Category Archives: Blog Posts

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Disability History Month

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Hello all,

It is the start of Disability History Month here in the UK. The theme for this year is life and death. How fun.

It is interesting that this theme would be the topic when the government have been having conversations around Euthanasia. I’m not going to get into that here because it is a very difficult topic.

My point is this topic alongside the current conversations surrounding our benefits system seem to fit in with this theme of life and death.

When you then consider the long waiting lists within the NHS for services such as mental health support this years theme seems quite interesting.

I’m going to focus more on the life side of this years theme, lets focus on giving Disabled people a quality of life which enables us.

Disabled people have a right to exist. We have a right to life.

We should not be looking to go backwards in terms of Disabled peoples access needs. Just because someone is Disabled does not mean they are lesser than.

Disability is a group which anyone of us can join at any time. Often as people get older they will develop some form of Disability. We need to ensure all Disabled people have access to dignity at every stage of life. We, as a society, also need to start seeing mobility aids as items which empower us. Which give us independence.

One of the sections on the DHM website shows you the themes since 2010. I would urge you to go back and see what some of those themes were. I know I will be revisiting those themes to see the journey the movement has been on.

I think there is importance surrounding the topic of death, but I do not have the spoons to cover it. Just remember to respect everyones opinion on this topic and remember to ensure Disabled people are included in this conversation.

Everyone deserves respect, dignity and choice.

Thank you for reading.

Christmas

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Hello all,



It is coming up to Christmas time. Which means everything will be getting busier and there will be more going on around us. Which can be great but for those of us who are Visually Impaired or Blind it can be a bit more difficult.

There are lights going up and Christmas trees being decorated, shops are filling up with more of their Christmas stock. This can all feel quite festive. I do enjoy Christmas and giving presents to people. It is nice to get together with family and friends and to have a catch up.

What can be difficult is the Visual Clutter. At home we have everything where we normally put it so it’s not something new in a new spot.

I don’t really enjoy shopping as it’s busy, so we go when it’s not a weekend day. This makes it easier as there are less crowds. Shops will often have a move around of their stock at Christmas to utilise space. But when you go in and nothing is where it was before it’s quite disorientating.

This is another reason to go when it is not busy as you can take your time and not feel rushed. Top tip for the Visually impaired and Autistic shopper, go when it’s not busy so you are not feeling rushed.

Christmas can be great from a sensory perspective, that’s why it’s important to get it right for yourself as a Visually Impaired or Autistic Person. Take the time to not feel overwhelmed and to do it at your own pace.

Once all our decorations are up I’ll try make a post with you showing what it can look like if you have Nystagmus.

I find when shops have a lot out it can be very overwhelming. I find there’s too much stuff. I get it, it’s commercialisation, but sometimes there’s just too much going on.

Enjoy your Christmas season and all the merriment it can bring. If Christmas is hard for you, then make time for yourself and do what you need to get through. It can be hard this time of year.

Thank you for reading.


I’m on Threads @VisuallyImapiredPip

White Cane Awareness Day

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Hello all,

Hope you are well. Some of you maybe aware that October 15th is White Cane Awareness Day. If you are aware then hurray for you. If you are not aware then well, you will be soon.

What is a white cane and who uses them?

A white cane is a mobility aid which empowers a Disabled person to have independence. This does not automatically mean that they can travel alone instantly. It takes a lot of work.

There are multiple forms of white cane. There is a symbol cane, which is held by the Visually Impaired Person to indicate that they are Visually Impaired and may need more time and space, or might require assistance.

The other cane is a long cane. This cane is used for the same reasons as above, but the person using it is using it to navigate their surroundings. It enables them to gain tactile feedback.

You may have seen some canes come with red and white stripes. These indicate the user is Deaf Blind.

I used to use a symbol cane but now I use a long cane. I find it works better for me as I have little to know peripheral vision. As well as many other things.

A red cane handle in the foreground. Behind is the ocean with some rocks.


Do I need my cane even if I am with someone?

Yes. My cane is something I use even if I am with someone. It allows me to let people know I need space and additional time. As well as it helping me to navigate my surroundings.

Why do we need long cane awareness day?
 
