PosAbility – Apr / May 2023

ApR

UNHIDDEN

Behind the scenes at London Fashion Week

COOKFULNESS

ENTREPRENEURS

Highlighting disabled-owned businesses

Editor: Rosalind Tulloch

Assistant Editor: Katie Campbell

Production: Donna Deakin

Designer: Fionnlagh Ballantine

CONTRIBUTORS

Sam Renke, Mik Scarlet, Dan White, Jane Hatton, Ian Taverner, Emily Davison, Lydia Wilkins, Vida Adamczewski, Pete Donnelly

APR/MAY 23

Welcome Ros

EDITOR

Dare we say spring has finally sprung? Let’s keep our fingers crossed for the warmer weather staying to lift our spirits and warm our bodies. Our cover star this issue is the wonderful Ian Taverner, aka Mr Cookfulness. Ian has been a regular columnist in PosAbility for nearly three years now, providing recipes and advice on how to get back into the kitchen and discover a love of cooking at your own pace. The Cookfulness ethos is all about making cooking manageable, enjoyable and nutritional, and Ian’s infectious passion and personality can encourage the

most hesitant of cooks to get into the

This issue Ian shares his 12 steps to happiness in cooking, which you can read on page 30. As someone who lives with chronic pain and disability, Ian has drawn on his own personal journey to share his best tips on how to approach cooking to ensure you make it a happy experience that fills you with a sense of achievement and satisfaction.

On page 13 we take a look at the latest inclusive fashion brand to showcase their work at London Fashion Week in collaboration with Kurt Geiger. Unhidden took to the catwalk with an incredible line-up of disabled models in a pivotal display of inclusivity and representation.

Lydia Wilkins shines a light on the importance of this show and the need for increasing awareness of inclusivity in the fashion industry.

Also, in this issue Emily Davison champions some disabled-run businesses, we say a fond farewell to disability activist Judy Heumann, and we take a look at how the Wheelchair Skills College can help wheelchair users build confidence, plus much more.

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DISCLAIMER

The

Copyright 2023 ©2A Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved. ISSN 2049-2251

Contact Details: 2A Publishing Ltd, 20- 23 Woodside Place, Glasgow, G3 7QL Tel: 0141

Cover image: Carol Taverner

07 FYI

News, stories, and updates

13 FASHION FOR ALL

Lydia Wilkins takes us behind the scenes at Unhidden’s London Fashion Week show

17 PRIORITISING ME

Samantha Renke explains how helpful therapy has been for her

18 A FOND FAREWELL

Looking back on the life of famed American disability activist Judith Heumann

20 HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?

Growing nutritional fruit, veg and herbs on your windowsill

23 COOKFULNESS

Ian Taverner teaches us how to make a stunning black bean, tomato and herb chilli

25 CHANNEL YOUR ANGER

Mik Scarlet writes on how useful it can be to use anger as a positive energy

35 COMPETITION

Win a professional stainless steel cookware set worth £159 from ProCook!

36 HOT STUFF

The latest must-have products on the market

39 A HEAD FOR BUSINESS

Emily Davison shines a light on disabled-owned businesses in the UK

43 RACE ACROSS THE WORLD

Visually impaired Tricia Sail joins the contestants trying to make their way across the second-largest country in the world

44 INFORMATION FOR INCLUSION

Euan’s Guide explore the impact of the lack of access information through the results of their Access Survey

47

KIDS’ CORNER

Helping young disabled people get jobs in digital industries, George at Asda’s new adaptive range, products, and our regular columns from this month’s Future Voice and Dan White

58 THE WHEELCHAIR SKILLS COLLEGE

26

SELF-CARE AWARENESS

Products to encourage you to take some time for yourself to heal and rejuvenate

30 12 STEPS TO THE HAPPY STUFF

Ian Taverner - aka Mr Cookfulnesshas started a cooking revolution

Discover what motivated Pete Donnelly to start The Wheelchair Skills College

60 DISABILITY EXPO

Join us in July at this brand-new two day expo in London!

63 ACADEMY OF JOURNALISTS

Interested in a career in journalism? This may be the course for you

RIGHTS ON FLIGHTS

TV presenter Sophie Morgan, MP Marion Fellows and Disability Rights UK have delivered a petition to Downing Street signed by over 100 cross-party MPs highlighting the consistent failings of the airline industry when it comes to disabled access.

The Rights On Flights campaign is calling for the government to give the Civil Aviation Authority more powers to issue fines to airlines and other parties who fail in their obligations to disabled travellers.

The campaign began following consistent news stories on the mistreatment of disabled travellers, damage to wheelchairs and mobility equipment, constant stories of disabled passengers being left on aircraft for unreasonable lengths of time, and failures to provide adequate assistance despite prior knowledge of passengers’ needs.

Sophie Morgan commented: “I am pleased to be at Downing Street to deliver the RightsOnFlights Open Letter to the Prime Minister today, but I wish I didn’t have to be. My wheelchair, which is essentially my legs, my independence and my lifeline, was broken by an airline and I, like so many other disabled travellers, have had enough.

“Throughout the campaign, thousands of people have contacted me to share their own traumatic experiences on flights – equipment being broken, no toilet access, lack of accessible safety materials, inadequate assistance,

FOR

News and stories from around the world

adults dragging themselves around airports, or down aircraft aisles, children being left, like discarded rubbish, on the aircraft for hours. Worse still, are the countless numbers of people who are now avoiding flying as are those who, due to the inaccessible design of the aircraft, aren’t able to fly at all.

“This has been happening for decades. It really is unbelievable that we are having to fight for our basic human rights in 2023. The systems that are currently in place are clearly not fit for purpose.

We are in a crisis and we need our government to support and protect us by granting the Civil Aviation Authority the power to impose fines

when airlines (and other parties) fail us. Other countries have these in place, so why don’t we?

“And this is just the start. We will not stop here. Next, we will be calling on the Department of Transport to draft new and improved assisted travel legislation. The time is now, and this visit to No.10 today is one step on the long but necessary journey towards systemic change.

“So, it’s a shame Rishi didn’t invite me in for chat this time, but this won’t be the last time he hears from us!”

Find out more about the Rights on Flights campaign at: DisabilityRightsUK.org/ RightsOnFlights

Photo: Brett Cove

EVERYBODY WELCOME IN THE NORTH

Anew initiative has been launched to help establish the North East as the most accessible region in the UK.

Everybody Welcome, funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA), will ensure visitors, including those living in the region with access requirements, can experience the destination with confidence.

The programme, being delivered by NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI), will allow anyone coming to the region to research information relating to their needs prior to their visit, as well as being able to view 360o videos of attractions and hotels before their arrival.

Working with staff in the tourism and hospitality sector the programme Everybody Welcome will help businesses to produce relevant information and excellent services for their visitors with access requirements, both visible and hidden, by providing free access to:

Staff training, toolkits and guidance on a wide range of conditions, barriers and access requirements from industry experts.

WelcoMe: an established digital platform, enabling visitors to source information relating to their specific needs and ask questions in advance of their visit as well as helping venue staff create a warm and inclusive welcome. 360-degree filming for selected venues: a valuable marketing tool which gives visitors a taste of what’s on offer to help with visit planning.

Working with industry experts Chris Veitch, a leading independent consultant in the field of accessible tourism, and Jane Cooper, managing director of Access and Inclusion UK, Everybody Welcome will encourage businesses to sign up to the project and take advantage of the free business support package.

Jane Cooper commented: “Access and Inclusion UK are delighted to be working with NewcastleGateshead Initiative on this exciting project which has so much potential to benefit the destination, its businesses, visitors, and the local community.

“There is no mystery to accessible tourism: at its heart, it is about demonstrating to people that we know you, we understand you and we value you, to make everybody welcome.”

ARTISTIC CELEBRATION OF AUTISM ACCEPTANCE WEEK

To celebrate Autism Acceptance Week at the end of March this year, Osprey Charging, one of the UK’s leading networks of rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging points, displayed eye-catching, unique artwork created by autistic artist Rebecca Ellis, across its EV chargers.

Rebecca (31) is a researcher, artist, science communicator, and advocate for the neurodivergent community. Osprey awarded her £1000 for her artwork The Acceptance Journey which was printed into high quality wraps and exhibited on 21 of its chargers across the UK at various locations.

Artist Rebecca Ellis said: “I’m hugely flattered that Osprey has chosen to display my artwork on their chargers. The Acceptance Journey represents the steps we are taking to reach autism acceptance and awareness. The books represent learning with key messages and themes written on their spines. I wanted the piece to be colourful and positive as we work together as a community to reduce stigma, embrace neurodiversity and increase understanding. Thanks to Osprey for giving me a platform to display my art whilst creating such a positive message. The charger artwork project shows allyship in supporting the autistic, neurodivergent and wider disabled communities with these fantastic campaigns.”

FUSS-FREE CARRIAGES FOR YORKSHIRE ATTRACTION

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) attraction has announced the addition of four accessible coaches, thanks to funding from Yorkshire’s Magnificent Journey project. This is part of the long-term initiative to make the heritage railway attraction accessible for all visitors who want to experience the scenic route.

The new “fuss-free” coaches ensure that all carriage sets in service will contain one coach that has been specially adapted for wheelchair users with access requirements. These coaches all have access ramps, accessible toilets and an accessible space to accommodate wheelchair users.

In addition, the NYMR has completed a full review of its access points and facilities, in order to make the necessary further adjustments. Some significant upgrades and changes include large print and braille menus, and accessible route maps for Pickering Station, installing fixed and portable hearing loops, free travel for carers, accessible parking spaces, as well as additional signage at its

stations. The heritage railway has also updated its website, introducing new ‘access champions’, put its staff through access training and introduced downloadable station guides.

Laura Strangeway, Director of Corporate Services and Deputy CEO at NYMR, said: “This project is the start of an ongoing journey towards access for all at the NYMR. The introduction of our four new coaches means that now everyone can experience and enjoy the 24 miles of stunning scenery that our railway offers. We wouldn’t have been able to complete these important adjustments without the funding and support from key partnerships, and the hard work and dedication of our volunteers, staff and loyal NYMR visitors.”

The project is also being supported by Access For All UK, who are giving free mentoring and training to all of the participants, which includes site visits and advice to help venues put together their own accessibility guides. For more information visit, NYMR.co.uk

LATEST TWEETS

Sophie Morgan @sophmorgTV

Today, we delivered Marion Fellow’s Open Letter asking for improved #RightsOnFlights for Disabled people, to No. 10.

Turns out, we might also need to ask for improved ACCESS for disabled people INTO No. 10…..��.

I think even Larry the Cat got the irony!!

National Autistic Society @Autism

“To us, autism acceptance is a place where autistic people are given the same equal respect as everyone should have, so they can be their ambitious and creative selves, and are given every opportunity to shine.” - Murray and @RealKenBruce

World #AutismAcceptanceWeek

Dan White @Danwhite1972

“Next week AGAIN on @bbcquestiontime there will no representative of the #disabled community, even though they are hit hardest by cost of living crisis”

10th week I’ve offered to sit on the panel as a Disabled poverty expert, 10th!!��

Pls RT if you’d like to see representation

Harriet Carroll: Recognise vaxinduced long COVID @angryhacademic reminder that when someone with #MECFS or other #chronicillness says they need to rest, they likely mean something VERY different to what you might think of as resting and relaxing. indeed, the light, physical contact, noise, and even the beer may exacerbate their symptoms

Photo: Peter Kindersley, Visit England

KOALAA WINS TOMMY HILFIGER FASHION FRONTIER CHALLENGE

London startup, Koalaa, whose ‘world-first’ soft prosthetics aid inclusivity and comfort for individuals with limb differences, has been crowned the winner of a global competition launched by leading fashion brand, Tommy Hilfiger.

