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WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON: Tuesday 5 December & Thursday 7 December (Between 12pm and 2pm) Stalls on the Redbrick and Concourse including: -Vixens discussing ParaCheer -Sign Language Soc teaching some sign language

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FEATURES

OPINION 08

UNDERSTANDING INVISIBLE ILLNESSES

WHY MENTAL HEALTH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A DISABILITY

DON’T CALL DISABLED PEOPLE ‘INSPIRATIONAL’

BRAINWEIRD: THE WRONG KIND OF INVISIBILITY POWER

CMT: THE INHERITED NEUROLOGICAL MYSTERY

DEAFNESS FAQ

POLITICS DISABILITY IN POLITICS

(THE ABSENCE OF) DISABILITY IN POLITICS

SCIENCE & TECH 16

THE HISTORY OF PROSTHETICS: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

LIFESTYLE

INTERNATIONAL 22

INTERNATIONAL EXPLAINERS: LENIN MORENO, THE WORLD’S FIRST PARAPLEGIC PRESIDENT

A LONELY SILENCE: BEING DEAF IN A REMOTE REGION

FUNCTIONAL FASHION

THE WORLD OF DISABLED ART

BOY WITH DOWN’S SYNDROME TO REPRESENT RIVER ISLAND KIDS’ RANGE

TRAVEL MOST ACCOMODATING AIRLINES

MOST ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

SPORT 28

HOW PARALYMPIC GAMES HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS

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BRAIN

THE WRONG KIND OF

WORDS BY MAG IMAGE BY IM

Hello! My name is Magnus. I am 20 years old. I was diagnosed with ADHD at 19 and with Asperger’s syndrome at 20. I am hesitant to apply the word “disabled” to myself, but I fully approve of the term “neurodivergent”. Being neurodivergent refers to having a brain that functions in ways that are significantly different from the dominant social “norm”. (The opposite – having a brain that falls within social standards of what is normal – is called being neurotypical). This kind of disability is often deemed “invisible” – as in, not immediately obvious from taking one look at the person. Many disabilities can be invisible: deafness, chronic pain, fatigue, brain injuries, developmental and learning differences. Whereas, a visible disability can be seen from a distance, e.g. someone using a wheelchair, walker or other assistive device. This “invisibility” has been with me for most of my life, as you can guess from the age I was diagnosed at. But even being diagnosed won’t save you from ignorance at a wider social level.

A part of me has issues with the invisibility rhetoric. The invisibility is certainly real. However, at least in the case of autism spectrum conditions, I believe that people overlook them not because they are truly invisible, but because most people have no idea what they actually look like. The stereotype of an autistic person is someone who doesn’t talk, doesn’t socialise, is an “idiot savant”, can’t take care of themselves. Of course, such people exist, but everyone is different. Just because I am good at languages doesn’t mean I don’t struggle in social situations and don’t get overstimulated. Just because someone else may, for example, enjoy noisy environments and be good at small talk also doesn’t mean they are not autistic. For me it is fairly easy to spot other neurodivergent people – the signs are there if you know what they are. I don’t know if one has to be a member of the “tribe” to do that.

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WEIRD

F INVISIBILITY POWER

GNUS GORNY MOGEN KEYS Looking back my autism and ADHD was visable from a young age since it began to manifest during my childhood. The problem is either people don’t see the neurodivergent traits in me or on the contrary, they’ll often point it out. However, they don’t attribute them to me being neurodivergent. Rather, they write them off as laziness, rudeness, even as a personal slight against them. Or just… “weirdness”.

up living with people I met in a pub for 2 days. At least it makes for interesting stories to tell.

My biggest problem with being autistic comes from sensory sensitivities. Autistic people perceive the world differently from allistic (non-autistic) people. Some senses may be amplified, others numbed or even both at the same time! A common problem is a lack of a sensory “filter” which means instead of focusing on what is important, your brain perceives everything at once. This is something I constantly have to deal with. Imagine being at a pub with your friends and hearing every single conversation and background sound, unable to redirect your attention, hardly able to follow what your friends are saying. It’s exhausting, it’s anxiety-inducing, it’s almost painful.

But none of that matters… because in the eyes of some people, including my own father, ADHD is, in fact, not real – merely a made up condition. What can I say to that? Apparently me wearing headphones at concerts and film screenings is nothing but rude and unacceptable – “see, no one else does that! Everyone else’s senses can adjust to sounds, what do you mean yours can’t?” “Why do you do everything so slowly?” “Why are you not keeping track of your money?” “Why are you fidgeting constantly?”

Then there is ADHD. I couldn’t possibly count all the awkward, uncomfortable and straight up awful situations I have ended up in due to it. “I’m sorry I forgot to wash the dishes for a week.” “Sorry, I forgot to pay this bill”. “Darn it, I forgot to vote in the election!” “How could I not know if I got paid for this job or not? Haha, I’m just a little disorganised, you know…” “I know I didn’t call you for 3 months… I kept forgetting, you see”. Doing a test at school and realising that you just stared at the paper for 10 precious minutes. Handing in countless assignments last minute. Arriving to an important interview last minute. Packing my suitcase as I am about to move to another country, last minute (clothes still damp from the laundry). Once I missed my flight home from a foreign country because I got too engrossed in drawing something and forgot the time, and ended

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I could go on: there is extreme emotional sensitivity, there is social anxiety, there is low self esteem after years of being told to “just try harder”. Every little decision is overwhelming. Living in general can sometimes be overwhelming.

Even when given a clear reason “why”, some people won’t believe it. They will accuse you of displaying symptoms, then refuse to acknowledge the very condition that is causing them. There are also people who have a vague idea, but don’t truly understand it – ranging from university professors organising “seminars” of 50 people in the same room to close friends who still want to meet at the pub and not a quieter place. Even other neurodivergent people sometimes disregard my sensitivities due to theirs being different. Neurodivergent people can thrive in an environment that is right for them. We are explorers, innovators, scientists, artists, entrepreneurs. The world would lose a lot without us. I strongly believe that a more accepting society is key to accessing this potential. In order for that to happen, we need to be listened to, and we need to speak up. Becoming aware of the simple fact that everyone lives in a different world can go a long way.

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CMT

T H E I N H ER ITE D N EU ROLOG I CAL MYSTE RY WORDS BY CHELSEA SMITH With around 25,000 thought to have CMT, or CharcotMarie-Tooth, it is UK’s most common inherited neurological condition. Yet most people have never heard of it. In fact, many people with CMT may go the majority of their lives without knowing they have the condition. It took my brother 18 years to finally get the diagnosis. CMT is a progressive condition, meaning it gets worse with age. The genetic condition leads to the degeneration of the protective coating around the nerves, so signals sent along the nerves are not properly transmitted. It affects mainly the extremities of your body and can lead to lack of feeling in the feet, lower legs, hands, and forearms. As the annoying younger sister I am, I’ve poked and prodded at my brother’s feet as a child and wondered how on earth he felt nothing, not the slightest twinge. One of the things that makes CMT such an enigma is the fact that symptoms are so varied, even within the same family. Some people may experience extreme fatigue and muscle loss, while others lose feeling only in their feet. As well as this, the condition may not present itself until later in life and then can just be mistaken for the effects of getting old. All of these combine to make diagnosing CMT very difficult. The absence of feeling in the legs and feet can understandably create a lot of difficulties whilst walking and standing. I try but it’s hard to imagine what it must be like to take a step and not feel your foot land on the solid floor. I can’t recall the number of times my brother has fallen over, cut his knees up, torn through jeans and had stitches in his head from falling over. It’s falling over which often leads CMT to be mistaken for clumsiness. As children, I would always run ahead of Dan and wonder why he’d fallen over again. It was only when he finally got the diagnosis, after my cousin had been diagnosed, that we realised it wasn’t Dan being clumsy and having bad balance, he literally could not feel where he was walking.

