PosAbility – August / September 2019

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MAGAZINE GOLDEN POS

TOKYO 2020

ACCESSIBLE CITIES

We celebrate PosAbility’s 50th issue and look back to where it all began

The countdown begins for the Paralympic Games

Take a whistle-stop tour of Europe’s most accessible cities

Welcome AUG/SEPT 2019

remembering major turning points in the disability community. It has been an incredible journey and we hope you will join us for the next 50 issues as we continue to evolve.

Ros EDITOR

50 issues. I am not sure exactly how we got here so quickly, but I know that I have loved every minute of working on PosAbility. This magazine does feel like my first ‘baby’ (with slightly less tantrums) because I have been there since day one and it has been an exciting few years growing and developing the magazine.

This issue pays tribute to the magazine as we look at how it has evolved over the years, highlighting where new columnists joined us, reminiscing over favourite issues and

Like us on Facebook Search for ‘PosAbility Magazine’

In celebration of our 50th issue we decided to freshen up our look, so we hope you enjoy the new, modern, accessible and sleek design. We want to ensure readers are treated to a high-quality magazine that focuses on interesting articles, amazing holiday destinations, new innovations and topical content. Our wonderful columnists will still offer their eclectic range of writings and we have added a regular spot to give a platform to young disabled people.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for supporting PosAbility, whether this is your first issue or your 50th, we hope you enjoy what we produce, we love doing it. We have also transformed our website to make it more userfriendly and fun, so head over to posabilitymagazine.co.uk and take a look at some exclusive content on there.

Editor: Rosalind Tulloch Staff Writers: Colette Carr, Katie Campbell Designer: Fionnlagh Ballantine Sales: Val Speers

CONTRIBUTORS

Jane Hatton, Sam Renke, Mik Scarlet, Dan White, Alfie Fox, Caroline Butterwick, Mark Davidson

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 2019 ©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 posabilitymagazine.co.uk

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Here’s to the next 50 issues!

Follow us on Twitter @ PosAbilityMag

SUBSCRIBE TODAY...

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MAGAZINE GOLDEN POS

TOKYO 2020

ACCESSIBLE CITIES

We celebrate PosAbility’s 50th issue and look back to where it all began

The countdown begins for the Paralympic Games

Take a whistle-stop tour of Europe’s most accessible cities

Follow us on Instagram @ posabilitymagazine

To find out more about subscribing to PosAbility Magazine turn to p98

posabilitymagazine.co.uk

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14 THE RISE OF THE WEE BAKER We talk to Richard Copeland about baking

17 INVASIVE INCOMPETENCE Sam Renke highlights the importance of smear tests for all women

19 TAKING HAND-OUTS Dundee’s V&A museum’s latest exhibit

20 TOKYO 2020 Get ready for the Paralympic Games

23 READY, STEADY, COOK! We look at the culinary geniuses who happen to be disabled

26 ENERGY BOOSTERS From fruity smoothies to shots of espresso

29 THANKS MUM Mik Scarlet pays tribute to his wonderful mum

30 FESTIVAL FACE A survival guide to festivals this summer

33 WIN A VENTUS WHEELCHAIR! Ottobock are giving away an amazing wheelchair

35 HOT STUFF The latest must-have products

38 WIMBLEDON 2019 A round-up of the Championships

42 #WHENICALLMYSELFDISABLED An empowering conversation on Instagram

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UE

We highlight the creative minds that shaped our cultural landscape

To help celebrate our 50th issue we have some great gifts for you to win

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12 EVERYONE IS AN ARTIST

44 POSABILITY MEANS PRIZES

50TH

News, stories and updates

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AUG/SEPT 2019 | ISSUE 50

47 MAISON DES LANDES Discover this accessible gem on Jersey

48 ACCESSIBLE EUROPE Take a whistle-stop tour of Europe’s most accessible cities

51 THE GREAT ESCAPE Access Escape have designed an escape room for visually impaired people

54 THE 50TH ISSUE We reminisce over the last 50 issues of PosAbility

59 GREEN LIVING Doing your bit for the environment

61 WAKE UP AND MAKE-UP The top products to take the hassle out of make-up application

63 KIDS’ CORNER This issue, we explore theme parks, and put the spotlight on a young disabled voice

84 WIN A VOYAGE ON A TALL SHIP! The Jubilee Sailing Trust is giving away a five day trip on board a fully accessible tall ship for two people

89 DESIGNING FOR THE FUTURE The world’s first MSc in Disability, Design and Innovation

93 REASSURE YOUR RECRUITER Jane Hatton offers her advice for nailing that job interview

94 GAME TIME Keep your mind active

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FOR YOUR INFORMATION News and stories from around the world

Scientific

CURRENCY E nglish mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing, whose work on the Enigma Machine helped codebreakers turn the tide of World War II towards the allies, has been chosen to appear on the new Bank of England £50 note, which will enter circulation by the end of 2021.

Turing, who is believed to have lived with autism which was not formally diagnosed during his lifetime, will appear on the new note, which will feature not only an image of the famed scientist, but formulae from his seminal 1936 paper on computer science, an image of his pioneering

Automatic Computing Engine Pilot Machine – one of the first electronic stored-program digital computers, and his birth date written in binary, a reference to his concept of a binarytape fed computer which appeared in the aforementioned paper.

Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of England, said: “Alan Turing was an outstanding mathematician whose work has had an enormous impact on how we live today. As the father of computer science and artificial intelligence, as well as war hero, Alan Turing’s contributions were far-ranging and path-breaking. Turing is a giant on whose shoulders so many now stand.”

HIKI LAUNCHES COMPANIONSHIP APP

T

he first ever app focused on fostering friendships and dating in the autistic community launched last month on Google Play and the Apple Store.

Hiki was created by founder Jamil Karriem after his cousin, who lives with autism, confided in him that he was lonely and feared he would never find a romantic partner. Noticing that there were no apps that specifically catered for the autistic community, Karriem set about creating one to serve the 70 million autistic people worldwide who he worried may also struggle with these feelings.

Karriem said: “There are a myriad of dating and social platforms for nearly every identifiable group, but nothing for the large, often overlooked autistic community. I created Hiki because I believe that friendship, love, and community are the essence of happiness, and that everyone deserves access to platforms that can help build meaningful relationships.”

The app was designed by both a neurotypical and an autistic person, and Karriem’s weekly feedback sessions with app users and educators ensure it’s built to encompass the needs of autistic people.

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HEALTH SWAP APP

D

S Active have launched a great new app to help people with Down’s syndrome and their parents and carers make healthier diet and exercise choices. At the same time the app is also helping people improve their digital skills too.

The Health Swap App helps you plan your weekly meals, awards badges for healthy choices and tracks activity.

You will also find healthy recipes and once you have chosen your weekly meals the app will create a shopping list for you.

It is simple and easy to use and has been receiving some great feedback from users. It can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play.

HITTING THE RIGHT NOTE

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he creative talents of developing artists who are D/deaf and disabled from the Liverpool city region were broadcast live to the nation on 11 July.

The performance by the DaDaFest Ensemble was broadcast by Connect: Resound Live, a project led by youth music charity NYMAZ to increase access to music education and experiences using digital technology.

The Ensemble premiered a new composition at the Liverpool

GOVERNMENT SET TO MAKE £20M WORTH OF RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS

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arking a year to the day since the launch of its inclusive Transport Strategy, the government last month announced that disabled rail passengers would benefit from a £20 million government fund which aims to improve accessibility across railway stations in the UK. It was announced on 8 July that the fund would make further improvement after the government committed to accessibility improvements in 73 stations across the UK.

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Accessibility minister Nusrat Ghani said: “While many take for granted the ability to travel easily from A to B, access for the fifth of people who identify as disabled can be far from straightforward.

“We want disabled people to travel easily, confidently and without extra cost, which is why it is fantastic to be opening this fund today.”

“I look forward to seeing what ideas the industry has for accessibility improvements as we work towards a more inclusive rail network.”

Philharmonic called “Music for Friends” which the young musicians wrote with composers Ben Lunn and Carmel Smickersgill over a ten-week period of workshops.

Sarah McWatt, Director of NYMAZ, says: “Access is at the heart of both NYMAZ and DaDaFest so we joined forces to livestream this performance and make it as accessible as possible.

It can be difficult for schools and individuals to attend live music experiences so we are bringing live music direct to them via their classroom whiteboards, tablet, and mobile phone. It’s all about breaking down barriers to access.”

The performance by the DaDaFest Ensemble is available to view for free at connectresound.live/watch.

Try Time N

ations have been confirmed to take part in the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2021 (RLWC2021).

Set to be the most inclusive rugby league event ever, RLWC2021 will see the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments played concurrently for the first time. International nations were asked to submit their expressions of interest earlier this year for RLWC2021 and Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) representatives to review.

The nations confirmed for the wheelchair tournament include; England (hosts), Australia, France (holders), Norway, Scotland, Spain, USA and Wales.

Each nation was assessed against

set criteria that reviewed their current international and domestic infrastructure, their plans for growth and their potential impact on RLWC2021. The draw for the tournament will take place in November 2019.

RLIF Chief Executive Officer Nigel Wood, said: “Wheelchair rugby league is one of the most spectacular versions of a fantastic sport it is as close to the running game of rugby that could ever be devised to be played in a wheelchair.

“The Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup has demonstrated in the most recent past that it can deliver tremendous excitement for the players and the spectators alike. We expect RLWC2021 to take this exceptional sporting concept to a whole new level.”

QUOTE OF THE MONTH “When I call myself disabled I am starting a rebellion, and a conversation.

LATEST

TWEETS @henryfraser0 Disabled people need to see themselves in others. We need to see others like us achieving, living and inspiring. @spicymungbean Parents please encourage your children to ask questions about disability and disabled people.

I promise your 3 year old won’t offend me when they ask what happened. Normalize disability.

We exist. In public. In society. @AutismInRugby Today I (@RugbyLambo) refereed my second game in the middle as a rugby league official.

I was diagnosed with Autism/ Asperger’s syndrome when I was 18 years old. I started refereeing union when I was 15 and league a couple of months ago. Refereeing and rugby have changed my life! @TheSineadBurke I’m so very proud, incredibly honoured and humbled to be one of the fifteen Forces for Change featured on the cover of @BritishVogue’s September issue, chosen by a very special guest editor, the Duchess of Sussex

“So often we see “disability” as such a wrong and horrible thing. But in reality it’s an identity that helps bring people together. I hope that by starting a hashtag like this, people feel less alone.” #WhenICallMyselfDisabled Imani Barbarin – p42

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MARVEL SUPPORTS SUPERHERO TRI

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arvel gets behind Superhero Tri as their headline sponsor for 2019.

A perfect match for the Superhero Series, Marvel’s very own superheroes will be on hand at the event on 17 August to help participants to find their power for the event.

The family fun event encourages people of all abilities to get involved to take on the course, they already have over 1500 people signed up aged between 3 and 81!

The event throws out restrictive rules and regulations and encourages participants to use any method of support required to complete their challenge. All ‘gadgets and gismos’ are welcomed on the course, from floats and boats to adaptive bikes and trikes. Participants can choose between flying solo or teaming up with ‘Sidekicks’ (non-disabled family and friends) to take on the unique challenges with as much or as little time and support as they need.

With a huge emphasis on fun, Superhero Tri participants and their ‘Sidekicks’ are also encouraged to come along dressed as their favourite Superhero.

So look out your superhero cape and head on down to Dorney Lake, Windsor on 17 August for an event that will be out of this world. superheroseries.co.uk

Funding ACE T

he Wimbledon Foundation, the charity of The All England Lawn Tennis Club and The Championships, has awarded grants totaling more than £50,000 to help local residents to be more physically active.

The Get Set, Get Active Fund, launched by the Wimbledon Foundation in 2016, aims to help local people of all ages and abilities to take part in physical or sports activities. Grants are awarded to local projects designed to not only improve people’s physical wellbeing but also to aid their mental wellbeing by learning a new skill, meeting new people and in turn making communities stronger.

Grants have recently been awarded

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to 26 local groups and clubs active in the boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth covering a varied range of pursuits from skateboarding sessions for young people to golf sessions for the over-60s.

Helen Parker, Head of the Wimbledon Foundation said: “One of the Wimbledon Foundation’s key goals is to support healthy and active lives.

Sport not only improves people’s physical wellbeing, it can help improve people’s mental wellbeing through learning a new skill or making new friends. Through our Get Set, Get Active Fund we want to support the fantastic work being done by local groups and clubs to help improve people’s lives in our local community.”

EVERYONE IS AN

BY KATIE CAMPBELL

Rare is the occasion when we get to see a disabled creative take centre stage on our cultural landscape. We’re celebrating the disabled artists, performers musicians and creatives who changed our cultural landscape forever.

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1 GARY

No. ~

NUMAN

The dark prince of synthpop, Gary Numan, who lives with Asperger’s syndrome, was a defining force of 80s music and culture.

Contrary to the scene around him which was filled with neon and upbeat pop, Numan created visions of dystopian futures filled with android prostitutes and ultraviolence. While he’s not as popular now, everyone from Basement Jaxx to Nine Inch Nails owes him a debt of gratitude, and you’ll hear his music being sampled in almost every genre.

2 RICK

No. ~

MAYALL

The legend of British comedy lived with epilepsy after a quad bike crash in 1998, after which Mayall claimed he “rose from the dead.” Mayall left behind a legacy like no other, having helped to create alternative comedy with writing partner Ben Elton and comedic sidekick Ade Edmondson. While we no longer have him around, we’ll always have an unofficial blue plaque to remind us of where he punched Ade in the balls in the opening credits of Bottom.

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4 3 FRIDA

No. ~

KAHLO

An icon of outsider art, Frida Kahlo used her artistic talents to explore her perceptions and emotional responses to her health, her femininity, sexuality, and identity as a member of La Ranza.

Her works were often self-portraits which focused on the pain she felt – both physical and emotional – throughout her life. Kahlo, while not hailed in her lifetime, has come to be revered as an icon of feminism and a powerful, brilliant woman.

4 FRANCISCO

No. ~

GOYA

Considered both the last of the Old Masters and the first of the modern painters, Goya’s work delved deep into romanticism, politicism and explored the boundaries of class and violence in an ever-changing Spain. After going deaf, he moved to La

Quinta del Sordo – the House of the Deaf – and painted his 14 most wellknown masterpieces, the Black Paintings.

Among the paintings, which were never intended to be shown, was Saturn Devouring His Son.

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No. ~

LISA BUFANO After contracting a life-threateng bacterial infection, Lisa became a bilateral below-theknee and total finger-thumb amputee at the age of 21. Her work as a dancer, performer and artist concentrated heavily on her interactions with her body; how it had changed in her eyes and how her new body moved and operated. One of her most well-known performances involved her walking on prosthesis made of Queen Anne table legs attached to her arms and legs.

7 TONY

No. ~

6 SELMA

No. ~

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BLAIR

Last October, actress Selma Blair revealed to the world that she had been living with multiple sclerosis, and has brought the condition into public attention through her honest interviews and social media posts relating to it. The actress is well known for her supporting roles in a number of movies, including Legally Blonde and Cruel Intentions, and for playing Kris Jenner in the first American Crime Story based on the trial of OJ Simpson.

IOMMI

One of the founding members of Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi lost the tips of two fingers on his right hand in an accident when he was 17. From there, the guitar legend had to greatly alter his style of play, dropping the tuning of

his instrument, allowing him to work the strings more easily. Drop tuning gave Black Sabbath their iconic sound, and became one of the standard tenants of rock music in all its genres.

