MAGAZINE
Nothing is Impossible... December/January 2018/19
‘Tis the
Season to be
Jolly
WELCOME December/January 2018/19
Editor: Rosalind Tulloch Staff Writers: Colette Carr, Katie Campbell Designer: Abbie Bunton Marketing: Sophie Scott Sales: Val Speers
CONTRIBUTORS
Emily Jones, Janet Myers, Jane Hatton, Sam Renke, Mik Scarlet, Dan White, Rio Woolf
December is here and the magical festive period has begun. We have been counting down the days in the office to 1 December, the date we believe is socially acceptable to start playing Editor Christmas music and decorating the place in tinsel. The Secret Santa has been arranged – this year via a fancy app that randomly chooses one of your colleagues for you – only the most advanced of technologies are used at the PosAbility offices.
Ros
Christmas can be a bit stressful though, from preparing the perfect meal for the big day to endless present shopping and most of us will encounter some point over the festive period where we must
take several deep breaths to endure a relative or two and their unwanted opinions or unhelpful comments. We have put together some Christmas tips for getting through the festive period fairly unscathed and we bring you some great ideas to keep the kids amused too. Aside from our festive pieces we have a witty and personal account from Emily Jones on life with an ostomy bag, we look at a Japanese robot café where the robots are controlled by disabled people, we discover Iceland in the dark winter days and we hear from Bake Off semi-finalist Briony Williams. You will also find all the usual pages from our great team of columnists as well as product features and some great competitions this issue.
DISCLAIMER
PosAbility Magazine is published by 2A Publishing Limited. The views expressed in PosAbility Magazine are not necessarily the views of the editor or the publisher. Reproduction in part or in whole is strictly prohibited without the explicit written consent of the publisher. Copyright 2018/19 ©2A Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved. ISSN 2049-2251
Contact Details: Caledonia House, Evanton Drive, Thornliebank Ind. Est., Glasgow, G46 8JT Tel: 0141 465 2960 Fax: 0141 258 7783 enquiries@2apublishing.co.uk www.posabilitymagazine.co.uk
We would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas, we hope Santa is good to you! Here’s to a great 2019.
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Nothing is Impossible... December/January 2018/19
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DECEMBER/JANUARY 2018/19| ISSUE 46
CONTENTS 17
FEATURES
07 FYI
News, stories and updates from around the world
13 JOY TO THE WORLD
Take a look at Revitalise’s respite holidays
41 CHRISTMAS WITH THE LIGHTS OUT
Mik Scarlet looks ahead to 2019 with positivity
Janet Myers takes us to the Northern Lights in Iceland this Christmas
15 #DONTWANTOURCASH
46 DŌMO ARIGATŌ MR ROBOTO
Sam Renke asks us to join her fight for inclusive shopping
17 POSABILITY’S CHRISTMAS CRACKERS
Stocking fillers, a stress-free Christmas and Christmas with the columnists!
25 BAKING QUEEN
We speak to Bake Off semi-finalist Briony Williams about her time on the show
29 LEGO-ISE YOURSELF
Win a Minifigs voucher and recreate yourself or a loved one in LEGO
30 THE NATURE OF MACHINES We explore the growing world of bionics
33 HOT STUFF
A look at the most innovative, must-have products on the market
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39 HOLIDAY PROFILE
36 INTESTINES NOT INCLUDED
Emily Jones’ hilarious account of life with an ostomy bag
Introducing the café in Tokyo allowing disabled people to work remotely
48 NOTHING LIKE A DAME
Rounding up accessible pantos across the UK
51 NAIDEX 2019
Getting ready for the 45th show
53 NEW YEAR, NEW YOU Gear up with realistic resolutions
57 KIDS CORNER
How to keep your kids amused through the holidays, a superhero with cerebral palsy, Scope’s latest campaign and The Treehouse at Number 9
77 TALKING POSITIVELY ABOUT DISABILITY Jane Hatton helps you get your dream job
79 PUZZLES
Keep your brain active with these mindbenders and teasers
WIN!
MINIFIGS.ME IS GIVING ONE POSABILITY READER A VOUCHER TO CREATE A BESPOKE LEGO VERSION OF THEMSELVES!
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MERU HAVE TEAMED UP WITH POSABILITY TO GIVE AWAY THREE SETS OF ADAPTED TOYS WITH AN ACCESSIBLE SMOOTHIE SWITCH FOR CHRISTMAS!
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FYI
FYI
News and stories from around the world
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Laura Rutherford,
SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS LACK OF ACCESSIBLE HOMES Abode Impact recently published the largest ever survey of wheelchair users’ housing needs in the UK. Of respondents, 4 in 5 are currently living in a home that does not fully meet their needs as a wheelchair user, over 90% have experienced barriers to accessing the Private Rented Sector (PRS) and 62% said this was due to a lack of accessible properties. One respondent commented that a “rental agent withdrew my offer when I turned up in a wheelchair”. Abode Impact will tackle this problem by providing a wider choice of wheelchair accessible homes for private rent. They will have one and two-bed homes available to rent in London by the summer of 2019. If you would like to register your interest for one of these homes, visit their website at: abodeimpact.co.uk/register-your-interest. Image: Getty images
90%
MUM WINS FIGHT FOR LARGER NAPPIES
“OVER HAVE EXPERIENCED BARRIERS TO ACCESSING THE PRIVATE RENTED SECTOR”
mum to son Brody who has global developmental delay (GDD), has won her battle to have larger sized nappies stocked on the shelves of Tesco. A few years ago Laura started a campaign calling on all supermarkets to stock their shelves with bigger nappies to accommodate children with additional needs. Laura contacted Tesco and started a conversation with them, and then started a wider petition calling on all supermarkets in the UK to manufacture or stock larger sized nappies. Finally Laura has won her fight and Tesco are now stocking Junior Nappies on their shelves. They have worked with Laura on the development of these nappies and created a video to raise awareness of them to families who need them. Laura posted on her Facebook page: “Tesco approached me a few years ago and were really interested in developing something. And Tesco Junior Nappies were born. “They hit the shelves on 29 October and can be found in 450 stores. The best thing for me is that they don’t have that dreaded disability price tag - 20 quality nappies for £4.50. You can also buy them online and if your store doesn’t stock them, you can request that they do. “I am really grateful to Tesco for listening and for working with me on this. It’s been a great experience and something I’m really proud to have played a part in.”
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GATWICK AIRPORT WELCOMED 40 FAMILIES TO SUCCESSFUL ACCESS DAY ROB DELANEY BRINGS MAKATON TO CBEEBIES BEDTIME STORIES
London’s Gatwick Airport opened its gates to the disabled community and CBeebies previously set the internet wild with their stellar lineup of Hollywood A-listers including Tom Hardy, Chris Evans and Isla Fisher reading bedtime stories to make children’s TV enjoyable and exciting for both toddlers and adults. But days after Pirates of the Caribbean star Orlando Bloom took up the mantel, the BBC network aired a brilliant first, with comedian and actor Rob Delaney reciting a story in Makaton. The American read and signed Ten In The Bed by Penny Dale, a rhyming tale all about ten cuddly friends trying to go to bed on Friday 16 November. “Our family learned Makaton to be able to communicate with our son Henry. We’re sad Henry isn’t here to see it but we’re happy other families will get to enjoy a story told in Makaton,” he said ahead of the show. The Catastrophe actor used Makaton to communicate with his young son Henry and said it was an honour to be the first person to bring the language to the channel. Speaking to the BBC, Rob said: “My family loves to read together so naturally we’re fans of CBeebies Bedtime Stories. I am beyond honoured to be the first person to read and sign a book using the Makaton language.”
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their families on Saturday to explore options available to them, ask questions and take in the facilities. Gatwick’s latest attempt to encourage more disabled flyers and show potential customers their accessibility and inclusivity firsthand garnered praise from attendees. Taking place in the airport’s busy North Terminal, visitors were shown through the check in and security process area, took in their dedicated sensory room, enjoyed a test ride on the assistance buggy, met the associated security teams including the police and border force and had a look around an EasyJet plane’s cockpit and cabin.
ANNE HEGERTY PRAISED FOR I’M A CELEB APPEARANCE The Chase’s Anne Hegerty won viewers over on the show’s opening night, receiving praise from the autistic community and wider public. Entering the jungle with huge personalities including Harry Redknapp, Rita Simons and John Barrowman, Anne’s frank attitude about how she thinks she’ll do in the jungle, wit and honesty helped her outshine the others.
The Governess amassed huge online praise for being so forthcoming about her experience of being diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome in her forties and how she had to learn more about herself following the revelation. Adjusting to life in the Australian jungle, Anne’s continued conversation about the condition has opened the discussion up back home.
FYI FYI
RECOGNISING THE ROLE OF CARERS
55% of unpaid carers surveyed feel that their physical health has suffered.
Join the Embracing Carers™ Movement
A new campaign has been launched to help www.embracingcarers.com people in the UK to
recognise their role as an unpaid Embracing Carers is by Merck. carer. The Embracing Carerssupported initiative has been created by Merck, a leading science and technology company, and guided by Carers UK and other carer organisations. It aims to help carers recognise their role earlier to ensure they can seek the right support and resources earlier. With up to 6,000 people a day in the UK becoming carers, it has launched the By Day, By Night initiative. Emily Holzhausen, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Carers UK, commented: “Carers across the UK play a crucial role in the lives of loved ones and
GBPSIM/NPR/0817/0130
there is a strong need to help individuals reflect on their daily caring activities to help them recognise this. “One of the key goals of Embracing Carers is to help to support carers in recognising their own role. By doing this, it not only lets those individuals know that they are not alone, but helps to bridge the gap between carers and the resources they need. As a strategic advisor to Embracing Carers, Carers UK welcomes these ambitions, helping to improve the recognition and quality of life for carers in the UK and worldwide,” added Holzhausen.
TM
For more information visit embracingcarers.com.
42% of
42% of unpaid carers
surveyed put th they’re carin
surveyed put the health of the person they’re caring for above their own. Join the Embracing Carers™ Movement
CELTIC INSTALL CHANGING PLACES FACILITY AND WIN UEFA ACCESS AND INCLUSION AWARD
www.embracingcarers.com GBPSIM/NPR/0817/0130
Celtic Football Club became the first club in Scotland to install a Changing Places facility just days after winning a top access award from European football’s governing body. The Glasgow club won a special Collaboration Award at the Centre for Access to Football in Europe (CAFE) conference in Spain for ongoing commitment to inclusion and accessibility and its work with the Celtic Disabled Supporters Association. Celtic Park, which has been the highest rated Scottish stadium on Euan’s Guide for the past two years has implemented a number of facilities and initiatives. Accepting the award in Athletic Bilbao’s ground was Peter Ritchie and Kevin Mackin of the club’s Disabled Supporters Association and Alexis Dobbin, Celtic’s Disability Access Officer, who work closely with the club to ensure the matchday experience runs smoothly for disabled supporters, with the 60,000-seater
Embracing CarersTM is supported by Merck.
Join the Embr
stadium hosting a number of provisions. Speaking to the club, Peter Joyce, Chairman of the CDSA said: “The CDSA are also delighted to be recognised by CAFE with this award for our work with Celtic. Considering the number of clubs in Europe, it is an honour to be chosen for this GBPSIM/NPR/0817/0130 above others. “We are working closer with Celtic than we have ever been and this is bringing added benefits for our members. We will continue to develop initiatives to improve facilities and promote inclusion at Celtic Park and elsewhere.”
www.embracingcarers.com
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FYI
SOPHIE MORGAN TAKES MANNEQUAL TO THE US
Two students from Derwen College have been voted onto the National Union of Students (NUS) Further Education (FE) Zone committee which represents students across the UK. Thomas Shacklady and Bethan Charles both attend the specialist college near Oswestry in Shropshire and stood against learners from mainstream colleges across the UK for the NUS election. Thomas is 25 and studying “I WANT TO LEARN MORE Creative Arts, he was delighted at ABOUT NUS AND HOW IT CAN HELP STUDENTS WITH being voted in for a second year LEARNING DIFFICULTIES AND running: “I would like to be on the DISABILITIES JUST LIKE ME! I FE Committee again this year so WOULD LIKE TO HELP OTHER that I can help and support people. STUDENTS” I can communicate with people using Makaton and I would like NUS to know how important this is because they can use it to help other students like me to understand what is going on.” Bethan is 20 years old and a Retail Studies student, she has been elected onto the committee for the first time: “I want to learn more about NUS and how it can help students with learning difficulties and disabilities just like me! I would like to help other students who find things hard to understand and to help them feel safe. I would also like to help NUS to work with students with communication problems. As representatives for the NUS, they are both looking forward to championing students’ rights, and providing a voice for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
STUDENTS REPRESENTING FOR FURTHER EDUCATION 10
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“TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT CREATING THE CHANGE I WANT TO SEE AND WHAT I’VE DONE TO CREATE IT… IT WAS ALMOST HARD TO BELIEVE IT HAPPENED”
TV presenter and model Sophie Morgan is no stranger to pushing UK retailers to be more inclusive and value disabled customers, but now she has taken her fight outside British shores and across the Atlantic. The presenter who has challenged shops for years over both access and visibility took her battle stateside, linking up with one of America’s top retailers to increase inclusion. Supermarket Target’s clothing collection and window dressings may now feature Sophie’s patented “wheelchair design” that mannequins will sit on dressed in outfits made up of the shop’s clothes. The Mannequal has already taken pride of place in stores including Adidas and Debenhams but the 33-year-old is now looking to widen the net and house the chair in shop windows more permanently. Writing on Instagram from Minnesota, the Channel 4 host said: “Today I had the privilege of speaking to an audience filled with decision makers from the second biggest retailer in the States – Target! I spoke about disability representation and the inclusion revolution that is happening, about my Mannequal chair and changing the game. To be able to talk about creating the change I want to see and what I’ve done to create it… it was almost hard to believe it happened. I’ve worked so hard for this day. Target are incredible.”
