Tag Archives: Disability

United Kingdom and United Nations

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Hello all, 

Today is a momentous day for the Disabled Community in the United Kingdom. Our Government is having to answer to the United Nations on its treatment of Disabled People. 

Here are a few of the statistics from the Shadow Report to the UN:

  • ‘Three-quarters of Disabled workers are paid less than £15 an hour
  • 2,030 autistic people and people with learning difficulties incarcerate as inpatients
  • 1,500 crimes against patients over just 6 months caught on CCTV at Muckamore Abbey
  • 2000 deaths of patients in Essex mental health hospitals’

These are only a few of the points. Please follow this link to read more. Go to the bottom of the page and see the attachment Statistics from the UK DDPO’s Shadow Report to the UN. 

As a Disabled person I am very angry and very upset by the statistics in this report. The fact that our government does not seem to care about us is appalling. 

There are so many Disabled people in our society who are crying out for change and they are not being heard. The government keeps imposing sanctions on our community, they keep saying some Disabled People are fit to work when Doctors say otherwise. The government keeps reassessing Disabled people for benefits such as PIP and ignoring what their Doctors are saying about their health conditions. 

Disabled People are being driven to brink with some even taking their own lives because they are not getting the help they are entitled to. The media can portray us as lazy and liars. There are councils in the UK which are going broke and the services which are under threat are social care. These benefits assist Disabled People and their families in accessing the support they need to live their best lives. 

The way I see the portal of us in some of the Media is: Disabled people are taking up too much funding. We need to find a way to save money, lets cut back on services for Disabled people.

On the second page of the report you will see quotes talking about how the lack of council funding is having a detrimental impact on Disabled people. 

We have a right to live our best lives just like any other community, yet we seem to be shunned and blamed for society’s problems. This report has not received much attention the news at all. Which leads to Disabled people feeling like we are not worth thinking about. 

But we are. 

If you wish to know more about this, as it will probably not end up on the Six o’clock news then please follow Disability Rights UK. They are fighting for what Disabled People have a right to- basic human decency. 

Thank you, 

Philippa B. 

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

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Hello all,

First of all I would like to say I am a Disabled person. That is how I describe myself. My disability is a part of me and I chose how to describe myself. 

If you, as a Disabled person chose to say person with a disability that is your choice. 

I tend to have issues with non disabled people telling me I can’t say Disabled. ‘But you are not your Disability’ I know I am not. I never said I was. What I mean is that my disabilities make up who I am and I therefore chose to use Disabled person. 

It is not for a non disabled person to tell me what terminology to use. If you have a problem with the word Disabled I suggest you really think about what it is you have a problem with. 

Anyway, it’s been Disability History Month and International Day of persons with Disabilities. 

We are often left out and marginalised by society, which leaves us excluded. We can be seen to be a burden or something that can be treated as an after thought. This should never be the case. 

We are here. We have rights and we deserve to live life. However, we cannot live life if places do not make themselves inclusive to us. 

Looking down at my feet as I'm stood in the crisp auburn autumn leaves. I have my guide cane at the side of me. I took out all the colour from my shoes and jeans. So they are black and grey. Shot on iPhone.


We need accessibility to be at the start of a conversation not just an add on. We need to feel like we are at the table having the conversation. We need to have all areas of Disability included. You cannot say you are inclusive because you have a ramp and then have doors which are not accessible. You can’t use alt text in your advertising to do a funny little joke. 

Access needs are important and we need to have them in place so that we can fully participate in society and not feel excluded. 

If you are wondering how you can make things more accessible then look up Disability charities like RNIB or Scope. They have a ton of resources which are available. 

I hope you have a great day and thank you for reading my thoughts on Disability. 

Thank you,
Phili

Lets talk Period Underwear

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Hello all, 

I am going to be talking periods and period underwear.

Back in August I bought myself some period underwear from Modibodi. I had not tried them before and was looking for a more sustainable and comfortable option for my periods. If you would like to read the previous blog, it is here.

A friend suggested period underwear had worked for her and I thought I would give it a go. I was a bit apprehensive at first so I wore them on an evening and for sleeping in as I presumed they would be comfortable. I was not disappointed. 

Three packets of period underwear, they are in cardboard packaging.

When you first get a pair Modibodi suggests you run them under a cold tap and leave them to dry. After doing this and then wearing them for the first time I found them very comfortable. I purchased the boy shorts for a heavy flow. After wearing them for one evening I was pleasantly happy. 

They were comfortable.

There were no leaks. 

No bunching so sleeping was far better. 

They are very warm. This can be a negative in summer, but they are still better than pads as I felt more comfortable. 

After a few tries I decided I felt confident enough to wear them out an about. I wore them for the day and found the same applied as when I was wearing them for sleeping. 