His whole childhood had been shaped by something he didn’t know he had. When I tell people about the condition my brother has, which I may develop or be a carrier of, I’m often met with blank stares. I’m currently in the process of trying to get tested to see if I carry the gene responsible for CMT, but it’s not as simple as popping to the doctor and asking because they don’t know about it either. There is so little awareness around CMT that the people suffering from it are often misunderstood and sidelined. I can only begin to imagine how frustrating it must be for Dan and others suffering from CMT. Charcot-Marie-Tooth UK is a charity set up to help those with CMT as well as spreading awareness. More importantly they bring together people suffering from CMT by putting on kid’s weekends and gatherings for people all over the country. It becomes clear the difference it can make being able to spend time with people going through similar troubles as you and my brother always return from these meetings in a cheerier mood. The work this charity does to ensure those with CMT don’t feel sidelined and their efforts to build a community of people is so important, and proves that CMT does not have to mean a life different from any other. It makes me hopeful that one day when we talk about CMT we won’t be faced with blank stares, but with an awareness of the UK’s most prevalent inherited neurological condition.

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DEAFNESS FAQ WORDS BY CARLY-MAY KAVANAGH IMAGE BY BETHANY WESTALL There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to deafness – only old people are deaf, if you’re deaf you can’t hear anything at all, that kind of thing…. I’ve been diagnosed as deaf for half of my life and in that time, I’ve had my fair share of questions about it. Disclaimer: these are just my responses to FAQs about deafness, but everyone is affected in different ways. I do not speak for all deaf and hard of hearing people! Why are you deaf? Is it because you go to gigs all the time?

Are your family deaf?

Nope! I doubt it helps, but I’ve been deaf all my life. The cochlea, the part of the inner ear that converts vibrations of sound into electrical impulses to be sent through the auditory nerve to the brain, contains hair cells. I just don’t have enough of those hair cells, so not all of the sound I hear can be carried to my brain properly.

Only selectively. But for me, it isn’t hereditary – it is for some.

Can all deaf people read lips? Depends on the deaf person! Some can, some can’t, just like how some hearing people can, and some can’t. Some deaf people just need to do it to join in a conversation when they can’t sign with someone, and a lot (like me) rely on a combination of reading lips and listening.

Why don’t you wear your hearing aids? AKA a question my mum asked me for years. In situations like lectures where there’s a hearing loop available, basically a sound system that hearing aids can tune into, I’ll wear them because all I can hear then is the lecturer. But, if I wore them all the time I’d constantly hear everything at the same volume. Imagine how frustrating it would be to hear pens writing, people typing, coughs, rustling in bags, general movement AND speech all at the same volume! That’s way too much sensory overload for me. Also, some deaf people just don’t want to wear them, either because sound amplification doesn’t work (like it doesn’t for me) or for a whole host of other reasons.

How do you know if someone’s at the door/an alarm is going off? Doorbells help, especially ones where you can change the sound to one you can actually register, and mine has lights that flash as well. As for fire alarms, I have a flashing box, and a vibrating pad that goes under my pillow. And yes, it’s super annoying to wake up to my ear vibrating when a fresher has burnt their toast.

How do you make phone calls? With difficulty! Or just by using my ‘good’ ear, putting my phone on speaker mode, or asking to text instead.

How can you play instruments and listen to music when you’re deaf? I can’t speak for those with greater hearing losses, but I can hear enough to play instruments, and I can feel the notes as well. And gigs are pretty loud, as well as my speaker at home! Although, thanks to a lovely woman at Bestival, I bought these earbuds and now instead of primarily hearing the bass, because they make the sound go through bone conduction I can hear everything. It’s very exciting.

Hopefully this has cleared up some of the misconceptions you had around deafness – for anything else, the British Deaf Association are super helpful for information. DISABILITY AWARENESS MAGAZINE

DISABILITY AWARENESS MAGAZINE

UNDERSTANDING INVISIBLE ILLNESSES WORDS BY CARLY-MAY KAVANAGH IMAGE BY JENNY EASTON An invisible illness is exactly what it sounds like. It’s an illness that impacts on the person’s daily life without others around them being able to notice it. They can be physical or mental: chronic pain, fibromyalgia, hearing and vision impairments, learning difficulties and mental health disorders are some examples. The extent to which the illness impacts someone varies. For some people, they just have some mild difficulties and challenges throughout the day. For others, it severely impacts their daily routine and is present with them in everything that they do. Regardless of the intensity of the illness, for most people it is something that alters their life in some way, prohibiting them from doing things that they used to be able to do with ease. Sounds pretty serious, right? Like, as serious as a visible illness? Unfortunately, there is a common tendency to judge people on what we see, and decisions about how capable or incapable they are often made just based on how they look. Someone can look absolutely fine but severely struggle with something that they need or want to do. You might see someone getting out of their car that’s parked in a disabled space, and think: ‘Oh they look fine, why are they parking there? They don’t really need it.’ Just because someone ‘looks fine’, that doesn’t mean they aren’t struggling. That person could have severe chronic pain and would struggle to walk further across the car park. They could be with an autistic child who has sensory overload issues, and parking as close to the shop as possible to help them stay as calm as possible.

It can even impact a person’s personal life. If someone can’t go to work because of their illness, people may wonder what’s wrong when they seemed fine the day before. Plans are all too often cancelled because someone is depressed. Someone may not want to go to a club because it overloads their senses and is too much for them. Someone may have over-exerted themselves the day before and used up all of their spoons. Christina Miserandino, a sufferer of Lupus, once said that: “The difference in being sick and being healthy is having to make choices or to consciously think about things when the rest of the world doesn’t have to.” Invisible illnesses, like any other, can be unpredictable. People with invisible illnesses are not just being lazy, and I assure you that they don’t mean to cancel plans or call in sick. Actually, they would love to be out and not forced to sleep all day and watch Netflix instead of being productive with friends. There is so much internal turmoil that can come with invisible illnesses – I should know, I have enough of them. The more that people understand the effect they have on people’s lives, the better the person’s life can become. Next time you see someone walking out of a car in a disabled space, or someone having to leave a loud space, or someone is sitting in a seat for disabled people when they ‘look fine’, maybe just take a moment to think that more could be going on than you know about. Just because you can’t see a problem, it doesn’t mean there isn’t one. DISABILITY AWARENESS MAGAZINE