Images: Adam Bielawski/Wikimedia, Ed Fielding/Flickr, BBC Productions, Julia Wolf/Flickr, Tabercil/Flickr

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THE THE RISE OF

BY KATIE CAMPBELL

Wee Baker

Baking isn’t just a means to get delicious cake. For some, it’s a life-changing form of therapy. We spoke to The Wee Baker about his side hustle.

T

he power of baking as a form of therapy is a well-known one. Richard Copeland knows it all too well. The 28-year old goes online by The Wee Baker, and has been using baking and breadmaking as a form of rehabilitation after having a stroke during a routine operation to relieve pressure on his spine. Richard’s stroke left him paralysed, and was told by his surgeon that he would never be able to use his hands again. Coming through rehab able to walk and move again, three years later he was encouraged by his dad to begin baking to coach him through the pit of anxiety and depression that he had found himself in.

“I was at a point in my life, after my stroke,” Richard told PosAbility, “and I didn’t feel like I was recovering any more.

My mental health was in a big decline as well, because I was so frustrated with everything that was going on with my body – I just wanted to make something. I didn’t know what I wanted to make. My dad said one day, why don’t you give baking a go?

And I did, and something just clicked.

It was a good thing, seeing something through from start to finish, and being able to consume it as well, instead of making something to clutter up your house. I wanted to make something but not clutter up my house, so food’s the best thing for that!”

Richard took his new-found passion for dough and yeast online and established The Wee Baker. With his trademark humbleness, Richard said that it began his “side hustle” because he was worried that friends would get annoyed at him spamming their Facebook with loaves of bread. “The more I was doing it,” Richard said, “the more I was realising that I want to share the word on the therapeutic nature of baking and the physical rehab of it as well. I wanted to try and connect with other people to see if they’d gone through the same experience. I also wanted to see if people were interested in trying it as well, and sharing with people that way.”

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The effect on Richard’s mental and physical wellbeing has been tremendously positive, and as The Wee Baker has grown and garnered more attention, so has Richard’s positivity. His family are especially supportive, as he decides whether to pursue baking or finish off his PhD. But just what is it about baking that’s so good for body and soul – apart from being able to eat it afterwards?

“It’s getting into that mindset of ‘this is what I’m going to do, I’m going to make this’ and following the process of it, keeping an eye on it,” said Richard. “It’s yours in a sense. You have to nurse it. It’s a responsibility and it’s something that you can just focus on for a day, and it clears your mind of everything else.

“At the end of it, if it does mess up and you don’t have a good loaf of bread, it can be quite disheartening. If you’re in a bad mood that day, it can put you in an even worse mood, like ‘oh I’ve spent all day doing this and now I’ve created something awful.’ But if you’re in a semi-ok mood, and you make good bread, it can lift your spirits so much. The highs are really high, and the lows are pretty low, but the highs outweigh the lows!”

“When I left hospital, I was very depressed and very alone. When you’re in hospital, you’re surrounded 24/7 by people. You make friends with the nurses and with your fellow patients, and there’s a constant stream of people so you’re not lonely at all.

When you leave, you lose all your friends, and you can’t keep in contact with the nurses because that’s unprofessional. You go from that to being alone, and it puts you in a slump of ‘is this my life now?’ If I can get a place where people will realise it’s not the end.”

What’s important right now for Richard is letting the world know how baking changed his life for the better, and how it could help him. Richard said: “If my message has gotten out and someone has taken up baking for physical or mental rehab, if I’ve changed one person’s life, then that’s worth it.”

Follow Richard’s baking journey at theweebaker.com

The Wee Baker was voted one of the top 100 changemakers in Scotland by the Big Issue, has been featured in a BBC short documentary and acted as a judge on BBC Scotland’s Flour Power, alongside one of the minds behind the award-winning Three Sisters Bake, Nichola Reith, raising his profile tremendously in the past year.

For Richard, the most important thing is to raise the profile of baking therapy, the thing that has helped him most in the last few years. His ultimate goal is to start a café in Glasgow, staffed by outpatients, where they can come and work, hang out, or just chat.

“After being in hospital for four months,” said Richard, “it was hard for me to get back into my everyday life, and having the confidence to go out and do things, and be happy with the body that I now had, I guess.

I want to have this avenue, this little place where you can come, work if you want, don’t work, hang out, whatever. A place for people to feel comfortable and talk to people. Let them see that this isn’t the end, and to be excited about what can happen, because you still recover after you leave hospital.

Images: Richard Copeland

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L R N A E T I N O M D R O A E H

my letters for my Pap stated this.

Even turning to the internet didn’t reassure me. There’s very little information out there. Most articles published focus on provisions made for individuals with learning disabilities, equally important and undoubtedly a good start, yet I could not easily access information or advice specifically for those with physical or invisible disabilities.

SAM RENKE COLUMNIST

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

INVASIVE INCOMPETENCE

C

ancer Research UK reported 3,192 new cases of cervical cancer between 2014 - 2016 yet 99.8% of all cases within the UK are preventable.

I have to admit, although these statistics are promising and the war against cervical cancer seems to be going in our favour, particularly since the introduction of the HPV vaccination for teenagers, I have to question what do the stats look like for women with disabilities?

Honestly, I was so scared at my first Pap test (cervical smear test) so much so I took my mum along. Without a hoist and without the nurse knowing about my condition it wasn’t a pleasant experience. Nevertheless, I knew the importance of having the Pap and have always encouraged other women with disabilities to attend theirs and to try not to be discouraged.

My fourth Pap was just a few months ago and having changed my doctor’s surgery I took it upon myself to quiz my GP on the surgery’s policy when they have a disabled patient.

She assured me that if special requirements like hoists or sedative medications are needed then contacting your GP surgery prior to your appointment is the best protocol and all GPs will be more than willing to make special arrangements.

Encouraging yes, but this information is not widely available and none of

“Given the fact that four people were in the room with me and I was trying not to slide off the chair, I wasn’t the most relaxed which made the whole experience traumatic.”

My last Pap test identified precancerous cells which meant I had to attend a colposcopy appointment, a rather invasive procedure, for further investigation. I was astonished by the sheer lack of competence. I was asked to get onto a bed with stirrups and was asked if I could put my legs in them, at 3ft 9 and having brittle bones, that wasn’t going to happen.

They then didn’t have the correct speculum a piece of equipment that opens the cervix, one far too small and the other far too big for my body.

Given the fact that four people were in the room with me and I was trying not to slide off the chair, I wasn’t the most relaxed which made the whole experience traumatic.

Regardless of the equipment not being correct they repeatedly forced it upon me until after a number of failed attempts to get the swabs needed, I was in too much pain and asked them to stop. I left the appointment with them unable to complete the procedure and I am waiting for it to be rescheduled after they have consulted with a senior specialist. Not the result I was hoping for.

My story isn’t meant to scare anyone away, quite the contrary, what I’ve learnt from this experience is that more of us need to be attending our Pap tests in order to educate and make negative experiences such as my own a thing of the past.

My advice, to be explicit about your needs, don’t do anything you don’t feel comfortable with and don’t let others ignorance about your sexual activities influence you in anyway.

Finally, whatever you do don’t ignore your Pap appointment and throw your letter in the bin, the risk is far too high.

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£NIL F I E S TA

T I TA N I U M

A DVA N C E

PAY M E N T

Ford Fiesta Titanium with Driver A ssistance Pack from £Nil* Advance Payment.

To find out more, visit ford.co.uk /motabilit y or call 0345 60 40 019.

T O G E T H E R

W E

G O

F U R T H E R

Model shown is a Ford Fiesta Titanium 1.0L EcoBoost 100PS Manual Petrol with Driver Assistance Pack: Fuel Economy mpg (l/100km), Combined 49.6 (5.7), CO2 emissions 106g/km†.

Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO2 figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures.

These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. †There is a new test used for fuel consumption and CO2 figures. The CO2 figures shown, however, are based on the outgoing test cycle and will be used to calculate vehicle tax on first registration. *£Nil Advance Payment available only on Ford Fiesta Titanium 1.0L EcoBoost 100PS Manual. Driver Assistance Pack is subject to availability. No cash alternatives are available. This programme is subject to the standard conditions of the Motability Scheme hire agreement. Full written details and quotations available on request from a Ford Authorised participating Dealer of Motability Operations Limited. Motability Scheme vehicles are leased to customers by Motability Operations.

Motability Operations Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under reference number 735390. To qualify you must be in receipt of the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), the Enhanced Rate Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS) or the Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) and applications must be made with participating dealers from 1st July and 30th September 2019. Available on selected dealer stock only. Prices are correct at time of print, are subject to availability and may change. For more information and most up-to-date data, please see the price list at www.ford.co.uk/motability

Hand-Outs TAKING

BY KATIE CAMPBELL Hands of X design prosthetic hands with just as much focus on style as on substance.

We look into the project in time for its latest exhibition in Dundee.

I

n June, the V&A in Dundee unveiled a new exhibit exploring the complex and deeply personal decisions involved in selecting a prosthetic hand. Hands of X: Design Meets Disability sees a collection of prototype prosthesis designed by Graham Pullin, Andrew Cook, Corinne Hutton and Eddie Small, showcasing everything from “cosmetic” hands that look aesthetically similar to the flesh-and-blood alternative, to “bionic” style hands which emphasise the superhuman aspects of disability.

Dundee-based Graham Pullin, one of the designers behind the Hands of X project, noted in an interview with the museum that the X in the project’s name refers to both the material that the hand will be made of and the name of the person to whom it belongs: it could be the Hand of David or the Hand of Cedar Wood.

Images: Chris Wilson

There’s a real emphasis on “nothing about us without us” in the project: Corinne was the first woman in the UK to be the recipient of a double hand transplant after losing both her hands and lower limbs to sepsis in 2013. She works

closely with the project as they ensure that disabled people are at the forefront of all decisions made regarding their prosthetics. She said: “For most prosthetic users, builders, wearers, the cosmetic part is small. And it shouldn’t be.”

In their spring/summer collection from last year, the Hands of X team displayed some beautiful prosthetics made from seemingly “unconventional” materials which emphasise the cosmetic yet functional nature of the hands.

Speaking previously to the V&A, Graham said: “Our first Spring Summer 18 collection features a materials palette including woods like beech and cedar, cellulose acetate (that spectacle frames are made of) in tortoiseshell and plain colours, leathers, stainless steels and felted wools: familiar, everyday materials, in their own way both beautiful yet unremarkable.”

The V&A’s exhibit is designed to recreate a prototype consultation service that the team installed in an eyewear shop in London in 2017. Their aim was to have service users select the materials for their new prosthesis in much the same way we choose a frame for our new glasses, so that it reflects our personal tastes and style, thereby emphasising the sense of connection and ownership to their new hand.

Director of programmes at V&A Dundee Sophie McKinlay said: “It is hugely exciting that visitors to V&A Dundee will have the opportunity to take part in this important project and to feed into ongoing research in the field of prosthetics design.

“Hands of X: Design Meets Disability shows very powerfully how important design is to all our lives, and how it can be used to illuminate and interrogate issues through exploration and research.”

Hands of X: Design Meets Disability is on in the V&A Dundee until Sunday 1 September. For more information on the free exhibit, visit vam.ac.uk/Dundee.

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FAST &FURIOUS TOKYO DRIFT 2020

BY COLETTE CARR

We’re rapidly approaching hitting the one year until the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, and as we enter the business end of the Paralympic cycle, we bring you up to speed with all we know so far.

TOKYO 2020 FACTFILE Tokyo 2020 marks the second time the city has held the Summer Paralympics and is the second instalment in three back-toback Paralympic Games in Asia, following the PyeongChang Winter Paralympics in 2018 and ahead of the Beijing Winter Games in 2022. With the Paralympic Games becoming bigger and bigger in profile year on year, the Tokyo edition is expected to only capitalise on the interest and upwards trajectory sparked by London seven years ago.

THE SPORT A whopping card of 22 sports will be on offer for viewers to dive into next summer, with a wide-ranging programme ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Badminton and taekwondo make their Paralympic debut with 14 and six events respectively, while other sports received a makeover.

The para triathlon will receive an exciting facelift with the IPC announcing, “Eight Para triathlon medal events that will be included in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. These are the PTWC women and men’s events, in which athletes use hand cycles on the bike course and racing wheelchairs on the run segment; the PTS2 women’s, the PTS4 men’s and the PTS5 women and men’s events, in which athletes use road bikes; and the PTVI women and

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men’s events, in which athletes ride tandem with a guide during the bike segment, with the guide accompanying them throughout the race.”

Changes in the pool have been made to create a more “balanced” programme.

Poolside picks now include two mixed gender 4x100m freestyle relays, one for visually impaired swimmers and another for athletes with an intellectual impairment and S14 swimmers also welcome the introduction of a 100m butterfly event.

There will be 146 finals, a decrease of six on the Rio programme.

Arguably, athletics’ track changes are the most exciting and eyebrow raising.

In an unexpected move, the IPC have created what could be a showpiece event on the athletics schedule in the shape of a mixed gender and mixed class 4x100m relay. With two men and two women, each team must put forward one athlete with a visual impairment, one with a co-ordination impairment, one with a limb impairment and a wheelchair racer for what will undoubtedly be one of the most watched and best loved events of the games.

More female athlete spaces are also on offer, but that’s not the only decision affecting women on the track.

Georgie Hermitage may have a medal boost thanks to the changes should she be selected, with the introduction of the T37 100m, which would let her convert her double gold into a hat-trick, but fan favourite Hannah Cockroft won’t be able to defend her triple Paralympic title status with the removal of her T34 400m.

THE VENUES

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Two of these 19 sites act as nonsporting venues – the Harumi Futo Paralympic Village, and the Tokyo Big Sight Conference Tower, which will be used as the International Media and Broadcast Centre.

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Spread across the Heritage Zone and Tokyo Bay Zone, world-class facilities will ensure competing Paralympians and staff enjoy the best access. Notable venues include the state-of-the-art Olympic Stadium which will host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and athletics, the Olympics Aquatic Centre that will showcase the swimming, the Yoyogi National Stadium that will entertain the badminton and wheelchair rugby and the Makuhari Messe which will see the goalball, sitting volleyball, taekwondo and wheelchair fencing action.

E

The vibrant and exciting city of Tokyo and its surrounding areas will boast 21 impressive venues to bring the Games to the world from ranging from new to existing arenas.

MITSUBISHI MOTABILITY OUTLANDER DESIGN 4WD

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Pop in and see us | Visit mitsubishi-cars.co.uk to find your nearest dealer.

Fuel economy and CO₂ results for the Mitsubishi Range (excluding Outlander PHEV). Mpg (l/100km) (combined): 32.5 – 55.4 (8.7 – 5.1). CO₂ emissions: 169 - 107 g/km*.

Fuel economy and CO₂ results for the Outlander PHEV. Mpg (l/100km) (weighted combined): 139.7 (2.0). Electric energy consumption (weighted combined): 3.68 miles/kWh. CO₂ emissions (weighted): 40 g/km*. Equivalent all-electric range: 28 miles.