Koalaa was named the winner of this year’s Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge, alongside Bangladeshi startup Moner Bondhu. The Challenge, now in its fourth edition, aims to build a more inclusive fashion industry by highlighting the world’s most innovative teams and ideas.

Following an intensive, year-long selection process, five finalists were invited to present their solutions at a special pitching event held at the Tommy Hilfiger global headquarters in Amsterdam.

The Koalaa team impressed judges with their unique concept

for soft, fabric-based prosthetic arms that are blurring the line between prosthetics and clothing. Thanks to their design, Koalaa’s prosthetics are incredibly light and comfortable to wear, as well as far more affordable. This is helping to break down barriers to access and use of prosthetics - which can be life-changing for individuals with limb differences - including in war-torn and developing countries.

Koalaa has been awarded a prize of €100,000, along with an additional €15,000 for also being voted Audience Favorite. In addition, Koalaa is to receive a year of mentoring with experts from Tommy Hilfiger and INSEAD, one of the world’s leading and largest graduate business school, and will join the INSEAD Hans Wahl Impact Entrepreneurship Program, which is designed to cultivate innovative leaders.

Nate Macabuag, founder of Koalaa, said: “Heading to Amsterdam and pitching to Tommy Hilfiger and all the other judges and associates was just incredible, and I’m so proud of the team.

“Winning this challenge is such fantastic recognition for all that we are trying to achieve to help aid inclusivity and empower the limb difference community. It means we can accelerate our impact and the growing Koalaa community, to support even more people who would benefit from our prosthetics. A huge thank you to the judges for believing in us.”

Photo: Sanish Mistry, Nate Macabuag and Nicole Brennan from Koalaa receiving their prize in Amsterdam

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Fashion FOR

Lydia Wilkins takes us behind the scenes at London Fashion Week, where adaptive fashion brand Unhidden took their incredible new collection to the runway

At a central London venue one evening this February, disabled models en masse assembled - along with an assortment of onlookers and observers aplenty. The Kurt Gieger showroom in London was to be the centre for a new runway show; Unhidden, a label known for championing disability and inclusion as part of its core values, will be presenting a collection of adaptive fashionbased garments, hosted by Kurt Gieger, called People Empowered. The showroom is stuffed full; other organisations such as SIC have also acted as a sponsor, with CEO Rachael Mole acting as the show manager. Live music plays, the lights dim, and away we go. This was also broadcasted via live stream to a combined audience of over 500,000 people.

At a time when the all-too-fashionable phrase ‘culture war’ is deployed as a pejorative term to imply that someone is being too politically correct, it may be worth taking a look at why the use of inclusion matters through simple statistics. While it needs to be said that disabled people are not defined at all by their economic value, the questions of inclusion and diversity should be put to rest fairly easily.

The world of fashion is so often thought about and spoken about in terms such as ‘frivolous’ and ‘frippery’ - but, as an industry estimated to be worth approximately £20 billion in the UK alone, it can’t afford to be ignored. And, at a time when inclusion is so often mocked, how is it that this can be ignored? The Unhidden Fashion show, in collaboration with Kurt Gieger, set a new historical precedent at London Fashion Week in February of this year.This was a ‘serious win’ for inclusion and the disabled community, all the while breaking new ground with disability at the forefront.

as an industry estimated to be worth approximately £20 billion in the UK alone, it can’t afford to be ignored any more

Photo: By Sylvia Mac, Love Disfigure Talent Agency

The Purple Pound is the total spending power of disabled households, where one or more residents have a disability or condition. The total amount of this in 2020 was estimated to be worth £274 billion annually in the UK - but poor accessibility both in person and online means that businesses are losing out to this untapped economy. This can be anything from poor navigation on a website, chip and pin machines being out of reach, or cash registers being inaccessible to wheelchairs with the assumption staff will just be on hand to help. £2 billion is estimated to be lost monthly by ignoring the relevant access needs.

At a time where there is a crisis over the cost of living, can we afford to ignore simple economics like this? Perhaps the ‘future’ of the high street would be less in doubt if more focus was aimed at this issue. The Unhidden show put disabled models front and centre, at the heart of the collection. This included people like Jessica Ping-Wild in a scarlet, floor-length dress with a halter neck tie; illustrator Ella Willis; Lucy May Dawson in a block colour blouse and skirt combination, content creator and podcaster Charlie Randell, Fats Timbo,

Photo: By Charlie Randell

Photo: By Sylvia Mac, Love Disfigure Talent Agency

most authentic way, having a disability shouldn’t stand in the way of being your true self.”

Roxy Murray, 34, was one of the models in the show. She said: “Walking for Unhidden at London Fashion Week was magical. Being surrounded by so many individuals in the disability community, all iconic, standing together to change the industry for the better.

“I couldn’t of asked for better people to be around. From make up and hair to being on the runway. Every moment was accessible. Every moment was thought out, and every person made to feel as valid as next.”

On why representation in fashion matters, she said: “Representation matters so that no one feels alone. So that we can all see ourselves and have adaptable clothing options available.

“To be able to embrace our disabilities and our differences, so we can adorn ourselves and celebrate who we are without barriers. It’s important for the next generation to never be held back by the barriers that we have faced up until now.”

The designs by Unhidden are now avaliable online at: UnhiddenClothing.com

rather than presenting fashion as being something aspirational, and at times off limits, inclusion was being presented as a mere fact of life

Photo: By Sylvia Mac, Love Disfigure Talent Agency

Photo: By Sylvia Mac, Love Disfigure Talent Agency

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SAM RENKE COLUMNIST

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

PRIORITISING ME

I’ve never been one to take unsolicited advice gracefully. Perhaps it’s my fierce independence or my innate stubbornness - maybe it’s a bit of both? Simply put, I’m the sort of person to reply to anyone offering me some advice with “if I wanted your opinion I’d have asked,” and a side order of sass! At least that’s what I say in my head, but the people pleaser within me often replies with a half smile and a courteous nod, and then goes away annoyed and swears to go against any advice given, even if deep down I know perhaps they may have a point.

When family, friends and even people online suggested I start therapy to help with my past traumas and to manage my anxiety, I didn’t immediately jump to attention. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe in the power of therapy or held any stigma towards it, I simply wanted my mental health journey to be on my terms and I guess this is the first lesson I learned in therapy.

You can listen to a million people telling you how therapy changed their lives, but unless you are ready and

committed to working on yourself, and allow yourself to be vulnerable, open and honest with yourself, therapy is perhaps not the path for you just yet.

Therapy is about drowning out all the external voices from family, friends, colleagues and society in favour of listening to your own voice, putting you at the heart of everything, and that my friends, is no easy feat!

We are somewhat conditioned to think that self-care is somehow selfish or egotistical and it can be hard to break that stigma, but this is how I see it: I like me, in fact sometimes I actually love me, and I deserve to have a happy life.

It’s the oxygen mask analogy - you

always put yours on before helping anyone else. I just wish culturally we made it a thing, making yourself a priority. This is not something a people pleaser often does, so unpacking these walls is an undertaking that can’t be taken lightly.

I am about four months into my talking therapy journey and it’s surpassed my expectations.

I’ve learned a lot about myself in this time. Mostly, that making time for me is not selfish. Dare I say, I’ve come to even enjoy my weekly sessions. One hour free from those internalised ableism feelings that can often leave you feeling like a burden. At times challenging, draining, but by gosh liberating in the same measure. Having the right therapist is key. This is why I and so many people, have perhaps failed at therapy in the past, it’s like speed dating, if you don’t click you just don’t click. I was adamant I wanted to find someone with a connection to the disability community and was rather disappointed to find that many therapists were not disabled themselves or had much knowledge of disability, which for me really was a deal breaker. I’d had past negative experiences where I felt like I was the teacher on disability rather than someone there who just got it! Us disabled folk are constantly on show, often at the receiving end of uncoalesced questioning or advice about our condition. It can be draining and not something you want spilling over into your therapy.

My own therapist was recommended by a fellow disabled friend, and although I want to share the wealth, I am also mindful to set boundaries and therefore won’t share my own therapist’s details here, I do however, want to suggest another service I came across via Instagram.

Emotional Respite disability counselling is an online mental health service allowing clients living with disability and illness to access support from home. It is a disability-led therapy service bringing together a team of professional counsellors who have lived experience of disability. You can check out this service by visiting their website: EmotionalRespite.co.uk

“I like me, in fact sometimes I actually love me, and I deserve to have a happy life”

Farewell A FOND

BY KATIE CAMPBELL

Remembering the incredible life of Judith Heumann, whose work as a disability rights activist was felt around the world

For disabled Americans - and many other disabled people around the world - the news in March that Judith “Judy” Heumann had passed away at the age of 75 was heartbreaking. Known to many as the “mother of the disability rights movement,” she was a driving force behind the passing of some of the most important legislation in the United States that would cement the legal rights of disabled people, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Rehabilitation Act.

Judith was both in Philadelphia on December 18, 1947, to German Jewish immigrants, and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. She contracted polio at 18 months old, after which she became a wheelchair user. Her mother and father instilled the concept of equality within her at a young age: in a BBC profile, she notes that her mother and father were united by the belief that “you should always speak up if you see any wrongdoing and treat everyone in the world equally.”

Both Judith and her parents faced a constant struggle to ensure she was included in school - which will no doubt be sadly familiar to many of our readers. In a profile by the Washington Post - which rightly labels Judith a “badass” above all else - the story of her first day of school is recounted: when her parents, community leaders and activists themselves who didn’t know much about how access worked for disabled people, took her to school, the principal physically blocked the doorway. They labelled her a “fire hazard” on account of her wheelchair usage, and refused to allow her to attend. For three years, she would receive home instruction twice a week for an hour at a time. She would finally be allowed to go to high school in 1961 after a substantial effort from her mother, Ilse, a woman who she describes in her book as: “Telling Ilse Heumann that something wasn’t possible was a big mistake.”

This would not be the end of Judith’s run-ins with the New York Board of Education, but in her younger years, it was her attendance at Camp Jened - famously featured in the fantastic Netflix documentary Crip Camp, where Judith herself is interviewed - that would galvanise her towards activism, coupled with her family’s example. Her experiences at Camp Jened were formative: she spent time with other disabled people her age, and was able to envision a world where disabled people were included rather than excluded. Many people who attended Camp Jened would become activists in their futures, inspired by their experiences.

Judith would complete a degree in speech therapy at Long Island University in New York in 1969 (and later, a master’s degree in public health at the University of California, Berkley, in 1975), all the while organising protests and rallies for both disabled and non-disabled students.

Once again she would find herself embattled with the New York Board of Education

Photo: By Senado Federal, Flikr

in 1970, when she was denied her teaching license: she had passed the oral and written exam, but was failed after a medical exam where she was asked, among other ridiculous things, to show the examiner how she went to the bathroom. The reason given was: “paralysis of both lower extremities.” Once again, they labelled her a fire risk and denied her access to schools.

Judith wasn’t sure how to move forward, but when a friend who was working for the New York Times published an article about the situation called “You Can Be President, Not Teacher, with Polio”, her case began to gather attention. Offers from lawyers to take the case pro-bono piled up on her lap, and in the end, the case was settled without trial and Heumann became the first wheelchair user to teach in New York City.

Perhaps her most famous moment as an activist came in 1977 when Judith led the 504 Sit-In, organised by fellow activist Kitty Cone, where Judith and between 125 and 150 people refused to leave the Federal Building in San Fransisco for 28 days, supported by the Salvation Army and the Black Panthers. The sit-in was to protest the US Secretary of Health, Joseph Califano’s refusal to sign

meaningful regulations for section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which was the first piece of federal legislation that would grant civil rights protection for disabled people. The sit-in worked, and Califano relented and signed the legislation.

