as well as anyone caring for or supplying to this amazing community.

EXCITING AND INTERACTIVE FEATURES Expect over 9,000 visitors experiencing the latest independent living solutions and daily aids, meeting with hundreds of innovative exhibitors and awe-inspiring speakers, and most of all having fun! Features this year include the Mobility Test Track, an area of the show where wheelchair and mobility aid users can ‘test’ new products on a specially designed track of different landscapes, and the Naidex Marketplace, a new area of the show which offers affordable daily aids that you can purchase and take home from the show. All this, along with interactive trails such as Naidex Junior, make this the go-to event of the year.

excited to be announcing main stage speakers James Cracknell OBE and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson into the line-up. This year we have five seminar theatres showcasing the latest case-studies, solutions, products, and technology revolutionising the independent living sector. These include The Main Stage, Accessibility Summit, Education and Employment theatre, Lifestyle Theatre, Mobility Theatre. These theatres will bring inspiring and motivational experiences, live demos of the latest independent living solutions, and insightful opinions on pressing topics. There is also the opportunity to enhance your professional development with our CPD accredited seminar agenda, making the event not only enjoyable, but informative and educational too.

PIMP MY MOBILITY This year, in partnership with The Grumpy Gits, Naidex are launching the #PimpMyMobility Campaign. The aim is to decorate and change the appearance of your mobility aids, think loud and proud; fairy wings, stickers, or if you’re a certain Grumpy Gits member, transforming your wheelchair into a Tardis! Follow the hashtag #PimpMyMobility on social media for inspiration! Visit naidex.co.uk/pimp-mymobility for more information on how to get involved.

A FANTASTIC EVENT FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY

Another interactive opportunity at Naidex this summer is Training 2 Care’s Autism Reality Experience, an innovative, immersive and hands-on training which has been developed to give non-autistic people an experience of the sensory processing difficulties faced by people on the autism spectrum.

Naidex works with a number of partners including charities, media partners, accessibility providers, podcasters, and industry associations to ensure that their audience is well-represented, and their team can’t wait to welcome you to the NEC Birmingham once again for what is set to be a fantastic event for the community, helping people understand that anything is possible.

WHO’S SPEAKING?

Previous speakers at Naidex have included the likes of Warwick Davis and Alex Brooker, and this year we are posabilitymagazine.co.uk

Kids’

CORNER T

PRODUCTS

he weather is finally behaving well enough that going outside to enjoy the Great Outdoors feels a bit more possible. Camping is as good as it gets when it comes to enjoying nature: it’s a great family bonding experience that can be a wonderful opportunity to get children involved in enjoying nature. When you live in the city or the suburbs, you sometimes forget that there’s a natural world out there to enjoy: the stars hanging in the night’s sky, the sound of birdsong in the early morning, and the dew on the grass all feel more majestic when you get to see them again for the first time in a long time. With that said, we’ve put together a guide on how to get the family into camping on page 54. Alongside regular columnist Dan White on page 61, this issue’s Future Voices contributor Kayleigh O’Neil, and you can read her explanation of why climate change is so important to her on page 59. As ever, if there’s anything you would like to see featured in the magazine, please don’t hesitate to send it over to ros@2apublishing.co.uk.

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Pitching Up BY KATIE CAMPBELL

Camping is a fun way to get children and young people to enjoy the myriad offerings of the Great Outdoors amping is a great way to take a comparatively inexpensive holiday with people you love, and spend time making happy memories away from home. Not only is it a great opportunity to get away for a little while, it’s also ideal for teaching children about nature: taking time to learn which birds are singing, what trees and flowers they can see around them, and which animals are in the areas nearby gives them a greater understanding of the wider world around them, and a deepened appreciation of the natural world. It’s a very child-friendly holiday that can involve just as much running around and playing as it can investigating and learning.