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Official fuel consumption figures for the new Volvo XC40 T3 Momentum in MPG (l/100km): Urban 37.2 (7.6), Extra Urban 52.3 (5.4), Combined 45.6 (6.2). CO2 emissions 144g/km. MPG figures are obtained from laboratory testing for comparisons between vehicles and may not reflect real driving results. *Advance Payment of £2,999 is for the new Volvo XC40 T3 Momentum Manual. Metallic Paint is included free of charge. Offer available on the Motability Contract Hire Scheme. To be eligible to join the Motability Scheme you must be in receipt of the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance, the Enhanced Rate Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment, War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement or the Armed Forces Independence Payment, which will be taken in lieu of the four-weekly rental for 36 months’ duration. 60,000 mileage allowance over 3 years; excess mileage charges may apply. Offer available from 1/10/2018 to 31/12/2018 subject to availability at participating retailers. Offer not available with other promotions and may be subject to change.For full terms and conditions, visit www.motability.co.uk. Motability Contract Hire Scheme is administered by Motability Operations Limited (Registered Company No. 1373876), City Gate House, 22 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HB.
Columnist Mik Scarlet
I
Follow Mik on Twitter
@MikScarlet
JOY TO THE WORLD
t’s Christmas time. The time of good will to all and joy to the world. For many disabled people we can sometimes feel like that joy and good will passes us by. I’m always shocked at the awful stories I hear when people contact me about their experiences with the benefits system, social services and local councils as well as when they try to do everyday things, like visit shops and use transport. As it’s meant to be a happy time of year I thought I’d tell you something that might cheer those of you feeling less than festive up a little. Throughout my life I’ve experienced an attitude that disabled people are troublesome. Our desire to live a normal life makes everyone else’s lives difficult. I found that I was made to feel I should just accept things as they are and be grateful for the little changes there has been. Whether it was a few disabled people on our TV screens or a few changes in the accessibility of the world around us, I met just too many people who wanted praise for doing very little. Recently that seems to have changed. It started at a meeting at the BBC. I met with one of their senior managers with a focus on inclusion, diversity and representation. I’ve had so many of these types of meetings over the years but this one was different. No talk of a talent search or tokenism. Just an earnest desire to learn and to make things better. Not just for more disabled faces on screen, but behind the camera and in
management. I left that meeting wheeling on air as I hadn’t heard so many positive things from a media company in 29 years of working in the industry. Then I went up to Derby, where I am working on the redevelopment of the city’s historic market hall for a meeting with the team involved in the project. I’m the external access advisor and I’m training all involved on inclusive universal design practices. I’m used to sitting in on these kinds of meetings and feeling like an unwanted guest at a party. I knew the council was very keen to make the project fully inclusive but the room was also filled with architects, heritage experts and the people involved in the running of the market, which can pose problems sometimes. However, again I was so wrong as everyone was so passionate about not only building access into the project but making everything as inclusively accessible as possible. There was a real desire to change the rule book and build something that showed the way for the future - in a listed building no less! Not just for disabled shoppers, but for disabled people who want to work or open stalls in the market. This time I flew out of the meeting feeling like I could touch the moon. Recently my wife Diane and I took a trip to the newly opened Coal Drop Yard, in the heart of London’s Kings Cross area. This is a really historic area of London with loads of listed railway buildings. It used to be home to some major nightclubs in the 90s and I
knew it well, as I used to DJ and party there throughout the rave era. It was not good on access. Yet as we wandered around we were blown away by the super duper access they now have. Everywhere we went it wasn’t just accessible, but done in such a way that made you experience the space like everyone else. Inclusive. It was a dream. During our short visit we saw lots of other disabled people, all out with their families and friends, also enjoying the ease of such an inclusive space. I then heard that the amazing Tracey Proudlock and her company Proudlock Associates were the access consultants on the development. Obviously the developers had listened to her advice and this had paid off for all.
“ NO TALK OF A TALENT SEARCH OR TOKENISM. JUST AN EARNEST DESIRE TO LEARN AND TO MAKE THINGS BETTER ” So that’s my festive wish for you all. I really think we might finally be getting through to the people with the power to make change. I go into 2019 feeling more positive than I have in a long time. I doubt we will see change quickly but I wonder if 2020 might mark a time when we begin to feel welcome and accepted once we venture outside our front door. Now that would be a Christmas miracle.
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Keeping your prescriptions simple a nd ou r ser v ice person a l Michelle Healthcare Partner
Jenny Pharmacist
Najma Healthcare Supervisor
Columnist Sam Renke
Our favourite teacherturned-actress, Sam Renke, brings you her take on life and the colourful experiences it throws her way.
“THE REALITY IS THAT THE REASONABLE ADJUSTMENT POLICY IS NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE AND IS SHROUDED IN AMBIGUITY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IT FAILS TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE DISABLED COMMUNITY”
You can follow Sam on @samrenke
#DONTWANTOURCASH Fed up with accessible loos being used as storage cupboards, lifts out of order or tills too high? Would you like to go shopping or simply about your daily activities without having to bring someone with you just in case places aren’t accessible? Well, my frustration with how inaccessible the world we live in came to a head early last month when I entered a shop that had recently been refurbished. Despite its glittery new interior the lift was out of service and the tills still far too high for me to reach the cash machine. There was a long queue behind me and although the shop assistant could see me struggling no help was offered. I could feel my cheeks getting red and tears well up in my eyes. I just wanted to do some shopping and what was supposed to be a lovely day out turned into a humiliating and frustrating experience. Since this incident I have started to take pictures of every store, bar, street or public transport that isn’t accessible as most people who aren’t affected by a disability are oblivious as to how inaccessible the world really is. It is a misconception that the Equality Act 2010 protects the disabled community when it comes to access. The reality is that the reasonable adjustment policy is not fit for purpose and is shrouded in ambiguity and most importantly it fails to protect the rights of the disabled community. I have launched the #DontWantOur Cash campaign to highlight this issue and also to show the importance of the Purple Pound. The Purple Pound is the collective spending power of disabled people and stands at an estimated £249 billion.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED? Every time you go out to a venue that doesn’t meet your access needs I would like you to take a picture or video, when possible add location and upload it to @DontWantOurCash on the Facebook and Twitter pages and don’t forget to use the hashtag #DontWantOurCash Anyone, no matter what your impairment can get involved, your voice matters!
THE AIM I want to gather enough evidence to take to Parliament and change the reasonable adjustments policy so that there is no longer any ambiguity as to what constitutes as ‘reasonable’.
RULES If a venue fails to meet access policies then it’s totally fine to name and shame and show the name of the brand, restaurant, venue on the photo. It is completely within your rights to take pictures or videos in public areas. Try your best when taking your picture to not get members of the public in the shot. I realise that this is not always feasible so if you can cover them up with a smiley face emoji that would be great. But don’t worry if you can’t, it’s not the end of the world and I wouldn’t want you to not post and support the campaign because of this. We all have the right to live independently, safely without restrictions - just because you have a disability doesn’t mean you don’t deserve these things.
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CHRISTMAS
POSABILITY PARTY PLAYLIST All I Want for Christmas - Mariah Carey Rockin Around the Christmas Tree – Mel and Kim Fairytale of New York - The Pogues Joy to the World - The Esso Trinidad Steelband Last Christmas - Wham! Merry Christmas Everybody - Slade I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Andy Williams Let it Snow - Dean Martin Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End) - The Darkness CARDS FOR HUMANITY Jackie Adam, an illustrator and wheelchair user, has been selling Christmas cards for the past three years and is passionate about showing disability in an inclusive light. “The campaign is basically to get images of disabled people included in a natural way on greetings cards,” she began. “There are so many Christmas cards of skating scenes, around a Christmas tree and party scenes where disabled people are noticeable by their absence! I want disabled people included in these scenes and to be seen in a celebratory context. “It is not about having a lone disabled person as a figure of charity as we have seen in the past, neither is it about having a group of disabled people together. It’s about reflecting reality and last year Cards for Good Causes asked to produce a card from one of my designs. “I find it upsetting to see charities raising money for disabled people selling cards which totally exclude them, thus adding to the problem of our invisibility in society. I am very grateful to Cards for Good Causes.” cardsforcharity.co.uk/nativity-on-the-cardcampaign
PosAbility
stocking fillers
CHRISTMAS COSIES One of the best things at Christmas at all ages is jumping into new, warm and fluffy pyjamas. New Christmas pyjamas are a tradition in many households but if they can also spread a message, even better! One of PosAbility’s favourite clothing brands is Monkey Menagerie who spread awareness for Down’s syndrome. They have a number of Christmas themed pyjamas, baby grows and sweaters available for the season! Monkey Menagerie on etsy.com
TUCK IN AROUND THE TABLE Not everyone’s Christmas day plans are traditional, and sometimes, people may not be able to travel to be with family or have anyone to enjoy their meal with. If loneliness is something you are concerned about this Christmas, why not visit Community Christmas’ website and see what is available in your area or see if any local community centre or council is running anything. communitychristmas.org.uk
cco, baste Pop the Prose get the the turkey and e most music on, it’s th e of the year. wonderful tim te Words by Colet
Carr
CRACK THESE CHRISTMAS CRACKERS What do you get if you cross Santa with a duck? A Christmas quacker! What is the best Christmas present in the world? A broken drum, you just can’t beat it! What did Santa do when he went speed dating? He pulled a cracker! What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations? Tinsilitis! What does Santa suffer from if he gets stuck in a chimney? Claustrophobia!
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HAVE YOURSELF A VERY STRESS-FREE CHRISTMAS It is quite baffling how the most wonderful time of the year can turn into the most stressful. From present shopping and endless organising, it all seems to become a bit overwhelming at times and one of the most exciting parts of the magical day can become the most stressful – the Christmas dinner. With it being one of the most anticipated meals of the year, many put unnecessary pressure on themselves to ‘get it right’. From ensuring there’s a large enough selection of vegetables on offer, to perfectly roasting the main, the nominated chefs often find themselves wound up so tightly under the stress of it all that they can’t enjoy the day at all. If you have a disability or a family member that has a disability, it can become even more stressful. But there are many ways that you can make it an easier ride, from pre-cooking certain things before the day itself, to rethinking your menu or methods.
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Here are PosAbility’s top tips for a stress-free Christmas dinner.
PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE
Most people do try to get at least some of the Christmas dinner done before the 25th, but by really setting aside the time, even in little intervals in the few days before Santa visits to get some groundwork done can make the world of difference. If you are making your own pigs in blankets, wrap the sausages in bacon a day or two before so it’s one less job on the day. Make your soup before the day and buy part-baked baguettes to cut down on starter prep time on the day. Pre-peeled potatoes and cooking certain veg on Christmas Eve is another popular tip. The day will no doubt be quite chaotic regardless of how tight a ship you try to run, so give yourself a head start where you can.
YUM!
CHRISTMAS
ASK GUESTS TO CHIP IN
If you feel you have too much on your plate, ask for help. If you are hosting the day, guests will often be more than happy to help when they can. Whether they bring along a few sides or help out in the kitchen, or help set and dress the table as you deal with the cooking, family and friends want you to enjoy the day as much as they do, meaning they will probably help relieve as much stress as they can.
SHOP ONLINE If the chaos and trolley dashes of the supermarkets in the lead up to the big day are too overwhelming, or you think you will struggle to transport everything home from the shops, order online. All the major supermarkets allow customers to order and pay for their items online and either collect them at the store or deliver straight to your door. Ordering online can keep you out of the manic aisles as people scurry about furiously searching for the cranberry sauce and also frees up time to organise other parts of the big day.
INVOLVING TUBE-FED GUESTS If you or a member of your family are tube-fed, you may be worried about how to ensure they feel really involved or enjoy the special meal. If tolerable, there are plenty holiday inspired blend recipes that can be fed to adults or children with tube feeding, but if it isn’t feasible, the worst thing you can do is stress. Christmas dinner is a big part of the day – but in reality the food does take secondary importance to company. If someone can’t eat the dinner on the table, still set them a place. Children may particularly enjoy being at the top of the table and taking charge of proceedings, reading the bad cracker jokes, or playing with a smaller gift. Some people even decorate their tube to get into the Christmas spirit! If they can sustain certain soft foods, blending vegetables like potatoes, parsnips or carrots can be easily spoon fed with little risk of injury or choking. Parents or carers may feel guilt at tucking in while someone else can’t, but it’s all about including them as much as possible and not making it into a huge deal if nothing can be done. Christmas dinner is only as enjoyable as the atmosphere around the table.
ORDER IN
If you feel like you want a break from it all and fancy going against the grain a little – get a takeaway! While it may seem blasphemous to some to order a Chinese or Indian on Christmas Day, the unique take on the meal may remove all stress in the kitchen and provide some interesting stories and a non-run of the mill Christmas to remember. While some people like to go out for dinner if they don’t fancy putting on their apron, by staying in you can forget about the stress of getting to a restaurant or its access and enjoy all your home comforts and family traditions without the fire alarm going off!
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CHRISTMAS WITH THE COLUMNISTS We asked our wonderful friends of the magazine to lift the lid on typical festivities in their homes.
CHRISTMAS WITH THE SCARLETS Christmas is a big deal in the Scarlet house. My wife Diane and I love it and have many traditions that make it extra special. We mark the beginning when I compère at the annual PHAB Club carol concert, where celebrities and the London Orpheus Choir raise the roof of St James’ Church in Piccadilly with some classic hymns and festive poems. Then it’s a few days of frantic shopping before our whole gang descend on Borough Market for last minute food shopping and lots of drinking on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day is just for Diane and I. It’s been our tradition for 23 years and it makes it so special. Then it’s the family get together on Boxing Day. This year they’re coming to ours, so loads of complaining about vegetarian food before the combined hoards eat us empty. Every Christmas Day, Diane and I get all wrapped up and go for a walk around the almost empty streets of Camden Town, wishing those we meet a “very happy Christmas”.
Mik and his wife Diane in the Christmas spirit
CHRISTMAS WITH THE RENKES
Growing up I spent many of my Christmases in Germany visiting my Oma and Opa, and if there’s one thing us Germans do well it’s Christmas, with Gluhwein, Stollen, Lebkuchen and lots and lots of chocolate. Midnight mass was a must and unlike Christmas in the UK we opened our gifts on the 24th brought to us not by Santa, but the Christkind, a cherub child with blond hair and angelic wings - a little like me when I was young! My sister and I would be locked in the kitchen at around noon so that the Christkind could place our gifts under the tree.