We need it because of the amount of people who chose to ignore us. There are people who will ignore our cane and step over it. They will push in front us on trains and rush to the disabled seating. They will then giggle about their ignorance. FYI. Not all long can users are completely Blind. We have limited vision.

The other day I was getting off the train and someone was getting on the train and chose to step right in front of me. I am not moving. I have had it before where people will refuse to move. Why? If you think you’re being clever…you’re not. Please refer back to those who think it is ok to rush to the Disabled seating and giggle.

We need White Cane Awareness days because of peoples lack of knowledge and more importantly peoples lack of acceptance.

You may have the gift of sight. Which is wonderful for you. Some of us do not. If people had to spend even half a day in the shoes of a Visually Impaired or Blind person they would soon change their attitude. This is also not the same as wearing a blind fold for a short activity as it does not accurately represent our day to day struggles.

Our canes give us mobility. They help us to navigate the world in a safer manner. It allows those around us to ask if we need help. I often hear people ask ‘I don’t know if I should ask if you need help?’ I always respond with ‘I always appreciate when people ask because I might not be in a position to ask for help. It is always better to ask than to ignore. I appreciate it’. This way you are acknowledging the persons Disability without taking away their independence.

Please just be mindful of white canes, or any mobility aid for that matter.

Have a great day.  

You can find me on Threads @ViusallyImapiredPip

Cornwall SoapBox

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Hello all, 

Hope you’re well. 

A few weeks ago we went to Cornwall and had a lovely time. 

One of the shops which I love down there is the Cornwall Soapbox Company. 

They sell lots of different items, not just soap. They do candles, room mists, body wash, bath salts… the list goes on. Their soaps are all handmade which is really nice. 

All of their packaging is nice and it is not too busy. I like this as it is a great gift to give someone. 

They have an online shop as well as their physical shops. 

The company also has an instagram account which they use to show you all their lovely products. 

One of our favourites is the bergamot, rosemary and lime aroma therapy foaming bath. I picked some up when we were down there. 

I don’t use candles myself as I find them too tricky. But I have bought them for others in the past. This year I saw that they have soaps which are available in the same scents as the candles. I knew I had to have them. They come in a variety of scents including lavender and festive pine. They come in boxes of 3 for £24. I can’t wait to try them. Click here for the link. 

Three spas in a gift box. The soaps have Christmas patterns on such as stars or snowflakes.
Christmas soaps

If you are looking for Christmas gifts I would absolutely consider Cornwall SoapBox as a great option for supporting small business. 

Here is the link for Cornwall SoapBox. Please note I am not being endorsed for this post.

Thank you for reading,
Philippa B.

Autism Arrgh!!!

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Hello all,

How are you?

Today I thought I’d write about a terrifying topic. One which will make you slam your laptop closed or through your tablet to the group, or your phone out the window. Yes….we’ve all heard of it…we’ve all heard stories….or perhaps you have experienced it yourself…. Or you know someone who’s experienced it…. I’m talking about Autism!!! Argh!!!

I don’t mean to alarm you… but it could well be that you have been near an Autistic person and did not know it. They may not have known it. They could well have sat next to you at work. Spoken to you to ask for directions…. Ordered a coffee in front of you at the coffee shop…. Maybe they’re in your home right now and you, or they don’t even know it!

Has anyone seen that Simpsons episode where Homer crashes into Bart’s room in the middle of the night and wakes him up saying ‘Bart I don’t mean to alarm you- but there maybe a buggy man or buggymen in the house!’.

How funny was that moment? And how ridiculous.

I am not likening Autistic people to the boogymen before you start to get even more scared.

Autistic people are everywhere. We show up in many different ways. We are not all the same and we all have different needs and support levels. We have the right to exist just like everyone else.

Some people are afraid that if their child is Autistic then how will they cope? Well that’s a fare enough question. The world is not built for us, Autistic people we are trying to fit into a world which is not designed for us, because we are not the majority. Some of us go for years without knowing we are Autistic. Then we find out and it can be quite overwhelming.

There is a lot of talk at the moment about trying to find the cause of Autism….and apparently they’ve found it…. Hmmmm….