No leaks. 

I did not have to stress about changing my pad during the day. 

They were just comfortable. 

It is also nice not having to change your sanitary product in a toilet where a sanitary bin might be overflowing. Yes, I am sure anyone who has had to use one has felt disgust at having to do this. 

I would absolutely recommend switching to period underwear. I have not stopped buying pads yet because I still need to figure out how many pairs I need for a full month. 

What about cleaning them though? 

Well, it is your own blood so it is not as ‘eeewww’ as what you might think. I mean really its not as ‘ewww’ as what I thought it would be. After wearing them I just have to rinse them under a cold tap, do not soak them. Then I put them to wash. The care instructions are here at the bottom of the page so you can see how easy it can be to use. 

If you want o try them I would recommend them. But ultimately it is about what makes you feel happiest on your period. I think it is just nice to now what options are available out there. 

Have a great day and let me know what you think.  

Also, I am not endorsing these in anyway. I just happen to own this particular brand.

Disability History Month

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Lets talk irony.

Hello all,

16th November marked the start of Disability History Month. Something which you may not know about. Well, now you do.

Disabled people have often been shoved to one side and ignored by society as we are not always deemed worthy. It was only in the 1990’s that Disabled People in the UK had their rights protected in law. Then in 2010 we had the Equality Act of 2010.

Ensuring Disabled people have the rights they need to be able to live their lives as fully and as freely as non Disabled People.

Lets look at what happened in the news lately, the Government wants to ensure all those who are on benefits work for their benefits. Correct me if I am wrong, but if a Disabled person is claiming out of work benefits, it is because they can not work.

I am a Disabled person who receives benefits, but I am in work. Those of us in our community who cannot work deserve a quality of life. Just because they cannot work does not mean they should be punished.

I acknowledge that befit fraud is a thing and I know that because of this small amount of people committing benefit fraud, leads to a generalisation of those who are claiming benefits.

However I am writing to defend the voices of those who are genuine and who will suffer as a direct response to these new laws.

But people can work from home now some of you may say. Yes that is an option. However, what if the employer turned around 6 months into the job and changes the terms of your contract? Saying you have to be in the office x amount of days a week. You can not make it into the office. You lose your job.

What about the lack of inclusion within society as a whole that means Disabled people are often left out? For example lack of accessible transport to get to work. Disabled people may not be able to be in work due to a variety of factors. Why is it down to the government to police a Disabled persons life?

Essentially the point of my post is that Disabled people on benefits may not all be out of work. They maybe using those benefits to work. They might not be able to work a full time job. This could be due to physical pain or mental health issues. But they are working.

What about Disabled people who do not have jobs? Well, guess what? Their health is none of your concern. If they cannot work it is between them and their Doctor. They do not have to explain themselves to you and that is OK.

Stop blaming Disabled people. Disabled people have a right to life, something which we have fought long and hard for and we are protected by the Equality Act.

Oh yes, I mentioned Irony… There was lovely post yesterday from UK Parliament celebrating Disability History Month. It is too funny, you can’t make it up.

Lets celebrate Disabled People’s history….and push these laws through from the current Government who are actively trying to kill Disabled people.

Anyway, stand up for Disabled People, we deserve a right to life.

Thank you for reading,

Philippa.

Modibodi

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Hello all,

A few months ago I decided to try period underwear and I wanted to wait a while before I wrote about my experience.

It took me a while to settle on a brand and a style I was comfortable with, I settled on Modibodi. I came across them more or less straight away while looking online for period underwear. What I liked about the brand was a few different things.

First thing I liked was that they had an accessible website, I could navigate it easily, the images were clear and I could pay with ApplePay (other options are available).

The next thing I loved was that when you are looking through the different images for styles and fits the website shows you different kinds of people wearing the underwear, Disabled Women, non Disabled, small size to plus size… not just one type. So much representation for those of us who have periods.

As a Disabled Woman it was lovely to see Disability being represented on the website. This was one of the reasons I wanted to try their product. Representation matters. No they did not have the same Disability being represented as what I have, but they were still representing Disabilities. 

Three packs of underwear in brown paper packing. One pair out the box is a mont green.

You’re probably thinking, thats great but tell me about the underwear itself? 

When I was looking for a pair to buy I thought about the kinds of sanitary products I currently use. I then used this to guide my choices of what to buy. Normally I have quite heavy periods and so I tend to always use nighttime pads with the best absorbance I can find. Therefore I chose to go with Modibodis heavy classic boy shorts. These are in their overnight section. Single pair cost £26. I’ll come back to this later. I bought two pairs, one in green and one in beige. 