A young Sam enjoying a German Christmas
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Christmas in Germany was a holy day, to be with loved ones and to sing and be merry.
“CHRISTMAS IN GERMANY WAS A HOLY DAY, TO BE WITH LOVED ONES AND TO SING AND BE MERRY”
CHRISTMAS
CHANUKAH WITH THE WOOLFS
Jane will enjoy her first Christmas with her gorgeous granddaughter CHRISTMAS WITH THE HATTONS Like most women, Christmas used to involve planning, shopping, cooking, entertaining family and, frankly, a lot of work. For many years I ‘managed’ Christmas for my children and often their grandparents. Recently it’s been very different. My eldest daughter, now married, invites me to her and her husband’s home for Christmas. I don’t have to worry about food shopping, and don’t do much cooking either (for the sake of tradition I still dress the turkey). Much easier! However, more than ever I’m looking forward to this Christmas. In May, my gorgeous granddaughter arrived, and this will be her first Christmas! She’ll only be seven months old but will enjoy the lights and decorations. And the wrapping paper will almost certainly bring more entertainment than its contents. I can’t wait!
In our family we celebrate Chanukah - the Jewish wintertime festival of lights, and it means “re-dedication” - it’s the story of one of the greatest miracles in Jewish history. Two thousand years ago, the Greeks banned all Jewish rituals and King Antiochus tried to make Jewish people bow in front of a statue of him that had been put in the Jewish temple and pray to Greek Gods, but they refused. A small group of Jews called the Maccabees won a three-year battle to practise freely. After they repaired the temple, they lit an oil lamp to celebrate their victory and although there was only enough oil for one day, by a miracle it burned for eight days and that’s why we light the Chanukah (an eight-branched candle stick) every night for eight nights.
Rio po sing wit h a trad itional Chanukah
During Chanukah we eat traditional food fried in oil; donuts, latkes (potato fritters), but my favourite are the pancakes! It’s a fun time for children as we get presents and we also play a special game where we spin a top called a dreidel with a Hebrew letter on each side. The date of Chanukah changes every year - it’s always in November or December and this year it starts on 2nd December I’m already counting down!
CHRISTMAS WITH THE WHITES Christmas with a wheelchair means traditions are usually altered in the White house. Emily and Aimee always put the tree up as soon as December arrives, with the dog eager to undo all their work - as soon as tinsel goes on, tinsel comes off. We start the day on Emily’s bed opening presents while Alexa serenades us with Cliff, who is more suited to Halloween than Christmas. After fried food excess we decamp to the lounge where Emily goes to work as chief present distributor, strangely finding all hers first. Emily adores the Christmas season, the anticipation and most of all the chocolate! For us it’s all about ticking off another year that has, thankfully, been operation free. Merry Christmas readers!
The White family curled up for Christmas
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BAKE OFF
We speak to Bake Off semi-finalist Briony Williams about her time on the show, Christmas bakes, and her little hand. Words by Katie Campbell
Queen Baking
P
osAbility isn’t normally one to pick
a favourite during Great British Bake Off, but the office bakers threw their combined weight behind Bristolian puff-pastry fanatic Briony Williams. We were beyond devastated when she left the competition in the semi-finals, leaving a sunny, sweet, and often tearful hole in our lives as we watched the season nine final. “I’ve always baked with my mum and
my nan; fairy cakes and birthday cakes,” 33-year-old Briony told PosAbility, “But I only got properly into baking five years ago. I was off work for nine months with what turned out to be polycystic ovarian syndrome and a colleague suggested I tried baking to keep me from going stir crazy - I’m not very good at doing nothing! I taught myself a lot using YouTube and developed my skills from there. “I’ve always been a huge fan of Bake Off, it’s such a great show. A few friends said I should apply but I never thought I’d
Pastry queen and Bake Off semi-finalist Briony
be good enough. Then one evening after watching it last year, I filled in the application without telling anyone because I didn’t think it would go anywhere. It was only when I got the phone call a few weeks later saying they wanted to chat with me that I told my husband and mum.” Season nine was one of ups and downs for full-time mum Briony: despite starting off strong, a stumble in episode four saw her struggle with the technical of raspberry blancmange and langues du î chat, and the showstopper of a blood
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BAKE OFF
orange and amaretto sticky toffee sphere. Struggling at the bottom, it looked like it was between Briony and other competitor Karen as elimination loomed, but judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood decided the absence of baker Terry due to illness meant they would be spared from leaving the competition. Briony would regain her composure however, crafting a stunning turmeric latte chandelier in the spice challenge before showing her incredible baking chops during pastry week. Her finely crafted puits d’armour landed her first in the technical challenge, while her “Down the Rabbit Hole” banquet pie showcased the absolute heights of her talent, winning her star baker in the show’s sixth week. “Getting star baker on pastry week was the most amazing feeling,” Briony said. “I’d had quite a few rough weeks and I thought I would probably be going home as I was convinced I was the weakest link at that point. So when the weekend went really well it was such a wonderful surprise!” While winning pastry week was
“THE RESPONSE WAS PHENOMENAL, WITH SOME TAKING TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO SAY THEY WERE MOVED TO TEARS TO SEE SOMEONE LIKE THEM ON TV”
Briony’s biggest surprise, for the audience, the slow realisation that Briony has a disability lead some to tweet “I could have sworn Briony had two hands last week!” Speaking to the BBC, Briony said she refused specialist equipment on the show, and between her and Channel 4, it was decided that they wouldn’t make a big deal
of her hand. The response was phenomenal, with some taking to social media to say they were moved to tears to see someone like them on TV. For many viewers, it took them as long as three weeks to realise that Briony’s left hand stops at her wrist. “Everyone has been so kind and
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supportive,” Briony said about the public’s reaction to what she calls her “little hand.” “I’ve been overwhelmed by the positive reaction I’ve received. I really didn’t want to make a big deal out of my hand because it’s not a big deal to me. I’ve always just got on with it so that’s what I wanted to do on Bake Off.” With Christmas being the season of food, family and festivity, we wondered how Briony would be celebrating the holidays with some delicious treats – and it turns out Christmas is her favourite season! “I love Christmas! I’ll be whipping up all sorts of festive classics: mince pies, Christmas pudding, gingerbread, ginger cake,” she said. “I’ll be getting my threeyear-old daughter Nora involved as much as possible too.” The experience of being on Bake Off is one which has greatly impacted Briony. After leaving the show, she unveiled three new tattoos on Instagram – a whisk, a piping bag, and on her left wrist, a heart. On Twitter, she called it her “cheeky little Bake Off tattoo,” which she got to represent “the most incredible, wonderful, glorious experience” she had on the show. “It’s been so much fun,” she said. “So many people come up to talk to me and they are always so lovely. I’ve got an agent now and we’re working on some projects for the future. “There are lots of exciting things in the pipeline so I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens in the New Year.”
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COMPETITION
LEGO-ise Yourself MINIFIGS.ME IS GIVING ONE POSABILITY READER A VOUCHER TO CREATE A BESPOKE LEGO VERSION OF THEMSELVES!
Not enough people have miniature LEGO versions of themselves; it is the mission of minifigs.me to correct this travesty! For company founders, Nick and Caroline Savage, customising minifigures started out as a hobby. They would LEGO-ise friends and family, just for fun. In 2012, they recreated Paralympic athletes in LEGO, and the resulting minifigures were featured on Channel 4’s The Last Leg. Orders started flooding in, and they realised it was time to quit their day jobs. They now offer a range of minifigures and custom LEGO products via their website minifigs.me. Customers can recreate anyone they like in LEGO - choosing the best head, hair, torso, legs and accessories (including wheelchairs and prosthetic legs). Designs are printed directly onto LEGO pieces, and names or short messages can be included. They also offer a premium bespoke service where customers can have a minifigure designed from scratch, based on photographs and a description. With help from their friends at young bricks.co.uk, they are currently working on a new wheelchair
design - based on Stephen Hawking’s. They look forward to launching this new product, along with new LEGO-ised communication devices, so that more people can be properly represented in LEGO. If you have any ideas of technology and accessories they should add to their range to better represent disabled people, please email contact@minifigs.me with your ideas.
If you would like to be in with the chance of winning this great prize, simply answer the following question correctly: Which TV show were the minifigs.me Paralympian athlete minifigures featured on?
COMPETITION TIME!
Minifigs.me is now offering a special giveaway - a voucher for one lucky winner to use their premium service and have one of their designers create a bespoke LEGO minifigure from scratch. The voucher (worth £34.99) can be used to make yourself, someone famous (or someone obscure) or someone you love enough to get made into LEGO. Please bear in mind that the company don’t make custom parts, only custom designs. Therefore, if LEGO don’t make the product or colour you think you need, there may need to be some compromises. But so far so good, LEGO is very versatile and they’ll find a way to figure it out. Please note, they are not able to print real world logos onto minifigure parts, eg. company logos or brand names and images.
THIS MORNING THE LAST LEG THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW ü PLEASE TICK THE CORRECT ANSWER
Email your answer and your contact details to posabilitycompetitions@gmail.com, visit posabilitymagazine.co.uk to enter online or post to the address below: Minifigs Competition PosAbility Magazine Caledonia House Thornliebank Ind. Est. Glasgow, G46 8JT
Name: Address: Postcode: Tel: Email:
Terms & Conditions This voucher is valued at £34.99 and is to be used against a bespoke minifig. It can be redeemed between 1 February 2019 and 10 September 2019. It can take up to 2 weeks to create these highly bespoke products, and the design team will email you photographs of the minifigure to check you are happy with it before posting it out to you. Closing date for entries is 31 January 2019.
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The Nature of
MACHINES Bionics represent the intersection of technology and machines, and how they can be applied to human bodies could see prosthetics changed forever. Words by Katie Campbell
A
t the intersection of nature and technology, there is
bionics: the application of engineering to replicate systems and methods found in nature. In science, the classic example is that of the lotus effect: the lotus flower is famed for its slick surface which water does not stick to, and it became the inspiration for water and dirt repellent paint. We see it everywhere in our lives but rarely realise it is there: Velcro was inspired by the hooks on the surface of burs which stuck to the inventor’s dog, ultrasound and radar took great inspiration from echolocation, the process animals like bats use to calculate distance based on the time sounds take to bounce back to them off objects. In the world of science fiction, our imaginations have taken us further than modern scientific practices have managed. RoboCop is…well, he’s a robotic policeman; a man whose body was rebuilt by technology after an accident, existing as little more than a face and brain inside a suit of bionic armour. Star Trek showed us Geordi La Forge wearing a visor which, along with bio-implants, allowed him to see in spite of being blind from birth, and Captain Jean-Luc Picard living with an artificial heart after an accident early in his career. Anakin Skywalker received a bionic arm after his was amputated in a fight with Count Dooku, which was later upgraded to an entire bionic suit after a fight with Obi-Wan Kenobi resulted in the loss of his legs and other arm – resulting in him becoming Darth Vader.
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We might be a bit far from existing as a face and brain inside a Kevlar-coated robotic exoskeleton like RoboCop, but bionic eyes, arms, legs, feet and spines are slowly becoming a reality outside of the realms of fiction. In 2012, Dr Dianne Ashworth received a bionic eye implant from Bionic Vision Australia at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne, which enabled her to see outlines of people and objects. Robotic exoskeletons are helping paraplegic people to walk, and in 2015, an Austrian surgeon successfully pioneered bionic reconstruction by removing a hand from a patient which was only partially functioning and replacing it with a fully bionic one. Every single day, a person with hearing loss is fitted with cochlear implants – functionally, bionic ears – which use electric signals to compensate for or replace hearing through biological means. Doctor Hugh Herr is a fascinating figure in the world of bionics: a rock climber, an engineer, a biophysicist and a double amputee. Herr is a professor at the MIT Media Lab, where he works as part of MIT’s Center for Extreme Bionics, developing wearable robotic systems for people with a huge assortment of impairments. Aside from this, he is an accomplished climber, whose legs required amputation after being caught in a blizzard while climbing Mount Washington, New Hampshire in January 1982. Speaking at TED2014, Herr said that he does not view his body as “broken,” saying: “Technology is broken. Technology is inadequate. This simple but powerful idea was a call to arms, to advance technology for the elimination of my own disability, and ultimately, the disability of others. “I began by developing specialised limbs that allowed me to return to the vertical world of rock and ice
BIONICS climbing. I quickly realised that the artificial part of my body is malleable; able to take on any form, any function - a blank slate for which to create, perhaps, structures that could extend beyond biological capability. I made my height adjustable. I could be as short as five feet or as tall as I’d like.” Herr used technological innovation to make himself stronger, faster, and a better climber: with narrow edged feet, and was struck by how his impairment was simply a blank canvas for him to adapt and build upon as he saw fit. Currently, he wears a pair of prosthetic limbs which feature the BiOM Ankle System, the first leg prosthesis to successfully imitate the standard biological walking gait through biomechanical means. If you were to watch Herr move without seeing his prosthetics, it would be almost impossible to figure that he was actually wearing them. Electrodes connect to his biological limb and recognise when Herr thinks about moving his phantom limb, and lo and behold, the biomechanical limb moves, just as his biological ankles would have done. The materials that his team at MIT have modelled the leg from imitate the tension and hardness of muscles. He can comfortably walk and run using a comfortable gait. The absolute delicacy and precision of the technology cannot be underestimated: in the same TED2014 talk, Herr introduces Adrianne Haslet-Davis to the audience. She is a ballroom dancer, and in Herr’s words, she lives and breathes dance. “It is her art form,” he
“HERR USED TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION TO MAKE HIMSELF STRONGER, FASTER, AND A BETTER CLIMBER: WITH NARROW EDGED FEET, AND WAS STRUCK BY HOW HIS IMPAIRMENT WAS SIMPLY A BLANK CANVAS FOR HIM TO ADAPT AND BUILD UPON” says. Adrianne lost her left leg in the Boston terrorist attack, preventing her from returning to the dancefloor she loves so much. With the help of his team at MIT, Herr built her a bionic limb. She took to the floor at TED2014 to dance for the first time since the attack, outfitted with her bionic limb, and burst into tears as soon as she seemed to realise: she was dancing again. The precision and grace of her limb are impeccable; when she thinks, it moves. And it moves just as her biological limb would have. The fluidity of her movement is there, and it makes for a powerful image. Bionics are paving an incredible way for people with impairments; as Herr said, he is not disabled, technology and society are. As incredible innovators like Dr Hugh Herr and his team at MIT continue to revolutionise exactly what technology and biotechnology can do for people, they expand the limits of humanity and power towards a total biotechnological utopia, where those who wish to employ biomechanics in their life can see their dream realised.