The Motability Contract Hire Scheme is administered by Motability Operations PLC (Registered Company No. 1373876), City Gate House, 22 Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 9HB. To qualify you must be in receipt of the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance, the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of the Personal Independence Payment, War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement or the Armed Forces Independence Payment which will be taken in lieu of the four weekly rental. Models shown are the Outlander Design automatic, Mirage 4 petrol manual, Eclipse Cross 2 petrol manual and Outlander PHEV Juro. Terms and Conditions apply. Please ask the dealer for full details. Rentals valid for applications placed between 1st July and 30th September 2019. 1. Please note that Mitsubishi cannot guarantee compatibility with all mobile phones and Bluetooth devices with the handsfree system fitted to this vehicle. Please check with the mobile phone manufacturer for further information on compatibility. 2. Apple CarPlay is a trademark of Apple Inc. Android is a trademark of Google LLC, registered in the U.S. and other countries. Fuel consumption, CO₂ and electric range figures shown are for comparability purposes. Outlander PHEV fuel consumption and CO₂ figures shown were obtained using a combination of battery power and fuel. The Outlander PHEV is a plug-in hybrid vehicle requiring mains electricity for charging. Only compare fuel consumption, CO₂ and electric range figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including, accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. *There is a new test used for fuel consumption and CO₂ figures. The CO₂ figures shown however, are based on the outgoing test cycle and will be used to calculate vehicle tax on first registration.

Cook Ready, Steady

BY COLETTE CARR

JAMES COKE

If you’re anything like the team at PosAbility, you could talk about food all day.

Known for: The Disabled Chef website

rom discussing our favourite cuisines to debating the best cookery show, we love talking food as much as we do eating it. While celebrity chefs do enjoy a favourable level of fame, chefs’ talent often goes under the radar, particularly those with disabilities. Here, PosAbility have rustled up a solid menu of sizzling chefs who are sure to whet your appetite.

Social media: @the_disabled_chef @TheDisabledChef

F

Nationality: English

James Coke was diagnosed with MS at the age of 32 in 1997. Having grown up in a home that grew fruit and vegetables and kept chickens, he knew the importance of fresh and healthy meals. Through this, he now runs a website called The Disabled Chef, which includes hundreds of recipes for delicious and healthy home-cooked meals. His recipes range from desserts to global delicacies, and his site is also peppered with videos, blogs and articles from the keen writer.

He has also made TV appearances and contributed to news outlets, with bylines in the likes of the Guardian.

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MICHAEL CAINES Known for: Michelin Star restaurants and TV chef Nationality: English Social media: @macaines Holder of two Michelin Stars for no fewer than 18 consecutive years, Michael Caines MBE has an illustrious career in the kitchen.

Having appeared regularly on television, on programmes such as BBC 1 Saturday Kitchen, MasterChef, Sunday Brunch, The Great British Menu, My Kitchen Rules and The Great British Bake-off Extra Slice, he has carved out a successful career both on and off screen. Michael lost his arm in emergency surgery after a car accident, but doesn’t want to be known as “the one-armed chef”, having already been on his way to becoming one of the country’s top chefs before the amputation.

RONNIE MURRAY Known for: Great British Menu Nationality: English Social media: @ChefRonnieM Ronnie Murray captured the nation’s attention after his appearance on series 11 of hit BBC show Great British Menu. Ronnie trained in Patisserie for 17 years and worked for many critically acclaimed restaurants before his stint on the programme, and began his journey after a week’s work experience under Michael Caines having written a letter to the star chef. His style keeps influence from traditional British dishes, but with a modern twist. Currently, he is the group executive head chef for events company Camm & Hooper where he is transforming their menus and diners’ experiences.

CHRISTINE HA Known for: MasterChef Nationality: American Social media: @theblindcook Blind chef Christine Ha rose to prominence after winning season three of MasterChef. Hailed for her phenomenal discipline in the kitchen, Ha won the contest with no culinary training, but had cultivated a loyal following on her blog The Blind Cook. Since being crowned champion, she has published a cookbook Recipes from My Home Kitchen: Asian and American Comfort Food.

Following this, she also became a judge on MasterChef Vietnam and a host on Four Senses, a cooking show on Canadian channel Accessible Media Inc TV which features a heavy emphasis on audio description, allowing a viewer to create a picture based on the descriptions of sounds, smells and how things feel.

Image: Masterchef

LITTLE CHEF IVY Known for: MasterChef Junior Nationality: American Social media: @LittleChefIvy 11-year-old Little Chef Ivy shot to fame after her appearance on MasterChef spinoff MasterChef Junior.

Annoyed by the limited choices on kids’ menus, Ivy decided to take matters into her own hands and shake things up by learning how to cook tasty and healthy meals.

The Atlanta native has a strong following after her stint on the popular US show, and posts YouTube videos and tutorials highlighting her talents.

Image: BBC

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Image: Masterchef

posabilitymagazine.co.uk

Converting Wheelchair accessible vehicles to meet your individual requirements

TBC have attained the high technical standard required to become a Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Recognised Converter

INTELLIGENCE • EMPATHY • CARE

NEW EURO 6 VW CADDY MAXI LIFE 6 Seater Capacity (Driver + Wheelchair User + 4 Passengers)

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INTRODUCING THE NEW TBC VW T6 RANGE Don’t be puzzled over choosing your next wheelchair accessible vehicle... TBC will help you put the pieces together to create a vehicle as individual as you

Standard features include: • Original VW fuel tank • Original VW rear suspension • Continuous rear door seal • Original VW seating throughout • Rear parking sensors • Gas strut assisted lightweight ramp • Courtesy vehicle available from your supplying VW Commercial Centre

Internal transfer or drive from wheelchair vehicle

Standard features include: 4 3 different wheelchair positions, tested up to 200kg 4 Upfront passenger and drivers position (lowered floor) 4 Inboard or under floor lift 4 Docking stations 4 Models include; Transporter, Shuttle and Caravelle

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*Available until 30th September 2019

Energy BOOSTERS

BY ROSALIND TULLOCH

W

e all know that mid-afternoon slump where your eyes feel heavy and your lethargic body and mind just want to take a rest, it can be hard to garner your energy to get through the rest of the day. If you are experiencing a notable difference in your energy levels throughout the day that you can’t attribute to any other health concerns, it could be to do with your diet.

BR E AKFAST SM OOT H IES These delicious and quick to make drinks are a fantastic way to start off your day.

Bananas are well-known for their energy boosting properties and mixed with blueberries, strawberries or mango creates a delicious breakfast drink that will keep you full until lunch. Try out the following recipe if you have a juicer or blender at the back of the cupboard, throw all the ingredients in and whizz it up: 1 banana 100g blueberries 100g plain yoghurt dash of vanilla extract ice

Ensuring you are keeping your energy levels optimised naturally can give you a real boost and keep you alert and focused to get on with your day. We highlight some star foods and drinks for keeping you on top of your game all day.

SN AC KS Avoid the vending machine in the ofďŹ ce, forget that chocolate bar stashed at the back of the cupboard or that quick bag of crisps that is lurking in your handbag. Snacking is good for your metabolism and your energy levels throughout the day, and when done right they can have a great effect on your mood and motivation. Try a bag of healthier popcorn, dip veggie sticks in hummus or a yoghurt and mint dip, throw some berries into a bowl of yoghurt or make up a bag of trail mix with your favourite nuts, dried fruit and even some dark chocolate chips.

LUNCHES

DINNERS

The key to not feeling sleepy after lunch is to avoid overindulging and keep to lighter meals that are filled with energy boosting vitamins. A balanced lunch with a little carbs, protein, fibre and some natural sugar will help tackle that afternoon slump.

Try some smashed avocado on toast with a poached egg or whip up a chicken salad and some carrots and hummus to take to work with you. Top it off with some sweet grapes, strawberries or any other fruit that takes your fancy for that natural sugar high.

Carb-heavy meals at the end of the day will almost certainly send you to sleep on the sofa in front of your favourite TV programme. Look out some recipes for fish high in fatty acids, like salmon, tuna and mackerel and team them with a tasty mix of leafy greens, salads, homemade sweet potato fries or roast a mix of peppers, onions and butternut squash sprinkled with herbs and spices. Filling and uplifting for an evening meal that won’t have you feeling too full for bedtime.

C AF F EI N E

T R E AT S

While too much coffee can certainly have adverse health effects, a little coffee can do wonders for keeping you awake and alert if you are experiencing a midmorning crash. Avoid energy drinks and supplements at all costs, they contain scarily high amounts of both caffeine and sugar. Best to stick to one cup of coffee when you are feeling tired and avoid caffeine later in the day as you don’t want to be awake all night. It has also been proven that drinking an espresso 20 minutes before a work out can improve your energy levels and productivity.

We all need to give in to our sweet tooth every once in a while, it is good for our mental wellbeing. Why not indulge in a small piece of dark chocolate when you are feeling the need for a sweet boost or make energy balls at home – there are so many healthy recipes for these and they are really quick to make. Chocolate dipped strawberries are another favourite, and many people like dipping apple slices into peanut butter for that sweet hit.

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27

spacious sporty and loads of spec

from NIL advance payment

*

Fuel economy and CO2 results for the MG ZS Exclusive mpg (l/100km) (combined): 38.6 (7.3) to 41.5 (6.8) CO2 emissions: 140–145 g/km. Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO2 figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. There is a new test used for fuel consumption and CO2 figures. The CO2 figures shown however, are based on the outgoing test cycle and will be used to calculate vehicle tax on first registration. Model shown: MG ZS* with Dynamic Red paint available at nil Advance Payment. Motability Scheme vehicles are leased to customers by Motability Operations Limited (Registered Company No 1373876), City Gate House, 22 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HB. To qualify you must be in receipt of the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), the Enhanced Rate Mobility Component of Personal Independent Payment (PIP), the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS) or the Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) and applications must be made with participating dealers between 1st July 2019 and 30th September 2019.

Prices are correct at time of print, are subject to availability and may change. *Applicable to MG ZS Excite and Exclusive models only.

MIK SCARLET COLUMNIST

Follow Mik on Twitter

THANKS MUM

S

adly, my mum was recently diagnosed with a terminal illness, so it’s especially important for me to tell the world how amazing she is in my column this issue. Alongside helping me become the kind of man I hope she is proud of, there were many vital things she did for me as I grew up that helped me thrive.

The first thing she did was raise me to never feel different or less. I can’t remember ever feeling that because I was disabled that I was inferior or broken. Other people seemed to want to make me feel this way, but the constant reassurance that they were wrong built an inner core of confidence in me that turned into a rock. No matter how hard school bullies, weird adults, nasty teachers or medical professionals tried to knock me down, my mum taught me to know I was perfect.

She then fought to make sure I had a

@MikScarlet

“normal” life. I spent way too much of my childhood in hospitals and doctor’s surgeries, being poked and prodded by all manner of specialists, yet even these awful situations she made fun. When I was very ill at the age of 15, that led me to become paralysed, I spent several years needing so much care I was like a baby again. Yet every day she made it fun. We laughed and mucked about, with her becoming my best friend.

As the time to start at school drew near, we moved to another part of my hometown of Luton. This was because after searching all over the town my parents had found only one mainstream school that would even give me a trial. They fought to get me this trial and after a week or so, they were told I was more than welcome to stay.

When I became interested in fashion, mum would alter my clothes so they fitted over my leg brace. When punk took hold of me, she made me a pair of bondage trousers that were designed to have my leg brace on the outside, with handbag straps

between my legs. She dyed my hair for me and taught me to wear make up to emulate my hero, Gary Numan.

The biggest thing my mum did for me was she never let me know if she was worried about me. She was told I’d be dead by five, so every year of my childhood was borrowed time to her, yet I never knew. When my dad died, most adults told me it was the stress of having me that caused his heart attack, but she never did. That experience did load me with guilt, but she had no part in it. She made me feel loved, special and normal.

I am going to miss her more than I can ever say, but mum is proud of who I am, what I achieved, and that I share the love of other people she has.

If you are a parent of a disabled child, I can confidently recommend my mum’s techniques in child rearing.

I know it’s harder now, but if you tell your kids they are amazing and try not to let them see your battles, they’ll reap the rewards. My mum did that for me and I can never truly repay her.

To all the disabled people reading this, if you feel like I do about your parents, tell them. Say thank you and I love you, before it’s too late.

Love you Mum.

“I know it’s harder now, but if you tell your kids they are amazing and try not to let them see your battles, they’ll reap the rewards”

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Festival FACE

BY KATIE CAMPBELL Got your rain jacket?

Your glitter? Your wellies? Are you even ready for festival season? Get yourself organised before you go and dance yourself silly before festival season is out for the year.

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Standing all day can seriously take its toll, and there aren’t a lot of places to sit at your standard music festival. This handy walking stick folds out into a seat, which will give you a bit of much needed respite between bands and make all your friends mad that they didn’t think of brining one. completecareshop.co.uk | £19.14

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Instax Mini 9 Camera

This adorable little camera takes and prints polaroids that you can use to remember your festival experience.

It’s lightweight, resilient and it takes a surprisingly decent quality photograph for such a dinky little piece of kit. It’s available in a wide assortment of cute and fun colours for you to take your pick from. amazon.co.uk | From £58

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Walking Stick Seat

Dust & Dance Biodegradable Glitter in Mayan Gold

Are you really at a music festival if you’re not wearing a big glittery highlight?

Honestly we’re not sure. Dust & Dance glitter is not only pretty and sparkly, but it’s biodegradable, meaning you don’t need to worry about a cute little sea creature choking on your sparkles after you wash them off! dustanddance.com | From £3.50

Suva Beauty Hydra FX Liners

These look difficult to use, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Spray Suva’s cake liners with water and you’ve got yourself a multi-use, super neon, blacklight-reactive colour that you can paint yourself from head to toe in. What’s more festival than turning up entirely covered in neon green? Nothing. beautybay.com | £12.50

5

Movie Stars Wheelchair Tote/ Shopping Bag

Roll into the festival in absolute style with all your belongings stored in this super cool tote bag, featuring Marylin Monroe and James Dean among other famous faces. The handmade, retro style of the bag is fun and functional all at once, plus it’s machine washable, so no need to worry about the mud!

By BESPOKEQUILTSBYPolly on etsy.com | £18

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ASOS DESIGN Pac a Mac Jacket in Animal Print

Pac a macs are back in fashion for festival season after a stint in the mid nineties as “everyone’s least favourite school jacket they were still forced to wear.” This brightly coloured waterproof is perfect to take with you to festivals as it folds away into a bag with a strap, and looks cool to boot! asos.com | £25 | available in sizes 4 to 30

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Casetify Impact Phone Case in Desertscape

Like with the wellies, it’s best to be prepared for any eventuality. If you’re going to drop your phone, which you likely are after a few overpriced ciders and a bit of jostling from the crowd, make sure it’s protected. Casetify’s phone cases offer seriously high impact protection without sacrificing style or making it super heavy. casetify.com | £35

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Majestic Peacock Geometric Holographic Purse

Holo everything, even your purse or wallet. This purse is large enough to fit your phone, and has a cool geometric design. Aside from that, it might appear a kind of dull grey at first, but exposed to bright or natural light, it reflects all sorts of green, purple and blue tones – hence “majestic peacock”. amazon.co.uk | From £8.99

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H&M Holographic Makeup Bag

Medication, but make it fashion. It’s clear so people searching you at the door will be able to see everything in it without raking around, and it’s extremely cool. If you need to take medication in with you to the festival, cart them in in the most festival chic way possible.

2hm.com | £5.99

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Paperchase Miami Jumbo Bottle with Straw

Memphis design (squiggles and neon and wild shapes) is very on-brand right now, thanks to the nineties making a roaring comeback. Since a lot of festivals provide free water refills on site, it’s a great idea to take a refillable bottle with you, and this one is perfect for this summer’s festival scene. paperchase.com | £9

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Barbour Wilton Welly

Yes, the weather has been beautiful, but do you really trust it to stay that way?

When was the last time you went to a festival and didn’t come back caked in mud? You can’t not take wellies. Invest in these Barbour wellies and you’ll be sorted for this festival and every one yet to come. outdoorandcountry.co.uk | £49.95

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0800 916 3053

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Advance Payments correct at time of going to press. Images for illustrative purposes only.