WHY MENTAL ILLNESS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A DISABILITY WORDS BY SARAH WHITTINGTON IMAGE BY RACHEL WINTER I love metaphors. I’m going to blame this on watching way too much of House growing up (every cold is definitely an early sign of pneumonia). So, imagine I was in a car accident and broke my leg. Painful, right? And for a few weeks, I was temporarily disabled. My injury is causing me trouble in most aspects of my life, from accessing lecture rooms to awkwardly showering. Then, in scenario A, after six weeks or so (medical specifics hazy here), my leg heals enough to take the cast off and resume how I lived my life before. However, in scenario B, my leg hasn’t healed. I’ve got a complication that means my leg will never heal properly; in fact, I end up having an amputation. At this point, I now meet the definition given by the government of what a disability is: You’re disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. But what if I had a ‘mental impairment’? Well, according to the legislation, a ‘mental impairment’ is completely equal to scenario A/B above, should the effects of that impairment be ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’. So, just as before, falling ill with depression may not necessarily result in me then qualifying as ‘disabled’, should, as with many cases, an episode of depression or other ill mental health last less than a year. However, should that episode of ill health last longer than twelve months (and be considered ‘substantial’, or noticeably and consistently affecting my day to day life), according to the Equality Act 2010, I would then qualify as being ‘disabled’. Can depression impact on a person’s life to the same ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ degree as an amputated leg? Yes. Of course, there are levels of depression, but at it’s most severe, depression can cause an intense and permanent-

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seeming sense of worthlessness, emptiness, apathy, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide. When someone is suffering from symptoms of this level, getting to work, buying food, and even socialising with friends or family can all seem mammoth tasks. Normal daily activities are extremely likely to be hindered. To say, then, that a mental health issue should not be considered a disability does a disservice to those who suffer from them. This minimises and ignores the very real impact that these symptoms can cause on someones mental wellbeing for a significant length of time, which equates to a disability under this Act. By contrast, a response which is affirming, compassionate, and motivated by a desire to help the person affected receive help and support, is surely likely to go a long way in removing any stigma felt by that person in having a mental health issue. It would also remove the stigma from ‘having a disability’. Having a disability, of course, is not to say the person themselves should be defined by it, amputated leg or depression inclusive. A disability diagnosis, instead, in both cases, should be an effort to provide that help and support needed for their disabilities, not to hinder their lives to the same extent. For an amputated leg, that might be a prosthesis. For depression, it might be a recognised care team, or at university (like here at Southampton through Enabling Services), additional arrangements such as relaxed deadlines and mentoring. Again, the goal here is on levelling the playing field. Just as where a physical disability might mean I cannot write in an exam and require a computer, a mental health issue (such as anxiety) might mean I would be best supported by taking my exam in a smaller room. Why not? Why not try, as best as we can, to help those do the best they can regardless of something they didn’t choose? The important thing, I believe, is that whether a disability is physical or mental, it is recognised and supported in an appropriate manner, so that each individual is able to live their lives in as free and as equal a way as possible.

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DON’T CALL DISABLED PEOPLE ‘INSPIRATIONAL’ You Got Dressed Today! 10

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WORDS BY BRUNO RUSSELL IMAGE BY RACHEL WINTER Over the last decade, the phenomenon of ‘inspiration porn’ – celebrating disabled people’s achievements by focusing on their disabilities – has come under social attack.

It’s actually incredibly inhibiting. Imagine if we suddenly starting congratulating gay people on being at university because they’re gay. What kind of response would that get?

Think of phrases such as ‘it’s so good you’re at university and in a wheelchair’ or ‘it’s inspirational that you lost a limb and yet still go out in public without fear’. This kind of praise for disabled people has become overwhelmingly commonplace. But should we be celebrating disabilities in this way?

Octavia highlights the exact issues Young discusses:

Why is this a problem for disabled people and the wider disability awareness movement? Are these kind of remarks really acceptable? Are they more patronising than supportive? I spoke to Octavia Woodward, a third-year wheel-chair bound English student, and considered some recent social commentaries to answer these questions. Coining the term ‘inspiration porn’ in 2013, Stella Young, a disability rights activist, contested that ‘Inspiration porn shames people with disabilities… we’re not allowed to be angry and upset, because then we’d be “bad” disabled people’. This is because the movement celebrates disabled people doing normal things that are no real achievement: going outside, or talking, or wearing prosthetic limbs unattainable for most of society with the tagline “Before you quit. Try”. Young claims that this is done to make other people feel good because it objectifies disabled people by making them a sign of ‘look my life could be worse, I should stop moaning’. As Young sums up: ‘we’re not here for your inspiration’. Essentially, she thinks that ‘inspiration porn’ is about nondisabled people feeling better about their lives by making disabled people their icons not because of who they are, but because of their condition. Which suggests the person behind the disability is unimportant. Do we share a post of a disabled girl going to school not to celebrate her but for the benefit of ourselves and our own need to feel morally sensitive? I believe this leads to a broader problem: it stops disabled people being normalised and integrated into society. It builds up a them/ us wall as we frame disabled people within that inspirational structure where (much like our treatment of children) every achievement is worth a gold star. It is almost as if the focus becomes on giving disabled people sympathy. We end up framing our language here in a way that demeans disabled people: we must feel sorry for you, we must see your disability as bad for you. How can we integrate a group into society when our language is framed within an attitude of pity? This effect goes further. Disabled commentators talk about ‘inspiration porn’ stopping disabled people from appearing weak as then they are seen as ‘bad disabled people’ who are not overcoming their difficulties in the same ‘inspirational way’ as others. For others, it de-motivates them: after all everything is an achievement. It stops disabled people functioning in normal social relationships as the ‘expectation’ they should be seen as inspirational prevails. As Octavia jokingly comments: ‘sometimes I end up being a bitch, just so people don’t see this stereotype‘.

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My everyday life in which I do exactly the same things as everyone else should not inspire people, and yet I am constantly congratulated by strangers for simply existing. Octavia spoke about being congratulated ‘for going out’ during Freshers Week and entering clubs, with freshers saying ‘they must buy her a drink’ as she’s such an incredible figure. But no: why does a disability make this more inspirational? This lowers the bar for disabled people incredibly, making it seem like they’re bound to achieve less so celebrate anything, while making their authentic achievements less meaningful. We should note that we can celebrate the work disabled people put into overcoming barriers their disability places in their life. But, this kind of movement leads to treating disabled people as exactly what the disabled movement doesn’t want: as fundamentally different and deserving of alternative standards. As Octavia told me: ‘celebrate me, my qualities, even how I work hard to overcome the troubles of my disability. But don’t celebrate and idiolise my disability… don’t celebrate the wheelchair‘. It is patronising. It objectifies disabled people in the same way that focusing on breasts objectifies women by ignoring them. Octavia added: My wheelchair is an omnipresent feature of my life, but it’s not my life. I can’t hide it, but people can start to see me for me and not feel the need to mitigate how they speak and explain my achievements in terms of my disability. But surely there are some advantages? True: it pushes recognition of certain disabilities into the public mainstream, and has fostered more tolerance in the media. Think of the viral videos on Facebook celebrating autistic teenagers getting jobs in coffee shops, or being elected as prom king/queen. What is being celebrated here? That someone with a disability has got a job, or that society has become more inclusive? The lines are way too blurred, and the potential ambiguities feed into ‘inspiration porn’. We need to be clearer to ensure our intentions are not lost. We need to think before we press that share button on Facebook. So why should we stop ‘inspiration porn’? Because it is actually holding back the disability movement by separating disabled people and making them the object of non-disabled people’s inspiration for no good reason. Celebrate disabled people’s achievements at the same standard. Celebrate their specific work in overcoming certain barriers. But don’t patronise them. Disabled people are not inspirational for being in a club, or attending university lectures. This is not celebrating disability, but objectifying it. It’s time to re-think.