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HOT STUFF We bring you a mix of the most innovative and helpful products on the market today
HEATED JACKET This battery heated Traveller Jacket is lightweight and stylish and will keep you cosy no matter what the weather. You can control the heat of your jacket easily and it is available for men and women, with more styles on the Blaze Wear website. 0845 475 7510 blazewear.com
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FREEWHEEL This handy attachment allows wheelchair users to traverse, snow, grass, bumpy paths and roads more easily. Compatible with most wheelchairs, it simply clamps onto the footrest of a rigid frame wheelchair and when not in use can be stored discreetly on the bar on the back of your wheelchair.
£350 (exc VAT)
“LIGHTWEIGHT AND STYLISH AND WILL KEEP YOU COSY NO MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER”
01543 899 317 spokz.co.uk
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COMPRESSION SOCKS Comfortable and luxurious, these compression socks have a high content of cotton that helps provide support to legs and feet. Ideal for those prone to varicose veins or who stand or sit for long periods of time. Easy to take on PRICES and off, FROM they look stylish too.
£13.00
SMALL ITEM GRIPPING AID Designed to help people with limited hand function to grip small items such as toothbrushes, pens, mascara wands, art equipment and much more. This gripping aid has just been launched to make everyday tasks easier for those who struggle with fine motor skills and give more independence to the user. 01564 702255 activehands.com
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THERMOSKIN THERMAL ARTHRITIC GLOVES These gloves are designed to help keep hands warm and mobile. The finger ends are left open to enable the user to grip and feel things without restriction. Retaining the warmth helps to ease pain often caused by arthritis and the grip is further enhanced by the specially textured outer fabric. 03330 160 000 completecareshop.co.uk
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INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS “THIS GRIPPING AID HAS JUST BEEN LAUNCHED TO MAKE EVERYDAY TASKS EASIER”
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DEEP SLEEP HEAVENLY CANDLE
ACORN STAIRLIFT If you find that your stairs have become a daily challenge, an Acorn Stairlift can help. Tailor-made to suit your home and lifestyle, an Acorn Stairlift can be fitted to all types of staircase, and what’s more, they can do so within a matter of days rather than weeks; even next day if required. Whatever type of staircase you have, Acorn can provide the perfect solution for your needs.
This luxurious This Works candle is hand-blended and enriched with essential oils of lavender and camomile. It is the perfect addition to your home over the festive period when the glow of candles add to the magic of Christmas and the therapeutic fragrance helps you relax during the busy Christmas period. beautybay.com
FALL PREVENTION ALERT SYSTEM This fall prevention and wander detection carer alert system has a bed leaving alarm, door alarms, PIR movement sensor and a wireless carer alarm receiver. Designed and manufactured in the UK by Medpage, this system provides peace of mind to family and carers by alerting them when movement is detected.
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Emily Jones recently made an honest and hilarious video for BBC Sesh about living with an ostomy bag. Her lighthearted approach proved a hit with many people living with an ostomy bag and those who were considering the surgery. Here Emily shares her experience of living without her rectum and the hugely positive effect it has had on her life. Words by Emily Jones
INTESTINES NOT INCLUDED
M
y name is Emily Jones, I am 22 years old and I have suffered from Crohn’s for most of my life. I’m not even talking generic, treatable with medication Crohn’s. Mine was a full blown steroid and drug resistant inflammatory bowel monster. We tried everything to treat it: medication, diet, steroids and even j-pouch surgery. Nothing worked. I had battled it the normal way for years. I had more drugs than Pablo Escobar (mine, purely medicinal of course). But with me spending more and more of my life getting to intimately know the porcelain it was clear it wasn’t working. Time to bring out the big boy that was Azathioprine. I, however, am not so straight forward. Instead of attacking the Crohn’s (or what was then thought to be colitis), the medication attacked my body. Over the course of a week I went from just under the weather to vomiting up blood like a scene from a horror movie. If it weren’t for my GP, I would’ve died as the specialist refused to believe I’d reacted so severely. There was a point in that week where my parents were convinced I wouldn’t be making it out of this. But much like Mary Berry, it would be my second attempt that would be my greatest.
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A few months later I would meet the surgeon who would stick with me for the next decade or so, change my life and to this day continues to remind me of Dr Bunsen Honeydew from the Muppets (which is only funnier when you learn my first stoma was called Beaker- we were like a grand comedy duo: one of us dealt with shit while the other just spoke a lot of it). Plan A: The j-pouch operation. Mine was done in three steps over the space of a year as it was thought my body wouldn’t handle it all in one. I just think they really liked me on that ward and wanted to see me more often. Life post reversal was… anticlimactic. I was still ill, in pain and spending most of my teen years with my knickers around my ankles (and not in the fun way). Allow me to give you the cliff notes version of those seven years as I am on a word limit here. Persistent pain, bathroom urgency, so much blood, cramps from the pits of hell, anaemia, gall bladder removal, hair loss and one huge tumour. The last year of having a rectum was basically a year of non stop trial and error until they were forced to admit that the Crohn’s was making its way though my digestive tract quicker than a forest fire. So, in December of 2016, it was decided that I would have a permanent ileostomy. I had nothing to lose but the rest of my life to gain. It was a no brainer. Honestly, I had a lot of negative comments from people when I told them about the impending removal of my rectum. Did
CROHN’S
So, what is life with an ileostomy like? It’s amazing. There have been days where my bag has leaked numerous times and I have still never regretted my choice. This bag didn’t just grant me an end to unceasing pain. It gave me confidence. I was no longer terrified at the thought of leaving the house and constantly worried about the location of the nearest toilet. The ileostomy wasn’t the end of my life, it was the beginning of me making up for the ten years I’d lost.
“LIFE POST REVERSAL WAS… ANTICLIMACTIC. I WAS STILL ILL, IN PAIN AND SPENDING MOST OF MY TEEN YEARS WITH MY KNICKERS AROUND MY ANKLES (AND NOT IN THE FUN WAY)” this make me worry about my choice? Did it hell. None of the people who had made the comments had ever been through what I had for the past decade. The comments weren’t even to do with my wellbeing, they were to do with how people would view me and my appearance. Someone even said “no one will want to sleep with you if you have an ostomy bag.” Well, let me tell you something, it is a year on from my operation and I can confirm that statement is highly inaccurate. In 365 days only two people have had an issue with my ileostomy and one of those thought sexism was a myth, so I think it’s clear who dodged a bullet there.
YOU CAN FOLLOW EMILY’S MUSINGS AT
her aptly named blog B intestinesnotincluded.wordpress.com or follow her on Instagram @intestinesnotincluded.
After my operation the questions and who asked them changed. I had messages from IBD sufferers, bag or not. The most commonly asked question - how do you cope so well with it all? For me, humour and bluntness was my way of making it normal. With every hurdle I came up against my mum told me to just get on with it because I was stronger, while my dad made entirely inappropriate (but always welcome) jokes. I started writing the blog from day one but it wasn’t until my permanent ileostomy that I found my creative flow. Writing was an outlet, I could waffle on about my ileostomy related anecdotes without interruption. But what was even greater was the feedback I got from it. Making my situation light-hearted and humorous made the people around me more comfortable to ask questions and that’s slowly helping to break the poo taboo. If we stop treating ostomy bags like something to be kept hush hush (much like periods and sex) those who need or have had this life-changing operation are going to feel a lot more comfortable. We need to stop seeing ostomies as ‘worst case’ scenarios when the reality is that the worst is an awful quality of life or even death. We as humans are resilient, we adapt. This includes ostomy surgery. In time it becomes natural.
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HOLIDAY PROFILE Revitalise provide unforgettable respite holidays combined with the reassurance of expert nurse-led care
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call 0303 303 0145 bookings@revitalise.org.uk revitalise.org.uk
R E V I TA L I S E
R
evitalise is a national charity that has been
exercise classes, cooking, quizzes, arts and crafts, bingo and more.
providing respite care in a holiday setting for disabled people and carers for over 50 years. Revitalise currently run three accessible holiday centres in Chigwell in Essex, Southampton and Southport.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF MY HOLIDAY? Revitalise holidays are full board which includes accommodation, excursions, daily activities, live evening entertainment, three tasty meals a day and much more! You can choose from five different Care Support Packages which means you only pay for the care you need.
Their mission is to enable disabled people in the UK to access essential breaks with care, and provide inspirational opportunities for volunteers. They firmly believe that disabled people should have the same rights, freedom, responsibilities and quality of life as those without disabilities.
DESCRIBE WHAT I CAN EXPECT AT YOUR THREE CENTRES Each week at the centre is themed and guests enjoy a range of fully-accessible excursions to nearby sites and attractions, live evening entertainment and activities.
HOW DO I KNOW YOU WILL BE ABLE TO MEET ALL MY NEEDS? We have experience catering to every type of condition or impairment including cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke, spina bifida, brain damage and arthritis. So
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL CHARGES? Additional charges apply to specialist equipment, such as profiling beds and hoists, and the price for entry to attractions where applicable. both disabled people and carers can relax and leave the care to us.
WHAT EXCURSIONS AND ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE? Excursions vary depending on the holiday centre but include trips to theatre shows, the seaside, museums and galleries, the countryside, shopping destinations and so much more. There are even day trips to France and Belgium in the summer. Activities can include cocktail making,
WHAT MAKES A HOLIDAY WITH REVITALISE DIFFERENT? Revitalise is the largest provider of respite holidays for disabled people in the UK. Our combination of a proper holiday experience alongside 24-hour nurse-led care makes us unique. We have been providing holidays for over 55 years, so we are experts in what we do. WWW.POSABILITYMAGAZINE.CO.UK
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I N N OVAT I O N
TRAVEL
CHRISTMAS WITH What is it like to spend Christmas in Iceland with just four hours of daylight? Everything from reindeer balls at mealtime to a dip in the Blue Lagoon with the moon and the stars and frosty frozen eyebrows! Words by Janet Myers
BOLTHOLE IN THE WILDERNESS
list’ in the past it is said that she would appear and take you back to her cave and pop you in her stew pot but in recent years she and Looking out from the wooden cabin the snow appeared very white her lads have mellowed and now focus on leaving gifts for those as it glistened against the black lava formations under a full moon. on her ‘good list’. These she leaves in shoes left on window sills on The ocean was only a short distance away and despite a blanket of Christmas Eve. We decided to do likewise but had to substitute our quietness the waves could be heard crashing onto the shore. Here boots for shoes. The most positive factor being the fact that they daylight lasted for only four hours but inside our bolthole it was hold a lot more! warm, cosy and festive and a very magical place in which to spend a family Christmas. Admittedly we had not envisaged such an CHRISTMAS DAY “GRADUALLY THE BLUE OF THE WATER isolated wilderness with just a few Although the clocks on 25 INTENSIFIED AS THE SUN ROSE LOW ON houses scattered on a December registered early morning peninsula which jutted into the outside it was dark, very dark. As THE HORIZON AND THE BRIGHT MOON ocean. Especially as we were only we left for our Christmas ‘treat’ the SLIPPED OUT OF SIGHT. BY NOW IT WAS half an hour from the capital of waves could still be heard crashing 11.30AM AND WE TOASTED THE NEW Reykjavik and just a few miles on the shore and further along the DAY WITH A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE” from the airport and the Blue coast a lighthouse blinked to warn Lagoon, but we loved it! fishermen of dangerous rocks. Here according to Icelandic The track outside took on the folklore the elves and trolls are appearance of an ice truckers nightmare said to live among the many crags but the well-equipped 4x4 made light and lava formations which litter the work of it as we made our way to the landscape. Grýla the Christmas Blue Lagoon. By the time we slipped troll and her 13 yule lads amongst into the silky steaming water dawn was them. If you were on her ‘naughty still some time away. Our eyebrows î WWW.POSABILITYMAGAZINE.CO.UK
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and hair were covered in frost and we probably looked like trolls ourselves. Gradually the blue of the water intensified as the sun rose low on the horizon and the bright moon slipped out of sight. By now it was 11.30am and we toasted the new day with a glass of champagne. We continued to linger, intoxicated by the warmth and a desire to make the experience last as long as possible but eventually hunger pangs got the better of us. There are no turkey farms in Iceland so we opted for the local speciality at that time of year which is lamb. Starters included copious helpings of gravlax - smörgåsbord style. Dessert was cornflake meringues called Marens Kornflexkökur. Lunch was hardly over before daylight faded and we nestled down amongst the furs and brightly coloured cushions on the soft sofas to watch a movie. From time to time we continued our northern light vigil and could not believe our good fortune when a shriek went up and we peered out to see those awesome bands of iridescent green dancing in the night sky. They stayed with us all evening and it was great to lie in the hot tub watching as curtains of green continued their shimmering ethereal display.