In the years after this, she would found the World Institute on Disability, work with the World Bank to expand their knowledge and help projects and programmes for disabled people around the world, advise both the Clinton and Obama administrations on disability-related issues, and champion the cause of independent living in a professional and public capacity.

In her memoir, Being Heumann, she wrote: “Some people say that what I did changed the world. But really, I simply refused to accept what I was told about who I could be. And I was willing to make a fuss about it.”

Judith Heumann passed away on 4 March 2023, in Washington DC, and is survived by her husband Jorge Pineda. To learn more about her incredible life, listen to her podcast The Heumann Perspective, or read her incredible book Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist.

Photo: By Taylordw, Wikimedia Commons

Photo: By Bailey Hill, Wikimedia Commons

Garden Grow?

KATIE CAMPBELL

HOW DOES YOUR HERBS

Growing nutritious plants at home can be doable, even when all you have is a window ledge and a tiny bit of light.

Slowly but surely, we are coming into springtime, when we can once again enjoy not having to get up for work in the pitch black and drive home in the pitch black; truly, it is a beautiful thing. As well as enjoying a little more sunshine (I know, we’re in the UK, we did say a little more), it’s getting into growing season, as spring is the busiest time of year for gardeners. Unfortunately, we don’t all have a garden or even a square inch of grass to call our own, but if you have a window ledge and a little bit of sunlight, there’s still hope that your very own edible garden will grow.

We don’t all have the luxury of calling a garden our own and many of our landlords would get a bit upset if we covered the living room in soil and tried to turn it into a small scale greenhouse (and who can afford to heat that in this economy), but if you have space on a window ledge for a little window box, you can still grow some really tasty herbs and even some veg that you’ll feel proud adding to your cooking. Even better, you might fancy trying to grow some edible flowers that will look gorgeous at your window and make beautiful decoration for any cakes or pasta dishes you make. Many of us grew cress as children with our guardians or in school, and it’s so easy and fun that it’s a great one to get your kids in on: cress is a tangy and fast-growing herb that’s lovely on salads and soups, and is really rich in vitamins A, C, and K if you eat it raw. Best of all, you can grow it on wet cotton wool or a tissue - just line a container with your desired base, sprinkle on your seeds, and set it in a warm place with plenty of sunlight. Water it daily, and in a week, you’re ready to harvest. You can get packets of seeds from many supermarkets - or even some plants themselves - that you can grow or maintain to ensure you have a solid supply of herbs that’s often cheaper to do yourself than purchase when you need them, like mint, basil, parsley and coriander.

SALADS

If you grow some cress, you might fancy a salad to put it on, and there’s nothing to stop you from growing some in your very own home. Kale is a happy little plant that doesn’t mind an awful lot if you try growing it indoors, and it’s easily cut back so you can keep a supply of it on hand for whenever you need it. Spinach, loose leaf lettuce - even baby tomatoes and spring onions can be grown on your windowsill, and much like herbs, all you need is a little pot or a shallow tray. Some of these items may take a little longer to grow - garlic, for example, needs a little more time to grow than a lot of traditional windowsill plants, but it’s still possible to do. You just need a little patience and time. The best thing about growing things like garlic and tomatoes on your windowsill is that you just need to take the seeds or ends from ones you’ve bought at the supermarket, pop them in soil, and you can get a little garden going without much fuss or mess! You can even try growing avocados for a fancy breakfast or some lovely homemade guacamole.

you just need to take the seeds or ends from ones you’ve bought at the supermarket, pop them in soil, and you can get a little garden going

FRUIT

If you’re a committed home gardener with solid green fingers, you might want to take on the challenge of growing fruit on the windowsill! Strawberries and berries can be grown in your home, but it might take a little more time, effort, and set up. You can even buy little strawberry windowsill kits that come with everything you need to start your home greenhouse, and they cost less than £10. If you really want to take on a small but mighty challenge, you can even try growing a pineapple in a little plant pot at the window - all you need to do is take the top of a pineapple you’ve bought from the shops and pop it in soil, then give it a bit of love and attention!

Celebrating the beginning of Disability Pride Month, Disability Expo will be Europe’s largest event solely focused on people with lived experience of disability. During a packed two days we will host a series of discussion panels looking at every aspect of disabled living, celebrating disabled talent and fashion, educating and advising, as well as showcasing the latest and greatest products and services available on the market.

Difficulty rating: 1 2 3 4 5

Preparation time: 20 mins

Makes: 2 mains or side dish for 4

Give yourself time: 60 mins

Cooking time: 25 mins

YOU WILL NEED

Knife

Chopping board

Tablespoon

Teaspoon

Large deep frying pan

Large spoon

Sieve/Colander

Can opener Cup (if using frozen onion)

Add a bit of lemon zest with the black beans to zing it up more if you can take it!

Add some crumbled feta and spring onion when serving

Follow Ian’s Cookfulness journey on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook all @Cookfulness

Website – Cookfulness.co.uk

YouTube - Cookfulness

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

THE MOTABILITY SCHEME’S THE BIG EVENT IS BACK

The Big Event returns to the NEC, Birmingham in May

The Motability Scheme’s summer events are back with the return of The Big Event and regional One Big Days. These events offer a fantastic opportunity for visitors to find out everything they need to know about the Scheme and see the latest range of vehicles and products available.

The 2023 event programme kicks off with the flagship show, The Big Event, taking place at the NEC in Birmingham on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 May 2023.

BIGGER THAN EVER

This year The Big Event at the NEC is even bigger, with more cars to explore and the biggest ever display of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

(WAVs). Visitors can also look forward to the return of the EV Charging Hub, which debuted last summer and offers the chance to find out more about vehicle charging at home and on the go!

NEW INNOVATION ZONE

New to The Big Event this year, the Innovation Zone will showcase future technology for cars, powered wheelchairs, and scooters. Visitors to the Zone can chat to the Motability Operations Innovation Team about their latest initiatives and sign up for future pilots.

EXPERT SPEAKERS

Exclusively available at The Big Event at the NEC, are expert Speaker Sessions, offering expertise on a range of motoring and mobility

topics. For anyone who can’t attend, ‘The Big Event: Streamed Live’ will also return with the expert Speaker Sessions available to view online alongside a host of exclusive digital content.

TEST DRIVES

Visitors to The Big Event can also test drive a range of cars, including many fitted with popular driving adaptations.

All the summer events are free to attend, with plenty of free parking. Each venue is fully accessible with plenty of seating, cafés, and accessible toilet facilities, as well as a children’s play area. Ear defenders are available on request, and a sensory room, providing a quiet space can be found at each venue.

For more information about all the events, live streaming and test drive T&Cs, visit MotabilityOneBigDay.co.uk

CHANNEL YOUR ANGER

As the last issue of PosAbility came through your letter boxes, I had finally been given a date for the surgery I’d been waiting a year for. What was that date? 7 February. The day of the nurse’s strike, and so it didn’t go ahead. I then received another date, went into hospital and after nine hours of waiting nil by mouth in a ward, the surgery was again cancelled. I’m hoping that by the time this issue is in your hands, I will have had the surgery and will be on the mend. I’m not going to use this column to moan about the state of the NHS or the way our government is running the much-loved essential institution. This article is about some of the reactions on social media I gained after I put out a few posts bemoaning my situation.

I hope you can understand that I was a little hacked off, after spending so long nervously waiting for a serious operation, hungry, thirsty and trying to be the best patient I could be. My posts were a little grumpy, but I thought pretty measured in the situation. While most replies were supportive and understanding, some had the theme of “that’s life eh?” and “get on with it”. It got me thinking, when has accepting the situation got anyone anywhere? Especially disabled people?

As someone who has been disabled my whole life, I can remember finding myself angry at being excluded from an early age. I also remember fighting against this exclusion. By the time I was 15 and a new full-time wheelchair user, I was pretty bolshy. I would ask to see the manager when I wasn’t let in somewhere and challenge why I

MIK SCARLET

COLUMNIST

Follow Mik on Twitter @MikScarlet had been excluded. Often when I did this there was a positive outcome. Businesses tried to improve their access, leaving a legacy for others. As I became aware of the disabled rights movement I found that a load of disabled people were doing the same: getting angry and using it as a force for positive change. Every right disabled people have today

and every accessible building they visit comes out of disabled people in the past not accepting things the way they were and fighting to make them better. They didn’t just “keep calm and carry on”. Instead they got angry and changed stuff. Even today, many disabled campaigners are following this way of acting to ensure the disabled community and their opportunities keep improving and growing.

We can’t afford to accept things as they are. Disabled people can’t just “get on with it” or shrug and say “that’s life!” If we do, nothing changes, the discrimination we face today will be the same as the next generation faces tomorrow. I really can’t accept that as a future and I hope you can’t either. It might feel easier on your mental health to try to be more zen about the barriers we face daily, but in the long run it doesn’t help to just go “oh well”. Better to get angry and upset, and make a scene, shout about what happened, use social media, tell your local press and use what you’ve been through to hopefully stop another person experiencing it tomorrow.

It’s not very British I know, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Anger without an outlet is destructive, but can be an energy to fuel your fight for a better tomorrow. Don’t be afraid of feeling anger, just use it. If we all channelled the frustration we feel every time we face discrimination and exclusion, the world would change quicker than it has so far. No more putting up with it, more kicking back against it.

Anyway, that’s enough rallying cries from me. Hopefully the next article will be full of praises for the NHS as I’ve been rebuilt and returned to the bolshy, pushy Mik I was before I fell ill. Watch out world.

“We can’t afford to accept things as they are. Disabled people can’t just “get on with it” or shrug and say “that’s life!”. If we do, nothing changes”

Self-Care

BY KATIE CAMPBELL

AWARENESS

Every year in May we recognise Mental Health Awareness month in the UK, and this year focuses on the theme of anxiety. With this in mind we are bringing you a plethora of products designed to help you look after your mental health and practice some vitally important self-care.

Spoonie Care Package

This handmade care package is designed beautifully and specifically for spoonie warriors. The gift box contains a sweet treat, two hot drink sachets, an aromatherapy tealight, a cute jar with spare spoons and a special spoonie bracelet. You can choose the colour of the bracelet and jar, and you can select dietary requirements too. The perfect gift for a friend or as a treat for yourself.

Spoonie Warrior Shop on Etsy.com | £15

Introvert Candle

Are you one of those people who struggles to say no to making plans or going out, even when you know it will not be good for your health? It may be time to introduce this candle to your life and allow it to inspire you into the art of saying “I can’t tonight, I’m staying in”. Apparently staying in energy smells like black raspberry and vanilla – who knew?

NotOnTheHighStreet.com | £19.99

Avo Cuddle Bubble Bar

Lush are geniuses when it comes to bath-related products, and this adorable avocado bubble bar is the ideal companion for a relaxing bubble bath. Simply run him under the tap and enjoy the uplifting sweet and zesty essence of lemongrass and bergamot oil. Lush only use natural ingredients and you can’t deny that they make the cutest bath companions.

Lush.com | £6

4

Hotel Chocolat Mug and a Hug

What could be better than curling up on the sofa with a big mug of hot chocolate or tea, with a selection of delicious chocolate covered shortbread biscuits and some luxurious chocolates to indulge in? That’s right, nothing is better than this, especially when it’s a Hotel Chocolat gift box that you are indulging in. They have really made the art of chocolate eating into a wonderful self-care practice.

HotelChocolat.com | £26

5

Bramley Wellbeing Tent

This is the ideal gift for a friend or loved one, especially someone who needs to take some time for some welldeserved self-care. It includes Bramley’s best-selling Soothing Bath, Body and Shower Oil, Bubble Bath, Body Lotion, mini Calm Balm, Sleep Spray and a travel candle, all wrapped up in a gorgeous tent-shaped gift box tied with a pretty blue ribbon.