CAMPING AT HOME

While there’s a lot to be said for going away, camping in the back garden can be just as fun as pitching up your tent somewhere far-flung, and for a lot of people it might be an easier option. Camping at home means you’re closer to everything that you need on a daily basis, and if the big event goes sour, it’s ok to gather everything up and head back inside to where it’s cosy - the Great British summertime can be unpredictable, after all. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to dip your toes in and see if the family are comfortable camping together; there is nothing worse than getting all the way out to the countryside, pitching up the tent, and discovering that it’s just too much for everyone involved. Camping in the garden allows you and the family to get to know what sleeping out in a tent is like in a safe and comfortable way, especially if you’re not a habitual camper. You might discover that you would be more comfortable in a bigger tent, or that yoga mats under the sleeping bags do in fact make a world of difference, and these are all great things to know before committing to a big camp away somewhere nice. Plus, there’s a lot to be said for being able to pee in your own toilet. It’s the little things, isn’t it?

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FINDING A CAMPSITE

If you’re committed to the idea of a staycation at one of the thousands of campsites across the UK, then you will be pleased to know that there are many which offer accessible facilities across the length and breadth of the UK. Websites like Cool Camping, Love Camping, and Campsites all allow you to search for accessible campsites in the areas you’re thinking of travelling to, which you can then check to ensure that they meet your needs. It’s worth noting here that you don’t necessarily have to go to a campsite if you’re in Scotland: the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 made it perfectly legal to “wild camp” on the basis that you pitch your tent somewhere that isn’t enclosed (so don’t pitch up on a farmer’s field full of crops or animals), and that you leave no trace of you having been there. That’s a very basic summation of the law, so if you’re considering wild camping, it’s best to make sure you know the law before you put your tent up for the night! Camping in the countryside is a wonderful experience for children and adults alike, especially if you’re used to city living. To see the stars twinkle in the night sky and hear the sounds of birds and animals going about their lives is something really special, and that children are sure to absolutely love.

GLAMPING

Glamping is a great way to experience the joys of the outdoors as a family without missing sleeping on a mattress too much. It might be more attractive to older children too, who want the joys of going outdoors but the creature comforts of a conventional bed, kitchen and bathroom to come back to after sitting around the fire pit at night.

There are a good few accessible glamping sites across the country - not as many as camping sites, of course, but they’re still found relatively easily. Websites like Glampsites and Experience Freedom are both great places to start when searching for an accessible location, and are excellent when it comes to telling you what the sites have to offer. Some, like Omnipods accessible luxury cabins, which were

designed with wheelchair users in mind, even come equipped with underfloor heating and a luxurious wet room! Regardless of how you choose to experience the great outdoors with younger campers, there is so much fun to be had in the great outdoors, and memories to be made of fantastic camping trips that the whole family enjoyed.

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Kids’ PRODUCTS

FIDGET XL This fidget cube features 12 different faces, each of which has its own unique sensory experience, allowing users to roll, spin, toggle, slide, pinch and more. Lightweight and extremely durable, it’s available in a wide assortment of colours, and has a wrist strap so the user can keep it close by for whenever it’s needed. OfficialFidgetCube.com

Prices from

£32.99

INSTAX MINI 11 A perfect starter camera for children, the Instax Mini 11 prints its polaroid photographs immediately, and features a built-in selfie mirror and automatic exposure, so it will automatically adjust itself to take the best quality photograph for the amount of light available in its surroundings. This adorable camera is available in five pastel colours. argos.co.uk

Prices from

£69.99

CNOC BICYCLE

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£399.99

Designed for children living with achondroplasia, the Cnoc bike is available in two sizes and in three different colours. It’s designed from the ground up to be proportionate and comfortable, giving children who want to enjoy the freedom brought by cycling a comfortable and fun first bike to learn on. islabikes.co.uk