FESTIVE FOOD We treated ourselves to two great memorable meals outside our bolthole. The first was on 23 December which is the day of St Thorlak Thorhallsson, Iceland’s patron saint and the day when Icelanders feast on their traditional putrefied skate. Stefan Sigurosson and his wife Brynhildur Kristjansdottir invited us to Vitinn - their seafood restaurant in Sandgeroi to try it for ourselves. The restaurant is akin to an English pub with plenty of antique fishing paraphernalia hanging from the ceiling but it is the holding tanks outside filled with sea water in which
Matur og Drykkur - this unpretentious restaurant even served up reindeer ‘balls’
Icelandic cuisine - the fresh seafood was served up in abundance
the catch is kept that singles it out. Non-Icelanders regard the famous dish as smelly and rotten. Fermented and cured for several months it also has a pungent taste. However with a traditional ladle of lamb fat poured over it was smooth and velvety and not that bad when eaten with a traditional helping of potatoes! Other offerings on the fish buffet that day included fish stew, salted cod, prawns, marinated herrings and even fish curry. Topped off with rice pudding with a sprinkling of sugar and cinnamon. 42
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“FROM TIME TO TIME WE CONTINUED OUR NORTHERN LIGHT VIGIL AND COULD NOT BELIEVE OUR GOOD FORTUNE WHEN A SHRIEK WENT UP AND WE PEERED OUT TO SEE THOSE AWESOME BANDS OF IRIDESCENT GREEN DANCING IN THE NIGHT SKY”
TRAVEL
GETTING THERE
Located only a two and a half hour flight from the UK Iceland is easily accessible. In recent years budget airlines have joined the major carriers and fly from a number of local airports. All offer assistance for those who need it. Iceland’s major international airport is small and easy to negotiate but it is a 40 mile drive from Reykjavik. Transport is available but it makes sense to hire a car at the airport.
GETTING ABOUT
[Clockwise from above] Scenery - the stunning blue waters and snow covered hills are breathtaking; Douglas Super DC3 photographers enjoy shooting this eerie plane wreck; Sunset - the pink and golden lights of the sunset; Frozen - the Gulfross waterfall offers a frozen paradise; Northern Lights - the hypnotic green lights that dance in the sky are magnificent to behold
Driving is easy as they drive on the left and there is only one main route around the island. The roads in Reykjavik are heated by geothermal power so they are never icy and rental cars are well equipped for the weather conditions further afield. If you wish to visit the glaciers, ice caves etc, or do not wish to drive, coach tours are available, but they are costly. Parking is easy and disabled badges can be used.
ACCESSIBILITY
All natural attractions are free and equipped to cater for everyone including disabled people. It was icy at the waterfalls and Geysir but investing in clip on spikes for your boots is a good tip.
ACCOMMODATION
Whether you favour a hotel, guest house or rented accommodation all are available. We chose a cabin as it was perfect for a family Christmas. It was fully decorated for the festive season and had everything we could possibly need.
COST OF LIVING
The cost of living is high and eating out is expensive but always first class, but more and more fast food outlets are becoming available. The Islanders love hot dogs and Thai food is less costly.
Between Christmas and New Year we also visited Matur og Drykkur. An unpretentious restaurant close to the harbour in Reykjavik. It has been converted from the salting sheds where a hundred years ago fisherwomen salted the catch when it came ashore. On the wall a black and white image reminds of that time. Here, it was around about the sixth course on the Christmas tasting menu that the reindeer ‘balls’ arrived. Coated with a rich sauce, blue cheese, jam and glistening redcurrants they were delicious. Like all the eleven courses it was an artistic masterpiece and made even more appealing by the description offered by our knowledgeable cheery cloth capped waiter. He told us about the reindeer herds on the east of the island. He elaborated on the fact that only a certain number of licenses to shoot them are offered each year in a lottery and how sadly this year they had missed out. However a friend had come to their rescue and provided them with a fine specimen for their festive creations.
“OTHER OFFERINGS ON THE FISH BUFFET THAT DAY INCLUDED FISH STEW, SALTED COD, PRAWNS, MARINATED HERRINGS AND EVEN FISH CURRY”
THE LANDSCAPE With decreased hours of light the majesty of the scenery is curtailed so we decided to take the standard Golden Circle route in reverse. This way we arrived in the mountains above Selfross in the half light. Eerie and magical they appeared an intoxicating blue. Then as the sun set on our return journey it was in front of us. It took a good hour for it to finally disappear below the horizon - all the while creating an amazing band of pink and yellow against an ever darkening sky above. At Geysir the air was heavy with the smell of sulphur and wisps of smoke drifted across the black and white landscape interspersed here and there with patches of bright green mineral deposits. Water boiled and small geysers bubbled all around. In places the heat melted the snow to reveal ribbons of hot swirling water below. Affectionally known as Strokkur the main geyser erupted to a good height every few minutes. Nearby is the Gulfross waterfall. Here water freezes in ribbons of ice towards its extremities but the mighty waters still fell with considerable fury against a white backdrop of snow across most of its wide vista. Down near Vik, four miles down an icy track, back towards the ocean, stands the degrading carcass of a Douglas Super DC3 which crash landed in 1973. The crew survived but recovering the plane was impractical. In the eerie light as darkness falls all colour is drained from the scene and photographers delighted in capturing the unique atmospheric light.
TIME TO GO HOME Every season in Iceland has its own appeal. For some it is the warmth of summer and the midnight sun, but for us winter was perfect. The warm water of the Blue Lagoon on Christmas morning, the atmospheric setting sun on the snow covered horizon and those dancing iridescent northern lights are things we will always remember. Forget the naughty list, I think the troll Grýla had put us at the top of the ‘good list’ because we had a magical time. WWW.POSABILITYMAGAZINE.CO.UK
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ROBOTS
DŌMO ARIGATŌ, MR ROBOTO!
In Japan’s workorientated society, if you want to work, you can have a robot help you, from the comfort of your own home. Words by Katie Campbell
K
entaro Yoshifuji is
the 29-year-old CEO of Ory Laboratories, a Tokyo-based company who since 2012 have created robots which allow people who can’t leave their bedroom to communicate and interact with the world outside. Kentaro’s inventions are informed by the experiences of those closest to him, and from his own life. Between the ages of ten and 14, he missed three and a half years of school due to what he calls “emotional and physical ailments.” In this time he experienced intense loneliness and struggled with the solitude that was imposed upon his life. Worried about her son, Kentaro’s mother pushed her son to enter a local robotics competition – which he won. From there, Kentaro’s life and robotics would become intermingled, and his personal scope of illness, disability, and chronic loneliness would inform his creations. While in high school, he created a sleek electric wheelchair which would not be shaken by ramps, which would go on to win several prestigious prizes. Yuta Banda is Kentaro’s secretary. He was paralysed from the neck down in a traffic accident at age four, but uses one of Ory’s robots to communicate and attend lectures with Kentaro, called OriHime. Yuta’s usage of OriHime informed much of the robot’s design: Kentaro noticed he used his chin to operate the tiny robot, and now plans are in place to ensure it can be operated with bites,
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“ORIHIME-D IS A WORKAROUND FOR THOSE WITH DISABILITIES WHICH PREVENT THEM FROM WORKING WHEN THEY WOULD OTHERWISE LIKE TO”
one finger movement, or the movement of their eyeballs. Japan, as a society, values work above almost everything else. Salarymen work from 8am to 6pm, sleep, get up, and do it all again the next day. In school, students study from 7am to 5pm, then head to cram school to study in an attempt to be the smartest in their class. The emphasis in Japanese society is on working hard, and working a lot. Disabled people in Japanese society struggle with this as a concept: in a world where your worth is measured by your ability to work, how does it feel when you can’t work? OriHime-D is a workaround for those with disabilities which prevent them from working when they would otherwise like to. OriHime-D is just over a metre tall,
with a camera and a speaker, and connects to the user’s computer, smartphone or tablet, allowing them full control over the robot. Its face is modelled after a traditional Noh theatre mask called noh-men, which features a kind of neutral impression. Their existence within Japanese society further endears them to people; they are familiar to Japanese people, who already have a very different relationship with robots than the West. In Japan, they’re seen as friends and helpers, and OriHime-D codifies this. In early December, Kentaro and the other Ory co-founders will be showing what OriHime-D and the disabled people controlling them can do by opening the Dawn ver. Beta café in Tokyo’s Akasaka district with the robots acting as the waiters. They’ll be remotely controlled by people like Nozomi Murata, who lives with autophagic vacuolar myopathy, which results in ongoing weakness in her muscles. While she would struggle to commit to the gruelling regime of Japanese salaryman culture, she can happily control OriHime-D. In a marketing event in August, she debuted her robotic avatar, rolling OriHime-D over to a family seated at a table and asking through the speaker if they’d like to try some chocolate, all from the comfort and security of her home. Kentaro’s view is that robotics should work alongside people as a tool: providing the alternative of an AI which simply keeps them company is not good enough. In a 2016 interview with Japan Spotlight, Kentaro said: “I became interested in creating a robot that could be a friend to human beings and allay their loneliness, so I learned about artificial intelligence for a
year. But the more I learned about AI, the more I felt I was on the wrong track in aiming to tackle loneliness. “It should be human beings who reduce the loneliness of other human beings, not a computer program.” The café is not a permanent feature of the Tokyo landscape however, and will be running for a little over a week in the Japanese capital. Kentaro is hoping that in the run up to Tokyo’s hosting of the Olympics and Paralympics in 2020, they can set up a permanent café featuring the robots. “Everyone should have the freedom to work in the way they like,” said Masatane Muto, one of the project organisers, who also lives with ALS.
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It’s behind you! Enjoy the magic of panto this Christmas at one of the UK’s accessible showings. Words by Colette Carr
T
he Christmas season has well and truly rolled in and the festivities are well underway. Whether you are debating how early too early is to put your decorations up, filling your workspace with merry music, or are trying to keep on top of present shopping, chances are, you have been paid a visit by the Christmas spirit. One sign that the bells have started ringing is the return of one of Yuletide’s grandest traditions – the pantomime. Pantos are no normal play. They are spectacular retellings of classic fairy tales that capture the imagination and radiate joy, induce laughter and ramp up the Christmas spirit! In recent years, these family friendly shows have become more and more accessible and inclusive, so we’ve rounded up some of 2018’s best offerings. Is panto one of the biggest parts of Christmas? Oh yes it is!
OPERA HOUSE MANCHESTER
Starring Les Dennis, Connor McIntyre and Gareth Gates, Manchester’s Cinderella offers a star-studded night and a wonderous take on the perfect princess story. Accessible and inclusive performances are available, with a BSL interpreted show on 13 December and an audio described show on 19 December. manchestertheatres.com
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NOTHING like a
Dame
GRAND OPERA HOUSE BELFAST
Belfast’s 2018 outing of Jack and the Beanstalk promises “a fabulous cast and orchestra, laugh-out-loud comedy, magic beans, bundles of audience participation, stunning scenery and special effects, and fabulous costumes” and has accessible performances to boot. Their signed performance is on Wednesday 19 December, a captioned show onThursday 3 January, an audio described show on Saturday 5 January and a relaxed showing on Wednesday 9 January. goh.co.uk
NEW THEATRE CARDIFF
If you’re a fan of the Hoff, Cardiff’s Peter Pan is the panto for you this year. Baywatch legend David Hasselhoff stars as Captain Hook in the classic tale. The show is the Welsh capital’s biggest panto this year and will feature showstopping flying and special effects. Their audio described show is on 5 and 8 January, a BSL version on 8 January, captioned performances on 3 and 7 January and a relaxed show on 3 January. newtheatrecardiff.co.uk
THEATRE
IMAGINE THEATRE
Britain-wide theatre company Imagine Theatre have accessible showings of eight pantos this year, with their outreach performances of Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, Jack and the Beanstalk, Dick Whittington, Peter Pan, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast. Relaxed performances are on offer in Coventry, Falkirk, Halifax, Inverness, Kirkcaldy, Leamington, Leicester, Newark, Porthcawl, Reading, Rotherham and Southport. Signed shows are available at Coventry, Falkirk, Greenock, Halifax, Leamington, Leicester, Reading, Rotherham and Southport, while audio described performances can be taken in in Coventry and Inverness. Integrated signed and captioned shows can be found in Halifax and Inverness and Halifax are running a touch tour. Check their website for specific dates and requirements on their handy table. imaginetheatre.co.uk
CHICKENSHED
KING’S THEATRE EDINBURGH
Edinburgh’s flagship panto this year is the tale as old as time itself – Beauty and the Beast. See Lumiere light up the Scottish capital’s panto scene in a theatre where, all front of house staff are disability awareness trained and Dementia Friend Training qualified. Enjoy audio described, BSL and touch tour shows on 14 December and 5 January. capitaltheatres.com
“BRITAINWIDE THEATRE COMPANY IMAGINE THEATRE HAVE ACCESSIBLE SHOWINGS OF EIGHT PANTOS THIS YEAR, WITH THEIR OUTREACH PERFORMANCES”
Not pantos, but Chickenshed, an inclusive theatre company whose doors have been open for over forty years, have a number of accessible performances to get you in the spirit. The group have two festive offerings for theatre goers this Christmas with a musical version of Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol and its touring Christmas Tales production. A Christmas Carol is running until 5 January in Chickenshed’s own Rayne Theatre in London and access tickets offer signing, captions, audio described tickets, and tickets for wheelchair users will be charged at a reduced rate. Their Christmas Tales roadshow runs from 5 to 30 December in the Rayne Theatre, the Dugdale Centre, the Alexandra Palace for their Christmas Carnival and St George’s Church. chickenshed.org.uk
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NAIDEX
NAIDEX 45 This year, Naidex will be celebrating its 45th anniversary!
provide visitors with the latest inclusive fashion looks. So why not renew your wardrobe with a selection of clothes specifically made for disabled people?
Being active is another main theme for the 45th edition of Naidex. As one of the show’s most beloved interactive features, the Live Sports Area will look to increase the activity level of disabled people, by getting visitors involved in immersive demonstrations of a wide range of disability sports. What’s more, Naidex 45 will also see the return of the Mobility Test Track, where visitors will get the chance to test any wheelchair, powerchair or scooter, in order to find the one that matches them and their lifestyle the best.
C
oming to Birmingham’s NEC
on 26 -27 March 2019, the show will once more become the hub of the independent living world. And with over 20% of the UK population being disabled, it is about time for disability to come back to the spotlight. Always looking to bring the latest solutions that allow disabled people to live more independently, this year’s Naidex will put its focus on inclusion. And in order to do that best, the show will be working with the likes of Martyn Sibley and Warwick Davis to accomplish its mission. Naidex 45 aims to cover the latest topics in the disability sector, and these are some of this year’s key themes:
Employability will be an essential topic at the 45th edition of the show. Experts will gather on both days to take part in
Events like Naidex contribute to bringing the world of disability forward. By joining PosAbility at Birmingham’s NEC on 26-27 March 2019, visitors will get the opportunity to find everything they need to live more independently and to join the hub of the independent living world. interactive panel sessions, discussing how to make workplaces more accessible and increase the number of disabled people in full time positions. Exhibitors will also be displaying the very latest assistive technology that is enabling disabled people to work and perform to their fullest potential.