FortnumAndMason.com | £52

Positivi-Tea Mug

For all the tea drinkers out there who need a little selfaffirmation from time to time, this mug will fill you with warm tea and some reminders of how wonderful you are. Including messages of Positivi-Tea including, “you are brave”, “you are worthy” and “you are enough”, it’s hard not to feel a warming glow when you read them, especially if you are drinking a good old cup of tea.

NotOnTheHighStreet.com | £15

Weighted Blanket

Weighted blankets can provide some vital regulation for anyone experiencing feelings of anxiety, and this beautiful furry weighted blanket is a prime example of comfort. The soft fur and heavy weight will help promote a sense of calm and comfort, and it can look beautiful as a decorative throw or bedspread too.

Light in the Box | £31

9

In keeping with the tea theme, because let’s face it tea is a self-care ritual many of us practice every day anyway, we bring you the Pukka Tea selection box. This box contains an incredible array of organic, herbal teas, with flavours spanning from Turmeric Gold and Elderberry and Echinacea to Peppermint and Liquorice and Three Ginger. Choose the flavour that’s best for you in the moment, relax and enjoy.

PukkaHerbs.com | £19.39

Hug in a book

Sometimes all we need is a reminder that we are loved and what we are doing is ok. This is exactly what this book is designed to do, it really is a hug in a book. The author encourages readers to take time for themselves, explores the importance of self-care and offers ideas of how to factor it into your everyday. The book offers some good advice: “Caring for yourself shouldn’t be a luxury or an afterthought.”

Amazon.co.uk | £7.50

Wellness Journal

Journaling can be a very therapeutic practice, and this journal is designed to guide you through the practice gently. Each page has a different focus, from highlighting goals and steps to achieving them, to recognising positive things from your day and tracking your activities and moods. It’s good to have a daily check in with yourself and what better way to do that?

Papier.com | £26

Pukka Tea Selection Box

WHY SCOTLAND SHOULD BE NEXT ON YOUR SUMMER HOLIDAY WISH LIST

Looking for your next summer holiday location? Scotland is full of amazing places that will make your trip really memorable. From touring whisky attractions in Edinburgh to discovering historic gems in Aberdeen, you’ll find plenty of top-quality attractions to explore, all boasting superb accessibility credentials too.

EDINBURGH

If you’re looking for a city break, make sure to consider Edinburgh. Scotland’s beautiful capital has a huge range of things to offer, like the historic buildings sitting alongside sleek new architecture and brand new restaurants and attractions.

On the famous Royal Mile alone you’ll pass by somewhere worth exploring every few meters. Pop into the Scotch Whisky Experience to discover how whisky is made, from grain to barrel. Head down to the waterfront in Leith, to the north of the city, to visit HM Queen Elizabeth II’s former floating palace, the Royal Yacht Britannia. Here you can explore the living quarters once occupied by the Royal Family and find out what life was like during its time in service.

SOUTH OF SCOTLAND

The lush scenery of the south of Scotland will provide the perfect backdrop to your break away. Made up of Dumfries and Galloway in the west and the Scottish Borders in the east, you don’t have to travel far into Scotland to find top attractions and plenty of beautiful outdoor spaces that are all access friendly. This part of

Scotland really is a gem.

In the Scottish Borders, the Eastgate Theatre and Arts Centre in Peebles has a packed events programme waiting to be uncovered. In Dumfries and Galloway, head to Kirkcudbright where you can enjoy the wonders of the night sky at the Dark Space Planetarium. This part of Scotland is famed for the quality of its dark skies and is home to the UK’s first International Dark Sky Park.

ABERDEEN AND ABERDEENSHIRE

The stunning north east of Scotland is an area that is well worth considering for your next holiday. With the towering mountains and forests of the Cairngorms National Park, sparkling

coastline and the thriving city of Aberdeen, there’s a huge variety of experiences to be had here.

At Macduff Marine Aquarium you can come face to face with the underwater animals living in the Moray Firth, Scotland’s largest bay. See the kelp reef exhibit (the only one of its kind in the UK) and enjoy learning about the fish and creatures that live there.

In Aberdeen itself, pay a visit to Provost Skene’s House to discover the stories of 100 pioneering people who have shaped the city and the wider north east of Scotland. The building itself dates from 1545 and is the oldest surviving town house in Aberdeen.

GLASGOW

Head west to Glasgow, a jewel in Scotland’s crown. This vibrant city is renowned for its friendly people and buzzing atmosphere. It’s located only an hour away from Edinburgh and has great transport links, so you could easily combine the two cities in one trip.

The Clydeside Distillery is a fantastic addition to the city’s roster of top attractions. Built on the banks of the River Clyde, you can expect stunning views as well as a fascinating tour of this working single malt whisky distillery.

For a taste of arts and culture, head to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in scenic Kelvingrove Park. Opened in 1901, the gallery is home to 22 galleries packed full of stunning artworks and curious objects.

The attractions included in this article will have detailed accessibility guides available in May. VisitScotland is working with AccessAble to create detailed access guides for businesses in different regions of Scotland including, Edinburgh and The Lothians, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, Glasgow and South of Scotland. Go to AccessAble.co.uk or VisitScotland.com/Accessible to help you plan your next break.

Top image: Craik Forest, Scottish Borders © VisitScotland/Luigi di Pascale | Middle Image: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow © VisitScotland/Chris Watt | Bottom image: Provost Skene’s House, Aberdeen © VisitScotland/Kenny Lam

12 STEPS HAPPY STUFF

BY IAN TAVERNER

Our regular columnist Ian Taverner, aka Mr Cookfulness, has started a cooking revolution that aims to bring the joy of cooking to everyone

Ican’t tell you how proud I am to be writing the regular recipes for this amazing magazine. Things have come a long way since I first attempted to cook again, after my health and life changing due to illness and disability. I know that cooking is so much more than just making a meal, I know that what you may be able to do today you might not be able to tomorrow, and that cooking can really test your physical and mental health to the point that a lot of people won’t try it. I absolutely get that, I was there for a long time too. There is a vast array of barriers that the kitchen can throw in your way, and there is no one answer, no simple solution, but there are answers and there are solutions!

1 BREATHING AND VISUALISATION

Yes, really! We have an in-built ability to catastrophise pretty much everything, sometimes based on fact, often on anything but! It is very real though and so starting before you even start, is really important. Just taking some nice, slow and deep breaths can make a huge difference. To accompany this I use visualisation to beat back the catastrophising. A quick example is to close your eyes (if you are able and willing), start to breathe deeply and slowly, and then picture you and your family or friends sat around a table, a big hot-pot is sitting in the middle, with crusty bread, rice, steaming away. The smells are incredible, everyone is smiling, talking, and laughing. Your food is devoured by very happy people.

YOU made that hot pot!

YOU are there with your family and friends, enjoying it!

YOU are making people happy!

Drink in the feeling of joy and happiness, let yourself smile, feel what that feels like and then capture that whole situation into your mind’s library. Use this to bring back these incredible feelings and emotions every time. Create different scenarios, really go for it in making yourself feel very special, all because you cooked!

2 GIVE YOURSELF TIME

Time can really be your enemy, your nemesis! It’s always against you, making you rush, making you not enjoy things. All cookbooks have cooking time and preparation time, but the latter only really works if you are of the same skill level and health as the person who wrote it. Let’s be honest, we aren’t! This is where “Give Yourself Time” comes in.

I use this to give myself a buffer zone whenever I am cooking. It is the extra time you might need when preparing something, when cooking something, when serving something, to allow for how you are feeling, to give yourself the best possible chance to plan, cook and enjoy it, even if it takes a lot longer than the recipe says or even how long you took to do it last time.

No more frustrations at yourself for not doing it as quickly as the book said, no more anxiety, but you have to “Give Yourself Time” upfront in order to do it. You will see that all my recipes include “prep time”, “cook time” and “give yourself time”, so you can create your own buffer. I don’t know how long things might take you, I don’t know how you are feeling each day, but by allowing yourself upfront this time, by gifting it to yourself, you can get the same levels of joy and satisfaction each and every time!

3 COOKFULNESS PLAYLISTS

Music is so important to me. It is so powerful, it creates emotions, feelings, thoughts. Sometimes these can be powerfully negative, the big break-up song for instance! I use music constantly to help me to cook, to help me prepare to cook, and to help me absolutely love to cook.

I select music that makes me happy, music that I can associate to wonderful times, music that makes me want to sing, and I stack them all in my Cookfulness playlist. Before I even think about cooking, the playlist goes on. I listen, I sing, I enjoy, I flood myself with it.

The key to this is to keep adding to it. Something you hear that you haven’t heard for ages, something by an artist you remember had other wonderful songs, something you hear for the first time and love it, something that is playing when something special happens that you can use to remind yourself of how great that was. Just keep adding.

The more you hear, the more you add, the more you enjoy! Get your Cookfulness groove on!

4 WIDEN YOUR KITCHEN

No, not knocking down walls! The kitchen is not really designed for disability or chronic health conditions, is it? Some are, but they can be very expensive. My solution is to not always be in the kitchen when preparing! I use my dining table, where I can sit safely, comfortably and happily to prepare certain things. If you have seen any of my demos and workshops you will know I do them all sitting down at the table. Yes, it takes a little longer and, yes, you may need help to transport things, but it really can be worth it I promise you.

By taking myself out of the kitchen environment it changes your mindset; you don’t feel as rushed, and you don’t feel as anxious.

5 SMART EQUIPMENT

There are certain items that can make a massive difference to your ability to cook, which in turn can make a massive difference to how you feel about cooking. A good knife is really important, but also can either be incredibly expensive and/or just not right for you in terms of shape and feel. I only now use two knives that are from Active Hands, a wonderful British Company providing amazing equipment to help with cooking and all aspects of life. One of the larger items is a steamer. Why? Well there’s no open, heavy pans of boiling water to navigate. They have an in-built timer and you can do multiple items safely all at once. And the added bonus is that steaming keeps a lot more of the goodness in vegetables than boiling does.

Slowly building up your smart equipment means you have the ability to do things; peel, chop, grate, cook, no matter how you are feeling. You give yourself options and you give yourself permission to use these options.

6 SMART INGREDIENTS

Just like smart equipment, you can do exactly the same with ingredients. I have several go-to smart ingredients they mean I have options regardless of how I am feeling. Take the onion for instance, it is the bedrock of a lot of dishes but can be truly lethal to peel and chop, so I have a bag of frozen ready-chopped in the freezer, a jar of dried onion powder in the cupboard and, sometimes, a pack of dried onion flakes too. These I build up over time, they are very cost-effective and they don’t really go off. It is all about options and giving yourself permission to access these options.

Is using pre-chopped, chilled and frozen veg or fruit OK? You bet it is! It is not lazy, it is not cheating, it is very, very, very smart cooking!

7 LITTLE EXTRA COOKING

Batch cooking is wonderful but can be a really big ask for disabled people, so I now do a “Little Extra Cooking”. It really is just what it says. Whenever I am making something I will see if I have enough ingredients to make a portion or two more. Then freeze it or fridge it so you have another dish ready for when you really can’t face cooking.

By doing this, rather than the full batch cook, you don’t end up with lots of the same dish in the freezer, you don’t exhaust making for the masses, and you are more likely to enjoy it when you come to make and eat it again.

I do this not just with, say, a bolognese, but it could be a sauce, a soup, vegetables, anything because this then builds up a stock in your fridge and freezer for the days you just can’t do it. These days happen, it is absolutely ok. Now you can dip into the freezer and get out something you made. It doesn’t matter if you made it three weeks ago, you still made it and you should still be incredibly proud of yourself the day you reheat it and eat it!