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DISABILITY IN POLITICS WORDS BY ZACHARIAH SHARIF IMAGE BY BETHANY WESTALL

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The political discourse of today tends to only leave a small focus on the disabled. The rights of women, ethnic minorities and the LGBT community have all been central, as they should, to political debate in recent years, yet the disabled have been left in the background. Considering the vast amount of policy that affects disabled people, to not have them discussed often, or even represented well, is surely a mistake.

These proposals by Labour seem to be part of their entire economic revamp. Many have not raised concerns of Labour’s seeming humanitarian effort to improve the plight of the disabled, but whether they can afford this. Despite Labour’s claim that the manifesto is fully costed, many have argued that the full financial implications of Brexit cannot be known, and thus we cannot be certain if the nation can afford this.

So what are our main parties’ policies assisting those with disabilities?

The Liberal Democrats, striving to be the centre-ground of British politics and the ‘moderate, sensible’ party in the midst of the polarising politics, also have an array of policies designed to help the disabled, yet are cautious in their expenditure when doing so. Their policies include:

The billions of cuts to disability budgets and social services made in the last seven years by the Conservatives have been so severe that the chairwoman of the UN described how these cuts have ‘totally neglected‘ the needs of disabled people and created a ‘human catastrophe’ in austerity Britain. If you are disabled in Britain, you are twice as likely as non-disabled people to live in poverty, due to the extra costs associated with having a disability. It is with this in mind that their new disability proposals must be analysed. These include: •

• •

Means-testing Winter Fuel payments, stopping millions of pensioners receiving them, a move which has been criticised by the IFS (Institute of Fiscal Studies) as not actually even providing a significant income saving for the state. An extra £8 billion for the NHS during the next 5 years (the Health foundation among others have stated that in just 4 years, there will be a funding gap of £12 billion ). An increase to the Immigrant Health Surcharge to £600 for migrant workers and £45o for international students.

Given the problems that this government have created for disabled people, this new batch of policies is quite underwhelming to say the least. It seems that though we may be in an austerity climate (though many have argued austerity is a political choice, not a necessity) these financial cuts hit the disabled the most. Whether these cuts are necessary or not, is subject to your political viewpoint. The Conservatives’ immediate opposition, Labour, claim that, according to Scope, the Tories have cut £28 billion from social security support, and that this number is only increasing. Some of Labour’s proposals include: •

• • • •

Getting rid of the current Work Capability and Personal Independence Payment assessments, and replacing them with a ‘personalised, holistic assessment process which provides each individual with a tailored plan’. Scrapping benefit sanctions and the infamous bedroom tax. End the privatisation of all disability assessments, ensuring they are run by people, not corporations. Scrap cuts to Bereavement Support Payment Ensure the Winter Fuel Allowance is a universal benefit.

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• • • •

Scrapping the Work Capability Assessment and replacing it with a new system that includes a ‘real world‘ test based on the local labour market. Ensuring both parents earn before cutting universal credit. Withdrawing the Winter Fuel Allowance for pensioners in the top tax bracket Implement a cap on the rising cost of social care

These policies are all proposed by our main parties, but what specifically is actually being criticised in our current policy? In the UN’s report criticising the UK’s treatment of disabled people, they picked out several things: •

•

The increasing amount of disabled children having to attend specialised schools. The report argues that mainstream schools should be able to provide support and this would create a more inclusive learning environment. The decreasing support for independent living at home. With such policies as the bedroom tax, and the replacement of the Disabled Persons’ Living Allowance, this lack of independence seems to be a massive loss for those affected. Partly due to the cuts mentioned above, there is an unnecessarily high level of poverty among the disabled and their families. This was a massive issue even before 2010’s austerity, made even worse by the excessive cuts and welfare reforms. The report calls for a review of benefit sanctions, which it perceives as detrimental to those affected.

Will a change of party improve the lives of disabled people in the UK? It could well do. However, the various social and cultural problems surrounding disability generally cannot be instantly solved by this. Attitudes take time to change, the work of disability awareness groups is also key to achieving social coherence. Discussing these issues is a good start.

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(the absence of)

DISABILITY IN POLITICS WORDS BY ZACHARIAH SHARIF IMAGE BY BETHANY WESTALL

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Political debate in this country in recent years has focused on Brexit, social inequality and as always, the NHS. But how much importance is given to the issues of disabled people in modern politics? There are around 13.3 million disabled people living in the UK. There would be at least 65 disabled MPs if the House of Commons was representative. There are currently 5. Why are the disabled so grossly underrepresented, and how does this affect their issues? Parliament is unrepresentative. There should be far more disabled, BAME (black and minority ethnic) and female MPs in the House of Commons. The 2017 general election brought our most diverse parliament ever, with a record-breaking 51 MPs from non-white backgrounds elected, 208 female MPs and 5 disabled MPs. Change is happening. Just very, very slowly. If Parliament was representative, there would be (and should be) more or less 100 non-white, 325 female, and 65 disabled members of parliament. By party, Labour and the Conservatives have 2 disabled MP each and the Lib Dems just one. Labour is the only party close to hitting the representative 50% mark for its female MPs though, with 45% of its MPs women. The Conservative Party, our elected government, has this figure at just 21%. Women still only make up nearly a third of the House of Commons.

the first time in history. When disability benefits are about to be slashed in the Commons, there needs to be a balanced debate. To see is a massive step. It would show them that they are included – their issues matter, they are literally part of the conversation. Sadly, these MPs are in desperately short supply. A Speaker’s Conference on Representation concluded that the lack of disabled voices in Parliament meant that there was ‘inadequate‘ attention to ‘the major disability dimensions of mainstream policy priorities from child poverty to skills’. This conference also noted that there was ‘a lack of role models to inspire trust in Parliament from disabled people‘. This lack of trust is something that is vital to overcome. It is not surprising – not only is there barely any representation, but the cuts made to disability benefits are so severe that the United Nations described them as ‘grave, systemic violations of the rights of persons with disabilities‘. Political in the UK is making progress. But very slowly. There are many more female voices having an impact, non-white and LGBT voices are also an important part of the political discourse. But the plight of the disabled is still fought for by far too few. This needs to change. Before it is, can we really claim to be an inclusive, tolerant society?