Fashion has always been around, but this year it has really taken over the world of disability. For a long time designers seemed to not take into consideration the needs of disabled people when it came to clothing. However, 2018 saw this change, with brands such as Primark, Marks & Spencer, Tommy Hilfiger and River Island transforming their clothing and communications to become more inclusive. Naidex 45 will feature a brand new Fashion Zone, which will
Make sure you get your tickets to attend at naidex.co.uk and join us at Naidex 45 to get a look at what’s in store for the future of independent living.
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A DV E RT I SE M E N T F E AT U R E
Made for peace of mind The Volvo V40 T3 Inscription From £99 Advance Payment* Sit back and relax with the Volvo Motability Scheme. Enjoy our V40 T3 Inscription – a more liberating way to travel – and free yourself from the admin of car ownership with a package that takes care of everything. ENHANCED WELLBEING The V40’s cabin is a sanctuary of calm where you can relax and unwind. It offers premium comfort and thoughtful design throughout, with sculpted seats that support you and your passengers and an optional panoramic glass roof that fills the car with natural light. Every detail puts your wellbeing first. TRAVEL WITH CONFIDENCE In the V40, you can expect a helping hand at every stage of your journey. Hill Start Assist, for example, helps prevent rolling back when you start on an incline. Whilst our optional Cross Traffic Alert makes reversing out of parking spaces safer and easier, with rear-mounted radar sensors that detect and alert you of incoming vehicles.
finger, you can select your preferred settings – at up to motorway speeds. ALWAYS CONNECTED With optional Volvo On Call on your mobile device, you can send your next destination to your V40, sync the app to your calendar and much more. Whilst, in the car, our Sensus Connect infotainment system means your digital world is only ever a touch away. WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED The Motability Scheme includes a range of extra benefits to make your life easier: • Car insurance, servicing and maintenance • Full breakdown cover • Replacement tyres • Windscreen repair or replacement • 60,000-mile allowance across the 3-year period • Certain adaptations at no extra cost • Up to two named drivers VISIT VOLVOCARS.CO.UK/MOTABILIT Y
And once you’re on the road? To reduce the stress of driving in heavy traffic, Adaptive Cruise Control helps to automatically maintain a set speed and distance to the car in front. With the touch of a
Official fuel consumption for the Volvo V40 range in MPG (I/100km): Urban 34.9 (8.1) – 54.3 (5.2), Extra Urban 54.3 (5.2) – 70.6 (4.0), Combined 46.3 (6.1) – 62.8 (4.5). CO2 emissions 143 – 118g/km. MPG figures are obtained from laboratory testing intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not reflect real driving results. *Advance Payment of £99 is for the Volvo V40 T3 Inscription Manual or Automatic. Metallic Paint is included free of charge. Offer available on the Motability Contract Hire Scheme. To be eligible to join the Motability Scheme you must be in receipt of the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance, the Enhanced Rate Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment, War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement or the Armed Forces Independence Payment, which will be taken in lieu of the four-weekly rental for 36 months’ duration. 60,000 mileage allowance over 3 years; excess mileage charges may apply. Offer available from 01/10/18 to 31/12/18 subject to availability at participating retailers. Offer not available with other promotions and may be subject to change. For full terms and conditions, visit www.motability.co.uk. Motability Contract Hire Scheme is administered by Motability Operations Limited (Registered Company No. 1373876), City Gate House, 22 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HB.
RESOLUTIONS
NEW YEAR NEW YOU Words by Katie Campbell
N
ew Year’s resolutions are
inherently a bit rubbish. According to Forbes, only 8% of people actually keep their resolution, and it’s totally understandable why: we make these massive promises to ourselves about how we’re going to stop smoking, drinking, or eating unhealthy food. Everyone feels obligated to join a gym or start trying to learn Russian, even though we haven’t tried to run in 20 years and the only Russian word we know is “vodka.” Then by March, when we’ve all realised it takes more than two months to actually master the guitar and the stress of it has got us drinking and smoking again, the resolution goes straight out the window. The idea itself, however, isn’t bad. Committing to improving yourself in some small way can greatly improve your life, and obviously, drinking and smoking less and eating better are, shockingly, good for you. But we walk into the resolution with the same modern impatience that leads us to pay double in shipping charges to make
something come tomorrow instead of the day after, and that’s our downfall. With a bit of commitment and patience, new year’s resolutions can be a positive and transformative way to start a brand new year. Just don’t overdo it, or expect yourself to be a polyglot come March.
RECYCLE MORE
The council have already given you recycling bins, so you’ve honestly got no real excuse
people rely on every single day), and that’s totally ok, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all make changes to other areas of our lives so that our children’s children aren’t all driven underground due to the scorched earth as a result of there being no ozone left. If you can, stop buying bottles of water and opt instead for a reusable one – same with coffee cups. Wash your clothes in colder water. Plant some trees. Eat a little less beef. Try composting! You won’t notice
“WITH A BIT OF COMMITMENT AND PATIENCE, NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS CAN BE A POSITIVE AND TRANSFORMATIVE WAY TO START A BRAND NEW YEAR” not to sort your recycling. What with climate change being 100% real and actually pretty dangerous to, you know, all forms of life on earth, a team of UN experts have told us that we have a grand total of 12 years to get our backsides in gear and stop destroying the earth with our seemingly limitless wastefulness. Obviously, there’s always going to be things we need that are maybe not the greenest options, like single-use plastic straws and wet wipes (which some disabled
any changes until the polar ice caps stop melting at an alarming rate, but you will categorically feel better knowing that you’re doing your bit for the planet.
GET HANDS ON
People are always making fun of that one person who’s got really “old fashioned” hobbies like sewing, until they need a hole in their jumper mended. Great British Bake Off has sparked a wild resurgence in sweet, î
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RESOLUTIONS
you’re learning how to actually speak to people and converse, which is way more fun and exciting than learning how to say “Jack has a blue dog” in French. The benefits of learning a second language are phenomenal though: there’s a whole host of cognitive benefits, including improved memory, problem solving, critical thinking skills, and being a better listener. There’s also a school of thought which suggests learning a language can help stave off cognitive conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s, and improve the lives of people living with the conditions. Worauf wartest du?
WORK ON YOU old-timey hobbies that your granny would have definitely been amazing at, like sewing, baking and knitting. The one thing no-one tells you about these hobbies is that they’re surprisingly relaxing. With a lot of emphasis being put on self care in 2018 and making time for you, taking up a relaxing but practical hobby could be a great idea. Have you ever kneaded a loaf of bread? There’s nothing that knocks the knots out of your back, arms and shoulders quite like prepping a lovely fresh loaf for a rise in a dark cupboard. There’s also something really quite satisfying about the finished result: eating something you made or cuddling up in a lovely big blanket that you knitted yourself? There’s no feeling quite like it. While cross stitching is a personal favourite, if you’re worried activities involving pointy bits of metal and your soft flesh might not really go together, arm knitting is so much fun, and surprisingly
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“A RESOLUTION SHOULD NOT BE USED AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HATE YOURSELF FOR ALL THE THINGS YOU CAN’T DO, SO CELEBRATE ALL THE THINGS YOU CAN DO” quick. It involves using big, chunky balls of wool, and needs no other peripherals, just your arms. Maybe you could make it your resolution to gift your significant other a present you’ve made for their birthday or Christmas in 2019? Work on that long-game resolution, we believe in you.
LEARN A LANGUAGE
Please don’t look at me like that, I know what I wrote at the start. Learning a language is a great idea, though. It’s easier than ever now too, with apps like Duolingo for your phone or tablet which feature programmes written by native speakers that are fun and teach you actually useful aspects of the language, like asking where the toilet is or if someone has a boyfriend. The way we’re taught language in schools is designed for passing tests, but apps like Duolingo make it so that
Everyone’s always taking their New Year’s resolution as an opportunity to point out what they think are critical flaws in their being. There will definitely be aspects of your life you can improve on… but that’s because every single person has aspects of their life they can improve on. Have you ever considered taking the New Year as an opportunity to change your attitude towards yourself? You’re wonderful, and you’re enough just as you are. Everyone goes on about how it’s a new year and a new them, and that’s great, but why not love who you are? Take the new year head on. Learn to love your body. Love your weird accent. Promise yourself that, for your resolution, you’re not going to beat yourself up for not losing six stone and not quite being able to run a marathon. Resolve to not give up on yourself when it all gets a bit too much. Acknowledge that maybe you’re not going to be the best baker, maybe you’re going to mess the recycling up a few times before you actually get it, and you’re probably not going to be able to fluently converse with anyone by the time your holiday comes around, but you’re going to try. A resolution should not be used as an opportunity to hate yourself for all the things you can’t do, so celebrate all the things you can do. You’re brilliant as you are, so spend 2019 enjoying that.
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Kids’
KIDS
CORNER
“As
PRODUCTS PAGE excited as a kid at Christmas,” is a common saying with good reason.
It’s the time of year when they suddenly want everything under the sun, suddenly start behaving and eagerly await Santa Claus. But once the big day is over, it’s up to you to keep them entertained until they are back at nursery and school. Turn to page 58 for our guide to the Christmas holidays.
We’ve said that children are sponges a million times in PosAbility, but it’s only because it is true! On page 66, we explore The Treehouse at Number 9 - a beautifully illustrated series of stories about characters who all have different abilities. Created by three working mums who are using their unique set of skills and their passion for making the world a better place for their children, the musical story app celebrates difference through the wide variety of characters in the Genie gang and has now seen two story books published too.
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We also look at Scope’s new campaign with our very own Dan White about lobbying the government for a Minister for Disabled Children and Families, hear from our busy bee Rio Woolf and meet Karmzah, the world’s first superhero with cerebral palsy. We hope your little elves have a wonderful Christmas, you enjoy a tipple or two and that you all have a fantastic New Year! WWW.POSABILITYMAGAZINE.CO.UK
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‘Tis the
Season to have
Fun!
SENSORY SNACKS FOR LITTLE ELVES Christmas is all about food and drink: turkey with stuffing and all the trimmings, Christmas pudding, selection boxes and mince pies, all washed down with mulled wine. Playing with food, while not really to be encouraged, is about the most fun anyone can have in a kitchen. Cooking is an extremely sensory experience: the touch and texture of food as it squishes between your fingers, the smell of something slowly cooking and coming to life in the oven, the sound of mixing and cracking, and of course, the taste of a delicious home bake.
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C
hristmas can put a lot of stress
and strain on families, despite the help that Santa brings in sorting the presents. There’s food to prepare, gifts to wrap and re-wrap, cards to write and relatives to visit, and on top of that, the kids get two solid weeks of holiday from school, which means two solid weeks of entertainment required to keep them happy. It’s not always easy to think of fun activities which are also appropriate for kids, but we’ve come up with some movies, games, activities and more to keep your Christmas as fun and festive as possible. Merry Christmas, and if you make anything, don’t forget to show us on Facebook or Twitter!
Words by Katie Campbell
KIDS CHRISTMAS Here’s a super easy recipe that we love which emphasises the sensory joys of being in the kitchen but is still in keeping with the season to be jolly. METHOD
For the cupcakes:
WHITE CHRISTMAS CUPCAKES These cute little cupcakes feature a variety of textures and tastes. They’re so easy to make, and kids will love the cute snowman that sits on top of the snowy coconut. Makes 12 cupcakes. INGREDIENTS 200g golden caster sugar 200g unsalted butter 200g self-raising flour 2 eggs 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp vanilla essence 1⁄2 tsp glycerine A pinch of salt DECORATION 36 white marshmallows Black and orange write-on icing Desiccated coconut 300g icing sugar 30ml warm water
• Get a little elf to use their hands to squish the sugar and butter together until it’s totally combined. While they’re doing that, an adult should preheat the oven to 180 degrees (160 degrees for fan ovens). • Use a sieve to sift the flour, baking powder and salt together in a separate bowl so there’s no lumps or bumps in the dry mix. • Have an adult break the two eggs into a cup, making sure there’s no hard shell inside, and add the vanilla essence and glycerine. Get an elf to give it a very gentle mix with a fork to combine the three together. • Very slowly add the dry ingredients into the butter and sugar, and when it’s totally combined, slowly add in the egg. The mixture should look gloopy, but not be too runny or too solid. • Fill 12 Christmassy cupcake cases 3⁄4 full of cake mixture and pop them in the warm oven for 20 minutes, or until a knife can be placed in the middle of one of the cakes and come out clean. Let the cupcakes cool. For the decoration:
• Sift the icing sugar into a bowl so there’s no lumps in it, and very slowly add warm water. The icing should have the consistency of glue: if it’s too watery add more icing sugar, and if it’s too thick (very carefully) add a little drop of warm water until it turns glue-like. • Ask a little elf to very carefully dribble some icing on the top of the cake to cover it, and while it’s still wet, cover the icing in desiccated coconut. • Dip the bottom of a marshmallow in the icing, and place it on the top of the cake – this is the base of the snowman! Using icing as glue, build the snowman so they have a base, body and head. • Using the write on icing, draw a face on the snowman, some twig arms drawn on the side of its body, and a little orange nose. • Let them set, then enjoy! î “ASK A LITTLE ELF TO VERY CAREFULLY DRIBBLE SOME ICING ON THE TOP OF THE CAKE TO COVER IT, AND WHILE IT’S STILL WET, COVER THE ICING IN DESICCATED COCONUT” WWW.POSABILITYMAGAZINE.CO.UK
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CHRISTMAS CLASSICS Christmas is chaos, so sometimes it’s just fun to sit and relax with the entire family with a movie. Trying to find a movie that works for all the family can be a bit tricky, so we’ve come up with a list of Christmas classics that can be enjoyed by the whole family. ELF ON THE SHELF: AN ELF STORY
Elf on the Shelf is an educational story with positive role models and a good message, telling the story if the ultrapopular Elf on a Shelf, which encourages kids to be good through the holiday season.