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WIN You can find out more about Ottobock’s range of wheelchairs at ottobock.co.uk or by calling 01784 744900.

We have teamed up with Ottobock for our 50th issue and they are very generously giving away a Ventus wheelchair to one lucky reader!

T

he Ventus is an excellent everyday wheelchair with a fully configurable aluminium rigid-frame and a comprehensive selection of options.

It is compact and lightweight without compromising on quality.

It has removable rear wheels and a backrest which folds forward and locks, making it easy to transport independently. The Ventus not only offers comfort and great handling but also comes in a choice of 14 attractive colours and is suitable for a range of users and conditions.

VENTUS FEATURES Aluminium tube frame Rigid axle Colour matched foot plate with different angle and height settings Seat and back support tension adjustable upholstery in black Folding and locking back support

To be in with a chance of winning this amazing prize, simply email your name, address, telephone and email address to posabilitycompetitions@gmail.com, visit posabilitymagazine.co.uk to enter online or fill in your details and post this form to the address below:

Ventus Competition PosAbility Magazine Caledonia House Thornliebank Ind Est Glasgow G46 8JT

Name: Address:

Aluminium side panels

Postcode: Tel: Email: ü

Ottobock would like to send you more information about their products. If you would like to receive this please tick the box. By ticking the box you are consenting to us providing your details to Ottobock.

ü

Please tick box to accept the Terms & Conditions

T&Cs: The prize is a Ventus wheelchair up to an equivalent RRP value of £2000. An assessment will need to be carried out before the wheelchair can be ordered and delivered. This will ensure the chair is suitable for the user and measurements will be taken so the correct size of wheelchair can be ordered. Delivery can take up to five weeks depending on options required. This prize is not transferable nor can any cash alternative be offered. One entry per household. The prize is available to UK residents only. Closing date for entries is 30 September.

posabilitymagazine.co.uk

33

ASSURANCE FOR WHEREVER LIFE TAKES YOU

THE VOLVO XC40 T3 FWD MOMENTUM: FROM £1,899 ADVANCE PAYMENT* Experience a car that’s designed to put you first – for less. With our Motability Scheme offers, you can drive away our multi-award-winning XC40 Momentum Manual with an Advance Payment of £1,899*. Including a comprehensive range of features, such as: Intuitive 9-inch Touch Screen | Volvo On Call Optional Park Assist Pilot | Optional programmable tailgate opening height Euro NCAP five-star safety rating | 479 litres of load space XC40 R-Design and Inscription variants are also available on Motability.

VISIT VOLVOCARS.CO.UK/MOTABILITY

Fuel consumption and CO2** figures for the MY20 Volvo XC40 T3 FWD Momentum Manual, in MPG (l/100km): WLTP Combined 37.2 (7.6) – 41.5 (6.8). NEDC CO2 emissions 146 – 142g/km. Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO2 figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. **There is a new test used for fuel consumption and CO2 figures. The CO2 figures shown, however, are based on the outgoing test cycle and will be used to calculate vehicle tax on first registration. Preliminary data. Please contact your retailer for latest information. *Advance Payment of £1,899 is for the Volvo XC40 T3 FWD 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 01/07/2019 to 30/09/2019 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.

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

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TRILIFT Designed to make travel with a scooter or powerchair much easier. The TriLift affixes to the back of your vehicle and you simply drive your mobility scooter or powerchair to the back of your car and at the touch of a button the TriLift lifts and secures your mobility aid.

Prices available on request 0800 246 5901 trilift.co.uk

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ETRIKE

IROBOT ROOMBA 676

The eTrike is an electric assist version of the Mountain Trike. It will appeal to people who find they require a bit of assistance when travelling off road or for others who will use the extra power to tackle even more challenging terrain. The 250w hub motor powered by a 36v 12Ah Li-ion battery has an excellent range and is powerful enough to cope with rough surfaces and hill climbs alike.

Take the hard work out of cleaning and invest in a robot hoover that will clean your floors for you. The iRobot Roomba 676 is wifi connected and allows you to schedule cleaning times from anywhere at anytime. It has a powerful cleaning system and dirt detect sensors that ensure Roomba 676 is working harder on those areas.

Prices from - £6,795 01270 842616 mountaintrike.com

Prices from £379.99 0208 8653171 irobot.co.uk

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No. ~

SLEEP AND WAKE UP LIGHT This light simulates sunrise and sunset to help you drift off and to wake up naturally in the morning. Set the alarm to wake you with gentle sounds or your chosen radio station and the light will begin gradually increasing from 30 minutes before. It also features a light-guided wind-down function to help you focus on your breathing and drift off to sleep.

Prices from £189.99 0800 331 6016 philips.co.uk

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No. ~

SAMANTHA BAG Our very own columnist Sam Renke collaborated with designer brand Mia Tui to create a beautiful inclusive handbag. All the zips have easy to pull zip tabs, and the D-rings allow mobility clips to be used with walkers and wheelchairs. The ultra-soft faux leather bag also includes a matching clutch bag with wrist strap, detachable shoulder strap and insulated bottle holder. Available in a range of colours.

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Prices from £40 01908 299259 miatui.com

No. ~

BACKBOARD This simple board can be bent and moulded to fit the natural curvature of your spine to ensure better posture when you are sitting for long periods of time. It has been developed in conjunction with the London Spine Clinic and helps to avoid the pressure that a slumped position can bring.

Prices from £39.95 0800 772 3771 designed2enable.co.uk

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Wimbledon 2019

BY MARK DAVIDSON

W

ith over 42,000 spectators able to fill Wimbledon at any one time, there are plenty of matches to watch for the thousands of people that arrive on a daily basis. In addition, for the fourth year in a row, wheelchair tennis provided plenty of exciting matches for the crowds to see, alongside the big names in non-disabled tennis such as Djokovic, Federer and Serena Williams. The addition of wheelchair tennis has allowed many of the crowd to see the world’s top disabled players competing in this area of the sport. With total prize money of £441,000 available in the 2019 wheelchair tournament, there was plenty to play for at this year’s championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

Like previous years, this year’s event brought strong competition with all the top players from around the world descending on the most famous tennis court in the world with championship titles in their sights.

With total prize money of £441,000 available in the 2019 wheelchair tournament, there was plenty to play for

Alfie Hewett

01 DAY

With bright sunshine on the opening day, the overall winner of the men’s competition, Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina, began with a victory over the British favourite, Alfie Hewett, 6-1 6-3. It was also a good start for the runner-up with Shingo Kunieda of Japan defeating Great Britain’s Gordon Reid 6-1 6-1.

Jordanne Whiley

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Elsewhere, the 2015 US Open champion, Jordanne Whiley who had announced her engagement during the championships, lost to Yui Kamiji of Japan 6-4 6-1 ending any interest Britain had in both the Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ singles competition which was a disappointing end to the first day.

02 DAY

Onto the second day and the main event of competition was the Quad wheelchair doubles final. Few outside tennis circles will have heard of Britain’s Andy Lapthorne, yet he is now a 2019 Wimbledon Champion along with his doubles partner, Dylan Alcott of Australia in the inaugural Quad doubles competition. The large crowd in attendance shows how far wheelchair tennis has progressed in recent years, witnessing a great sporting achievement.

Lapthorne said: “You had a mix of Aussies and Londoners cheering for one team, it was great, and the court was full to the brim with people queueing to get in. To come here and play in front of a home crowd is always amazing. There is tremendous support from the BBC and Wimbledon to get us out on live TV. Hopefully there are some disabled people at home who have watched that and will be inspired to come and try wheelchair tennis.

Wimbledon is the reason I got involved in tennis” Lapthorne said.

“If it hadn’t been for this tournament and coming here as a kid I wouldn’t have played tennis. One of the main reasons I got into it was watching my hero Leyton Hewitt when he won here, along with Tim Henman, another big hero of mine.”

Andy Lapthorne and Dylan Alcott

Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewett

03 DAY

Day three saw another set of finals and it was more disappointment for the British pairing of Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid.

Unfortunately, last year’s winners couldn’t add another title in the men’s doubles competition and the pair were beaten 6-4 6-2 by Joachim Gerard of Belgium and Stefan Olsson of Sweden.

In the Ladies’ wheelchair singles final it was an entirely Dutch affair with Aniek Van Koot defeating her compatriot Diede De Groot 6-4 4-6 7-5.

However in the Quad wheelchair singles final Dylan Alcott achieved further success, defeating his doubles partner Andy Lapthorne 6-0 6-2. Asked how he assessed winning the first ever Quad wheelchair Grand Slam title on grass at Wimbledon Alcott said: “Pretty awesome, man. Yeah, it was unbelievable. I felt a bit bad for ‘Lapo’.

Obviously I was really on it and he was a bit nervous with the crowd and things. I was just looking around thinking, we’re at Wimbledon. There was a full stadium here on grass, although 70% of the people were from Australia. It was unbelievable and that was so cool, to go away and have a crowd like that. I think you could tell I had a pep in my step from the start. That was because of the vibe, it was a beautiful day”. He continued “I guess I hate the word ‘inspire’.

But to show not only young people with a disability what they can do, but mainly able-bodied people as well. That’s what I’m most proud of”.

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TENNIS FOR ALL A FOCUS ON ACCESSIBILITY Working closely with The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), disability charity Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF) took a team of 20 volunteers to this years’ Championships, to carry out an official accessibility survey. QEF’s aims were to gather feedback from a wide variety of people on their experiences of attending the Championships and how accessible they found them to be. The survey covered everything from the ticket ballot process and contact with the ticket office, to support with travel to the grounds and parking, moving around the grounds, accessing seats, toilets and buying food.

Diede De Groot and Aniek Van Koot

04 DAY

On the final day of competition the Ladies’ wheelchair doubles final was won by Diede De Groot and Aniek Van Koot of the Netherlands who defeated Marjolein Buis, also of the Netherlands and Giulia Capocci of Italy 6-1 6-1.

In the Gentlemen’s wheelchair singles final, Gustavo Fernandez of Argentina beat Shingo Kunieda of Japan 4-6 6-3 6-2. Afterwards, Gustavo paid tribute to his opponent saying how he inspired him: “I watched videos on YouTube. He was coming up and then in 2007 he got to number one in the world. I saw him for the first time in the World Team Cup. He was the one that raised the level up and he changed the sport.”

It was a great way to end another competition at the most famous tennis club in the world, one which saw disabled tennis players recognised as equal to their nondisabled counterparts.

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With an ageing population, an increasing number of people have mobility restrictions; whether that’s as a result of an operation, a progressive illness or a need to use a walker or a wheelchair to enable mobility. Many of QEF’s team of volunteers are disabled themselves and provide a friendly, independent face for people to talk to and listen to their experiences. This is a really important way for the AELTC to hear directly from their visitors and identify where improvements can be made.

Over the last few years, the AELTC has made some significant changes as a result of visitor feedback. A Changing Places toilet has been introduced and signage has been improved to help people navigate to accessible court seating and toilets.

QEF will collate feedback from this year’s survey and share it with the AELTC, so that recommendations can be reviewed and carried out in time for next year’s event.

For more information on QEF visit qef.org.uk.

Life after traumatic injury can be challenging Blesma is here for all serving and ex-Service men and women who have experienced loss of limb, use of limbs, hearing, sight or speech, either during or after Service

Get in touch to find out how we can support you and your family Tel: 020 8548 7080 Email: membersupport@blesma.org Find out more: www.blesma.org

#When ICallMy

BY ROSALIND TULLOCH

Imani Barbarin is an unapologetic and bold voice in the disabled community. She is a blogger and disability rights activist living with cerebral palsy. She recently started the hashtag #WhenICallMyselfDisabled to start a conversation and encourage people to share their experiences.

I

mani, who goes by @crutches_and_spice on Instagram, stated in a video on the social media site: “When I call myself disabled I am starting a rebellion, and a conversation.

“So often we see “disability” as such a wrong and horrible thing. But in reality it’s an identity that helps bring people together. I hope that by starting a hashtag like this, people feel less alone.”

Her hashtag has seen disabled people across the world share their experiences with #WhenICallMyselfDisabled.

It is an empowering movement that is inspiring disabled people to “take the power back” around their identity and promote positive connotations around the word disabled.

Here are just a few of the amazing responses that this hashtag has garnered:

@SITTING_PRETTY

#WhenICallMyselfDisabled I’m handpicking a word that represents something fundamental to who I am from the boiling center to the edges of my silhouette. “Disabled” is not an external apparatus hanging off of me – separate from the “real me”. It’s not something I’ve overcome. I’m not who I am despite it. It’s me – written into every cell of me – not only on my legs, spine, and kidneys, but through my gut, heart, brain, eyes. It’s here with me while I sip on my fancy yellow drink in my thrifted yellow tee feeling ragged and full, weary and bright, unsure and still trucking.

It’s tangled into my anxious, eager posture. It’s running through the breeze-kisses on my cheeks and the creaking pain between L3 and L4. It whispers “I want more” even as it holds my hand, steeling us for the pain ahead. It’s my scrappiness, my reckless doggedness, my rebellious frivolity. It makes me want to change the world, even as it sings me to sleep, makes my brain fuzzy, and leaves me powerless to the call of my bed and every crime drama on Netflix. It makes me the person who holds so few conclusions and more questions than I can wrangle with both arms. It means I do not want advice – yeah, like not aaaany – but it moves me to rub my cheek on every single story you tell me, then hold it gently, closely to my heart. It means I long to be understood, and it’s made me cherish the pangs of my outsider status. (Greaser for life! Who would I even be if I were brought to the center?) It’s right here with me as I do a wonky wink at the camera and shout a happy “for f**k’s sake!” so the man and woman with the nice shoes and proper table manners stealing glances at us will shift uncomfortably in their seats. This is disabled me, doing fine and sitting pretty.

I am buzzing on this hashtag started by @crutches_ and_spice – thank you to this remarkable human for

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self Disabled making space for disabled voices to define for ourselves a word so close to us – a word so often distorted by those on the outside of it. I hope you check out all the powerful posts huddled under this hashtag umbrella.

And if you use this word to describe yourself, too, I’d love to read what you mean when you use it.

@CAFFEINATEDCRAFTINGCRIPPLE #WhenICallMyselfDisabled I’m not asking for your validation. I’m not asking for your permission. I’m not asking if that makes you feel uncomfortable. I’m not waiting for you to rush in with some assurance that I’m not.

Because I am, in fact, disabled.

@PUSHYLAWYER #WhenICallMyselfDisabled I was 16 years old when in one moment I was living my life as an able-bodied person and in the next was sitting in a hospital being told I would never walk again. That is when a doctor called me disabled.

I spent the next decade working off that label. Finishing high school, moving away to college, dating, traveling the world, meeting my future husband, going to law school, getting married, graduating from law school, taking the bar exam, starting a career as a lawyer, being a lawyer, adopting, becoming a mom, being a mom, getting pregnant, being pregnant, giving birth, raising two kids.

Then it hit me...why was I working so hard to make everyone think I wasn’t disabled. What was so wrong with the D word? Nothing...absolutely nothing. In fact, I am disabled. I AM! I am strong, I am a lawyer, I am a wife, I am a mom, I am a woman, and I am disabled (in no particular order). It is every bit as much of who I am as any other label, and I am so thankful for that.

I’ve been disabled since I was sixteen and my health is only declining. I’m not “okay” with that but I have made my peace with it. I don’t want or need someone who isn’t in my body to tell me what it is or should be capable of.

Your comfort around my body isn’t my problem. If your prejudice is making you uncomfortable, you need to sort that out. Not me.

My life is hard. I’ve been dealt a tough hand. And some days I want to scream into the void. But I also know how much power flows through me, and that power gives me the confidence to say that yes, I’d love your support, but if that support comes with conditions for your own comfort, then I don’t need it.