8 PLAN FOR THE UNPLANNED

As we all know, life can throw curve balls and there will be days when cooking is just not possible. In step seven, I talked about little extra cooking and how that can help build up a little stock of fully or partially made dishes in your freezer for when you need it.

This is planning for the unplanned. Always remember, you were the one who made it!

9 TRY SOMETHING NEW

It is very easy to get into the world of having the same few dishes because you know family and friends will eat them or it’s something you are comfortable making. That is absolutely understandable and ok. However, there is a real joy in trying something new. It can spark things in you that you thought were gone. Creativity, excitement, anticipation, achievement!

I am not saying go crazy, as that can have the opposite effect and put you off for good. Whenever you are out shopping or doing your online shop, just try and find one ingredient you haven’t used before, anything. See what you can make with it! I use the World Kitchen aisle a lot for this, it is online too, as it is full of things I have maybe not heard of or tried to cook with.

There will be things that you hate, that go wrong, and that is also absolutely fine too! The fact is that you tried it. It is so good to ignite the fires of passion in your cooking and trying something new, once a week or a month, is genuinely wonderful, I promise you! In these times of financial difficulty this can be really difficult I know, but even a different brand of beans can be great!

WHATEVER YOU MAKE IT’S RIGHT

Yes, it is true! How many times have you been totally deflated that your dish looks nothing like the picture? How many times been upset that it’s burnt, or it doesn’t taste like you thought it would? Forget this!

Whatever you make, is right, is a wonderful thing to tell yourself. It is not all about the final dish that comes out, it is about the time you had getting there! You need to remember how much joy you had preparing it, finding ingredients, the music, the method, the time, and that it was joyous! If it comes out looking completely different to the picture or your expectations, so what! You made it, it’s right!

11 CREATE NEW MEMORIES

This circles back to visualisation in step one, music in step three, in fact all of the steps! If you are able to enjoy cooking, it makes you happy and gives you a real boost, then these moments are what you need to lock in as your new memories. The more you have of these in your brain locker, the more you can draw on when you need a boost, just to remind yourself how flipping amazing you are and how much you love cooking!

If you remind yourself every day about creating new memories, then you can look and see them either when they happen or just after. Create them, store them, use them!

12 CELEBRATE EVERYTHING!

This really is it! Celebrate the heck out of everything, every little thing! You managed to cook when feeling bad, you managed to eat your food even when you didn’t cook, you managed to peel a potato, you tried a new ingredient or variation of a dish, you burnt the heck out of something, it’s all to be celebrated and wildly!

You need to tell yourself to celebrate, remind yourself to celebrate and then it will become easier and easier. To start with you might feel stupid, a fraud, but that is normal. We find it hard to celebrate things when a lot is against us, but this is why it is even more important to celebrate every darn thing!

You deserve it!

This may seem a lot right now, too much, too far, but just try one at a time and see what happens. Don’t be afraid of things going wrong, like steps 10, 11 and 12 say, whatever you made it was right, you are creating new memories regardless and celebrate it like you won gold!

I want you to see and feel cooking as a key part of your day, not something you squeeze in because you have to. Give it the time you need, put it high on your daily do’s as a major achievement to celebrate and be super proud of. Cooking really can make you happy, I promise!!!

If you want to know more, are interested in how I may be able to help you, your organisation, charity or hospital, then you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @Cookfulness, or check out my website Cookfulness.co.uk, find Cookfulness on YouTube, or email Cookfulness@gmail.com.

Cookfulness the cookbook is available to buy online at Amazon, Waterstones & Goodreads.

Car insurance adapted for you

If your vehicle has been adapted or modified to cater for your disability, or you’re a carer who needs bespoke cover, experienced insurance experts at Adrian Flux can talk you through our tailor made policies.

Call

our newly reduced

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www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Alcoholics Anonymous has over 4,440 groups 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 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

WIN WIN

WIN A PROCOOK PROFESSIONAL STAINLESS STEEL COOKWARE SET!

We have teamed up with ProCook to give you the chance to win a Professional Stainless Steel Cookware set worth £159!

Upgrade your cooking game with a ProCook Professional Stainless Steel Cookware Setthe ultimate kitchen essential for any passionate home cook.

Crafted from high-quality stainless steel, this four-piece set features a versatile range of pans that are designed to deliver superior results every time. With a 16cm, 18cm and 20cm saucepan and a 24cm frying pan, you’ll have all the tools you need to cook up a storm for your family and friends.

ProCook’s Professional Stainless Steel pans feature a solid durable construction using the highest quality no-tarnish 18/10 stainless steel and come with a 7mm impact bonded base that is suitable for all hob types, including induction. This cookware is designed to distribute heat evenly across the surface of the pan, ensuring that your food is cooked to perfection every time.

The pans in this set benefit from heat resistant toughened glass lids with sturdy stainless steel rims for easy viewing, and robust 18/10 stainless steel handles with CoolTouch® technology for safer handling while the pan is on the hob.

The ProCook Professional Stainless Steel Cookware Set is also incredibly easy to clean. The pans are

dishwasher safe, making cleaning a breeze, and with their high-quality construction and a 25-year guarantee, you can be sure that they’ll last for years to come.

To find out more about the range of products from ProCook visit: ProCook.co.uk

Terms and conditions

The prize is a 4 piece ProCook Professional Stainless Steel Cookware Set. The prize will be delivered to the winner to a UK address only. Entrants must be resident in the UK and be aged over 18 years old. The prize is not transferable nor can any cash alternative be offered. Closing date for entries is 31 May 2023.

AIRIUM MOBILITY SCOOTER

Ideal for everyday use, the Airium scooter is super lightweight, featuring an aluminium frame and lithiumion battery. Its heaviest part weighs just 13kg, and the scooter sports an easy splitting mechanism to make storing it away in the boot of a car a breeze, making it the perfect scooter for someone who loves to travel.

Prices from £2,795 FirstChoiceMobility.com

JANSPORT ADAPTIVE BACKPACK

Part of the company’s new adaptive range of bags and backpacks that are designed specifically for the needs of people who use mobility aids, this backpack features adjustable loops and anchor straps to ensure it’s always tight and secure, whether it’s on the back of a wheelchair or worn over the shoulders.

Prices from £60 JanSport.co.uk

WIGGLY PEGS

One for when the weather gets a bit warmer: these pegs are designed for people who live with arthritis, reduced dexterity or a weakened grip, and aid people in safely and easily hanging their washing out on a line by simply putting a finger through the loop of the peg and sliding it over the washing line.

Prices from £9.96

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

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PIVOTELL PILL CRUSHER

The Pivotell Pill Crusher is designed to take the work out of grinding your tablets. Simple to use, and easy on the wrists. The fit of the mortar and pestle limits the pill particles that pass into the jar and gives you the finest pill powder.

Prices from £23.99 Pivotell.co.uk

4G ENABLED TED ALERT WATCH

This safe smartwatch is designed to be a personal alarm, GPS tracking device, health sensor and stylish watch all rolled into one. It monitors heart rate, blood oxygen levels, blood pressure levels and your daily step count, and tucked discreetly on the side is the SOS button that triggers an alert to a monitoring centre for safety and peace of mind.

Prices available on request

TEDalertUK.co.uk

DISABILITY COLOURING BOOK

It’s well known that colouring can be a very therapeutic and relaxing way to wind down and destress. This practice of self care can now be even more enjoyable than you once thought, with Dandy Doodlez colouring book. This book is filled with 20 original and rather cheeky designs by this artist and they are all related to disability. Happy colouring!

Prices from £4.99

Dandy Doodlez Art on Etsy.com

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A FOR Head

There are many businesses owned and run by disabled people and people living with chronic illnesses. From beauty brands, bespoke clothing and jewellery, to technology and freelancing, there are so many disabled people successfully running their own businesses, operating in many industries.

Here, I have highlighted just some of the businesses owned by disabled people that you should have on your radar to support.

ELEGANT INSIGHTS BRAILLE CREATIONS

Founded by Laura Legendary, Elegant Insights is a braille jewellery and accessory company that she began in 2011.

Laura herself is blind due to a condition called retinitis pigmentosa and is also a braille user herself.

Laura was inspired to create the brand after receiving a gift from her husband Billy, with a desire to represent people like her living with sight loss in the fashion industry.

Alongside jewellery, Laura also makes cane charms, bookmarks, and other accessories which can be customised with your own personal message.

Website: ElegantInsightsJewelry. com

UNHIDDEN CLOTHING

Unhidden Clothing is a fashion brand made to suit the needs of disabled people, founded by Victoria Jenkins in 2017.

Victoria, who has a background in fashion began the brand after a conversation with a disabled person who told her how inaccessible clothing was. Victoria herself has also been diagnosed with multiple conditions which can be difficult to manage with her changing symptoms.

Unhidden makes a range of inclusive casual clothing and leisure wear which have been made to allow a person multiple ways to dress and undress.

Unhidden was also recently featured in London Fashion Week in February 2023 in its very own solo catwalk.

Website: UnhiddenClothing.com

Instagram: @Unhidden.uk

Emily Davison shines a light on the wide array of disabled-owned businesses in the UK

...featured in London Fashion Week in February 2023 in its very own solo catwalk

Photo: By Charlie Randell

GLAMSTICKS

Glamsticks offer a range of bespoke accessories and mobility aids including crutches, walking sticks, wheelchair embellishments and guiding canes.

Glamsticks was taken over in 2012 by Lady Sharon-Farley Mason who lives with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. They offer a range of customisation services to canes and mobility aids to suit your own personal style, from painted canes to crystal covered crutches.

Each item is hand-painted and individually made to your bespoke taste, or you can browse through their catalogue of existing designs that are available to order.

Website: Glamsticks.co.uk

Instagram: @GlamsticksAccessories

KITTY STRAND DESIGNS

Kitty Strand is an illustrator and the owner of a popular Etsy shop, Kitty Strand Designs, which has had almost 3,000 sales to date.

Kitty has created a range of designs that are inspired by her own lived experience of being autistic and living with a chronic illness. She began the business in 2020 after studying for a design degree at the Open University as a way to combat the isolation she felt during lockdown.

Her designs are available in prints as well as greeting cards and showcase a range of fun, colourful and whimsical designs.

Website: Etsy.com/shop/ KittyStrandDesigns

Instagram: @KittyStrand

EQUAL=IBRIUM

Equal=ibrium is an award-winning skincare brand that was started by Angela Moretom in 2020 after being diagnosed with several health conditions that caused her health to deteriorate.

Angela began the brand to cut down on single-use plastic products in her bathroom and create more environmentally friendly products.

The brand offers cruelty free and vegan skincare products that are also kind to sensitive skin.

Website: Equal-ibrium.co.uk

Instagaram: @Equal_ibrium_

COOL CRUTCHES

Cool Crutches sells a range of walking sticks, crutches and accessories in different styles, colours, and with adjustable points.

Cool Crutches was started by Amelia Peckham and her mother Claire after a spinal injury in 2005 which led Amelia to require the use of walking aids. Amelia was partially paralysed following a quad bike incident and struggled using standard NHS crutches which couldn’t be customised to fit her needs or personality.

The crutches and walking sticks created by Cool Crutches can be adjusted at three points to give the user the option to make the crutch fit to their preference.

There are a number of different designs to choose from or you can design your own if you’d prefer to make it unique.

Website: CoolCrutches.com

Instagram: @CoolCrutches

MISS LALA PRESENTS

Miss Lala Presents is a company specialising in swimwear, loungewear and activewear run by former actress, Fine Rees. She relaunched after discovering she had Lyme Disease in 2011 forcing her to take a step back from her successful lingerie company.

Miss Lala Presents now offers a range of activewear, swimwear and loungewear in vintage designs inspired by Parisian chic and old Hollywood glamour. All products are ethically made and printed to order using eco-friendly dyes which means no leftover stock or fabric going to landfill and no water pollution.