ARTHUR CHRISTMAS
There’s some mild peril in this heartwarming family flick, but it’s perfect for the cynics in the family who need gently bolstered into the holiday spirit without the overwhelming presence of religious overtones.
THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL
A retelling of the classic Charles Dickens’ novel – featuring the Great Gonzo as Dickens himself – The Muppet Christmas Carol is as funny as it is wholesome. There’s mild peril and fright in the film, but it’s fuzzy, funny and great for a sing-a-long.
A MUPPET FAMILY CHRISTMAS
This Muppet classic offers families a moment to teach children about the alternatives to Christmas, and how other people celebrate. It’s another fuzzy Muppets classic featuring great songs to sing along to.
PREP & LANDING
This is a short tale for kids, explaining how the elves get ready for Santa’s present deliveries. It’s great for reassuring children about Santa and the details of his visit, like how does he land safely on the roof?
THE SANTA CLAUSE
A modern classic sees Tim Allen take over the rounds as Santa Clause after an accident. It’s a great movie for both children and adults, with a few jokes just for parents. It’s good in the way it tackles Christmas for children with divorced parents. 60
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THE POLAR EXPRESS
This winter thrill ride is an animated tale about the importance and power of friendship: how important it is to be loyal and kind to others, and the value of respect. It does feature some mild peril, but is a beautiful adventure.
ELF
This is one for older children at Christmas time, with Will Ferrell playing Buddy the Elf, a misfit who leaves the North Pole to find his father in New York. Purity, laughter and joy lie at the absolute core of the movie.
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Another one for older kids, this animated movie tells of the spooks and spectres of Halloween Town, who decide to try having their own Christmas. It’s a twisted and off-beat movie, which is weird but a beautiful and meaningful Christmas adventure.
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
This is a more mature Christmas story for older teens which explores the complex relationships and connections of families who come together for the holidays – in this case, Thanksgiving. It’s unconventional, but that’s what makes it great.
LOVE ACTUALLY
Another mature pick, Love Actually is a series of interconnecting vignettes in the three weeks leading up to Christmas, exploring love, taking chances, making large gestures and the complexities of relationships.
KIDS CHRISTMAS
“PINTEREST IS, OF COURSE, YOUR FIRST STOP FOR FINDING IDEAS FOR MAKING CHILDFRIENDLY CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS”
CRAFTY CHRISTMAS Keeping little hands busy can be tricky, but making things is a great way to engage both little hands and brains, ensuring children are kept busy and mentally active throughout the festive season. There’s loads of things you can do with kids to ensure they’re having fun!
WATERCOLOUR SNOW
Painting is always really fun, but there are loads of ways to mix it up, bringing even more fun to art. You can make fun snow scenes using nothing more than watercolour paint, paper and a candle. If you’re confident in their artistic ability, get kids to draw snowmen, trees and houses using the candle, and paint over it with some watercolour paint. Hopefully, the kids will be astonished to see their candle wax drawing slowly revealed as they paint over their beautiful snow scene!
SANTA’S SLIME
Everyone loves slime, and making slime is so much fun for kids and adults. There are loads of recipes online to make Christmas-themed slime which will be so much fun to make. Our personal favourite is MomDot’s Peppermint Christmas Slime recipe, which not only has a lovely slick slimy texture, but a bright and sharp Christmassy peppermint scent. The red and green sparkly slime looks, feels and smells like Christmas!
DECK THE HALLS
Making Christmas decorations that children can admire on the tree throughout the holiday season is a great idea. Pinterest is, of course, your first stop for finding ideas for making child-friendly Christmas ornaments, like the classic toilet roll angel tree topper, which can be topped with a gold pipe cleaner and some fluffy wings if you’re feeling fancy. For a more nature-orientated craft experience, ask kids to collect branches of varying sizes, which can then be safely glued to ice-lolly sticks to create a Christmas tree like design. Leave a little space at the top of the stick, cut a notch in each side, and use it to attach a piece of thread. Now hang it from the tree and enjoy!
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DECEMBER 2016
PATHFINDER 17
Challenging Disability through Outdoor Adventure HAVE YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL? ONLY YOU CAN DECIDE!
The Calvert Trust has been delivering outdoor adventure breaks for adults and children with disabilities in the beautiful surroundings of the Lake District National since 1976. To answer thisPark question ask yourself the following question and answer them as honestly as you can Whether you are looking for new
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
and your to meet new or Is experiences drinking making home lifepeople, unhappy? just active holiday fun with friends and Does your drinking make you careless of your families family, we have something amazing to welfare? you. Dooffer you drink because you are shy with other people? find out more, including dates and Is To drinking affecting your reputation? availability, call us on 017687 72255 Do you drink to escape from worries or trouble? Do you drink alone? Have you lost time from work due to drinking? Has your ambition decreased since drinking? Has you efficiency decreased since drinking? Is drinking jeopardising your job or business?
11. Have you ever felt remorse after drinking? 12. Are you in financial difficulties as a result of drinking? 13. Do you turn to or seek an inferior environment when drinking? 14. Do you crave a drink at a definite time daily? 15. Does drinking cause you to have difficulty in sleeping? 16. Do you want a drink the next morning? 17. Do you drink to build up your confidence? 18. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of drinking? 19. Has your Dr ever treated you for drinking?
If youenquiries@lakedistrict.calvert-trust.org.uk have answered “YES” to any one of the questions, there is a definite warning… If you have answered “YES” to any two, the chances are that you have a problem… If youwww.calvert-trust.org.uk/lake-district/ have answered “YES” to three or more, you most certainly have a problem… introduction Reg Charity 270923 CalvertTrustLakes @CalvertLakes “THE ONLYNo.REQUIREMENT IS A DESIRE TO STOP DRINKING”
Take action now and give us a call on 0800 917 7650… We are here to help!
COMPETITION
WIN!
Switch Adapted Toys from MERU MERU HAVE TEAMED UP WITH POSABILITY TO GIVE AWAY THREE SETS OF ADAPTED TOYS WITH AN ACCESSIBLE SMOOTHIE SWITCH FOR CHRISTMAS!
2 1 Young children learn how the world works through play – especially cause and effect. A lot of early years’ toys involve squeezing the toy or pushing a button and having something happen. However, for many disabled children, this can be difficult, as they don’t have fine motor skills or may have other impairments. Best known for its tiny Bugzi wheelchair, design charity MERU now offers a range of toys adapted so that an accessible button or switch will work them. These toys are aimed at making learning about cause and effect more accessible. It may seem like a small thing for a child to be able to press a button and make a toy sing or light-up, but the first realisation that ‘if I do this, then something happens’ is a crucial part of development. So, a disabled child that’s introduced to switches or accessible controls via an adapted toy will be gaining the basics of how to go on to control a powered wheelchair. As well as a range of ready-adapted toys including popular characters from
3
To be in with the chance of winning one of these fantastic sets of toys, simply select the toy set you would like below: SCALEXTRIC + A GUY DIAMOND TROLL BEATBOWWOW + JUNIOR BEATBELLE
hit movies, MERU can adapt toys on request too! As a special Christmas treat MERU is giving away three sets of specially adapted toys, complete with a Smoothie accessible switch that will work with them. The sets on offer are: 1) Scalextric + a Guy Diamond Troll + Smoothie Switch 2) BeatBowWow + Junior BeatBelle + Smoothie Switch 3) Rainbow Unicorn + Guy Diamond Troll + Smoothie Switch We will do our very best to make sure these toys arrive in time for Christmas so make sure you get your entries in quickly as the closing date is 16 December 2018.
FIND OUT MORE about adapted toys at meru.org.uk Terms & Conditions Closing date for entries is 16 December 2018. One entry per household. Winners will receive one of the sets of toys which will be posted out on 17 December 2018. Please note we cannot guarantee the arrival of the toys before Christmas Day.
RAINBOW UNICORN + GUY DIAMOND TROLL
ü PLEASE TICK ONE OF THE ABOVE
Email your selection and contact details to posabilitycompetitions@gmail.com, visit posabilitymagazine.co.uk to enter online or post to the address below: MERU Competition PosAbility Magazine Caledonia House Thornliebank Ind. Est. Glasgow, G46 8JT
Name: Address: Postcode: Tel: Email: ü
Meru would like to send you more information about their toys. If you would like to receive this please tick the box. By ticking the box you are consenting to us providing your details to Meru.
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COMIC
Morowa and the gang use the power of her crutches
Unleashing the power of disability
KARMZAH T Words by Colette Carr
raditionally, both the
comic world and the African continent haven’t been synonymous with disability representation or supporting the community. But artist and IT entrepreneur Farida Bedwei with Leti Arts has become her own superhero, bringing Ghana, and the world’s, first superhero with cerebral palsy to life. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of one in 1980, Farida grew fed up with the lack of representation among her beloved superheroes and created her own, writing her own universe. Karmzah is the fearlessly strong heroine who was introduced to the world in October on World CP Day and is not the typical disabled character of past stories. She fights the bad guys, does the rescuing, and her superpowers surge through her crutches. Without her crutches, she becomes her
normal self – Ghanaian archaeologist Morowa. Morowa discovers her superpowers after accidentally releasing a trapped medicine man from a clay jar her co-workers had retrieved from an excursion to Mali. The Ghanaian disability rights advocate and campaigner hopes the comic can change the perceptions of disability at an early stage for both kids with and without disabilities, and she wants to make mobility aids “cool”. “Growing up, I loved reading about superheroes, but there was none with my condition, so I decided representation matters,” she told BBC Africa. “Right now, I am using crutches, and at one point or the other, you tend to resent having to use those assistive devices, so I formulated the idea of Karmzah getting her powers through her crutches.” “If you have a crutch or a wheelchair that can fly it will make people and children want to use those assistive devices and I think that by changing the thinking of the next generation of children, we can gradually make cerebral palsy or other disabilities seem normal to society.” Karmzah can be found on Google Play’s Afrocomix app.
Learn about Morowa’s alter ego Karmzah
“KARMZAH IS THE FEARLESSLY STRONG HEROINE WHO WAS INTRODUCED TO THE WORLD IN OCTOBER ON WORLD CP DAY AND IS NOT THE TYPICAL DISABLED CHARACTER OF PAST STORIES”
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The Treehouse at Number 9 is a beautifully illustrated series of stories about characters who all have different abilities. Created by three working mums who are using their unique set of skills and their passion for making the world a better place for their children, the musical story app celebrates difference through the wide variety of characters in the Genies gang and has now seen two story books published too. Words by Rosalind Tulloch
THE
TREEHOUSE AT NUMBER 9
W
e caught up with Sara
Jackson, mum to two boys, one of whom was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition when he was just nine months old and his older brother was only two. Sara struggled to find any materials that would help her eventually explain to her oldest son about his brother’s condition and what that meant for their family. So she decided to take matters into her own hands. Sara spoke to PosAbility to tell us more about the journey of the Genies gang and what they hope to achieve through this series of stories and adventures. “I have two sons and my youngest has two very rare genetic disorders. But when he was diagnosed with the first which is 18p deletion when he was nine months old. My eldest was two and I was looking for books that could help me look ahead to putting things in a positive light, kids’ stories that weren’t just the run of the mill, and I really couldn’t find anything out there that showed difference in any kind of positive light so I decided to write my own. And
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The team (left to right)- Sara, Jess, Mel and Karen have created a beautiful series of stories
as I like to put it ‘I howled at the moon’ in the form of children’s stories. “I took my Treehouse at Number 9 ideas to my friend Karen who is a designer at Dorling Kindersley Books and asked if we could do something with this because I thought there was a gap for this kind of storytelling.” Some charity work and discussions with charitable
BOOKS
giving her a voice and she was able to use the drawings that she did and the process of coming up with Pip to talk to her friends and her family about her condition, which previously she was really struggling to do.”
FUNDING The books - the dream is to have these books available in schools and hospitals
organisation Jeans for Genes saw Sara take inspiration from some of the videos they had commissioned of children with rare conditions and the Genies gang began to grow. Sara and Karen then started work on bringing the characters and stories to life through Karen’s illustrations and the dream started to become more of a reality. “Karen and I were working together at this point and I said to her I was thinking of writing something for these characters and the Genies gang came about and I broadened the story and was inspired by some of the films, that they still have actually, and Karen did some gorgeous illustrations for it and we kept doing our day jobs and carried on. In 2014, my husband, who works in music, was looking to create an app for music that would work with illustrations, like a musical ebook. He asked if we had anything ready.” Sara and Karen finalised their work and at the end of 2014 they released an app and it garnered 30,000 downloads in the first couple of months, without any real promotion. This proved to them that there was a genuine need for this kind of positive storytelling and fuelled their fire to work towards having these stories produced as books that could be used in hospitals, schools and by any family who could benefit from them. Around the same time the app was launched a close friend, Mel Cohen, received a diagnosis for her daughter Jessica of NF2, another rare genetic condition. Mel and her family used the Treehouse at Number 9 app to help traverse their complex journey and found it really helpful. Mel was so struck by the impact that it had had on her family that she reached out to Sara and Karen to see how she could help. And suddenly the third branch of the treehouse was added. The wonderful thing that followed was that Mel’s daughter Jess also got involved and has created two characters for the Genies gang, one of whom has the same condition as her. “It was amazing because in doing this it ended up
The Cecil Rosen Foundation caught wind of the Treehouse at Number 9 and heard Jess talking about what creating the character Pip had done for her and offered their help to further the women’s amazing work. The dream of producing books was suddenly realised with funding in place from the Cecil Rosen Foundation and Sara set to work on writing another story. “Suddenly we were rounding out this gang and we had created another story and the Cecil Rosen Foundation funded us to have them made into books. And then we became publishers it seems because we printed them ourselves!” The goal is to have the books introduced to schools and hospital waiting rooms and anywhere that could benefit families coming to terms with a difficult diagnosis. The aim is to show difference in a positive light, to educate children, raise awareness and tell beautiful stories of kindness and understanding. “We are just trying to put ourselves out there and reach the widest audience that we can and harness the love and the potential. You can kind of feel a little sigh of relief from people, which just makes everything amazing for all of us. “We have so many dreams of where we can take our Genies we can’t wait to continue the adventure.”
You can purchase the books on the website treehousegenies.com or through Amazon and you can download the app to access the musical stories and adventures.