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DREAM TENT SPACE A pop-up tent that fastens to a a single bed, this clip-on sensory space features colour-changing ambient lights, highlighting different aspects of the detailed space scene printed inside. When it’s not in use, it can be easily removed and tucked back into its handy storage bag. The tent is powered by three batteries. SmythsToys.com

Prices from

£17.99

IZZY WHEELS X DISNEY WHEEL COVER Ireland-based Izzy Wheels have teamed up with media giant Disney to create a range of bright and brilliant wheelchair wheel covers featuring some of the company’s most well-loved characters, including Mickey Mouse. 10% of the proceeds from the sale of their Disney-themed wheelchair covers will be donated to Whizz-Kidz. IzzyWheels.com

Prices from

£149.00

RAINBOW WHEELCHAIR PONCHO Just because the sun is coming out, doesn’t mean it’s staying there! This fantastic poncho is easy to put on, fully waterproof, is available with an assortment of matching items, and includes a matching drawstring bag for when not in use! Designed with wheelchair users in mind, the poncho is longer at the front to cover the wearer’s legs. BundleBean.com

Prices from

£25

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KIDZ TO ADULTZ SOUTH TUESDAY 17TH MAY 2022, 9.30AM – 4.30PM

140 exhibitors

CPD seminars Fun & features A free event for children and young people with disabilities and additional needs, and the families and professionals who care for them.

WWW.KIDZEXHIBITIONS.COM

FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION & CONFERENCE CENTRE

National Helpline 0800 917 7650 www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Alcoholics Anonymous has over 4,440 groups and 1,600 online meetings throughout Great Britain dedicated to helping those with a serious alcohol problem learn how to stay sober. Groups are made up of people from all walks of life and all age groups. Through friendship and mutual support, members assist each other in coping which is made easier by meeting face to face or on-line, others with the same problem. There are no dues or fees for membership and anonymity is carefully preserved. Anyone who believes they have a drink problem can contact Alcoholics Anonymous by using the helpline number above or email; help@aamail.org Further information may be obtained from the web-site above or from the General Service Office at the address below.

For information: P.O. Box 1, 10 Toft Green, York. YO1 7NJ Tel: 01904 644 026

and opportunity. I completed my degree in English during the middle of lockdown in 2020. At that time, I also worked for Euan’s Guide, the disabled access review website where I shared helped promote the experiences of disabled people trying to find accessible places to go.

FUTURE VOICES Each issue we will be shining a light on a young disabled person who is blazing their own trail. Whether that be campaigning for access, giving up their time to help their community, achieving success in the sporting or arts arena, or educating their peers on disability.

KAYLEIGH O’NEIL Kayleigh, 22, lives in Edinburgh and works for MSP Lorna Slater in the Scottish Parliament. She is also a dedicated campaigner and Scottish Greens candidate in the 2022 local authority elections. At birth, Kayleigh was diagnosed with periventricular leukomalacia and diplegic cerebral palsy. She is a full-time wheelchair user and advocates for better accessibility for disabled people in all realms of life. Previously, Kayleigh has worked for Euan’s Guide and Inclusion Scotland. In her spare time, she likes to read contemporary fiction and political or disability related non-fiction. Kayleigh is a supporter of the social model of disability and is interested in raising the voices of disabled people in local government.

After this I began working for Inclusion Scotland, one of the country’s leading Disabled People’s Organisation. Working for Inclusion made me more aware of my rights as a disabled person, and I learned a lot about the intersectional bias and discrimination that many disabled people face when trying to access resources and services that they need.