Website: MissLalaPresents.co.uk

Instagram: @MissLalaPresents

THIS THING CALLED RECOVERY

This Thing Called Recovery was started in 2018 by Jenny McGibbon as a freelance illustration and graphic design business and later selling prints, t-shirts and stickers.

Jenny began the business as a way to represent disabled people and bring “joyful design” to the disabled

Jenny is autistic and has ME and her designs showcase disability in all its complexities with colourful designs and quotes with encouraging and positive messages.

Website:

ThisThingTheyCallRecovery.com

Instagram:

@ThisThingTheyCallRecovery

RACE ACROSS THE WORLD

KATIE CAMPBELL

This series of the BBC adventure show features a severely sightimpaired person trying to cross the world’s second largest country

BBC One’s primetime adventure show Race Around the World sees a handful of brave, bold contestants take on a huge journey with only a fistful of cash and a camera crew in tow - and this series features Devonshire native Tricia Sail, who is severely sight impaired, undertaking the incredible challenge with her fully sighted friend, Cathie.

The third series of the popular BBC show sees contestants try to navigate their way across the second largest country in the world, Canada, making a 16,000km journey from Vancouver in the west of the country, and ending up in St John’s in Newfoundland, the easternmost city in North America. Just to give you a bit of perspective, that would be like making the journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats around about 15 times, so it’s no easy feat!

To add to the challenge, those taking

part are armed only with the value of the air fare of a flight between their initial and final destination in cash: no mobile phones, no internet access, and no credit cards can come with them, meaning it’s just the players’ wits and some cold, hard cash that will get them to their destination.

Tricia, who works as a community coordinator for the RNIB, said that taking part in the race was a huge boost to her confidence, and her friendship with Cathie was a huge part of why she was so eager to take on the challenge: “I have known Cathie since we were 13, I had watched the first two series and thought that looked like such fun. I messaged Cathie and encouraged her to apply, so I think initially she wasn’t sure what she had signed up for, but after she found out more about it, she was really excited to be involved.”

“The Canadians were so friendly and gave us so much help along the way, with free food and lifts. It was quite moving too, we got to hear people’s life stories too. I got to see and do things I didn’t think I’d be able to do

like watching wild bears at the side of the road, it was incredible.“

Clearly not put off by the magnitude of their race across the wilds of Canada, the pair headed to Peru to hike Machu Pichu not long after returning from Race Around the World last year.

“If someone asks if I would do it again. I definitely would, it’s incredibly good fun,” said Tricia. “One of the best things was getting to spend quality time with my best mate. I think we complemented each other really well, she’s the brain and I’m the brawn. She plans everything meticulously and I am like a bull in a china shop, but we work well together. We learnt a lot and she probably tamed me while I pushed her on a little bit.”

To see how Tricia and Cathie fare on their great adventure, watch Race Around the World on BBC One on Wednesdays at 9pm or catch up with their travels on iPlayer. For more information on the Royal National Insitute of Blind People, visit RNIB.org.uk

INFORMATION FOR INCLUSION

Euan’s Guide explore the impact of the lack of access information through the results of their Access Survey

Being excluded from everyday activities isn’t exactly a new feeling for disabled people, and the latest research from awardwinning disabled access charity Euan’s Guide suggests that things aren’t improving much.

The 2022 Euan’s Guide Access Survey was completed by over 7,500 people, 98% of whom identified as disabled, making it the largest of its kind in the UK. The results have shown that 72% of disabled people have found accessibility information on a venue’s website to be misleading, confusing or inaccurate, and 74% have experienced a disappointing trip or have had to change plans due to poor accessibility.

These figures show that accurate disabled access information is vital. The team at Euan’s Guide often hear from their community that information is invaluable in avoiding wasted time, energy and money – 91% of survey respondents try to find disabled access information about a new place before visiting, and 58% of survey participants said they avoid going to a venue if it has not shared its disabled access information because they assume it’s inaccessible. This data also suggests that welcoming disabled visitors would be beneficial for everyone, both in terms of social inclusion and accessible tourism.

To combat the problem of misleading, inaccurate, and unavailable information, the charity’s website, EuansGuide.com, is a place for disabled people to find and share disabled access information. Euan MacDonald was diagnosed with motor neuron disease and once he started using a powerchair he realised

how difficult getting out and about was. In 2013 he set up his charity with his sister Kiki to try and help other disabled people plan their visits, to avoid unnecessary stress and anxiety.

Now, ten years later, thousands of disabled people use the website every month to plan trips and find new places to go. With 51% of survey respondents reporting that reviews from other disabled people improve their confidence when visiting new places, and 46% saying they’ve visited somewhere new after reading a review on EuansGuide.com, it’s clear that first-hand experiences and peer-to-peer reviews are a trusted source of information for disabled people. The team at Euan’s Guide is encouraging people to submit a review to EuansGuide.com whenever they can – just one review can give someone else the confidence to try somewhere new.

Euan says: “We’re delighted to be working with Motability Operations for a second year to amplify the voices and experiences of disabled people with the Access Survey, which is vital in establishing how disabled people feel about disabled access. This year the survey results inform us on how much work there is still to be done around communication and information sharing.

“Sadly, the data gathered has shown that businesses don’t fully appreciate how important it is to share their disabled access information. Businesses are undervaluing disabled people both in terms of social inclusion and spending power.

“We encourage disabled people to review the places they visit on EuansGuide.com and use the website to find first-hand experiences of disabled access at venues across the UK and beyond. Likewise, if you work at a venue, please promote your

disabled access information in your own communications and by listing on EuansGuide.com for free.”

As well as disabled access information, survey respondents said the accessible facilities they need to improve confidence when visiting new places were accessible parking (80%) and accessible toilets (76%).

Andrew Miller, CEO at Motability Operations, says: “Providing freedom and independence for disabled people is right at the heart of what we do at Motability Operations.

“We believe no disabled person should be left behind, so we’re pleased to support the Euan’s Guide access survey again this year and it’s great to see so many Motability Scheme customers have completed the survey. The insights that Euan’s Guide have shared are vital, and we hope that venues and other organisations take note and use them to improve disabled access across the country.’’

2022 was the eighth access survey by the award-winning disabled access charity Euan’s Guide, and the second year that the survey has been supported by Motability Operations, the company behind the Motability Scheme.

This year, the survey received over 7,500 responses and 98% identified as disabled people, with the remainder being family, friends, carers, and professionals.

To view the full report and results, visit: EuansGuide.com/AccessSurvey

We believe no disabled person should be left behind

Kids’ CORNER

Every step towards inclusivity is a positive one. Recently, George at Asda has widened its range of adapted clothing for young people, meaning it’s more readily available to the people who need it, and at a reasonable price, too. In this economy, that’s a huge bonus. We took a look at what’s on offer on page 50. Overleaf on page 48, you can read about a brand new college for young adults that are designed to teach modern computer-based skills in a supported environment tailored to what their needs are that’s hoping to see more young people and adults get digital jobs that are right for them.

Our Future Voice this issue, Vida Adamczewski, has written an absolutely beautiful must-read piece on finding comfort in reading about other “sick little girls,” as she calls them, and Dan White’s column is a powerful and scathing read about how climate change is a disability issue, and to deny this is to deny our young disabled people a future. You can read them on pages 55 and 56, respectively.

As ever, please reach out if there’s something you’d like to see included in PosAbility Magazine. Email Ros@2APublishing.co.uk - we’re always happy to hear from you.

52 PRODUCTS

NEW DIGITAL CAREERS COLLEGE

A brand new college for young adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has opened in Manchester

Digital Independent Specialist College (DISC) is a new college that has opened in Manchester to offer young people aged 16 – 24 the chance to learn web development, videography, photography, graphic design, coding, animation and project management in a small-scale, supported environment that is personalised to their needs and talents.

Since opening its doors, 30 students have enrolled with DISC to develop and practise a range of creative and digital skills. All tutors at the college have experience of training and supporting neurodiverse people and have worked in Manchester’s own digital industries.

The specialist college was set up by Digital Advantage, a charity that has delivered digital work experiences to over 5,000 young people of all ages and abilities in Greater Manchester and the North West, since 2015.

DISC is currently funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), and local authorities across the region.

The specialist college offers two main programmes. The first is a flexible Pre-Internship, based on students’ interests and delivered in partnership with SENDCode, a social enterprise that supports young, neurodiverse people. The Pre-Internship includes remote learning, work at DISC’s city centre studio and, where appropriate, external work placements with supporting businesses.

The second is a Supported Internship, a year-long, full-time programme for young people with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Students can also access pastoral, peer-to-peer and weekly maths and English support. Both programmes give interns experience of what it feels like to work in a digital job. They work on real-life briefs from Manchester employers such as Manchester City Council, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust and Jason Lock Productions, as well as the chance to build their own digital portfolio.

Staff work closely with interns to help them find the right job or education once their internship has ended. This might be an apprenticeship with a partner employer or freelance work supported by Digital Advantage.

Diane Ainsworth, deputy headteacher of Manchester special school, Pioneer House High School, trustee of Digital Advantage and chair of Governors at DISC said:

“Around the age of 16, many students with special educational needs and disabilities leave school - where they’ve felt secure and nurtured for many years - and start a big, mainstream college. Lots of them subsequently drop out or struggle because they feel lost. We started DISC

to give young people with learning disabilities a range of inspiring and supportive study options that align with their needs and digital career ambitions.”

Andy Lovatt, founder of Digital Independent Specialist College (DISC) and CEO of Digital Advantage said: “It’s shocking that only 29% of autistic adults in the UK are in paid employment, and that figure is just 4.8% for adults with learning disabilities. Young people with disabilities are still guided towards traditional supported internships in retail, hospitality or healthcare and for some people this is right, but for many, these roles limit their aspirations and career progression. DISC helps young people with a passion for digital to get their dream job. We’re disrupting expected pathways for SEND young people.”

Dylan O’Brien, 19, from Gorton in Manchester is autistic and lives with dyspraxia, and is doing an apprenticeship with Digital Advantage, the charity that set up DISC. He said: “I left school in year 8 because I got no support, it was overwhelming, and I struggled to get in on time. When I went to a mainstream college it was the same: no support, the work was too easy, and I ended up not going in. Things are different with Digital Advantage. Everything is personalised to you. There aren’t big classrooms or hundreds of students. If you ever need help you can get it. Every day I go to their Manchester studio and make websites, edit videos and take photos. I’m really happy with the progress I’ve made.”

If you would like to find out more about DISC visit: DISC.ac.uk.

EASY ON EASY WEAR

KATIE CAMPBELL

George at Asda has introduced a new line of adapted clothing for children, making it more accessible for those who need it - and at a reasonable price

For many people, nipping out to the shops to grab some clothing basics is a relatively easy task. They can pop in to one of the many high street stores and grab a new shirt, new trousers, some underwear, and it might not fit them the way they want or be the most attractive item of clothing, but basics are basics for a reason. Stuff for work, school uniforms, clothes to wear when lazing around the house during a rare moment of peace and relaxationthese things shouldn’t be hard to get. With Marks and Spencer launching their accessible clothing range last year, adapted clothing is finally becoming easier to get a hold of on the high street. They were followed by supermarket giant Asda, who launched their Easy On Easy Wear school uniform range last September, and have followed it up with a complete range of clothing - including shoes, loungewear and bodysuits - that, in the company’s words, are designed to “support…independent dressing for children and young people with disabilities.”

What’s more, George at Asda brought in a young disabled person to help ensure the accessibility and design of the range catered to the needs of the people it’s being advertised to. 14-year-old Ava Jolliffe is an awardwinning deaf and blind artist from Preston in the north-west of England, and her help was crucial to ensuring the pieces were both in-line with Asda’s main kids’ wear collection and was authentic to young disabled people’s needs.