When I stopped listening to the rest of the world telling me everything disability means I can’t do, and looked at EVERYTHING I was doing, I realized that my disability, my disabled-self, was great, was enough, was more.

When I call myself disabled I am acknowledging my WHOLE self. Every part of it. And when I call myself disabled I am telling the world that it is an identity I wear with pride!

Thanks to @crutches_and_spice @alexwegman @anhonestquad and others for opening this beautiful dialogue!

Join the conversation on Instagram and Twitter with #WhenICallMyselfDisabled.

PosAbility Means

PRIZES It’s competition time! To celebrate our 50th issue we have teamed up with some of our favourite supporters to give away some great prizes!

WE HAVE 5 NIMBLES TO GIVE AWAY! Nimble is a handy little tool to help you open packages, parcels and wrapped items. So often nowadays it can be impossible to get into packaging and especially if you have limited hand dexterity or arthritis. No more struggling with fiddly parcels, the Nimble simply and easily slides through packets, tape and wrapping, saving you time and stress.

Find out more at version22.com/nimble.

WE HAVE 2 MUGGIS TO GIVE AWAY!

Muggi allows users to carry up to four mugs of hot or cold drinks safely, catching any unwanted spillages. It is a fantastic way to allow wheelchair users to transport drinks on their laps and it also fits onto walkers too. It has non-slip rubber feet and finger and thumb holds that make it easy to carry.

Available in a range of colours, PosAbility has been given two Muggis in an exclusive bright orange that you cannot buy online!

Check out the Muggi at muggi.co.uk.

WIN RADAR KEYS AND BLUE HEART BADGES! N&C Phlexicare are giving away 20 RADAR keys and 20 Blue Heart Badges. RADAR keys allow you access to any accessible toilet in a public place and the Blue Heart Badges serve as a way to identify if you have an invisible disability. The badges carry the message ‘Not all disabilities are visible’ and are a great way to avoid any questioning of why you are using an accessible toilet.

Find out more at ncphlexicare.com.

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WIN BLUE BADGE COMPANY GOODIES! Creators of beautiful, useful products for disabled people, the Blue Badge Company are giving away: 5 disabled parking permit covers 2 everyday pill boxes 1 small lavender filled bag The Blue Badge Company are well-known for their range of stunning, high-quality products and you could be lucky enough to get your hands on one of the above items if you enter this competition.

You can view the full range of products at bluebadgecompany.co.uk.

WIN A MOUNTAIN TRIKE EXPERIENCE! Mountain Trike are offering one lucky reader the chance to try out the Mountain Trike or the MT Push for a weekend of adventure. If you have always been tempted by an all-terrain wheelchair to tackle forest walks or off road adventures then why not enter this great competition to try one out for the weekend? The Mountain Trike has a unique lever system that allows you to self-propel and keep your hands clean and dry, the MT Push is a buddy chair that is ideal for those who do not have the strength to self-propel.

Find out more about the products at mountaintrike.com.

T&Cs The prize is for a 2-day weekend hire for the Mountain Trike or MT Push.

No delivery or hire charges. UK only. Subject to availability and suitability for winner.

WIN A SET OF KEYWINGS!

Keywing are giving away 10 triple set of keywings! No more fiddling around with awkward keys and tricky locks. The Keywing is a simple and effective solution to provide a larger surface area to grip and turn a key.

Ideal for those who struggle with hand dexterity and arthritis.

Find out more at thekeywing.com

ENTER NOW! To be in with a chance of winning any of these products you can visit posabilitymagazine.co.uk, email posabilitycompetitions@gmail. com or write to us with your name, address, telephone and state which competitions you would like to be entered into – if you woul;d like to be entered into all the competitions simply state ‘ALL’ on your entry! Good luck!

PosAbility Magazine Caledonia House Evanton Drive Thornliebank Ind Est Glasgow G46 8JT Closing date for entries 30 Sept 2019

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Maison

DES LANDES

“

JERSEY’S UNIQUE HOTEL FOR DISABLED PEOPLE It’s the holiday we thought we could never have,” say John and Janet from Surrey. John suffers from dementia and Janet, his wife, is his carer. Maison des Landes Hotel in Jersey provides a holiday where they can both truly relax – an enjoyable experience for John and a respite for Janet who can rely on a skilled and caring staff to give her the break she needs.

hotel’s guests free entry), visits to local hostelries and ten-pin bowling. The hotel has an indoor heated swimming pool with easy ramp or hoist access and an outdoor pétanque court (pétanque is a French form of bowls ideally suited for people in wheelchairs).

The hotel also offers self-contained selfcatering accommodation (available all year). The apartments are fully accessible to wheelchair users. The two apartments may also be joined to create a family unit sleeping four.

Maison des Landes Hotel caters for up to 40 people, principally those with severe disabilities and their carers, in bed and breakfast or full-board accommodation in family, twin and single rooms. Every room is designed for those with disabilities – special beds, hoists to enable the severely disabled to get into and out of bed, walk-in and wheel-in showers. All rooms have satellite television, wifi, a telephone and hospitality tray.

Daily, specially equipped minibuses take hotel guests on free island tours for shopping, visits to major tourist attractions (many of whom offer the

The hotel is surrounded by beautiful gardens with spectacular views over Jersey’s west coast, with amazing sunsets, and guests also have the amenity of a comfortable licensed lounge, perfect for relaxing and enjoying the company of other guests and regular evening entertainment.

Tours and return transfers from port or airport are all included in the daily tariff.

GET IN TOUCH The hotel is open from April to September, to find out more contact Maison des Landes on 01534 481683, email contact@maisondeslandes.co.uk or visit maisondeslandes.co.uk.

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ACCESSIBLE A brand new survey from Compare the Market has revealed the best capital cities in Europe to take an accessible holiday, so pack up your case, book your tickets and for the love of all that’s good please don’t forget your passport as we take a whistle-stop tour around the best and most accessible that Europe has to offer.

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EUROPE

BY KATIE CAMPBELL

LUXEMBOURG CITY, LUXEMBOURG Luxembourg is one of three European capitals, and it’s no wonder that the city has come out on top as the best city for an accessible break. It’s one of the only places to be voted European City of Culture twice, and the ancient city is dripping in both modern splendour and historic charm. A third of its attractions are accessible, so you won’t struggle for things to do in the stunning city. Visit Fort Thüngen for a taste of old Luxembourg, the National Museum of Art and History for a more modern historical experience, then visit one of the city’s many Michelin star restaurants.

BERLIN, GERMANY Germany as a whole has been making huge strides towards accessibility in recent years, and Berlin’s place on this list is a reflection of this. The capital is an eclectic mix of business, politics, and history, with a punk undercurrent seeping through every aspect of the city. Hop on the U-Bahn and visit the Topographie

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Des Terrors for a sobering look at the plight of the Jewish people during the Holocaust, catch an Eisbären Berlin game, visit the Ramones Museum that’s tucked away in an old West Berlin neighbourhood, then take yourself for some of the finest food and Berliner Pilsner the country has to offer.

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STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN

4

OSLO, NORWAY

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BERN, SWITZERLAND

Aside from being the city that gave us ABBA, for which we should be truly thankful, the so-called Venice of the North is a series of islands forming one of the country’s largest archipelagos. Stockholm is the first certified green city in Europe, and has some of the cleanest air of any city in the world, making it an ideal place to go for those who want to escape to somewhere a little greener without completely escaping civilization. Despite preconceived notions, Stockholm gets more hours of sunlight than both Paris and London and has some of the best and warmest weather amongst the Nordic nations.

Home of the Nobel Peace Prize, much like its Scandinavian cousin, Oslo is considered one of the greenest cities in Europe. It’s what’s known as a compact city, which means it has been planned in such a way that travel is mostly done over short distances, making it extremely easy to get around this coastal capital. The city is a bastion of culture, and home to some truly incredible museums, which include the works of Edvard Munch, famed painter of The Scream. Fun fact: the city of Oslo gifts a Christmas tree to a number of cities around the world each year, including London and Edinburgh. Cheers for that, Oslo!

Switzerland doesn’t actually have a de jure capital, but Bern is considered the country’s capital city as it’s where the parliament resides. Its Old City – Altstadt – is considered a UNESCO Heritage Site, marking its historical significance. If you love to travel but hate cooking in the heat

that a European city break may otherwise offer, Bern might just be the city for you, as even in July the daily temperature only hits an average of 18C°, so you can happily romp around the beautiful and unique city without fearing you’ll melt into a puddle.

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THE

GREATESCAPE

The UK’s first pop up escape room for visually impaired people

E

scape rooms have taken the UK by storm in recent years and remain popular as an exciting activity for groups of people looking for a bit of a thrill. For some, the mere idea of being locked in a room with a group of colleagues or friends and given clues to find their way out understandably fills them with fear. However for others the thrill of tackling the challenge, working out the clues and using their skills to break out of the room in under 60 minutes, is right up their street.

Whether it be a work bonding activity, a stag do, a birthday party or just a way to fill a Saturday afternoon with friends, you can find escape rooms in most cities and many offer wheelchair accessible venues and facilities for people who are Deaf or hearing impaired. However, those who are blind or visually impaired have been missing out on the experience as nowhere has catered for their needs. Until now.

Access Escape is a pop up escape room currently located in Canning Town, London.

The rooms theme is witchcraft and wizardry and it is completely in the dark. It is designed to have each team use their other senses to feel, hear and smell their way around the room.

“Their hope is that by starting a room for visually impaired people that other companies will begin to follow”

. . . those who are blind or visually impaired have been missing out on the experience as nowhere has catered for their needs.

Until now.

Hannah Hammond, founder of Access Escape commented: “We decided to open up this pop up after playing multiple escape room games in the UK and abroad and got hooked on all the amazing puzzles.

After finishing a room I mentioned that it was unfair that not everyone was able to take part in such a fun activity that I love doing so much. Me and my partner decided that there must be something we could do to bring this to a wider audience and decided that we were going to create a pop up in London that does just that.

“I have been to escape rooms before where my team had forgotten to bring their glasses and as the lighting has been so dim in that particular room and it had a lot of written puzzles and small number locks, they have not been able to participate in all of the game.”

Their hope is that by starting a room for visually impaired people that other companies will begin to follow and become more inclusive with their games as well so that everyone can enjoy the fun (or panic) of an escape room.

If you would like to find out more or book a game visit accessescape.com.

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THE GAME If you are an escape room novice and are interested in gathering your own team to try your hand at glory, read on to find out what is involved and how you can utilise your time well to ensure a winning formula.

TEAM Assemble a crack team of 2-6 people.

ROOM There are a wide range of themes to choose from. Whether you like delving into the supernatural, the thrill of horror scenarios or fantasy and adventure, you will be sure to find something that suits your tastes.

YOUR MISSION Solve the clues as a team and break out of the room in under 60 minutes, otherwise you will remain locked in there forever. Just kidding.

ASSETS Communication is key. When choosing your team it is best to find people who will work well together. Get your problem solving head on and make sure your team are all on the same page.

LISTEN You will be told a back story to your scenario prior to entering the room. This could contain vital clues and information so be sure to listen and keep it in mind when you are in the room. Listen to everything your team shouts out, no idea should be shot down, some people will see things others don’t.

SEARCH Leave no stone, table, mirror, chair or rug unturned. Search the room high and low for anything that might help you in your quest. Split the team and allocate them each a section of the room to thoroughly search from top to bottom.

SPREAD OUT Divide and conquer. Don’t all focus on one puzzle, spread out and tackle others at the same time. Shout out anything you find so everyone hears, remember you only have 60 minutes and that will go fast so make sure you utilise your manpower well.

OBJECTS Assemble anything you find clearly so you can all assess the situation and get your minds working. Create a space to put used objects on and try arranging objects by theme to see of there is any connection between them.

THINK But not too hard. Sometimes the most obvious answer is the right one, don’t make things harder for yourself by over-thinking things. You can also ask for hints to help you along. If you are clutching at straws then pass it on to someone with fresh eyes to have a go.

FINALLY Have fun! These rooms are designed to get your mind working and are a great challenge, but they are designed to be fun, so make sure there are no arguments inside the room, work together to achieve your goal and you can all go for a well-deserved drink after.

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PLEASE SEND ME MY FREE REVITALISE HOLIDAY BROCHURE Please complete the form below with your details and return in an envelope to: Freepost REVITALISE HOLIDAYS (No stamp or any other address details are required) NAME: LE191

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GOLDEN MOMENTS May 2011

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Issue

We can’t quite believe we are bringing you the 50th issue of PosAbility Magazine! It has been such a long and exciting ride, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds following such a fantastic first 50 issues! Here, we are looking back and celebrating all things PosAbility!

COTTON POS The first issue of PosAbility is published.

Our first issue was the Cotton Pos! With this, editor Ros laid the groundwork to offer a new, informative and enjoyable magazine to disabled people!

BABY POS

T

he first issue of PosAbility was an exciting time for the small but determined team behind the scenes.

In 2011, the magazine was being created in living rooms across Glasgow, work was being taken well into the small hours, weekends were consumed, technical issues were common and we almost missed out the contents pages (thankfully we fixed this on the day we went to print).

What I remember most is the real feeling of excitement and anxiety like a ball in the pit of my stomach, we were determined to create a magazine that was different, that was vibrant and that provided disabled people with not only a resource of great information but that was a great read too.

It was a nerve-wracking time waiting for the first issue to reach readers, but thankfully it was received well and we could start work on the next issue.

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July 2011

PosAbility attends its first exhibition Mobility Roadshow

Dec 2011

Mik Scarlet joins us on issue four as a regular columnist

Sept 2012

London held the Paralympic Games and changed the way people viewed Paralympic sport forever

Sept 2012

The Last Leg began as a Paralympic roundup show, but its success has it on its 18th series in 2019

Dec 2012

TIN POS

Aug 2014 Issue

10

Our tenth issue had a very festive feel as the Tin Pos’ cover paid tribute to the wonderful A Christmas Carol. The Christmas period always makes us reflective, and 2012 was no different as the team looked back fondly on our magazine’s first ten issues!

CHINA POS

Issue

20

The China Pos was one of huge celebrations.

Our twentieth issue followed the fantastic 2014 Commonwealth Games and welcomed editor Ros back into the fold. The milestone brought a new exciting time for the magazine, as we looked ahead to our next 20!

Jun 2016

Sam Renke writes her first column for PosAbility

Jul 2016

First Wheelchair Tennis tournament included at Wimbledon – Scotland’s Gordon Reid became the first ever Champion

Sept 2016

Rio Paralympic Games saw GB come second on the medal table with 147 medals

Oct 2013

CRYSTAL POS

Sept 2014 Issue

15

We look back fondly on the Crystal Pos and an emotional time at PosAbility. After 15 brilliant issues, editor Ros Tulloch left her ‘baby’ to give birth to her beautiful first daughter, India, handing the reins over to trusty deputy Jen McLean!

The inaugural Invictus Games took place in London

Jun 2015

SILVER POS

Dec 2016

Dan White joins us as a regular columnist Issue

25

Our 25th issue paid homage to the wonders of Scotland and spoke to the stars of the 2015 Swimming World Championships! It was also where we introduced the Kids’ Corner!

Apr 2018

Most inclusive Commonwealth Games ever are held in the Gold Coast, Australia

Dec 2018

Government commits to reform outdated Mental Health Act

Mar 2014

Sochi Winter Paralympic Games saw GB scoop six medals including Kelly Gallagher’s gold in the visually impaired Super-G

Aug 2019

PosAbility celebrates its 50th issue with a brand new look!