I just want you to really consider that you shouldn’t be afraid of something just because you don’t understand it. You should try to understand Autistic peoples needs and wants and help us to fit in. Rather than trying to find the ‘reason’ we exist. Please don’t stop taking paracetamol. If you’re in pain please do something about it. Paracetamol is a way to manage pain.

My post today is just to point out Autistic people exist and yes we do have struggles. It is a spectrum. Please don’t think that Autism is all bad. It is a spectrum.

I am not one of those Autistics who thinks it is a super power… to me it really isn’t a super power at all. It’s just me.

Please don’t try and act as though Autistic people are a thing which needs to be gotten rid of. We have a right to exist. We just need to have the world be more supportive of us and our needs.

Thank you for reading.
Philippa. 

Period Underwear and Autism

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Hello all,

How are you?

It has been a while since my last blog on this topic so I thought I would revisit it.

A while ago I wrote a blog about period underwear and wanting to try them out. I was searching all over for recommendations and then as algorithms would have it I was pointed into the direction of Modibodi.

Modibidi are an Australian brand which emerged in 2013. They are also a B Corp. This is amazing because BCorps are companies which have been found to be doing good for the planet and for its residents.

Please check out more here.

I have been using Modibidi for a few years now and they have made a massive difference to my periods. My previous posts on Modibodi are here.

Even after using them for a good few years I am still very happy with my experience. I love how comfy they are, they don’t get bunched like pads can sometimes do. They are soft against your skin.

Three packets of cardboard packaging with the brand Modibodi. A pair green underwear, boys shorts style are underneath.
Modibodi

The best thing for me is the helpful change with routine. As you can wear a pair and not have to worry about going to change your pad during the day for fear of it leaking. If you’ve been there you know how horrible this is.

You can rinse them out at the end of everywhere and then put them to dry. Then you’re ready to wash them. This part at first feels a bit disgusting, but then let’s rember, it’s all natural. It’s only because it’s new it feels weird.

The level of comfort I felt on my period whilst wearing these instead of pads was wonderful. You can go about your day and not worry if you are near to a bathroom to change.

They come in different levels of absorbency so you can pick the one that is right for you.

As an Autsic I find all these things to be big wins.

Not having to adjust my day to consistently accommodate changing a pad.

Being able to be more comfortable.

Periods are hard enough just dealing with the pain. I often find my periods to be very heavy. I have found myself feeling exhausted, spending days in bed because I am so exhausted.

With period underwear it helps even a little bit to make a difference. It makes a big difference for me in the way of feeling a bit more confident when on my period.

I must stress, other brands are available. But Modibodi is the one for me.

And before you ask, no I am not being endorsed to write about Modibodi.

Thank you for reading.

Philippa B.

Cane Tip

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Hello all,

A while ago I decided to try new cane tip. It was the Path Finder 360 rolling ball tip.

I had seen it on social media and thought I’d try it. It looked interesting in that I would be able to move my cane in any direction I wanted. Rather than the normal side to side sweeping motion a lot of visually Impaired Cane Users use.

I was used to using the high mileage tip from Ambutech and I loved it. But a change was needed as it looked so good.

I got the tip and after a few days of using it I had to say it was not for me. I’m sorry, I know a lot of other people have used it and said it was great but it was not for me.

I realise one of the reasons was that if I am stepping off a train I put my cane down and then tap the floor to make sure it’s all good, then I step down. The problem the 360 cane was giving me was that I found it would just move in any direction when I touch it down. Making me feel uneasy, especially if I was by myself.

This same feeling applies to steps. When walking down stairs I want to just move my cane left to right. But with the 360 cane it would roll forwards. With my other cane tip I would need to angle it so that it would move forwards.

The other issue was that it was a hollow tip. I was unsure how long it would last as I’d only used it for a few days. So I can’t really pass comment on this one.

If anyone has tried this 360 tip please let me know.

If you wish to see the cane I’m referring to it is through RNIB.

Thank you for reading,

Philippa B.

Lake District

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Hello all,

It has been rather warm these past few days. I hope you’ve been enjoying the sunshine responsibly.

We spent a few days in the Lake District. We went to Windermere. Going across to Ambleside on the boat. 

When it is warm like it has been it is important to make sure you wear sun cream, have a hat and drink plenty of water.