Vicki Radford, George’s buying manager, who asked for Ava’s help with the collection, said: “It was really important to Ava that we designed our adapted collection in line with the main kidswear range, so children with disabilities can wear the same as their friends… and it was really important to us that these pieces remain competitively priced and affordable to all our customers.

“Working with Ava was a real joy; we’re all so proud of the pieces we’ve created together, and as a brand, are delighted to have been able to extend the range past schoolwear to encompass everyday dressing.”

One thing to note about the collection is that prices are definitely Asda Price - you can pick up schoolwear from as little as £2.50 for a pack of two polo shirts, plimsolls from £3, and a pack of shirts from £3. In the midst of a cost of living crisis where disabled people and their families are having to pay disproportionately more for everything - never mind school wear that kids go through at a rate of knots - it’s good to know that you can pick up the basics from Asda that might be better suited to your child’s needs, that they might even be able to try on in store, thereby circumventing the horror that is buying something online and having to perform the awful ritual of performing a return.

The new range of items that have been introduced include tracksuits, leggings, and t-shirts which are designed to be as stylish as they are useful. The clothing is meant to be discrete and help children feel more comfortable while also supporting them however they may need. The Easy On Easy Wear range introduced 24 items that are trendy, useful, and above all, reasonably priced.

How has George implemented the adaptions in its clothing? You’ll find hidden hoop and loop fasteners on the necklines of sweatshirts and t-shirts, which make them easier to remove and more comfortable. Trousers have higher backs, making them well-suited for children who use wheelchairs, as the high backs are not

only more comfortable but ensure that the trousers are an ideal length when the wearer is seated. Some items contain holes to make it easier for young people who have lines or feeding tubes, and clothes are made with soft thread and easy to remove care labels for children who may live with sensory needs or are irritated by rough clothing.

It’s fantastic to see a major supermarket introduce adapted clothing into their stores, which makes it easier for people who may need it to access it, and at a reasonable price, too. You can shop the adapted range at your local Asda store, or online at Direct.Asda.com/George

It’s fantastic to see a major supermarket introduce adapted clothing into their stores

Kids’ PRODUCTS

MOUNTAIN TRIKE

Mountain Trike is an exceptional all-terrain wheelchair that allows users to access the outdoors in style and comfort, tackling rough terrain, sand, snow, and mud with ease, thanks to its chunky tyres and great suspension. They do not produce a specific child model because they can modify all of their models to fit and it will grow with the child into adulthood.

01270 842 616

MountainTrike.com

Prices available on request

HAPPY SNAP

MindPanda have produced a set of card games that allow children to open up and share their feelings through funny games. This engaging pack of cards can be played in a multitude of ways and these games can help start important conversations about how a child is feeling in a relaxed environment, allowing you the opportunity to engage in an open and fun manner.

Amazon.co.uk

Prices from £11.99

ADAPTIVE HIGH TOPS

Part of M&S’s fantastic easy dressing range, these classic high tops are available in three different colours and a wide range of sizes. The shoes feature a cool lace-up design, but can be slipped on and off with ease thanks to the zips, and also sport M&S’s Freshfeet technology to combat odour-causing bacteria.

MarksAndSpencer.com

Prices from

MAGIC PUZZLE BALL

Kids will love playing with these magic rainbow puzzle balls. The small coloured balls can be pushed into new spaces until all the colours are mixed up, the kids are then challenged to pop them back around the ball to their matching coloured hole. They are great fidget toys and stress relievers.

LUSH RAINBOW FUN

When it comes to bathtime fun Lush really have it spot on with this playful bubbly bar. A riot of colours combine to make this mouldable cleansing bar a joy for kids to play with in the bath. Kids can mold it into shapes just like playdough, dissolve it under the tap to make bubbles and use it as soap and shampoo too. It has chamomile to help promote a calm environment and all the ingredients are natural.

Lush.com

MOOVIE

This unique set of blocks have been designed to help children develop their motor skills, hand-eye coordination, strength, spatial awareness and dexterity. They encourage kids to play and learn by using the blocks to create different shapes, from a chimney or hoop, to a barrel, rocking horse, cave or tunnel, the range of shapes and activities that can be achieved with Moovie are extensive.

Baffin.co.uk

Prices from £11

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.

THE SCHOOL OF PAIN SICK READERS CHAIN VIDA ADAMCZEWSKI

Vida Adamczewski is a writer from Peckham. Her writing has appeared in Ambit Magazine, Document Journal, The Byline Times and Vittles. Vida was awarded the UEA New Forms Award 2022 by the National Centre for Writing. Amphibian & Other Bodies, forthcoming with Toothgrinder Press, is Vida’s first collection of short stories.

When I was little, I loved books with ill or injured main characters (Harriet from Noel Streatfield’s White Boots; Deenie in Deenie by Judy Blume; Katy and Cousin Helen in Susan Coolidge’s What Katy Did). I was often unwell, blighted by barking coughs or gory nosebleeds, and there was comfort in reading about other sick little girls.

I vividly remember Cousin Helen telling the frustrated Katy that she was a student in the “School of Pain”, where she would learn lessons in patience, cheerfulness, hopefulness, neatness, and making the best of things. I nodded; I was a student there too.

I thought of Cousin Helen’s “School of Pain” again when I read Josie George’s memoir A Still Life. George also writes of the importance of “[learning] to be sick well”. Like Cousin Helen, she believes paying attention to the world can help you to live alongside pain. “Written mostly from bed”, this memoir reverently describes the overlooked beauties of the world that a disabled life can illuminate. She writes of lorry lights “caught behind [her] eyelids. They flicker back into being, soft and enduring in the dark, to make a private night sky.”

I was given Josie’s book by a friend’s mother, a fellow student at Sore Hips Academy. I always treasure books that find their way to me like this, passed along a chain of sick bodies like whispered secrets. Virginia Woolf’s On Being Ill and Sinead Gleeson’s Constellations came to me like this, and I have passed them on. In doing so, I have read them again and again through the eyes of sick friends.

Anne Boyer’s The Undying was given to me by another somnolent friend. We had never read something that described the humiliation, distrust, and frustration of having your life medicalised so frankly. In a chapter that I have folded and starred and creased with returning to, Anne Boyer writes about the bed, as a place of thought and sickness. Succinctly, she summarises the disappointment of bed-boundedness: “Every pleasure of a bed can, during illness, disappear behind fresh architectures of worry.”

The School of Pain Sick Readers Chain (as I’ve named it) is how I met Dodie Bellamy’s When the Sick Rule the World, an eclectic collection that includes essays on vomit, the grieving process, and Kathy Acker’s clothes. In her title piece, Bellamy describes how society would look if governed by those who live with environmental sickness, bestowing this impeccable line: ‘when the sick rule the world mortality will be sexy’. Bellamy’s collection is gross and weird and I return to it often, particularly when I am seeking permission to write about my own illness without apologetic sentimentality.

As chronically or recurrently seriously ill people, we live in the anticipation of worsening symptoms, uncertain about how our stories will play out, even more uncertain about how to tell them. But with the vast library of the School Of Pain, we can borrow each other’s beloved language to make sense of our lives.

DAN WHITE

COLUMNIST

Follow Dan on Twitter @Danwhite1972

FIGHTING FOR THE FUTURE

My daughter, as regular readers will be aware, is now 16, a wheelchair user, and a fierce disability rights campaigner. I proudly stood next to her as we took part in the Extinction Rebellion protests a couple of years back in London. She was asked by many bystanders why did she feel the need to campaign on something like climate change when it is not a disability rights issue? She calmly explained that to her and her community, it is in fact very much a disability rights issue, that her generation of disabled people will not only feel the effects harder than anyone else, but that she and champions of her generation are often ridiculed and kept out of the pivotal conversations. Let me explain.

Greta Thunberg, probably the greatest and most informed climate campaigner we have, skipped last year’s Cop27 talks in Egypt, criticising the global summit as a forum for “greenwashing”. Greta is also autistic and has been subjected to merciless and horrific trolling online for her disability, with some accusers describing her as ‘disturbed’

for displaying what the educated rest of us recognise as brilliant autistic characteristics. Greta is, to my daughter and all those disabled youngsters vying to be heard and debated within the climate struggle, a model for how to be different, and effective.

Greta is not only a role model for disabled youngsters, but she is also the amplifier for them to add their

voices to a debate which has adopted a one-size-fits-all policy when it comes to preparing our environment for catastrophe. To use one’s disability, autism especially, as a cheap shot to disagree with someone’s passionate belief is the weapon of the desperate and uneducated. Greta is focused, and her autism, and her brilliant neurodiversity channels her passions, her bright and sharp mind, and gives her and other young disabled activists confidence and focus. It’s a gift, an ability to counter ignorance with high intelligence.

Where Greta and her disability lead, children like my daughter are following and they are angry about the undiscovered future of the world as they see the policies of discrimination and ignorance bleeding into the panicked future planning of the planet. Greta has given them a platform and they are now actively seeking to stand upon it.

As I said it is proven that disability is going to be the worst affected community because of climate change, my work as a campaigner and as the leader of a global coalition of disabled climate activists proves this. My work and research, coupled with group members’ papers and reports, show that not only are Greta and our activist children correct, but that the policies being made are, for disabled people of the future, very life-limiting, for instance, plastics, parking, and housing.

Dan White, creator of the amazing Department of Ability superheroes and dad to Emily, who is 16 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.

Charging points for electric vehicles are being built that are unusable by disabled drivers and create obstacles for disabled pedestrians

Disabled people are witnessing massive changes to the way they live. Electric vehicles are becoming the cars of choice and over the next decade will be the only type of car that can be purchased. This raises issues of affordability and accessibility. Cars are being banned from streets, to minimise air pollution, resulting in some city centres becoming no-go areas for disabled citizens. Charging points for electric vehicles are being built that are unusable by disabled drivers and create obstacles for disabled pedestrians. Household boilers are set to change, raising issues of affordability and accessibility. The banning of plastic straws, with no consideration of those disabled people who are reliant on them, exemplifies the failure to develop inclusive environmental solutions.

Further proof, if needed, for the young disabled community to be heard, is the fact they may soon be the majority. Environmental pollution is a major cause of ill health: impairing children’s health, diminishing their capacity to learn and reducing their life chances, pollution creates disability through poisoned environments. The fact that all this is happening globally right now proves the conversation beyond a doubt, and shows that the community has even more of a right to kick back and demand.

When Greta and young disabled activists speak so passionately and demand conversation, they do not do this because it is trendy or a fad, it is because they are tired of seeing their futures designed without their consent or lives understood. Education and

listening are the keys to understanding the impacts of climate change, and here in the UK disabled children and young people are facing enormous issues just accessing education through local council cuts to SEND education. Disabled young people must be involved in all environmental debates and heavily involved in shaping solutions, what works for them often logically works for all. Representatives from Greta downwards must be at the table when environmental solutions are being developed and implemented, to prevent societal barriers to their inclusion increasing rather than reducing. It’s right, it’s just and it’s time to counter that ignorance with that brilliant high intelligence. Disability cannot be denied a future.

“Where Greta and her disability lead, children like my daughter are following and they are angry”

Photo: Anders Hellberg, Wikimedia Commons

THE WHEELCHAIR SKILLS COLLEGE

Pete Donnelly has been using a wheelchair for 16 years. Here he tells us about his experience with wheelchair skills and what motivated him to start up The Wheelchair Skills College.

Idon’t remember the accident itself. I think that’s a defence mechanism of the body to block out the trauma. What I do know is that when I woke up, life was in contrast to what it had been a week earlier.