This inspired me to work in the Scottish Parliament which is where I am now. I work for Lorna Slater, MSP as a caseworker. Every day I work with people who are struggling and are in dire situations. I see the changes that need to be made on a local level, which brings me to my next steps. As you read this, I will be deep in my campaign to be elected as a Scottish Green Party councilor for Forth Ward in Edinburgh. My campaign is based around the importance of 20-minute neighbourhoods, better access to warm, safe, and affordable homes, and improving our streets to help those who cycle, walk and wheel to get around safely. I am a great believer in lived experience leading the way, especially when it comes to issues of community, poverty, home insecurity and the climate crisis. Disabled voices should be heard, and disabled perspectives should be championed.

isabled people are adversely affected by the climate crisis. This is why I’m involved in the climate action movement and raise the voices of disabled people wherever I go. As a wheelchair user, I am worried about the effects of climate change. As flooding increases, I know that it will be much harder to escape my home and reach higher ground by public transport or wheeling. With energy prices soaring, I have often had to choose between charging my wheelchair to go to work or turn the heating on during winter. These fears are very real for myself and other disabled people around the world. These fears pushed me to advocate for the environment around me, or influence others to start taking care of the planet before it was too late. I moved to Edinburgh for university and found that the city had so much more to offer me in terms of access

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Kingston Road, New Malden, Greater London KT3 3SW

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At Geberit it’s always been our goal to create a product that would make a diﬀerence to the way our customers live their daily life. The Geberit AquaClean Mera Care shower toilet oﬀers unrivalled product features that play a vital role to ensure that people of all ages can regain their independence and dignity in the bathroom. That’s why the Geberit AquaClean Mera Care is made for you. geberit-aquaclean.co.uk/care

Details correct at time of going to press. Image for illustrative purposes only.

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scared, my inbox and ears are testament to this, the 14 millionstrong disabled community and the carers within it are being subjected to fiscal bullying, and all the longstanding energy company care package options and government support packages are not fit for purpose.

DAN WHITE COLUMNIST

Follow Dan on Twitter @Danwhite1972 Dan White, creator of the amazing Department of Ability superheroes and dad to Emily, who is 15 years old and has spina bifida, is a regular face in PosAbility, as he shares his experiences of life as a family with a disabled child.

KEEP FIGHTING ssaulted. That’s how parent carers and disabled people are currently feeling. Assaulted, forgotten, and abandoned. This is not merely another association of emotions to do with the everyday societal negativity we collectively deal with, no, this is now the de-facto truth. As fuel, food and social care hikes push us further into society’s edges than ever before, the system seems to be turning away and ignoring the deepening and worrying fault lines opening up in our lives. As part of my job with Disability Rights UK, I am currently investigating this exploding crisis and it is broader, deeper, and more brutal than the rest of society believes it to be. My email inbox is exploding with parent carers and disabled individuals reaching out in abject panic as everything that was just “slightly unaffordable” is now becoming “out of reach”. The price of everything has increased so fast and so quickly that even the most basic and value-branded of food is becoming unaffordable, even

potatoes sit on food bank shelves because disabled people and parent carers can’t afford to boil the kettle. A single mother, bringing up a child with complex disabilities emailed me to tell me her combined energy bill from Scottish Power has leaped from £500 a month to a grotesque £1060. This loving mum told me her daughter’s very existence depends on technology which is on constant charge and like so many of our children who cannot regulate body temperatures, needs the heating on 24/7. It is shocking that the regulator Ofgem, is ridiculously unable to do anything about this, and that the government and ministers charged with representing the disabled community look the other way. As a parent carer myself I feel this anguish, this panic of how to find funds just to pay for our child’s continued health. How has it come to this in a firstworld country? Food and fuel to our children, to disabled people, are not luxuries, they are lifesavers. Families are