Sunstroke is serious. Even if you don’t feel thirsty you should drink water regularly. Wearing a hat to stay cool. I wore factor 10 or 15 for suncream. My skin didn’t feel too prickly.

I don’t understand why suncream is so expensive when it is so important to wear it to look after your health.

Being on the boat was nice because it was also cooler as you went across the lake with the wind. We sat outside and enjoyed the short trip across the lake. When we got tickets we were able to get a carers pass for free as I have my Visually Impaired card.

I can definitely see why people enjoy the Lake District. It is beautiful. On our way back we went up to Buttermere. Driving up the scenery was beautiful seeing all the mountains and the waterfalls coming from them.

Mountains: a mountain coming down to the left from the right hand side. A small number of mountains in the distance. Th terain is grassy with rocky peaks. The sky isn a light blue with wispy clouds.


I hadn’t been to the Lake District until last year. It is a wonderful place and I can appreciate why people enjoy it so much. The views are quite something. I can understand why people enjoy walking around there. 

All the mountains are quite stunning. We saw a few walkers and some cyclists making their way up the pass. From the peaks on a clear day it is probably quite amazing. Even just driving through it looked beautiful.

Anyway, that’s me. I had a wonderful time as you can tell.

Until next time.

Autism Acceptance / Awareness Month

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Hello,

Well, Autism Acceptance/Awareness Month has been interesting.

People who are Autistic are not diseased. We are not broken. We are not a puzzle to be solved.

There are a lot of hurtful comments in the news at the moment which I am sure we have all seen. If you haven’t just spend some time googling it. You’ll find it.

I am aware that Autistic people have different levels of support needs and that is all because Autism is a spectrum. No we are not all a little Autistic.

There has been talk of there being a register made for Autistic people. This alongside the news that there will soon be a reason found for what causes Autism is very concerning. If you can have a register of Autistic people then once you know what causes Autism you can have readily accessible information for where those Autistic people are. I wonder why you would need that information?

Autistic people want understanding and acceptance. I  saw a small video somewhere which said ‘if you’re struggling to understand an Autistic person then they’re probably struggling to understand you too’. This is so important because it points out that Autistic people are trying to communicate in a way that they know how. Just like you as the non Autistic person is trying to communicate in a way that you know how. If we put the emphasis on how hard it is for the non Autistic person and try to get the Autistic person to communicate in a way the non Autistic person wants, then we are not being fare or understanding to the Autistic persons needs.

A lot of the conversation around Autism, from what I have seen is ‘how can we change this Autistic person?’ When it should be about understanding and accepting the Autistic person.

If you are Autistic and are reading or watching the news or seeing articles about the things I have referred to above then know that there are also people out there who are wanting to be accepting who are wanting to understand. There are allies who are there to help.

We need these allies to help us as Autistic people to create space and enact the change we need to be able to live in a world where we can thrive. Whatever our level of support need. 

Thank you for reading.

Cheep Cheep Bath Bomb

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Hello all,

I thought for this post I’d write something a little less depressing and not around benefits. Well, it will talk about the benefits of bath bombs…

A while ago I decided to treat myself to a Lush Bath Bomb. I looked to see what they had that was new and decided on one called Cheep Cheep. I believe it is part of their spring and Easter collection. 

The bath bomb is small and shaped like a little chicken. You can feel the little nose and the wings at the side. It even has some little feet.

A yellow bath bomb shaped like a chicken. Being held over a running bath.



The ingredients on the Lush site are: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Popping Candy, Tapioca Starch, Fine Sea Salt, Bergamot Oil, Lime Oil, Violet Leaf Absolute, Titanium Dioxide, Water (Aqua), Dipropylene Glycol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, *Limonene, Perfume, Colour 47005:1.

I find anything lemony is a good choice because it feels nice and refreshing. Once you have run your hot bath just drop it straight in and watch as it fizzles in the water. You can also hear it fizzing away. 

The cost was only £3.50 so in comparison to other bath bombs it is one of the cheeper options.

Sometimes it is nice to just have a good soak and relax.

Have you tried any other bombs lately? If so what are your favourites?

If you would like to try this bath bomb follow the link.

Thank you for reading,
Philippa B.

No I am not being endorsed to write about this bath bomb.