A motorbike accident at 19 years old had caused a shopping list of injuries. The most significant of my injuries was the break in my back that damaged my spinal cord causing paralysis from chest level down and thrusting me into a life I knew nothing about and cared little to know about before this point.

Having the skills to use any piece of equipment is essential to make sure that you can use it effectively. Having the skills to use a wheelchair is no different. It takes time, patience and dedication. It was only through wheelchair skills training that I got an insight into what could really be achieved using a wheelchair. It was brilliant. No one can teach you as well as someone who has already walked, or rolled, that path.

Wheelchair skills have made such a difference in my life. Everything that I have achieved has been built on a foundation of being able to confidently use my wheelchair.

I founded The Wheelchair Skills College with the vision of ensuring that every wheelchair user has access to these vital skills. Although there are more than a million wheelchair users across the UK, training in how to effectively use a wheelchair isn’t offered. Giving someone a wheelchair is only the start of supporting someone with mobility issues.

Ensuring that they have the skills to use the equipment is critical. I’ve always taught wheelchair skills in person. I believe that is by far the best way to do it. The reality is that developing that kind of offer will take years and people need access to these skills now.

I decided to set up YouTube and TikTok channels to get wheelchair skills out to more people. There are nearly 30 videos showing a range of skills across four difficulty levels; beginner, intermediate, advance and expert. From pushing techniques and carrying a coffee, to going up and downstairs, there is something for everyone.

The videos use a natural progression system that allows people to push themselves at a comfortable rate and builds their confidence and independence while doing it.

I’ve already received a lot of positive feedback since launching my channel. People have told me that they have got so much from seeing skills that they didn’t know about before. The bite size format has got great feedback. Most videos are less than two minutes long.

The videos that are online are the core set of wheelchair skills. We’re only scratching the surface. Over the next year, I will be listening to what people want to see and creating more content.

Although there are more than a million wheelchair users across the UK, training in how to effectively use a wheelchair isn’t offered

There are nearly 30 videos showing a range of skills across four difficulty levels

The wheelchair skills videos can be found online at WheelchairSkills.org/ YouTube or WheelchairSkills.org/ TikTok.

Scott, 48, spent two years in hospital after developing Guillain-Barré syndrome and is now a full-time wheelchair user. Scott shares how the Wheelchair Skills College has benefitted him:

“Your world sort of closes in a lot when you start using a wheelchair. I feel like it’s still living but in a different world basically. We’re living in a standing up, walking world and everything’s catered to people who can walk. There’s a lot to adjust to.

“I was given this lightweight wheelchair but never taught how to use it properly. There’s no one to teach you the skills when you get a wheelchair. You just sort of take the wheelchair home with you.

“When you start using a wheelchair, it’s just such a shock and a lot to take in but having people there that have been there and done that is such a

great positive step forward.

“I’ve never been taught how to develop skills in a gradual process; like what we went through by starting on a smaller step and then a bigger step which was really beneficial. I remember looking at some of the obstacles we used in the training and thinking ‘I’m not doing that’ but by the end of the day I was confident doing the lot. It does take someone to really teach you how things can be done and to show you that you can do it.

“I remember seeing a video at the start of the session showing pictures of all the places the wheelchair skills trainer had been. There is a life out there to be lived and that just cause you’re in a chair it doesn’t make a difference.

“When learning some of the skills, I thought ‘that makes sense’ and asked myself “why have I not been doing it like that?” I’m really pleased with how much I achieved in the training session.

“The wheelchair skills session has given me a lot of motivation to visit my parents in Australia this year, who I haven’t seen in six years. One of the things that inspired me was seeing that it can be done and not to be afraid.”

DISABILITY EXPO

BY ROSALIND TULLOCH 6-7 July, ExCel, London

This July will see a brand new event for the disabled community take place in ExCel, London and we are delighted to be media partners for it. Disability Expo promises to be an unmissable event for the disabled community, with a hot line-up of speakers, entertainment, and exhibitors, so make sure you get the dates in your diary now to ensure you don’t miss out on the hottest event this year!

The event itself will be held over two days, 6-7 July, and visitors will not be disappointed with what’s in store for them at this event. Here, we have highlighted just some of the top reasons for attending Disability Expo.

CENTRE STAGE

The centre stage will be host to a range of entertainment to delight visitors. Not only will you be treated to a comedy act from Britain’s Got Talent finalist Eva Abley and a live episode of The Grump Gits podcast, but you will also hear a live performance from musician and songwirter J Grange. J Grange is also an international public speaker and neurodiversity advocate from East London, and his song We Will Rise is being used as the Disability Expo anthem.

The Disabled Inventors Showcase will shine a light on creative disabled inventors and the products they are designing, and if fashion is your thing you won’t want to miss the inclusive fashion show taking place on the centre stage. The fashion show will bring together some of the amazing adaptive brands in the UK to showcase the best of inclusive fashion, highlighting clothing that has been specifically designed and considered for people living with a wide range of impairments.

PEOPLE’S PANEL

Panel discussions will take place throughout the day and will cover a variety of important topics, from representation in the media to disability intersectionality. The line-up of speakers is an impressive bunch of well-known voices from the disabled community, including our lovely columnists Samantha Renke and Mik Scarlet, and they will be drawing on their own lived experiences to participate in vital discussions that resonate with the disabled community. Drop in to hear a panel discussion on sex and relationships with Kelly Gordon and Shaun Flores, find out what Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson has to say on the topic of domestic travel challenges, or listen to Shani Dhanda’s thoughts on disability intersectionality. These panel discussions are guaranteed to provide thought-provoking content and spark conversation that will drive change.

Adam Pearson

Kelly Gordon

Shaun Flores

COMMUNITY CLINIC AND CHARITY ZONE

This area is unlike something you would find at any other event. The Community Clinic will give delegates access to an appointment with a healthcare professional free of charge to receive advice and to start or speed up the process of care services. The Charity Zone will further enhance access to support by giving attendees the opportunity to meet charitable organisations that could offer vital services, support and impartial advice.

HAVE A GO ZONE

Working with their charity partner Phab, there will be a dedicated zone full of fun and inclusive activities. Phab is an incredible organisation that has been running for 65 years and is dedicated to bringing disabled children, young people and adults together through social activities to try new things, meet new people and most importantly have a great time. At Disability Expo they will have something for everyone to have a go at, from inclusive sports to drama workshops, you are guaranteed to have fun in this zone!

GAMING ZONE

Adapt-IT will be powering the gaming zone, giving attendees the chance to try out the latest assistive gaming technology. There have been great strides made in accessibility for the gaming industry and the gaming zone is the perfect place to try these things out. You will also have the chance to test your skills against the best retro and modern games on show and enter competitions too!

EXHIBITION FLOOR

Spend two days exploring the exhibition and discovering innovative products, services and daily living aids that could empower your daily life. From mobility products and wheelchairs, to sensory products and sleeping solutions you will find a vast array of organisations catering for your needs. Disability Expo gives you the opportunity to speak directly to experts on products, to discuss your needs thoroughly and discover items you never knew existed. With everything under one roof, it makes shopping for mobility products a much easier and more enjoyable task.

ZENSORY ZONE

If you need to take a break from the hustle and bustle of a busy show, just head over to the Zensory Zone where you will find a dedicated quiet sensory space for all ages and abilities. There will also be scheduled activities to support mindfulness and relaxation, including adaptive yoga.

We can’t wait to be part of this exceptional event, so we look forward to seeing you there. Don’t forget to register for your free tickets at: TheDisabilityExpo.com

Tanni Grey-Thompson

Shani Dhanda

J Grange

CALLING ALL ASPIRING DISABLED JOURNALISTS

Are you interested in a career in journalism? We have just the course for you.

The Academy of Disabled Journalists has been running for four years now, and they are on the hunt for the next cohort of talented disabled journalists to join them.

If you have dreams of becoming a journalist, now is the time to act. You could achieve your Certificate in Foundation Journalism through a fully inclusive and accessible online course run by the Academy of Disabled Journalists in conjunction with the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ).

The applications are currently open but the closing date is 20 April 2023, so hurry if you would like to be considered for a spot on this course. The next course begins on 4 May

2023 and the weekly 1.5 hour lessons will run for six months. All sessions are recorded for future reference and revision and students will be required to attend the classes online via Zoom. The Academy do understand that due to illness, doctors appointments and long-term health conditions that students may not always be able to attend, but they are really looking for students that can commit to attend the classes on a weekly basis to ensure they get the most out of the course, and the Academy is very committed to supporting you on your journey.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a unique, inclusive initiative to gain a qualification equivalent to an A Level, providing a great introduction into journalism that many editors consider to be a prerequisite for junior reporter roles.

The course, which is subsidised

by the National Lottery, is a great chance to jump on a pathway to employment in media and they were recently awarded the NCTJ Award for Excellence in Journalism winning the award for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion validating the Academies and the work they do.

To apply for the Certificate in Foundation Journalism visit: AbilityToday.com/certificate-infoundation-journalism and apply before 20 April 2023.

The Academy for Disabled Journalists also run an NCTJ Diploma Course in Journalism, and applications for this course will open in the autumn this year with the course beginning in October 2023.

JOB Dream GET THAT

BY JANE HATTON

REASSURE THE INTERVIEWER

Most disabled candidates have invisible, hidden or unobvious conditions, and can choose whether or not to tell the recruiter that they are disabled. Other disabled candidates have no choice – their impairment may be obvious to the interviewer (they may see the wheelchair, or hear the stammer, etc). If the interviewer knows that you are disabled, either because it is apparent, or because you chose to tell them, the odds are that they have some concerns about employing you. They may worry that you will need expensive kit, or that you won’t be very productive, or that you will be off sick a lot. They shouldn’t ask questions about this, but it may still influence their decision.

You are under no obligation to talk about your disability, or its impact on your ability to do the job, but if there are ways you can allay any concerns they have, it may be a good idea. Their concerns

will often revolve around cost and performance, so you may be able to let them know that neither of these will be an issue. For example, if you are sight-impaired and it looks like you will need expensive equipment, you could tell them that Access to Work will provide you with a large screen, or voice recognition software or whatever you need, or you may have your own equipment you can bring with you. If appropriate, you can also reassure them that your performance was as good, accurate, and/or as quick as your colleagues in your previous role (or more so, if it was).

If you do work-related tasks in a different way from others (for example, by using assistive technology or adapted equipment), let them know, to stop them assuming you can’t do the task.

It may be that your disability gives you a distinct advantage. For example, if you are autistic, you might say that you prefer to work without distraction, meaning you are far more productive than staff who might

spend time chatting. Or that your attention to detail is better than most people’s.

There may be other benefits you can mention if the subject is raised by you or them. In order to survive in a world not designed for disabled people, you will have developed skills such as creativity, determination, innovation and persistence. Give examples to demonstrate how navigating around barriers in your daily life has given you skills that will be useful in the role you are applying for.

Try to anticipate what their concerns might be, put them to rest, highlight any support or positives that might be available, and then go back to discussing your skills and talents and why you would be the right person for the job.

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

TRAVEL REVIEWS

Expert travel reviews to help you make the best choice when booking your holiday.

PRODUCTS

An innovative mix of products to support you in everyday living.

EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION

Regular columns and features on getting your dream job. Providing advice on CVs, interview tips and much more.

PERSONAL STORIES

Inspiring tales from our readers.

COMPETITIONS

Exclusive competitions that give you the chance to win dream holidays, amazing products and once in a lifetime experiences.

HEALTH AND FITNESS

We look at sports and activities available for you to get involved in to help you lead a healthy lifestyle.

DAYS OUT

Great ideas for the whole family to enjoy.

Every issue is packed with information designed to help you live life to the full, from products and sports to holiday ideas and employment advice, so make sure you don’t miss out on any future issues and subscribe today!

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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.