Apr 2014

We launch Motoring with PosAbility – the annual guide for subscribers

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EVOLUTION The last 50 issues have seen PosAbility evolve from a slightly naïve infant into a strong, independent, positive individual with an appropriate amount of sass and seriousness added for good measure. An unusual analogy, agreed, but the only one I can think of to best describe the way the magazine has evolved and matured. Just like in life there are regrets, mistakes have been made and we have grown from these and will continue to do so. The language has changed to ensure we are in keeping with the social model, the tone of our articles are more reader friendly, we have more articles than ever from disabled people writing about their personal experiences and our wonderful team of columnists raise important issues that resonate with readers from all walks of life. We will continue to scrutinise the magazine for the next 50 issues and beyond to ensure we are bringing readers what they want to read.

WHAT WILL THE 100TH ISSUE LOOK LIKE? With all the discussion around the 50th issue, it's got us thinking about the next 50 and what our 100th edition will look like.

Will we have flying wheelchairs by 2028?

Will the Paralympics be inter-galactic and held on Mars? Will robots really be able to do everything for us? Only time will tell!

TOP 5 COVERS Over the last 50 issues there has been an eclectic mix of striking covers gracing the front of the magazine. Each issue covers such a variety of content and while it can be challenging sometimes to find a cover that strikes the right balance, we like to think that over the last few years we have produced a great mix of eye-catching covers. Here are our top five:

Aug/Sept 2012 issue 8

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Oct/Nov 2012 issue 9

Apr/May 2018 issue 42

Oct/Nov 2016 issue 33

Oct/Nov 2018 issue 45

MY FAVE POS Ros: While I find it hard to choose, I think issue 23 wins for me. I interviewed Hayley Goleniowska, mum to Natty who has Down’s syndrome and passionate campaigner. It was a very honest and emotional interview and I felt privileged that Hayley would share her very personal story with PosAbility.

Katie: It’s so difficult to pick, but my favourite issue of PosAbility has to be issue 42. Not only is the cover one of my favourites, but my article on suffragette Rosa May Billinghurst was (in my opinion) one of the best things I’ve written for the magazine, and I’m so proud of it.

Colette: Choosing my favourite issue was a real headache, but having come from a sports writing background, it has to be issue 38. It immediately followed the World Para Athletics Championships and we caught up with winners Jonnie Peacock, Hannah Cockroft and Sammi Kinghorn.

TWITTER FOLLOWERS

MY FIRST POS Fionn: My first Pos was this year’s February/ March issue. I remember wanting to pay tribute to the wonderful people and organisations featured in the magazine by doing the best possible design job I could manage.

Allan: My first issue of PosAbility magazine was issue one! I am immensely proud to see PosAbility magazine reach its 50th edition and look forward to celebrating another 50 in years to come.

Colette: I came into PosAbility not long after graduating and couldn't wait to get started.

The first story I ever pitched was about photographers with visual impairments, and ever since writing that article, I've loved writing for this brilliant magazine.

Katie: My first Pos was issue 40, December/January 2017. I remember being so nervous about the articles I was writing because I was terrified our readers would hate them, but no-one’s made any complaints yet - thank goodness!

FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS

INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS

94%

OF OUR TWITTER FOLLOWERS LOVE DOGS

2%

OF OUR TWITTER FOLLOWERS LIVE IN RUSSIA

100

POSABILITY HAS BEEN GIVEN OUT AT MORE THAN 100 EVENTS

36,000

COPIES OF POSABILITY ARE DISTRIBUTED EVERY ISSUE

16

THE NUMBER OF GB MEDALS WON ON THRILLER THURSDAY AT LONDON 2012

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Green LIVING

As the government and the nation wage war on the damaging elements modern life has on the everworsening state of the environment, it can feel like disabled people are bearing the brunt of the campaign.

BY COLETTE CARR

I

t isn’t necessarily an attack on disabled people, but an obsession with wiping out single use products and reducing pollution without understanding the full effects it may have on people, can be a bit wearing. You might feel like you are seen as part of the problem for only being able to use single use straws, but fighting the decline of the environment isn’t a one size fits all battle.

There are many ways for and choices disabled people can make to do their bit for the planet, without being unfairly made to feel guilty for what they need in their day to day life.

1 MAKE USE OF CHARITY SHOPS No. ~

The cost of living for the average disabled person is obviously already high and everincreasing, so why not use green living as a way to help the environment and also keep your expenditure down? Pollution isn’t all about rubbish mounting at landfills or plastic in the oceans, but clothing and product waste is just as damning. You may struggle to find clothes that suit your needs in charity shops, but you may find some real gems in terms of accessories or houseware items. Reusing and recycling isn’t just confined to reusing carrier bags or putting the papers out.

2 REHOME AND RE-LOVE

No. ~

Just like charity shops, you can use the internet to rehome and re-love products. Disability or mobility aids in particular are a large cost, so by keeping an eye on Facebook groups or forums, you could pick yourself up a great little deal and save the planet from another bulky electronic that is difficult to deal with.

3 FIX IT DON’T BIN IT

No. ~

There are many things disabled people need to replace routinely, so if there is something that is fixable, at not too high a cost, do it. Today’s throwaway culture is playing its part in the destruction of our world, so why not just ask yourself if something is salvageable before tossing it?

4 REDUCE FOOD WASTE

No. ~

This is one most of us really should consider. Making sure we don’t buy more than what we need, or can eat, can massively reduce your impact on the earth and your pocket. Shopping smarter could also make you healthier, but by buying enough and just enough, it will be another bitqq done for struggling Mother Nature.

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WAKE UP MAKE-UP

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Everyone loves to primp and preen once in a while, but the act of putting on make-up can be fiddly and require a lot of manual dexterity.

If you’re someone who would love to rock a cat eye every single day but just cannot get the hang of it, never fear – we know all the best products for getting a killer look every time.

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Drag it across the eyelid and tap the edges with your finger to ensure there’s a seamless blend and you’re good to go.

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Behind every flawless face is a set of amazing brushes. These ones from BH Cosmetics look expensive, but at £3.80 per brush they’re a steal.

With thick handles covered in marble decal accented in rose gold, these are ideal for applying everything from powders to creams and blending them seamlessly.

Your day is busy enough without having to constantly reapply your lipstick. Who truly has the time? That’s where Lip Whips come in: once you’ve got Beauty Bakerie’s signature product on your lips, it is going nowhere – the wear time is unreal. Save time, energy and precious lipstick with this magical product.

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Kids’

CORNER O

PRODUCTS

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pg

ur newest instalment for the kids section is offering young disabled people a voice. Each issue we will be inviting a young disabled person who has something to share to tell their story in our Future Voices spotlight.

We want to give a platform to the next generation to air their views and opinions and we hope this is an area we can develop and grow.

So, whether your child is campaigning for change in their community, fighting for proper inclusion at their school, stepping out of their comfort zone to attend a drama class or they just want to voice their opinions on inclusivity and equality, we want to hear from them.

Email ros@2apublishing.co.uk. ros@2apublishing.co.uk

Regular columnist Dan White was recently invited to Legoland Windsor to explore the improvements they have made to the accessibility of their park. You can read Dan’s review on page 64.

The WheelPower National Junior Games are taking place in September and they offer a great opportunity for kids to try out different sports to see what they enjoy and discover what sports they may be good at. Kids get a lot out of the event so take a look at page 74 to find out more.

With the end of the summer holidays approaching, many young people will be heading off to college or university. A terrifying thought for many parents, but a rite of passage for young people. If you and your child are beginning to discuss further education options then turn to page 77 as we explore the colleges available and the organisations that can support you and your child.

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Life

IS A ROLLERCOASTER

BY DAN WHITE

Dan was recently invited to Legoland Windsor to explore the improvements to accessibility that have been implemented by Merlin’s Magic Wand.

He happily tells us that he wasn’t just being taken for a ride.

T

he British day out is as traditional as fish and chips, Harry and Meghan, Doctor Who and the Daleks. But for some of us with children born with differences, but equally blessed with a love of adventure, a day out is a mission, not an event.

Recently a little known theme park hit the headlines with its refusal to enter the realms of inclusion by not installing a Changing Places facility.

This statement, although nothing new to us battleworn parents, still raised a rancour of rage amongst the community. The fact that our children were seemingly now denied the chance to spend a day at a theme park with their peers saw our fuses shorten by several feet.

that said magic wand across the country, sprinkling a little stardust of inclusive practice, starting with Legoland, and I, as an eager campaigner, pessimist, parent, noted moaner and writer wanted to see this firsthand. I expected to seethe, picking holes in everything, because as parents with disabled children, we see all the errors in faux inclusive practice.

To begin with, I had to ask, who are Merlin’s Magic Wand? They are a global charity that supports children facing challenges such as illness, disability and adversity, and they kindly asked me to don my journo hat and explore the inclusive practice taking place at Legoland Windsor. Part of their extensive remit is to make Merlin entertainments attractions accessible and enjoyable for all children... hold on folks, it looks like someone is listening to us.

Spinning around on a rollercoaster desperately trying to keep my lunch down, is not my ideal day out, and Emily, my semi-adventurous child would rather I didn’t embarrass her by yodelling candy floss and coffee all over Windsor. With this in mind we all decided to investigate the new adaptations and indulge in copious amounts of ice cream on terra firma only.

Theme parks in general are chaotic affairs with high levels of stress, excitable children and they are visually over-stimulating. To that end it smarts that children on the spectrum are usually frozen out of the fun as they have no safe place to recharge.

Theme parks, as we know, are complete days out where families can enjoy all they want and there is no reason on earth why anyone should be excluded from this bastion of family joy. This is why Merlin’s Magic Wand have started to wave

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However here, there actually is such a place. Heavily signposted and featured on the park maps is a large, beautiful sensory palace. This is the first dedicated facility of its kind in any theme park in the UK, and Emily (still awaiting her autism diagnosis) immediately felt the benefits of its bubble tubes and soft lighting. Prior to this, her anxiety levels were creeping up and to find this oasis of calm which is completely accessible, staffed and central to the park, was just her tonic.

Refreshed and declining the offer of a weighted blanket (yes, all boxes are ticked) we ventured out again. The park is flat and many attractions and rides are accessible, there are plans to continually improve accessibility across the estate. We can’t and shouldn’t see that as a negative, it will happen, but every journey starts with a small step, and of course, it’s refreshing to see a brand that actually wants to “get it”.

As I previously mentioned, it was the distinct lack of will to put a Changing Places facility in that ultimately showcased a theme parks ableist practice. To go to the toilet in hygienic safety is, well, obvious, so when Emily felt the rush of a day spent downing fruit juice, we could have headed back to the van to do it in discomfort, but I knew a brand new Changing Places facility had just opened. It’s position was pivotal, it was right in the centre of the park, none

of that head to the fringes nonsense, no, central, amongst the fun. Inside was a wonderful room with hoists, bed, rise and fall basin plus colourful murals on the wall. Lost your RADAR key? Go to see the attendant, no stress. A restroom revolution.

We were not staying overnight, however, a look in the accessible hotel rooms found ceiling track hoists installed and although there is room for improvement on accommodation, just to be able to get your child into bed without a banana board or creaking spine is a godsend.

Merlin are trying and as a writer, it’s not my place to present falsehoods, I’ll investigate and factually report on our experience.

There is still a long way to go, past guests who suffered from bad experiences need to be told of these exceptional new inclusive ventures, perhaps a heavy media campaign would re-inform our glorious community.

For parents across the country summer holidays shouldn’t be an enforced imprisonment because the leisure industry can’t get its act together, we can’t expect the superb Mobiloo to get everywhere.

Summer fun is a universal right, and thanks to progressive signals from brands like Merlin, disability family freedom is no longer a dream. This theme park is getting on the theme of equality, places reminiscent of “Funland” from Father Ted will, once word gets around, have to stop their practices of fun apartheid or lose out.

Merlin’s Magic Wand know the journey toward total park inclusion has just started, we enjoyed our day, we found things that could be better, but we also found so much important to families like ours to survive a day out. Merlin want to be utterly inclusive, of that I am convinced.

To put this into perspective, the park I addressed at the start of this article chose to get a legal firm to battle the request to improve their awful ableist practices instead of improving access. Not this one, they chose equality and inclusion. Summer starts now.

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Kids’ PRODUCTS

This colourful cup is ideal for little fingers as it has a comfortable grip shape, a screw top lid and an integral straw. The straw is set in a rigid position ensuring it does not move and it reaches to the very bottom of the cup allowing access to the very last drop of liquid without too much movement. This is very beneficial for children with limited mobility or neck control.

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Developed for children with autism or Asperger’s syndrome and other learning difficulties and those who do not like the taste of mint, or children with learning difficulties who associate mint with a ‘burning’ sensation. oranurse.co.uk

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campaign under the guidance of Miriam Steiner, my mentor at Scope. I learnt who to approach and who I needed to speak to. I went straight to the top at the hospital and my MP, and before I knew it I was meeting the people who could change accessibility in the hospital. I am now part of their inclusive built environment forum and we meet quarterly to make access better across all the hospital sites.

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

ALFIE FOX Our first contributor is Alfie Fox, a young disabled campaigner who has been fighting for change.

M

y name is Alfie Fox and I campaign for access and equality.

I am 19 years old and have cerebral palsy so I get quite cross when I go to places and find I can’t access things other people can, from getting into a building to going to the toilet or even attending a leisure event.

It all started when I emailed the director of Children’s Services where I live to ask what there was for young people with disabilities where I live. I also emailed a question to the Department for Education asking why we don’t have the same choices and options in school if we attend a special school.

Nothing changed following that so I decided to involve others who may be able to help me change things.

I would tell anyone who wants to start campaigning to do it. It takes time and can be slow for things to change but if you cannot access what you want, then you need to tell people or nothing will change. You can write to your MP and let them know or even apply to a mentorship programme like Scope for Change where you learn about how to write to your MP and what they do. You also get to meet other campaigners who campaign for disability rights as well as other young people on the programme from across the country and you can also make friends and learn what they do too.

It takes time for change to happen, but I am glad to say that now the hospital have drawn up plans for new accessible toilets in the child development centre and building works across the hospital for better access are beginning. So it has all been worth it.

I hope to start campaigning on better access to education for young people who are 16 and over with disabilities next and I made a speech for the recent SEND Crisis march in Leeds in May.

My local hospital did not have an accessible toilet at the child development centre so I asked the charity Whizz Kidz to help me make a film and we involved everyone at our local club to highlight access issues at the hospital.

This didn’t change anything so I applied to Scope for Change last year and ran a

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ON TOP of the WORLD

BY COLETTE CARR

Photos by Panenka Magazine and We Are Xuxa

Hospitals can be a scary place for children, but football magazine Panenka are helping kids by turning their heroes’ football strips into hospital gowns.

N

ot even all the child psychology in the world could begin to comprehend what really, fully goes through the mind of a child spending far too long in hospital.

The fear, confusion, misplaced anger and frustration – it’s a lot for a little one to take in. Kids are resilient, but it doesn’t mean they automatically should have to be.

Football for many of all ages is an escapism that is hard to replicate elsewhere. For 90 minutes, a spectacle, good or bad, is unfolding in front of you, with a defined beginning, middle and end. Whether you have a vested interest in either side, or are just a fan of the sport, a match is a storyline to follow closely as it unfolds,

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taking your mind off anything else.

Those who follow the game through their whole lives hold a love for it close to their chest, but for children, the players on the pitch become more than professional footballers. They become superheroes that are not just on their game unstoppable, but in life. Just as a grown adult places these figures on a pedestal, the level of adoration children pay them can be powerful.