In the midst of all this underrepresentation, it is the plight of the disabled that suffers hugely, with less than 1% of parliament being made up of disabled MPs. Even with (slightly) more disabled MPs achieving power, will this help disabled people? Just because an MP shares a condition society has marginalised (being a woman, disabled or non-white) it does not mean the MP will stand up for the interests of other people who share this. There have been anti-immigrant immigrant UKIP members. Maria Miller is the Chair of the Women and Equalities Select committee, yet does not believe in a woman’s right to choose whether or not to have an abortion. But the legislative success on LGBT issues for example, is by enlarge reflected , and perpetuated by, there being 43 LGBT MPs for

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THE HISTORY OF PROSTHETICS: PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE WORDS BY LUCY MORRIS IMAGE BY RUBI-BLUE COLLINS

The development of prosthetics has a long and varied history, from primitive beginnings in Ancient Rome to the recent development of 3D printing, the field of prosthetics has developed rapidly in a relatively short time period. The first recorded prosthetic limb belonged to the Roman General Marcus Sergius. Pliny’s epic Natural History, written in A.D.77, describes how General Marcus Sergius lost his hand in the Punic Wars, and had an iron prosthetic limb created for him. The limb was so effective that he was able to hold a shield and continue fighting. It’s also worth noting a more interesting example of historical prosthetics from Ancient Egypt. In 2000, archaeologists found the mummy of an Egyptian female noblewoman with a prosthetic toe. The prosthetic limb was made of wood, metal and was attached to the body by leather straps. Its simple design is still used today as a base for many prosthetic limbs. However, the first major advancement in the field of prosthetics came in the early 16th century, when the French doctor Ambroise Paré who invented a hinged mechanical hand. He also created the first prosthetic leg in which the knees could lock. This was a significant development, as in the Dark Ages, legs had usually been made out of wooden stumps, and hands from hooks, therefore, this invention gave a greater flexibility of movement. In the 1690s Pieter Verduyn built on Paré’s 16

invention by combining Paré’s lockable knee with his own creation of a leather cuff that could be more easily attached to the leg. These two designs continue to form the basis for most prosthetics today. It was not until the 1840s that huge advances in prosthetics could be made with the invention of gaseous anaesthesia. This meant that longer, more intricate amputation surgeries could be performed, as the limb could practically be prepared for the attachment of a prosthesis in the way that 16th century leather cuffs could not. At the same time medical advances were being made, with contributions from nurses such as Florence Nightingale. Nightingale contributed to understandings of how important having hygienic and sterile medical conditions were. As a result, more successful amputations were being made with a higher survival rate. Although some trailblazers such as Paré and Verduyn created valuable contributions to the field, it is fair to say that it wasn’t until the First and Second World Wars that more significant developments were made. Scientific research is often advanced by necessity and the World Wars developed a real need for efficient, cheap and effective prosthetic limbs. The American government set up the Artificial Limb Programme in 1945 and they funded a lot of research into prosthetics. This work was continued by John Sabolich into the 1980s, when lower extremity prosthetics saw a revival. Sabolich invented the DISABILITY AWARENESS MAGAZINE

Contoured Adducted Trochanteric-Controlled Alignment Method (CATCAM) socket. His socket was significant as previously socket designs were made in a square shape, with no container for muscular tissue. His new designs helped lock the limb in place and distributed the weight evenly. The 1990s also saw advances as the first microprocessorcontrolled prosthetic knees became available. The first was invented by Chas. A. Blatchford & Sons in 1993 and its aim was to make walking with prosthetics look more natural. Blatchford developed on his model throughout the 90s and significantly improved his 1993 model in 1998. The new limb was called the Adaptive Prosthesis. It used hydraulic controls and had a microprocessor that could respond to changes in walking speed. All this was helpful in making prosthetic limbs look more realistic.

functionality of prosthetic limbs remains limited. Up until now, prosthetic limbs have always removable and outside of the body. As a result, for many people having amputations, their prosthetics feel alien. Interestingly, researchers at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital have created a new implant that responds to that, and have created an interfacing prosthesis that can be directly connected to your skeleton. This research is still in its embryonic stages, however it has had a very promising start. With more attention being drawn to the development of prosthetics, who knows what future research could emerge?

New plastics and materials such as carbon fibre have been essential in creating lighter, stronger and more practical artificial limbs. Additionally, electronics have become very common in artificial limbs. One example of this is Myoelectric limbs, which convert muscle movements into electrical signals. Despite all these advances the DISABILITY AWARENESS MAGAZINE

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FUNCTIONAL FASHION WORDS BY AKSHADA RAWAT Style and function should go hand in hand. What a horrible combination to have a garment which is function yet ugly or, similarly, inconvenient yet beautiful. Lucy Jones is a young fashion designer from Wales. At Parsons School of Design in New York, Jones’ teachers told her to ‘design something that will change the world.’ So, she created a design that everyone would love, but also had the potential to bring about a transformation in fashion. When Lucy was a child she used to play dress up. She says: ‘You can put on a different outfit, you can feel a different emotion and identity. This is something everyone does. I decided to go into fashion because I find that so fascinating. I love the design ethic and work ethic that New York city has itself.’ She chose to study at Parsons as in her view it is the school which designs with integrity and includes social innovations and sustainability. Lucy’s inspiration for her thesis came from her cousin Jake, who has hemiplegia. He told her that he wished that he could dress himself and it became her mission to design with disability in mind. Her ultimate career goal is to be involved in a movement that will change fashion to bring awareness to designing for people who have disabilities. Her collection is called ‘Seated Design’, and she tries to incorporate disability into the design process. Her first focus was with individuals who sit down for a long portion

of the day. She conducted focus groups and interviewed disabled people and talked to them about the fitting of their clothes, with the help of United Cerebral Palsy in Manhattan and Brooklyn. She said that ‘everyone was telling me they just didn’t feel considered in fashion and they just had to make do.’ No disabilities are the same, impaired motion in hand, arm, or leg can cause problems while wearing a shirt or trousers. Lucy wanted to figure out a way to re-engineer garments to make them easier for disabled and wheelchairbound people. Not only to make them more functional but more attractive as well. People have different positions when they sit or stand. Their bodies are shaped differently. Jones has designed patterns to cover bent knees and elbows and sleeves that expand like an accordion to allow more freedom of movement without bunching fabric. She wanted the clothes to look more polished and tailored. For a better understanding of how exactly to create these designs she worked with Ronnie, who had limited mobility and multiple sclerosis. ‘If Ronnie’s going to a restaurant and someone wants to take her jacket off, you don’t want it to be embarrassing for both of them,’ says Jones. ‘When you see a familiar thing like a zipper, you just know you have to undo it. It’s not alienating, it’s familiar.’ Jones met with Ronnie twice a week for fittings and feedback. Ronnie was part of her video which showed her collection and this video opened the student runway show at the Parson Benefit.