The Treehouse at Number 9 - pictured is the tree that the stories are based on
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Columnist Dan White
Dan White, creator of the amazing Department of Ability superheroes and dad to Emily, who is 12 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.
“IN ORDER FOR ATTITUDES TO SWING FROM SYMPATHY TO ACCEPTANCE THEN THE PROGRAMME’S TITLE MUST BE UPDATED TO REFLECT THE GENERATION IT DOES A WONDERFUL JOB OF HELPING”
You can follow Dan on @DeptOfAbility
CHILDREN IN NEED?
T
he television charity
season was upon us once again. With its images of celebrities put through embarrassing and painful scenarios both strangely gratifying and surreal. Yes, Children in Need was back to swamp the schedules with its incredible ability to raise millions of much needed revenue for children, groups and charities. Emily always loves the Friday night extravaganza, a cornucopia of music, comedy and short films. This year was hosted by permanent television fixture and my doppelganger Sue Perkins. Now, as much as I am beyond grateful for the funds raised, (I really am!) I do have a problem with the title of the programme. Children in Need is a product title of the 70s, a time when stereotypes around disability were somewhat different, with the community in the early stages of finding its voice in society. We have moved a great deal since then, with disability leading its own campaigns for cultural, social and stereotypical change. Culturally things have started to progress and our children are wanting to be seen for the incredible, everyday things they can do, not to be labelled purely as “being in need”. In order for attitudes to swing from sympathy to acceptance then the programme’s title must be updated to reflect the generation it does a wonderful job of helping. I admit this column may prove divisive. The programme plugs a hole of finance
in an age of Westminster cuts and that is desperately welcomed, thank you auntie. But it is a sign of the times when one of the richest nations on earth actually has to help our community this way. In my work, I see children frustrated at their perceived image, I see the burn of creativity, the want of being able to achieve to the best of their ability and the hunger to contribute. Our children can be sarcastic, aggravating, incredibly strong and self-opinionated. The urge to challenge and argue with society burns brightly. How about they are put behind and in front of the cameras to host their own money chasing event? It’s not just the name of this programme that irks me, there are still floating around labels from post war Britain which brand our children, and indeed adults with archaic perceived ideas. For instance, ‘wheelchair bound’. Emily especially finds this perplexing as she rightly knows she is not bound to anything, who is? There are many phrases and idioms that need kicking back into the prehistoric age as they do nothing but perpetuate a myth and hold back every campaign. We live in an age of the politically correct and rightly so. Communities are taking back their own language and reinventing themselves for the 21st century. Emily has been called sassy and headstrong. Good, I say. I suspect every parent here tries to instill this in their children, because one day they will be out in the world without us and with the right stereotypes and imagery they can be masters of their own destinies.
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CAMPAIGN
Fighting Dan White has been heading up Scope’s latest campaign to have a Minister for Disabled Children and Families installed in Parliament.
W
e all remember the early times.
Not just the days and years after the birth of our beautiful children, but the days of diagnosis, the looking for answers, the hunt for support. Emily was diagnosed with her disability at our final scan and we were left sucker punched, dazed and in limbo of where to go and who to go to for help. Those days still linger and I’m sure they do for many reading this, if not all. The doctors and medical staff did all they could, but as we tried to understand Emily’s conditions, a visit from a hospital disability expert or a visit from an alerted charity representative would have permeated the darkness slightly. If we had been aware of all potential support, benefits and expertise available perhaps not so many nights would have been left sleepless. This month has seen me heading up Scope’s campaign to petition Parliament to introduce a Minister for Disabled Children and Families. To put this into perspective, someone is needed to roll out a network across government departments to ensure a system is in place to support parents from day one. An online petition was started in early November and as I write, it has garnered over 15,000 signatures. We all know how the system often fails disability, especially families of disabled children. We have a Minister for Disabled People, but we need one to highlight and challenge the issues faced by families, the distinction is important. Imagine that scenario if you will, that not only would we have the right
for
CHANGE person in power to talk to, but if we can actively install a person with relevant experience, we would have someone to champion our cause. We all face specific challenges, the need for information, advice and guidance from the point of diagnosis to key points during
There is now a Minister for Loneliness and another for Suicide Prevention. Now is the time for our families to have a voice of our own. I feel this appointment would send a message that the government has recognised the situations that our families are in and are
development. We all spend our precious time campaigning, fighting, shouting into the wind and parenting. Some people may think this will change nothing, but we, as families are running low on reserves. Mental health issues are the rods made for our backs, made out of frustration and isolation, we would love dearly just to parent and let someone web a system around us so our families can continue on like everybody else. This is why our campaign is so relevant.
prepared to do something about it. With this individual in place, ourselves and our children would no longer fly under societies radar. I hope you can be convinced to join our campaign. Visit scope.org.uk, watch the beautiful film and sign our ever growing petition. I may not convince you all that this will work to our benefit, but change has to start somewhere. WWW.POSABILITYMAGAZINE.CO.UK
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Does your child have learning difficulties? Do they have a genetic disorder? Are they aged 4 or over? Images © Positive Exposure 2018
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Rio's
KIDS
COLUMN Words by Rio Woolf
I
n October I was invited by the German disability charity Aktion Mensch to the International Astronautical Congress in Bremen, Germany with the other children who were in Mission Zukunft (Mission Possible), the short film we made in Lisbon in February when I played an astronaut landing on Mars. We met real-life astronaut Matthias Maurer and did a Q&A with him, then we watched a live link-up with astronaut Alexander Gerst in the International Space Station! I was very lucky to get permission from my head teacher to go on a big trip Down Under before half term for the Sydney Invictus Games! We did nine flights in three weeks taking three flights and one and a half hours of driving to get to our first destination - Port Douglas in Northern Queensland! We drove to Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation, and I snorkelled over the Great Barrier Reef with a marine biologist who gave me a pineapple sea cucumber to hold! We went to the Tjapukai Cultural Centre to learn about Australia's Aboriginal people - I tried throwing a spear and a boomerang - and we took the Skyrail over the rainforest up to Kuranda and the scenic railway back down. I also went boogie boarding in the sea on Four Mile Beach! Then we flew 2.5 hours from Cairns to Sydney for my fourth Invictus Games - my first was London 2014 where I met Prince Harry who created the event. He invited me to IG2016 Orlando where I met him again, then I saw him a third time at IG2017 Toronto. It was great to see my Invictus Heroes again and I met a new hero – Australian Mark Daniels. They're all amputees and
RIO ENJOYING HIS TRIP DOWN UNDER
BUMPING INTO JJ CHALMERS AND ALEX JONES
RIO WITH ENGLAND LEGEND DAVID BECKHAM
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER INTERVIEW
have won so many medals. I also did an interview and a photo shoot for The Australian newspaper and an interview with SBS News at the Ottobock Australia workshop. The highlight was meeting my football hero - IG2018 Ambassador David Beckham! I made a special poster asking for a photo with him and my dream came true. I was so lucky as he didn't stop for any other fan photos! We went on the Sydney sightseeing bus to The Sydney Tower Eye and took the ferry to Taronga Zoo, under the Harbour Bridge and past the Opera House. We met Alex Jones and JJ Chalmers filming their programme and I paddled in the sea at Bondi and Bronte Beach. Then we flew to Sunshine Coast to stay in Noosa for a visit to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo - his family have a new programme on Animal Planet called 'Crikey! It's the Irwins'. We saw a great show with crocodiles at the Crocoseum as well as kangaroos, giraffes, zebras and tigers and I cuddled a koala. Then we flew to Hamilton Island where we went snorkelling at Chalkies Beach and sailed to Whitehaven Beach the best bit was sitting on the catamaran net when it was windy and choppy! WWW.POSABILITYMAGAZINE.CO.UK
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GET THAT DREAM JOB
– Positive talk about disability Jane Hatton of Evenbreak discusses the importance of turning a Words by Jane Hatton negative into a positive in a job interview
T
he way we talk about disability and the language we use can be the difference between really impressing a prospective employer or putting them off us altogether.
The reality is that, in many cases, disabled candidates make the best employees. We are, on average, just as productive as nondisabled people (often more so), we tend to have less time off sick, fewer workplace accidents and we stay in our jobs longer. We are all experienced in having to navigate around an inaccessible world, meaning we have developed skills such as creative problem-solving, tenacity, negotiation skills and innovation. However, as we know only too well, not all employers see us that way. They may perceive we are somehow less able than others. That we are an expensive risk. That we cause more problems than we solve. And
so we need to work hard to persuade them otherwise. Sometimes, as disabled people, we are our own worst enemies in failing to challenge negative stereotypes of us. I went to an interview with a brilliant autistic candidate a while back. His first twenty or so sentences either began with “I can’t” or “I need”. Whilst these may have been valid comments, beginning an interview by explaining to the employer exactly why you shouldn’t get the job is unlikely to result in success! The same candidate had so much to offer the employer, and could have been just as honest telling them what value he would bring to the organisation. Starting his sentences with “I can” and “I will” would have been far more positive. Asking for adjustments can come later – when the employer has already decided he is the best candidate. If you do decide to mention your disability, this can also be done in a positive way. Rather than “I’m autistic, so I’m useless at
working in teams”, perhaps say “my autism means I pay incredible attention to detail and tend to be much more accurate than neurotypical people.” Both statements may be true, but the latter one will make being offered the job more likely. Other examples include, “being Deaf means I’m really good at reading body language,” and “requiring personal assistants means I am experienced in employing and managing people,” and “acquiring an impairment has helped me develop new skills I never knew I had, such as resilience and adaptability”. The trick is to phrase your impairment as an asset rather than a problem. Similarly, when asking for any adjustments you may need, this can be done positively too. “I’m afraid I will need specialist software to help me do my job,” could be rephrased as, “with the correct software in place I will be able to be effective and productive – and Access to Work will pay for the software and train me to use it.” Or even better, “in my previous role I used dictation software, paid for by Access to Work, which meant I was both quicker and more accurate than my colleagues.” Whilst some employers are enlightened enough to be positive about disabled applicants, many others may well need challenging – in a subtle and positive way – to rethink their pre-conceived ideas about us. For further tips, and jobs from inclusive employers who are looking to attract more disabled candidates, have a look on the Evenbreak website evenbreak.co.uk. WWW.POSABILITYMAGAZINE.CO.UK
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Protect disability benefits from means testing Setting up a Personal Injury Trust can play a major role in protecting an injured person’s assets from means testing and other risks. It is often such a relief once a litigation claim has ended and settlement in the proceedings has been reached. However, the next step following receipt of an award can sometimes be just as daunting! Contact Thomas Mundy for a free no obligation discussion about how a Personal Injury Trust could give financial help to you and your family.
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BRAIN TEASERS
PUZZLES Puzzles are a great way to pass the time and keep your mind sharp. Why not take a break, make a cup of tea and give these puzzles a go? If you correctly complete the crossword and post it to us with your details, you could be in with the chance of winning £25. Good luck!
CROSSWORD
WORD SEARCH
Test your eyes and find the words below from this issue of PosAbility Magazine FÂ Â PÂ Â SÂ Â EÂ Â IÂ Â TÂ Â RÂ Â AÂ Â PÂ Â T FÂ Â RÂ Â BÂ Â BÂ Â GÂ Â YÂ Â SÂ Â SÂ Â NÂ Â T TÂ Â EÂ Â OÂ Â TÂ Â EÂ Â LÂ Â TÂ Â SÂ Â IÂ Â M UÂ Â SÂ Â PÂ Â RÂ Â XÂ Â EÂ Â OÂ Â DÂ Â ZÂ Â Z RÂ Â EÂ Â AÂ Â YÂ Â XÂ Â EÂ Â CÂ Â IÂ Â SÂ Â A KÂ Â NÂ Â NÂ Â SÂ Â IÂ Â RÂ Â KÂ Â NÂ Â EÂ Â H EÂ Â TÂ Â TÂ Â AÂ Â GÂ Â TÂ Â IÂ Â NÂ Â VÂ Â S YÂ Â SÂ Â OÂ Â NÂ Â JÂ Â HÂ Â NÂ Â EÂ Â LÂ Â Q
Copyright © 2011 Peter G Sharp
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ACROSS
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7 Ceded (7) 9 Wear away (5) 10 Creatures (7) 11 Scowl (5) 12 Remove dirt with a broom (5) 14 Cosmetic brand (7) 16 Permanently inactive (7) 18 Aegean island known for its sweet wine (5) 20 Gaiety (5) 22 --- Ffestiniog (7) 24 Form of address for a woman (5) 25 Late (7)
1 Road around an obstruction (6) 2 Dregs (8) 3 Notion (4) 4 Acts (8) 5 Game played on horseback (4) 6 Minute (6) 8 Miller’s nickname (5) 13 Wide view of an extensive area (8) 15 Fruit drink (8) 16 Bivouac (6) 17 Forbidden (5) 19 Shallow dish (6) 21 Whirlpool (4) 23 Peak (4)
£25 PRIZE! Complete the crossword correctly and send to PosAbility Magazine, Caledonia House, Evanton Drive, Thornliebank Ind Est, Glasgow, G46 8JT to be in with a chance of winning £25. Closing date for entries is 31 January 2019.
Solutions to Oct/Nov crossword
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TREE
ELVES
DINNER
PARTIES
PRESENTS
TURKEY
SANTA
MISTLETOE
DID YOU KNOW... CHRISTMAS
Jingle Bells was written for Thanksgiving, not Christmas. In the initial days Santa Claus wore a green, purple and blue cloak.Â
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If you’ve worked with children with additional needs, we need your help. Manchester City Council is recruiting short-break foster carers – people with experience of working with children who have a physical or learning disability. You’ll help to look after a child in your own home between one and four nights a month, helping to give their family a break. Each child is matched with you, and there are plenty of visits and meetings for you to get to know each other before an overnight stay occurs, to make sure that the child is settled. You can fit caring around your permanent job, and we’ll provide you with training and development to help you through your fostering career.
Interested? If you live in the Greater Manchester area and want to offer a parent the time to relax a little, knowing that their child is being well cared for, then contact our friendly team on 0800 988 8931, or visit manchester.gov.uk/fostering to see if you’re eligible to foster.
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