That’s why Spanish football magazine Panenka have linked up with a creative agency to harness that power to support children facing a battle bigger than anything that could be settled in 90 minutes.

On top of the unnerving atmosphere children can find themselves in for months

on end, is the mundane, cold and clinical environment that becomes their norm.

In a bid to give even an inch of comfort and normality, the magazine have collaborated with We Are Xuxa to launch Las Batas Mas Fuertes, which translates into The Strongest Hospital Gowns - an initiative that upcycles old La Liga tops into hospital gowns children want to, and feel empowered by wearing.

The hope is that wearing the football strips as gowns will strengthen their spirits and fight, ultimately reducing the length of their hospital stays.

We are Xuxa co-founders Diego Lauton, Irene Labat and Fede Botella imagined the concept, with magazine Panenka admitting a sense of obligation “to contribute to make an initiative like this a reality.”

Altered in a workshop in Madrid, the gowns were then donated to Hospital San Rafael in the city, where children then donned Atletico, Real and Barca strips. The reception was immense.

ILLNESS IS A SCARY RIVAL. BUT IT CAN BE BEATEN.

The project was then inundated with offers of support from national associations, clubs, hospitals and others, with donations being made and a Gofundme rising in support.

“Every day, in many hospitals, children face their hardest match,” informs a promotional video created for the campaign.

“Illness is a scary rival. But it can be beaten.

“We’ve turned football shirts into hospital gowns.

“Because something great happens when we wear our team shirt. We become braver, stronger and more prepared to beat our opponent.”

BBC Newsround reported Alex Lopez Vendrell of Panenka Magazine said: “Hospitalised children play a very difficult game every day, but if they put on their team’s shirt instead of the boring green dressing gown, their mood can improve, making them feel stronger.”

The response to the project has overwhelmed those behind it just as much as it has lifted the young children, who now stand that bit taller as they battle illness. After all, the likes of Lionel Messi have their backs. panenka.org

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LEARNING DISABILITIES PROVIDE NO BARRIERS

E

arlier this year, the theme of Mencap’s Learning Disability Week for 2019 was sport and inclusion, with a focus on ensuring that people with a learning disability have equal access to life’s opportunities.

However, this isn’t always the case – NHS data from February this year showed that 36% of people in hospital with learning disabilities and autism had been there for more than two years. This shocking statistic shows that society still isn’t housing or supporting people with learning disabilities appropriately.

Part of the problem is accessing housing with the right type of support needed to live independently as part of the local community.

At Sanctuary Supported Living, the ethos is ‘Pathways to independence’ – every person’s journey is different and their home should reflect that. This underpins all activities in nearly 100 services around the country, supporting more than 500 people with learning disabilities.

Sanctuary Supported Living is committed to ensuring that learning disabilities aren’t seen as barriers to being part of the community. This could not be highlighted any better

than by Maria Spencer, a Mansfield resident with learning disabilities and mental health needs, who recently won a prestigious accolade for community inclusion.

Maria, who lives at Sanctuary Supported Living’s Corner House Care Home, won ‘The People’s Award’ at the England and Scotland regional finals of the National Learning Disabilities and Autism Awards.

The 53-year-old scooped the top prize thanks to her journey of personal development over the past nine years.

Arriving at Corner House in 2010, Maria initially struggled to form relationships in the home, suffering from extremely low self-esteem. With support and encouragement, her confidence gradually increased and she improved her communication skills.

In 2018, Maria was given the opportunity to become the home’s activities organiser, which she embraced wholeheartedly. She arranged a Royal Wedding-themed event and has learnt how to take her fellow residents’ needs into account, discussing her plans at house meetings and organising bespoke birthday parties.

“Maria has done so well”, commented Sara Keetley, Sanctuary Supported Living’s Operations Director. “She is really showcasing that people with learning disabilities should be treated equally, and how they should be supported to lead independent, fulfilling lives.”

DISABILITY

YOUNG PEOPLE

MENTAL HEALTH

HOMELESSNESS

At Sanctuary Supported Living we provide supported housing, move-on accommodation, CQC registered services, including residential care and nursing homes, and floating support. We specialise in services for young people, people with physical and learning disabilities, people with mental health needs and acquired brain injuries, and homeless families and individuals.

Our personalised care and support services enable people to identify their goals and aspirations, setting them on their pathway to independence.

0330 1233 247 @SancSL www.sanctuary-supported-living.co.uk

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DAN WHITE

and I spoke to a rather ruffled, almost startled minister about the cruelty actioned upon our children by a system denying them the most basic of life’s gifts: an education. Flustered, he failed to convince and failed to respond, his non-committal spin only frustrating us further.

COLUMNIST

Our children deserve an education.

To deny them this, to act in a political game of avoidable austerity is revealing a shard of ice in the heart of the system. To even begin to defend a court action from parents just wanting equality tells you all you need to know about where we fit into this toxic Brexit atmosphere. They argue they have no money, but the magic money always seems to tree flower when a political party’s very existence is in the balance. To make these incredible families walk into the oppressive halls of the High Court to begin a legal case against unfair practices, to see these powerful, weary parents take on a system often rallied against us is a cowardly act.

Follow Dan on Twitter @DeptOfAbility Dan White, creator of the amazing Department of Ability superheroes and dad to Emily, who is 13 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.

THE FIGHT FOR OUR FAMILIES

I

arrived early outside the Royal High Court in central London.

The streets deserted apart from a few office workers, lumbering, un-caffeinated; the industrious and brightly coloured waste collectors; and a small group of red-shirted SEND protestors slowly gathering outside the court building. My fellow campaigners soon fed me coffee, conversation and power. We were gathering to begin a day of both protest and support. We had arrived in our masses to protest the abhorrent, knee jerk, ill-thought out cuts to SEND education, and to support the families who were intent on taking the government to court for their criminal shortsightedness.

“By mid-morning the Strand was alive with people with one singular mission: equality”

Outside the High Court, we were a sea of red in our campaigning shirts, a huddle of passion and frustration that was growing minute by minute. This particular hub of protest and court proceedings both felt like a final stand and a turning point for our children’s education. The sea of red was growing as other frustrated parents, educators and campaigners arrived to give the assembling media a host of determined faces to interview. By mid-morning the Strand was alive with people with one singular mission: equality.

We wait now on a resolution. This is a decision that will have ramifications across the country. If the families are successful, justice for our children will rightly be done, fairness restored and our lives valued. Defending a decision to remove support for education is heinous, and logic, reason and law must see us victorious.

As the bustle and traffic grew nosily in equal measure, the parents climbed the steps of the court to a deafening cheer from us protestors. As they disappeared through the doors, our children’s futures went with them.

The time came to explain to the media why we were gathered in front of the High Court; to look deep into the camera and inform the population of our reasons for being here. For my turn, addressing the minister for education, the fury of long denied political frustration burst from me

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WHEELPOWER’S NATIONAL

JUNIOR GAMES WheelPower, the national charity for wheelchair sport, are hosting their annual National Junior Games (NJG) 2019 from 30 September - 3 October at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement.

The Games are all about helping to encourage children to lead a healthy active life and giving the participants a chance to play and enjoy sport. These Games also provide a platform for those with sporting talent to be identified and nurtured along the Paralympic pathway.

The 2019 National Junior Games coincides with the 50th anniversary year since Stoke Mandeville Stadium was first opened by HRH The Queen in 1969. The Stadium has hosted many events for young disabled people inspiring them to be active, play and compete in sport at all levels.

The national event is an opportunity for participants from various backgrounds to gain confidence in their abilities, meet new friends, and inspire each other with a new healthier and happier way of life through sharing life experiences and reallife stories. Ultimately, the National Junior Games is a key catalyst behind noticeably improving the quality of the lives of disabled children.

Previous National Junior Games participant, Alex Towns-Phill from the Village School in Kingsbury, London comments: “It’s been different, usually when you go on trips they don’t give you as much freedom to do what you want, but here they let you try different types of sports. I’ve tried shooting, archery, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair cricket, I’ve tried a multitude of different sports so I’m happy that I took the opportunity to come”.

. . . the National Junior Games is a key catalyst behind noticeably improving the quality of the lives of disabled children WheelPower Head of Sport, Pasan Kularatne comments: “The National Junior Games are a fantastic way in which disabled children can experience and engage with sport and physical activity.

The key aim of the National Junior Games is about supporting young people in achieving a healthier lifestyle. Some will aspire to compete in sport and maybe reach the Paralympics, however, the main objective of the whole event is to ensure that all participants are encouraged to try something new. The Games also provide a platform for the sharing of ideas and experiences between participants, teachers, parents, carers and guardians.

“WheelPower is thoroughly excited to run the Games this year and we are looking forward to welcoming participants both new and those returning again.”

GIVE IT A GO The flagship event, aimed at disabled children aged 12-18 years old, provides a superb opportunity to take time out of the classroom and discover sport and physical activity in a safe, welcoming and friendly environment. This year some 125 participants from across the country are expected to attend.

The Games will combine have-a-go sessions with coaching from some of the country’s leading disability sports professionals, and competitions in a range of different age groups and sports. The sports and activities include; archery, athletics, wheelchair basketball, boccia, wheelchair fencing, golf, handcycling, polybat, powerlifting, wheelchair rugby, swimming, table games, table tennis, tennis and zone hockey.

recommend the National Junior Games highly enough.

Jessica Green from Colchester, Essex attended last year’s Games and her mum states: ”It’s been incredible fun, it’s an experience that you can’t get anywhere else, especially the breadth of accessible sports available to try”.

Sam Joyce from Ashford, Kent comments on his experience of the National Junior Games: “It means that I can come along and try out a variety of different sports that usually wouldn’t be accessible to me. It’s a lot of fun as well. You don’t really think about it, but then you have all these doors opening up to you. It’s incredible.”

The initiative is all in line with WheelPower’s strategy, ‘Pushing Forward’ which aims to transform lives through sport and physical activity, and enable more disabled people to lead healthy and active lives.

Parents, guardians, personal assistants, and teachers will be involved in supporting participants during activities to ensure that they get the best experience possible throughout the event. All sports coaches are qualified, have DBS checks and have lots of experience of delivering activity to disabled people.

Further previous participants cannot

wheelpower.org.uk

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Flying THE NEST

BY ROSALIND TULLOCH Further education decisions can be difficult. We take a look at the range of colleges out there and the organisations that could help you make the right choice for your child.

I

t can be difficult when the time comes for your children to take the next big step in their lives and venture out into the big wide world. It can be particularly stressful discovering where that next big step should be taken. As a parent to a disabled child, you will naturally have more concerns and worries over access and support available; will a college understand the needs of my child, will there be

appropriate mentoring and support, will it be an environment where they can thrive?

So many questions and so many sleepless nights lying awake trying to answer them.

This needn’t be the case. There are so many specialist colleges in the UK to choose from, with a little research you will soon discover the right establishment for your child to further their education.

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We bring you a snippet of some of the colleges based around the country and look at who they support and what learning pathways they follow. Hopefully it will give you a bit of insight into what is available to your child.

NATIONAL STAR COLLEGE Age: 16-25 year olds Location: Ullenwood, Cheltenham Residential or Day: Both Attendees: Students with physical and learning disabilities This award-winning college is well-known for its commitment and dedication to teaching young people with disabilities. It provides personalised learning programmes with a tutor and they work with therapy and support staff to tailor the learning pathway to you.

Students can choose from the following learning pathways:

DERWEN COLLEGE Age: 16+ years Location: Gobowen, Oswestry Residential or Day: Both Attendees: Students with a range of learning and physical disabilities Derwen College works with young people with learning difficulties and disabilities, providing inspirational learning, development and care to enable students to acquire skills, build confidence and become more independent. They offer strong vocational programmes that aim to get students ready for the job

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Future Choices Pathway: learning to make choices and work with others Foundation Pathway: developing confidence and important life skills Vocational Pathway: learning new skills across IT, Creative and Performing Arts, Sport and Customer Services A range of work programmes: enabling you to learn employment skills in real and practical environments nationalstar.org

market through real work experience.

Students can choose to focus on the following areas of work: Hospitality and Housekeeping Horticulture Retail Creative Arts Work Skills derwen.ac.uk

TRELOAR COLLEGE Age: 16-25 years old Location: Holybourne, Alton Residential or Day: Both Attendees: Students with complex physical disabilities Treloar’s provides outstanding education, care, therapy, medical support and independence training to young people with complex physical disabilities. The vocational pathway provides study through levels 1 to 3 with courses offered at both Treloar’s and in collaboration with Alton College, a local mainstream sixth form college.

Options include art and design (including media and photography), business and administration, IT, sports leaders award, enterprise, employability and personal finance.

The Preparation for Adulthood area, incorporating the Sensory and Interactive pathway, provides a set of core sessions around developing students’ skills and knowledge in the areas of independent living, employment and leisure, community inclusion and health and wellbeing. treloar.org.uk

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FOXES ACADEMY Age: 16-25 years old Location: Minehead, Somerset Residential or Day: Residential Attendees: Young people with learning disabilities

graduate. Each individual develops a personalised holistic programme to help them progress and succeed and the courses promote independent living skills that help students lead rich, fulfilling lives. Accommodation is offered in high-quality homes and flats around Minehead with supervisors in place dependent on ability. foxesacademy.ac.uk

Foxes Academy is a specialist college and training hotel for those who want to enter the hospitality industry. The courses offered are nationally recognised qualifications that will help students secure employment after they

FREEMAN COLLEGE Age: 16-25 years old Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire Residential or Day: Both Attendees: Young people with complex behaviour and learning difficulties including autism and mental health issues

As a parent of a child with disabilities trying to manoeuvre through the maze of further education, you will no doubt come up with more questions than answers when trying to fathom what your child is entitled to. IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) is

Natspec is a member organisation for establishments offering specialist further education and training for students with learning difficulties.

Their website boasts a wide range of information and a comprehensive list of the specialist colleges and training schools available in the UK. It has information for families and carers, advice on applying for places, success stories from students and information for professionals too.

It is your go-to website for any questions you have around specialist further education. natspec.org.uk

student has a personalised programme tailored to their needs and they benefit from the rich history of the community. They can learn the crafts of metallurgy and forging, work in social enterprises such as the Fusion Café, and grow vegetables for the college canteen and café in the garden. rmt.org/freeman

FUNDING Another major worry can be affordability when your children head off to college. There are bursaries and funding allocations that can be secured so make sure you do your research, or ask the school to point you in the right direction of where to apply.

The government offer the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund for people who are in education other than university.

The bursary is designed to pay for things like clothing, books and other equipment for your course and transport and lunch on days you study or train. You could get up to £1,200, depending on your circumstances.

Students receive Practical Skills Therapeutic Education (PSTE) through craft, theatre and landbased studies. Young people are taught valuable, transferable life skills and independence, which allows them to access further education, supported living accommodation, and work. Each

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

NATSPEC

Check out gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund for more information.

a registered charity that offers free and independent legally-based information, advice and support to help ensure children with additional needs get the right education.

downloadable guides and resources on their website and they offer a free advice line that offers legal advice on any educational situation that you may be struggling with.

By law, your child is entitled to educational support that meets your child’s needs. IPSEA is there to help you understand the legal rights and entitlements your child has and ensure you are empowered to fight for them.

They also provide legal training for parents, school staff, parent carer forums, support groups and other organisations in order to increase their knowledge and understanding of the SEN legal framework.

IPSEA has a wide range of

Check out ipsea.org.uk for more information.

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Supporting STUDENTS U Caroline Butterwick shares her university experience and highlights the support available to help disabled students thrive.

niversity can be a wonderful experience. It’s an opportunity to make friends, explore a new place, and study a subject you’re passionate about. When I was in my final year of sixth form, anxiously preparing for my A Levels, I knew I wanted to go to university to do a degree in creative writing. It would be a whole new start – exciting, but also terrifying.