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As other designers have petite and maternity collections in their brands, Jones wants to create a section for the disabled. She wants to collaborate with other brands to initiate this inclusion. When she was named Womenswear Designer of the Year at Parsons in 2015 she felt phenomenal. The award was presented to her by one of the alumni of Parsons, Marc Jocobs, ‘I haven’t got over it and don’t think I ever will but it made me more confident in believing in myself and helping others,’ she said. She has made it to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for her unique ‘Seated Design’ collection. Alongside Blaire Moore, she won the title of ‘Empowering Imagination’ sponsored by Parsons and Kering. She has also received a $2,500 grant from The New School’s social innovation fund to continue her Seated Design collection. Lucy’s brand FFORA is a lifestyle brand to serve the disabled community. Their main aim is to design functional and attractive products. They are collaborating and co-designing with people who have disabilities. They want to design products which provide ease of accessibility and freedom of choice to the people. When talking about what she really wants with her design and why ‘Seated Design’ is so important, Jones said: ‘I want there to be more sharing and collaboration on this matter. I hope that my work has given a foundation for others to work with. I made many mistakes and had very many trials and errors in order to get where I am now, so my belief is that if I provide this information, people could take inspiration and expand on my existing work, rather than everyone having to start from scratch if they want to design with this mind-set. It should be collaboration.’

O Boticário SPFW (https://commons.wikimedia.org/ wiki/File:Paola_Kloker_é_modelo_de_uma_agência_cujo_ casting_tem_apenas_deficientes_físicos_@_São_Paulo_ Fashion_Week_em_Junho_de_2011.jpg), „Paola Kloker é modelo de uma agência cujo casting tem apenas deficientes físicos @ São Paulo Fashion Week em Junho de 2011“, https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode

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THE WORLD OF DISABLED ART WORDS BY CAMERON RIDGWAY

DI S AB I LITY DOE S NOT H AVE TO BE A H A N D ICA P T O C R EA T IV ITY . M A N Y A R T I S T S WHO AR E BLI ND, OR SUF F ER F R OM A PHY S ICA L O R M EN T A L DI S AB I LITY, S TILL P ROD UCE AM AZI NG W O R K A N D HA V E OV ER C O M E GRE A T ADVE RSITY TO D O SO. HER E’S A L O O K A T THE W OR K A N D L IV ES OF SOM E D I SABLED A R T IS T S . S TE P H E N WILTSH I RE Wiltshire is a world-renowned architectural artist and an autistic savant who learned to speak at the age of nine and began to draw complex sketches of London landmarks at the age of ten. He has become known for his landscapes, including his most recent eighteen-foot wide panorama of New York City, which he created after seeing the city only once during a 20-minute helicopter trip.

P E T E R LON G STAF F Peter Longstaff creates all his paintings using only his feet, having lost both of his arms after being exposed to the drug thalidomide which was prescribed for morning sickness before medics were aware of its potential to deform foetuses. As he has lived without arms for so long, he views his right foot as most people would view their right hand and uses it to perform everyday tasks such as opening doors. Before taking to art he worked on a pig farm where he drove tractors and handled animals. He joined the Association of Mouth and Foot painting artists as a student – he specialises in painting landscapes and makes Christmas cards.

K E I T H SALMON Salmon is registered blind and has climbed over 100 Munros (Scottish mountains) which have served as the inspiration for much of his artwork. He won the Jolorno award for his paintings of Scottish landscapes in 2009.

When he moved to Ayrshire in 1998, he developed his work in two different styles – organised scribbles which form drawings and bold, broad marks in both oil and acrylic paintings. He has moved towards combining these in recent years, with the aim of ‘trying to capture a little of how I [Salmon] experience these wonderful wild places’.

AL IC E S CHO N F EL D Alice Schonfeld is a sculptor who has suffered multiple strokes in the 1990s and has diminished capacity as a result. In addition to her sculpting work in Italian Marble, she has become an inspiring figure for the disabled community through her work to raise awareness of disabled artists. At one point, Schonfeld’s strokes nearly ended her artistic career. She overcame this by adapting to her environment using a variety of visual reminders, and has gone on to produce many of her most notable works.

M I CHA EL M O N A C O A quadriplegic who paints with his mouth, Monaco was injured in a car accident in 1979 at the age of 16. Since then, he has learned to perform many different daily tasks with his mouth, including using a wheelchair and signing cheques. He developed his talent for painting after first learning how to use a pencil in his mouth while in occupational therapy, and is also a member of the Association of Mouth and Foot painting artists.

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talented and take on any challenge or opportunity that they’re offered but they may need a little extra help from time to time. That’s where our inclusive agency and unique approach make such a big difference.’ The ‘RI Kids’ campaign aims to stress that ‘Each River Island kid is different, but there’s one thing they all want – cool clothes (and a big party).’ The popular high-street retailer is uniting children of all backgrounds through their love of fun and looking cool. Joseph’s parents hope that his momentous inclusion in this River Island campaign will lead the way for more acceptance for people with disabilities, especially children. Each child is utilised in the campaign to represent a different type of style such as ‘the sassy fashionista’ and ‘the snappy dresser’. Joseph’s style is traditional with a twist: ‘From Batman to Jaffa Cakes, Joseph is a big fan of the classics and this comes through in his style too. Smart with a relaxed feel, he likes to keep things traditional.’

BOY WITH DOWN’S SYNDROME TO REPRESENT RIVER ISLAND KIDS’ RANGE WORDS BY JULIA BEAZLEY IMAGE BY JAMES WORSFOLD Joseph Hale is eleven years old from Grimsby and has been diagnosed with dyspraxia, global development delay, and Down syndrome. He has also secured his first modelling contract with River Island as one of the faces of their new children’s range. He is the eldest of eight children who are representing the campaign. Joseph Hale’s agency, Zebedee Management, is an inclusive modelling agency that stresses that their clients ‘can achieve anything they want – they’re amazingly

River Island organised a photo shoot with the children and posted it on YouTube. The video has been viewed over 155,000 so far. When The Grimsby Telegraph interviewed Joseph about his new involvement in the River Island campaign, he said that ‘It was nice to show the video to friends at school. People can take selfies with [me]now. River Island made it comfortable for me and I really enjoyed it. I was trying to get everyone to dance to the music. It is good to be able to champion disabilities.’ In the same interview, Joseph’s mum, Karen, spoke about his inclusion in the campaign by saying that Joseph’s disability ‘should not define [him]. Joseph is a person. His Down’s is a small part of him. There is a lot more to see than the face value. They have a physical disability yes, but people have preconceived ideas – you need to see the person beneath. There is a lot they can teach others about not taking things for granted and they don’t judge anybody. They still have the same thoughts and feelings and dreams.’ Joseph was described to take to modelling like a duck to water. However, he has said that as much as he enjoys modelling and wants to do more of it, he would like to pursue a career in hairdressing when he grows up. Josie Cartridge, customer director of River Island, said Joseph had a ‘star presence’ and the company wanted to portray ‘a diverse group of children’. Ashleigh Skinner, Junior Press Executive at River Island, said that ‘Joseph is a very special and sweet boy.’