There are means of elevating these crises, but there is a shocking lack of will to do anything. I am currently putting the finishing touches upon a coalition of charities and organisations, including the Food Foundation and Inclusion London, called the Disability Poverty Campaign Group, a collective group that is needed more than ever. We have done our homework, talked to the people affected, gathered the statistics, and have drawn up what we know should be done. We have written in stone the obvious; there must be an above-inflation rise in all disability benefits, no one should be making financial decisions that put their health in danger. No disabled person should be paying for their care, it must be free at the point of use, and everyone who cares for anyone should be getting a carer’s allowance based on and better than the minimum wage. No one should be unpaid for care. These wants may sound slight and simple, but trust me, we have more plans and our final card is being played in 2023 when we bring the UN to town, bringing this discussion and the system’s lack of empathy right into the country’s consciousness. But what can we all do now as the cost of living punches down? We can all make noise, we can write to our MPs, engage the media, collectively work together, rattle the locks, and speak truth to power. This is a hard and unfair road we are on, and it is going to take all our will and what little strength we have in reserves to veer off it. In the meantime, keep an eye out for the work DR UK and our friends and allies are doing. A decent standard of living for disabled people, carers and more importantly disabled children like mine, like yours, is not only fair and just, it’s human.

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EVENBREAK’S CAREER HIVE A careers service designed by and for disabled people

venbreak is an accessible job board where disabled people can find roles with companies who are proactively looking to employ more disabled candidates. We also support employers to become more inclusive and accessible, and remove disabling barriers. Over the years, we realised there were some real gaps in the provision of careers support for disabled people who were looking for new or better work. Our candidates were telling us that often they couldn’t find careers support which was suitable and accessible for them. Sometimes it wasn’t relevant to disabled candidates, and was perhaps delivered by careers coaches with little understanding of disabling barriers in the workplace. Or the provision had restrictive eligibility criteria – dependent on their postcode, or their age.

FIND SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS NEAR YOU

ACCESS ONLINE RESOURCES

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We couldn’t find a comprehensive list of organisations who offer career support to disabled people, and we didn’t want to duplicate existing services, so we created our own directory. There are many large and small organisations around – large national disability charities, and some local social enterprises. There may be one near you that you don’t know about. Local organisations are likely to have relationships with local employees, so may be better placed to help you than we are. You can search by postcode and by what kind of support you are looking for.

Last year we developed the Career Hive (hive.evenbreak. co.uk) which offers a wide range of relevant and accessible careers support specifically for disabled people looking for new or better work. We know that everyone needs different support at different times, and wanted to offer a diverse range of services for people to choose from. We sought the views of our candidates about what support they needed, and built the service around their responses. All of our services are free of charge to disabled candidates who are looking for real job opportunities, as the Career Hive is funded by the surplus income from the services we sell to employers. The hive is there to support you and can help you in the following ways:

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There are many online resources on employability, but most don’t address the barriers that disabled candidates face. The dilemma about whether or not to mention disability, or ask for adjustments, for example. We offer a searchable range of resources – videos, templates, articles, etc., looking at employability skills through a disability lens. “It was great to receive support from someone who understands the challenges of having an invisible impairment, and I finally received the support I needed from Evenbreak’s Career Hive.” Natasha

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N~o.

SEARCH FOR JOBS ON OUR SPECIALIST JOB BOARD

Employers who are looking for more disabled applicants advertise their roles on our accessible job board (evenbreak.co.uk). You can search by location, employer, job type and others, and even set up job alerts so you can be informed if any jobs come up meeting your criteria. “After trying for such a long time to get a role where I could really use my skills, the support I received from Evenbreak’s Career Hive gave me the confidence to apply for my dream job – and I’m now thriving in that role.” Sarah

ATTEND ONLINE WORKSHOPS AND WEBINARS

COME TO ‘MEET THE EMPLOYER’ EVENTS

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We offer online webinars and workshops on a range of subjects, including writing CVs and attending interviews, and also on some of the softer skills, such as networking, or developing resilience and grit. There is also a library of recordings of previous webinars, so you can find exactly what you need.

N~o.