I have a visual impairment and mental health condition. If I was going to go to university – and, crucially, stay there – I’d need support.

My final year of college involved early morning drives with my family to different parts of the country to attend university open days. Open days are a big part of deciding where to study and a chance to view the campus, find out about the course, and chat to current students to get a real feel for what it’s like to live and study there. For disabled people, open days are especially important for sussing out how accessible the university is for you.

For these open days, I (well, my mum) arranged to meet with a disability advisor at each university. They talked us through what support was available, and how to apply for it. It was very reassuring.

The biggest source of support for disabled students is Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA). This is a government-funded grant that contributes towards disability-related study costs.

I applied for DSA several months before I started university as you don’t need a guaranteed place to apply. This led to a Study Needs Assessment where a friendly specialist assessor spoke to me for about an hour about what support I may need. A few weeks later I received a report outlining her recommendations.

These included a computer, large screen monitor and magnification software, and

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‘non-medical helper support’ in the form of note-takers in lectures, and weekly sessions with a mental health mentor.

You can apply for DSA once you’ve started university, but it’s best to get it sorted in advance so as much of it is in place ready for when you arrive.

Still, even with all of this arranged, in my first semester I found myself in the disability support office several times, chasing up my note-taking. As a shy fresher, it was difficult having to fight for my support, but – as I think most disabled people know – sometimes you have to push for what you need.

“I found the weekly chats with my mentor over a coffee, where we’d talk through my workload and deadlines, helped ground me and keep me on track”

When the DSA assessor had suggested a mental health mentor, I wasn’t sure whether this would help me. I was already getting support from NHS mental health services. But, to my surprise, I found the weekly chats with my mentor over a coffee, where we’d talk through my workload and deadlines, helped ground me and keep me on track.

My lecturers, too, were a great source of support. In those first few months at university, I’d often find myself sitting in their offices talking about my stresses.

Being around lecturers also reminded me of why I’d come to university in the first place: I wanted to study a subject I adored. As much as I entertained the idea of dropping out, I couldn’t throw this opportunity away.

Through both my undergraduate and postgraduate studies, there were occasions where I needed to hand in assignments at a later date because of my mental health. I put in applications for ‘extenuating circumstances’ that allowed me to defer. University staff want you to succeed and the key is, if you’re going through a difficult time, let them know.

They can help you work out the best way forward.

… as I think most disabled people know – sometimes you have to push for what you need

Over my time at university, I made a close circle of friends, including one I met early on who recently became my husband.

When I struggled, they were there to encourage me. And I knew that if I left university, I’d be leaving these lovely people. No more Tuesday nights singing karaoke in the student bar, no more picnics in the park, no more long philosophical chats over pizza and wine. I was, shakily, building up a whole new life for myself.

There are lots of opportunities to make friends at university, from course mates to people you meet in student-led clubs and societies, so it’s worth getting involved in activities. It involved pushing myself out of my comfort zone, but was so worthwhile.

This support network – of staff and friends – got me through two degrees.

At my recent graduation ceremony, as I sipped prosecco and posed for photos in my cap and gown, one of my lecturers came up and said, ‘You know where we are if you want to do a PhD.’ I kind of laughed off the idea. But who knows?

Despite all the challenges, I love university and student life. And yes, I’ve started researching doctoral funding…

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WIN A 5 DAY VOYAGE ON A TALL SHIP!

The Jubilee Sailing Trust are offering an incredible trip for two people on board a fully accessible tall ship for five days!

T

he Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST) is a globally unique, UN-accredited charity set up to give people of mixed abilities and circumstances the freedom to explore their ability, potential and place in the world through inclusive adventures at sea.

Many of the JST’s crew face challenges in their life, from disability to economic disadvantage, which have reduced their confidence, ambition and limited opportunities for personal development.

The profound experience of being in the wild, unpredictable and sometimes hostile ocean environment, whilst also living in close quarters with fellow crew mates, helps our beneficiaries find new personal depths improving life skills, character and confidence.

The JST voyage experience encourages self-discovery and cultivates active participation. The supportive and welldesigned environment quickly breaks down prejudice and promotes equality and mutual understanding. It is where people find new strengths and learn to see strengths in others.

The effect is an immersive personal development experience, increasing life skills and self-belief. It is also about enjoying yourself and making new friends.

When on board Lord Nelson or Tenacious, it is all about joining in and getting involved in all aspects of sailing

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the ship, regardless of your physical ability. Whether you are a tall ship enthusiast, fair-weather sailor or complete beginner - we welcome everyone. Don’t worry if you haven’t sailed before - most people step on board Lord Nelson or Tenacious with no experience of sailing a tall ship, so you won’t be alone. The ship’s permanent crew will support you through all the tasks involved with sailing the ship.

People leave our voyages with new skills and are more aware of their own strengths and capabilities. It can be a life-changing experience.

For any further information on any JST voyages, fundraising for your own experiences or to support others to sail, please email info@jst.org.uk quoting promotional code POSABILITY2019.

To be in with a chance of winning this amazing prize, answer the following question correctly:

What are the names of the JST’s tall ships? ü

Lord Davidson and Brave

ü

Lord Nelson and Tenacious

ü

Lord Neville and Determined

Email your answer and contact details to posabilitycompetitions@gmail.com, visit posabilitymagazine.co.uk to enter online or post this form to the address below:

JST Competition PosAbility Magazine Caledonia House Thornliebank Ind Est Glasgow G46 8JT

Name: Address:

Postcode: Tel: T&Cs: The prize is 2 berths on any 5-day voyage during the 2019 published programme (or 5-days free of charge on any longer voyage at the published unsubsidised daily contribution rate of that voyage).

Flights and travel to/from the ship are not included in the prize and will have to be provided by the winner. No previous sailing experience is required. This prize cannot be used in conjunction with other offers. Bookings must be made prior to 31 December 2019. Prize can only be used on published JST public voyages between 1 August 2019 -1 October 2020, where berth spaces are available ie. does not take preference over any current bookings. Not transferable and no cash alternative can be offered. If a carer is required this will constitute one of the prize berths or alternatively a third berth will need to be funded by the winner. One entry per household. Open to UK residents only. Closing date for entries is 30 Sept 2019.

Email: ü

JST would like to send you more information about their products. If you would like to receive this please tick the box. By ticking the box you are consenting to us providing your details to JST.

ü

Please tick box to accept the Terms & Conditions

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Celebrating 10 YEARS Mobility Vehicle Hire Ltd has reached a ten-year milestone in business.

M

obility Vehicle Hire was launched in May 2009, with just one member of staff and three vehicles. Ten years later, the firm has purpose-built offices, a team of 21 staff and a fleet of 145 specially adapted vehicles.

While some of the fleet are wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) and adapted mobility cars, there are also some very specialised vehicles, ranging from ice cream vans to horse boxes, and motorhomes to tractors.

With nationwide coverage, Mobility Vehicle Hire Ltd can cater for almost any customer looking for short, medium or long-term hire. They have a valued team of delivery drivers to

enable them to work with people all over the UK and the range of vehicles boast a wide range of adaptations.

From infrared controls, push/pull controls, steering balls, left foot accelerators and many more, you should be able to find a vehicle that is suited to your needs.

The company has recently opened offices in London. Mr Kudhail said he was proud of this, and to have reached the ten-year milestone.

“We aspire to be market leaders in the provision of short and long term specialist and adapted vehicle provision across the UK. We have a large and exciting portfolio of standard and specialist vehicles to

“Our team has over 30 years of fleet management and daily rental experience combined”

meet the needs of our customers.

“Our team has over 30 years of fleet management and daily rental experience combined, which helps us to provide an outstanding level of customer service at very competitive costs.

“I am very proud to see that myself and the team at MVH have achieved such a milestone and we look forward to building the business further. We are blessed to have achieved all that we have.”

0845 293 2799 customersupport@ specialistvehiclerental.co.uk www.specialistvehiclerental.co.uk

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With my partner’s severe disabilities I thought we could never again enjoy a holiday away from home...

Then we found out about

MAISON DES LANDES HOTEL

Accessible Holidays

in the heart of the North Norfolk countryside

in sunny Jersey from an advertisement just like this!

Maison des Landes is a hotel catering exclusively for guests with disabilities and their families and carers.

OPEN FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER Rates per person per day include full board accommodation, daily excursions and tours plus transfers from airport or port and return.

Bed & breakfast or self-catering available. Ask for details.

Congratulations on the 50th issue from an advertiser who’s been open for 50 years!

CONTACT US NOW FOR DETAILS

St Ouen, Jersey JE3 2AA Tel: 01534 481683 Email: contact@maisondeslandes.co.uk Website: www.maisondeslandes.co.uk

We provide a ‘home from home’ experience for those with limited mobility to enjoy a holiday with their friends and family.

Eight individually designed holiday cottages sleeping 3-10 people Roll-in wet rooms in each property Wheelchair accessible with level access throughout Family and pet friendly Profiling beds, hoists and specialist equipment available All cottages have access to free WiFi

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Accessible Holidays

in the heart of the North Norfolk countryside

quality top-quality accessible in Devon • Eight 8 accessible luxury lakesideholiday lodges lodges in Devon • Touring caravan & tent pitches with electric hook up • Well stocked 1.5 acre coarse fishing lake • Heated indoor pool (Seasonal) • Games Room and Free WiFi • Orchard and woodland walk • Dogs welcome

We provide a ‘home from home’ experience for those with limited mobility to enjoy a holiday with their friends and family.

Eight individually designed holiday cottages sleeping 3-10 people Roll-in wet rooms in each property Wheelchair accessible with level access throughout Family and pet friendly Profiling beds, hoists and specialist equipment available All cottages have access to free WiFi

Tel: 01485 578354 www.church-farm-barns.co.uk

F

01409 211140 info@blagdonfarm.co.uk www.blagdonfarm.co.uk

Designing for the Future

BY ROSALIND TULLOCH

The Global Disability Innovation Hub has launched the world’s first MSc course in Disability, Design and Innovation.

T

he Global Disability Innovation Hub was born out of the legacy of the London 2012 Paralympic Games and launched by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan in September 2016. It is based at UCL on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and is formed of an Academic Research Centre and a Community Interest Company (a non-profit, mission-led organisation).

The purpose of this organisation is to accelerate disability innovation, to make people think about disability differently and to become a leading light in research, study, practice and innovation relating to disability.

This course is another step towards making this dream more of a reality.

Assistive technology is an area that is growing at a fast pace and the impact that this technology is having on people’s lives can be incredible. The independence that can be offered to disabled people and older people through assistive technology and smart innovations can change their lives for the better, keep them in their homes for longer, reduce their care needs and improve their mental health. In turn, this can alleviate the pressure on family members who have taken on a caring role and in the long term these innovations

could also help ease the pressures on the NHS. The GDI Hub and the universities involved in creating this course must be commended for recognising the need for a qualification focusing specifically on innovation for the disabled community. The growing marketplace will benefit from wellequipped minds tackling challenges that disabled people face to improve their independence.

THE COURSE The course itself is awarded by UCL, the top-rated university in the UK for research strength, and teaching will also be provided across Loughborough University London and the UAL London College of Fashion. It will bring together design engineering with global policy and the societal context of disability. Taught by renowned experts in disability, design and technology, students will experience a fast-paced, dynamic learning environment, where theory is immediately taken into practice.

The multidisciplinary course will harness academic excellence, innovative practice and co-creation to tackle global challenges from a new perspective. Delivered across these three top institutions the MSc offers a uniquely collaborative learning approach.

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THE PROGRAMME Students joining the MSc programme will work alongside flagship disability innovation projects including AT2030 - Life Changing Assistive Technology for All - a £19.8m global programme lead by the GDI Hub. AT2030 tackles the issues of identity and stigma, markets and products and ultimately works across domains to deliver a new approach to the design, delivery and development of the assistive technology space to ensure disabled people are fully included in society.

Topics covered in the course will include: Accessibility & Assistive Technology Research Methods and Making Skills Marketing and Business Future Global Technologies for Disability and Development Design Thinking Inclusive Design and Environments Applied Business and Marketing Strategy for Disability Developments The GDI Hub works alongside global partners, NGOs and DPOs, innovative businesses, governmental departments and leading academics, innovators and influencers. Career options for students graduating from the MSc include inclusive design and innovation, global policy and research, disability rights, international development, accessibility and assistive technologies, start-up and entrepreneurship.

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FUNDING FOR DISABLED STUDENTS Three Snowdon Trust scholarships are available for UKbased disabled students. One scholarship will fund tuition and a bursary, two will fund tuition only. The GDI Hub and Snowdon Trust are encouraging high-achieving disabled students to apply. A further scholarship is available to USbased students via The UCL Friends & Alumni Association, a non-profit organisation connecting talented American students with the opportunities offered at UCL. Dr Catherine Holloway, Academic Director of the GDI Hub, commented: “The global potential for disability innovation is huge. New technologies provide opportunities for scalability and access, but to accelerate this movement we need a new generation of pioneers. The Disability, Design and Innovation Masters is the world’s first course in this rapidly growing area of expertise. Students will be taught in a uniquely multidisciplinary environment, learning from global experts, live research projects and high profile global collaborations. We’re looking for exceptional students with the drive and determination to push the boundaries of this new area of study.”

Visit disabilityinnovation.com/education to find out more.

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Dream JOB GET THAT

BY JANE HATTON

REASSURE YOUR RECRUITER Jane Hatton offers her advice on disclosing your disability during the employment process.

G

enerally speaking, looking for work is the same whether you are disabled or not. You need to find appropriate roles and then prove to the prospective employer that you are the best person for the job. However, if you are disabled, there is the added issue of the recruiter worrying about the impact your impairment might have on your ability to do the job effectively.

If your disability is not visible or obvious in any way, then the decision as to whether and when to mention it is completely up to you. If it is visible (for example, you use a wheelchair) or obvious (for example you have a speech impediment) then they will be aware of it at least by the interview stage.

Whether or not it is by choice, if we are going to discuss our disability, we need to put some thought into how we might do this. If the issue doesn’t arise until after you have been offered the job, then the decision is based on what you might gain by telling them. Usually this would be about any reasonable adjustments you might need in order to perform at your best. This can be anything from a piece of specialised equipment to asking them to explain things very carefully to you if, say, you are autistic and tend to take things very literally.

If the issue is raised during the recruitment process then there are a number of issues to consider. The first one is to allay any concerns you think they might have regarding your disability. So, for example, if you are visually impaired and it looks like you will need expensive equipment, you could tell them that Access to Work will provide you with a large screen or voice recognition software, and remember to reassure them that your performance was as good/accurate/quick as your colleagues in your previous role (or more so, if it was).

Their concerns will usually revolve around cost and/or performance, so you will need to let them know that neither of these will be an issue. It may be that your disability gives you an advantage. For example, if you are autistic you might say that you prefer to work without distraction, meaning you are far more productive than staff who might spend time chatting. Or that your attention to detail is better than most people’s.

There may be other benefits you can mention if the subject is raised by you or them. In order to survive in a world not designed for disabled people, you will have developed skills such as creativity, determination, innovation and persistence.

These are all attractive qualities to an employer.

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

For further tips, and jobs from inclusive employers who are looking to attract more disabled candidates, have a look on the Evenbreak job board evenbreak.co.uk.

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MAGAZINE TRAVEL REVIEWS

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

PRODUCTS

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

PERSONAL STORIES

Inspiring tales from our readers.

COMPETITIONS

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

HEALTH AND FITNESS

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

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