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LENÍN MORENO, THE WORLD’S ONLY PARAPLEGIC PRESIDENT WORDS BY CAMERON RIDGWAY IMAGE BY SAM ELSTON Ecuador’s President Lenín Moreno, who assumed office in May 2017, is somewhat of a rarity. As a paraplegic who was shot during a botched robbery in 1998, he is currently the world’s only Head of State to use a wheelchair. Even before he was appointed as the first ever United Nations Special Envoy on disability and accessibility in 2013, Moreno worked tirelessly before his election as president to improve conditions for disabled people both in Ecuador and on an international level. During the first year of his term as vice-president of the South American country (2007-2013), he increased the government budget for disabled people more than fifty-fold, and founded the Manuel Espejo Solidarity Mission for the Disabled. This organisation has provided thousands of disabled Ecuadorians with rehabilitation and physical and psychological support. The mission is currently expanding its work beyond Ecuador to several other South American countries, including Paraguay, Peru, Guatemala, Chile, El Salvador and Colombia. His charitable work first began while he was recovering from his shooting in 1998, when he created the ‘Eventa’ foundation to promote humour and joy in life based on his personal experiences. His work in improving the conditions and rights of those with disabilities led to him being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012 by a group of Ecuadoreans living in Norway, a move which gained widespread international support from around 180 countries, even though the award that year was given to the European Union. As might be surmised from his noteworthy first name, Lenin Moreno’s political leanings are to the left of the political spectrum. He is the leader of the PAIS Alliance, 22

a left-wing party which espouses socialism for the 21st century. PAIS Alliance has come to dominate the Ecuadorian political landscape in recent times, with Moreno’s predecessor as President and leader of the PAIS Alliance, Rafael Correa, becoming the first Ecuadorian President in 30 years to be re-elected. Since becoming President himself, Moreno has pledged to hugely increase public spending and investing in health and social care. He has proposed the implementation of a project entitled ‘Toda una Vida’, which would provide assistance for children and pregnant women including neonatal screening. However, there are uncertainties about the extent to which he will be able to implement his programme. Although his predecessor, Correa (who handpicked Moreno to succeed him), made huge improvements to healthcare and social services, a similar or higher level of spending will be required to ensure that the standard of care is not reduced. This is easier said than done, as the huge revenues from oil (which makes up 40% of Ecuador’s exports) that Correa used to finance his policies are no longer available. Both Petroamazonas and Petroecuador, the country’s two state owned oil companies, are estimated to be selling oil at as low as $20 a barrel. In addition, Petroecuador has been embroiled in a large scale corruption scandal which led to the head of the company fleeing the country after being accused of taking bribes and hiding money in offshore accounts. While Moreno’s bold and ambitious programme and fresh outlook offer hope for the future of Ecuador, financing them could be a difficult challenge indeed.

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A LONELY SILENCE: BEING DEAF IN A REMOTE REGION WORDS BY ZACHARIAH SHARIF

It is estimated that 360 million people (328 million adults and 32 million children) have disabling hearing loss. Many of these live in areas so remote that there is no support for deaf people at all. Channel 4’s recent Unreported World series explored a tragic story of loneliness and helplessness. It followed the story of a boy named Patrick who, among others, was born totally deaf. He lives in a remote area of northern Uganda, and so there are no schools for deaf children. He has never had a conversation. He is 15. This is the story of so many in remote regions across the globe where education is lacking. It means that all sorts of people, from little boys playing alone, to old women living their whole lives in solitude, can never do what most take for granted – talk to someone. There are various charities set up to combat this issue. One such is Deaf Child Worldwide (DFC). They work in South Asia, East Africa and Latin America. They describe their goal as ‘supporting deaf children to overcome poverty, inequality and isolation’. Children are born deaf for a variety of reasons, or may become deaf during their life. It can simply be genetic, and thus may be passed down through a family despite there being no previous family history of deafness. In early childhood, infections like meningitis, measles and mumps, all much more common in the developing world, can cause deafness. Some of the people they have helped include 10 year old Farzana. At the age of just 3 years old, she was abandoned by her mother after being diagnosed as deaf. Raised by her grandmother, her family ‘neglected her, and saw no point in trying to teach her anything’. Just a year ago, Farzana simply didn’t smile. This was before one of DISABILITY AWARENESS MAGAZINE

DFC’s many partners, Child In Need India took her in. She went missing aged 3, presumed kidnapped. Upon being found ten months later, Farzana ‘withdrew into herself ’, traumatised by the events since she went missing. However, having no form of communication, Farzana could not speak about what had happened at all. There was no outlet to express her depression, and no way of explaining her disappearance. She remained ‘isolated’. Her father left home two years later. Farzana remained a ‘sad, lonely little girl’. Her family brought Farzana to Child In Need India. There she received ‘counselling, was taught how to draw and began learning Indian Sign Language (ISL)’. Farzana was given a voice. Now, she has learnt ‘shapes and letters, can match words with pictures and can write her own name and address’. Her family is also given regular training in sign language in order to communicate with her. Farzana is now a happy, confident child with a creative interest in arts and crafts. The Unreported World programme featured a man named Raymond, who travelled to Kampala, the capital of Uganda, for an intensive course in sign language. Raymond then returned to his village to teach sign language to many deaf men, women and children, including Patrick. The attendees of Raymond’s classes ranged from elderly members of the community who have never spoken to anyone in their life, to young children. Seeing Patrick and Farzana grow into independent, ambitious and happy human beings is heartwarming. For many though, stories like these do not have a happy ending. Charities like Deaf Child Worldwide need all the support they can get in order to bring millions of people out of a lonely life.

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THE MOST ACCOMM

WORDS BY CHE Travel is universal, anyone and everyone should have the chance to experience that feeling all wanderlusters have when they step off the plane into a new adventure. Physical, visual, or hearing impairments shouldn’t stop you from travelling the world. So, when flying can be stressful enough without the added stress of having to navigate through security in a wheelchair or trying to lipread the air steward as they give out key safety information, it’s important to know who is going to make your journey as stress-free as possible.

It is advised to give the airline at least 48 hours notice so they can gather the support you’ll need for your flight. When booking keep an eye out for hidden costs. Most airlines will offer you seats with more room if needed to make your flight more comfortable, however, some may try and charge you for this, or offer it free but then charge when the plane fills up. To avoid hidden costs always make sure you know what you’re buying and what the deal is, don’t be afraid to ring up and ask, it’s always better to know than get caught out!

After a little research, it seems that most airlines try to offer some sort extra help for disabled travellers. However, it seems that almost always the airline needs to know in advance what kind of extra help is needed so they can prepare and make your journey go as smoothly as possible.

Some airlines do a much better job than others when it comes to providing an accommodating and friendly service to all of their customers, especially for those with disabilities. In terms of choosing airlines, EasyJet appears again and again in searches for the best airline

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MODATING AIRLINES

ELSEA SMITH for disabled people. This is great news, as a EasyJet offers flights all over Europe and at low prices. EasyJest can offer help when you arrive at the airport and also provide help boarding the plane in a wheelchair if necessary. EasyJet also accommodates for those who are visually impaired providing safety instructions on board in both audio and braille. EasyJet is also one of the first airlines to provide extra training for their staff to ensure they are aware of the importance of lip reading for those with hearing imparities. For longer distance flights, Air Canada, Qantas, Continental Airlines and Virgin Atlantic also provide good services for those with disabilities. Air Canada, Continental Airlines and Qantus welcome service animals, with Continental Airlines offering an onboard kennel to make your furry

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helpers more comfortable. Virgin Atlantic also allow service animals however only on major routes. Qantus not only allow for service animals but if you also need a carer, both of you will be able to travel at a discounted rate. As well as this Qantus offer care from the moment you arrive at the airport and early boarding with help getting into/ out of your seat if necessary. No one should feel as though travel is not accessible for them. There are plenty of websites out there that have accounts of people sharing their stories of travelling with a disability. Research, prepare, and get ready for the best trip of you life!