RECEIVE ONE-TOONE COACHING SESSIONS FROM OUR CAREER COACHES

Some candidates might need one-to-one support, and our team of careers professionals (who all have lived experience of disability) can offer this. It may be that you just want your CV reviewing, or some preparation for an interview. Or you may need some support with confidence building, or identifying transferable skills. The support is tailored to what you need, and delivered in a way that suits you – video call, email, telephone, WhatsApp, with a BSL interpreter, or whatever is easiest for you. Our coaches won’t get you a job (we aren’t an agency) but they’ll support you with the skills you need to do this yourself. “There are so many amazing things that I can say about Evenbreak, but their biggest attribute by far is the way that they treat all of their clients with such dignity, respect and compassion. Working with Rosa has given me the clarity and confidence to identify exactly what I want to do and take steps towards finding my dream role.” Nicky

There are regular online events with our employers, who talk about the kind of jobs they offer, what the recruitment process looks like, and how to ask for adjustments. You have the opportunity to ask them questions as well, so you can get to know the organisation better before applying. “It’s great to find careers support that is relevant and accessible, and tailored to my needs. I feel so much more positive about my future career path now.” Molly

N~o.

COMPLETE AN E-LEARNING COURSE A range of e-learning programmes are being developed so you can learn the skills you need at a pace to suit you.

There is no charge, and no complicated eligibility criteria – if you are disabled, currently looking for new job or better work and would like support in your job search, we are here for you. If we can’t help you (for example if you’re looking for supported employment), we’ll try to signpost you to somewhere that can. Visit hive.evenbreak.co.uk to explore what’s on offer and access as many services as you need.

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Dream JOB GET THAT

BY JANE HATTON

COPING WITH REJECTION How do you recover from the knockbacks? People talk about resilience a lot, but what is it? How can you get more of it? Or do you have an upper limit of resilience? Is it ebb and flow, or is resilience hardwired into your personality? After the first rejection, you’re sure it’s them. After the fifth rejection, you’re sure it’s you. You start to question whether you’ve chosen the right kind of job, whether you’re capable of doing it, whether you’ll ever work again. It can be draining, and rejections can make the effort you put in feel inconsequential. Sometimes, it can make you want to give up and stop trying altogether. Rejection is difficult for most people, of course, but when you have that additional factor of being a disabled candidate, it can be hugely magnified. Used to being discriminated against, it’s easy to assume that, once again, the employer doesn’t want to employ a disabled person. Managing our emotions around rejection takes resilience and grit. How can we increase our ability to be resilient? Well, like any other skill, it can be learned, and here are a few tips to bounce back from rejection.

LOOK AT THE SITUATION OBJECTIVELY

LOOK AFTER YOURSELF

The better we are physically, the more resilient we are mentally. Make sure that, as much as possible, you eat healthily, exercise within your limitations, get enough sleep and spend time doing things you enjoy. Having ‘me time’ isn’t selfish, it’s vital for mental health. It might also mean saying no to unreasonable requests, or things you don’t want to do.

04 T A K E A B R E A K

If it all feels overwhelming, take a break from your job search and do something completely different for a while. Then you can come back to it when you are ready, with renewed focus. Resilience can be improved, and makes rejection much easier to deal with. Keep going – there’s a job with your name on it somewhere.

To find jobs from inclusive employers who are looking to attract more disabled candidates, have a look on the Evenbreak website - evenbreak.co.uk. To find relevant and accessible careers support for disabled candidates have a look on Evenbreak’s Career Hive - hive.evenbreak.co.uk.

Each vacancy will attract many applicants – anything from two to 200. If the latter, the odds of any individual candidate being offered the job is one in 200. This means 199 people will be rejected. If you happen to be one of them, it certainly isn’t personal. As someone who regularly recruits people, it’s often the case that we know a large number of the candidates would be perfectly capable of doing the job, but with only one vacancy we have to make the decision. If you are unsuccessful in being offered the role, it doesn’t mean that the recruiter thought you were not capable of doing it well, but they couldn’t employ every candidate capable of the role.

02 A S K F O R F E E D B A C K

Not all employers offer to give feedback, but it’s always worth asking the question. Say that you would be interested to know how you could improve your performance in future recruitment processes.

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