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MOST ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS

WORDS BY FREYA MILLARD

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I have always taken for granted the ability to get in the car, grab a train or jump on a plane and go anywhere across the entire world without ever having to consider whether my destination will be accessible for me. For avid travellers like myself, the bucket list is endless and it varies dramatically from seeing the Northern Lights, to exploring the Amazon Rainforest or admiring ancient sites like Angkor Wat and the Taj Mahal. Now ask yourself, would that list be any different for the avid disabled travellers among us? It has never crossed my mind to ask questions like, ‘Is the Great Wall of China wheelchair-friendly?’ I think it is about time we all start thinking about the accessibility of travel destinations, because everyone deserves to complete their bucket list.

Sydney, Australia

This little safe haven below the Golden Coast has got a big thumbs up from a lot of disabled travellers for being an accessible and wonderful city to travel to. Although it means powering through the excessively long-haul flight, which of course no one enjoys, it is worth it. Transportation around the city is considered to be very accessible and hassle-free and even the ferries have wheelchair-friendly ramps, which mean trips out to sea are a must! During an initiative to make the city even more inclusive, the council installed more than 2,100 tactile and braille street signs which among other places, are next to push buttons at every pedestrian crossing.

Tel Aviv, Israel

All avid travellers want to go beyond their culture and emerge themselves in something new because lets face it, curiosity is what fuels us. Tel Aviv is a metropolitan city on the Mediterranean coast, which means paradise beaches, a variety of shops and incredible food. Transport wise Tel Aviv is excellent, most intercity buses have wheelchair access and various technologies which help visually-impaired individuals. The best part, however, is the strict rules enforced that make sure all new buildings are wheelchair accessible and most stores and restaurants are equipped with ramps. The city is also home to a range of hotels that offer disabled-friendly rooms, with wider doors and bigger bathtubs.

Playa del Carmen, Mexico

According to the travel experts, Lonely Planet, Playa del Carmen is a perfect destination. Probably not the most well-known of places, little town is situated about an hour from Cancún, and is considered by many to be paradise. The beach has been specifically furnished to be accessible and even includes beach wheelchairs. Also, the local water-sport businesses have adaptive equipment available for customers to use to facilitate snorkelling even if they cannot swim, which means turtle watching and gazing in amazement at the coral reef is definitely on the cards. Furthermore, if you want to do something to engage your historical curiosity then the Mayan archaeological sites of Chichén Itzá and Tulum are very close by. These sites are also wheelchair friendly and gives you the ultimate chance to take in the ancient ruins in all their glory. DISABILITY AWARENESS MAGAZINE

Berlin, Germany

The capital of Germany has made tremendous progress in making sure that the city is accessible for everyone over the last few years. Back in 2013, Berlin even won the EU City Access Award to praise the effort put in to make the city accessible for all, for example, most theatres and museums are wheelchair friendly as well as the majority of restaurants and bars. This is excellent news for travellers because the city of Berlin is a popular bucket list entry, mainly for its rich political history but also for the incredible scenic background, especially in autumn.

Milan, Italy

If you ask anyone what their top 10 bucket list destinations are, there is a 99% probability that Italy will fall on that list. There are so many incredible Italian cities, but Milan, in particular, comes out very high on the rankings. Milan is, in fact, a far more recent winner of the 2016 EU Access City Awards and a very deserving winner at that. The local council put masses of effort in last year to create an inclusive city, one of the main projects being to make sure all barriers were removed on their public transportation system for disabled and elderly individuals. You’ll be able to explore some of the most impressive architectural structures in the world and blow all your holiday funds on good hearty Italian pizza, what’s not to love?

San Diego, USA

Nowadays the majority of the USA is accessible, which is perfect for travellers because a good few of the big bucket list items belong there. San Diego, in particular, has been recommended for disabled travellers. The city is generally flat all around and laid out in an easy grid system, which makes the terrain ideal for wheelchair users. Also, there is an accessible tram system that runs throughout the entire city which means getting from A to B will be no hassle. All the touristy sites are accessible, from the Gaslamp Quarter to the San Diego Zoo but the best part is the accessible beachfront. The promenade has beach wheelchairs available to use and at Mission Beach, there are caterpillar tracks so motorized ones can be used which is just brilliant.

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H OW T HE PAR A LYMP I C GA M ES HAVE D EV EL O PED O VER THE Y EA R S WORDS BY DAMIAN MEADEN IMAGE BY LUCY WHELLER-PARR

The origins of the Paralympic Games can be traced back to the end of the Second World War, and more specifically to academic refugee Dr. Ludwig Guttman of Germany. Although athletes with disabilities had competed at the Olympic Games in the past – George Eyser stands as a prominent example in 1904 – Dr. Guttman’s International Wheelchair Games on the opening day of the 1948 Summer Olympics in London made history. British war veterans with spinal cord injuries took part, and four years later the competition was repeated to include Dutch and Israeli athletes, taking the competition international – a positive step towards Guttman’s ambition of creating a sporting contest for disabled athletes to mirror the Olympics. In the 1960s, the Paralympic Games were formally brought within the same year as their counterparts. In Rome, over 400 athletes from 23 countries contested the 1960 games, which were also incidentally the first open to any participant, where previously the athletes had been formed exclusively of war veterans. Sixteen years later in Toronto, Canada, athletes with disabilities that did not require a wheelchair were also invited to compete, an inclusion that expanded the number of athletes to 1,600 from 40 nations. In 1988, the Paralympics were hosted for the first time in Seoul, another milestone as it marked the first time the event had been held directly after the Summer Olympic Games – this would then be repeated at the next three events before being formally ratified between the International Paralympic Committee and International Olympic Committee in 2001, and the format continues to the present day.

A Paralympic Winter Games was introduced in 1976 in Sweden, and followed the format of being celebrated every four years. After the 1992 games, the Winter Paralympics and Winter Olympics were both celebrated on evennumbered years that didn’t clash with the Summer Games. The latter games broke ground as the first time the Winter Paralympics had used the same facilities as the Winter Olympics. What began as a group of war veterans has since grown exponentially into a global sporting event comprising thousands of athletes from a wide range of nations, with the celebration rightly focusing on the athletic achievements of athletes in each discipline, rather than their disabilities. The IPC’s vision is “To enable Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and to inspire and excite the world”, a promise on which it emphatically delivers to an increasingly high standard and praise with each passing event. It is also possible for some athletes without a disability to compete at the Games – for those who have impaired vision, sight guides assist during competition and the pairing are considered a team, marking another fantastic example of the Games’ inclusivity. The 2000 Paralympic Games marked an increase in international coverage for the event, with television coverage expanding to distribute to as many markets across the world as possible. In the UK, it is a legal requirement for the Games to be shown by a free-to-air broadcaster, as with the Olympics. The next historic chapter in the story of the Paralympic Games will take place in Tokyo in two years’ time. DISABILITY AWARENESS MAGAZINE