They arrived quite quickly and I followed the instructions to run them under the tap and leave them to dry before using them. I was so impressed with absorbency while it was under a fully running tap! The outside of the underwear underneath was dry! I was quite skeptical of period underwear, because as I mentioned my periods are very heavy and I was not sure they would be right for me.

But after seeing them hold up under running water I was quite impressed.

I have been using them now for a few months and they are really wonderful. I have mostly been using them for sleeping in but they have held up really well. They are very comfortable and I love the feeling of knowing I didn’t have to wake up in the middle of the night to change it because of any leaks.

The only downside is that they are quite warm for summer, but I would get that with any period product I have tried in the past. So really I think they’re great all round.

You might be thinking ‘oh the price is a bit much?’

But really when you consider how much your go to brand is, mine is normally Always, at around £3.10. Depending on how many packs you go through month you will be looking at over £110 a year. So to buy 5 pairs of that under wear is £130. But knowing that this underwear would last you a few years means you are saving money.

Not to mention the impact on the environment when you consider how many sanitary products are thrown away each year.

In terms of care and keeping them clean it is relatively straightforward, rinse with cold water and then wash. Modibodi give you a handy care guide with your purchase which is brilliant.

I understand period underwear is not for everyone and I never thought it would be for me either. But for overnight it is now my go to and I am getting used to wearing them out the house too. If you have a mixture of pads and period underwear you feel comfy with then go for it.

I hope you have found this useful. Lets normalise talking about periods.

Thank you for reading and no, I did not get free underwear for writing this. 

Mind My Cain

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Hello all,

It is Monday again which means it’s time for another blog post. This week I’m focusing on being a long cane user.

As you maybe aware I am Visually Impaired and use a long cane. In order for me to get around I sweep the cane across the floor in front of me to be able to find objects in my path. Including but not limited to steps, curbs, dogs and people.

Earlier this week I had gotten off the train and was making my way to the escalators. It was a busy morning and I was making my way to work. Someone was at the side of me and noticed my cane hit their leg, they looked down at my cane and continued to move forwards. The difficult and dangerous thing was that we were trying to get on the escalator. People at the other side of me noticed I had my cane, they stopped and let me get on. I said thank you.

My long cane in the centre, a red handle. In front is a train platform.

The person who had come into contact with my cane continued onto the escalator. I continued to use my cane to navigate onto the escalator and my cane caught between their legs. Once we were on the escalator I stood my cane in front of me and waited until we reached the top.

I put my cain out cautiously to find my way off. As I did this and moved forward the same person was caught by my cain.

The difficult thing with being a cain user is that we are using it for the right reasons. To discover obstacles in our path and navigate safely. The problem comes when others pay no attention. Mistakes can be made yes, but when someone actively notices your cain and continues to not give you the space you need to navigate safely then they are putting you and them at risk.

The danger in this situation is that the person who ignored my cain could have tripped up and slammed their head onto the escalator. I could have then fallen onto them. This would have been very dangerous for both us.

Similar situations can occur when cain users are crossing roads. If people ignore our cain and step into the road or don’t move out of the way then they could cause both of us to fall over.

When out and about people tend to have their headphones in to block out all the noise around them, which makes sense. But this can also mean you’re in your own little world.

This can lead to people being less aware of their surroundings. Meaning they may miss someone using a mobility aid. Which can have serious consequences.

All we ask is that you try be a bit more cautious. We are doing what we need to do to get around. We can’t travel at quieter times if we need to get to work. We shouldn’t have to travel at quiet times.

Please just be a little mindful and don’t rush people. Getting to work can be very hectic and can create stress. But if we all just try be a little more aware of our surroundings (unless, like me you’re Visually Impaired and find this difficult) we can all have an easier and smother time on public transport.

Thank you,
Philippa B. 

Disability Hate Crime

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Hello again,

I have been thinking about what to write for my blog and I made a decision based on three things:

An article I saw only in the Yorkshire Evening Post
An event on the train
An event going to get my lunch 

A few weeks ago there was an article in the Yorkshire Evening Post regarding Disability Hate Crime in West Yorkshire. The article talks about how West Yorkshire has the highest rate of Disability Hate Crime in the UK. This makes me quite sad and very angry. As a Disabled Person I should be able to go out and about without the fear of people hating me due to my Disability, or for any reason. No one should have to put up with that.

A few days ago I was getting off the train. The doorway was quite narrow as it was an old train. I went to get off and as I was doing so three people in succession stepped onto the train and bustled past me in the narrow entrance saying ‘sorry’. For those who don’t know I am a long cane user. This means I use a white cane with a rollerball tip to navigate spaces around me. If you image getting off a train with someone walking towards you with a white cane do you honestly think it’s safe to push past them in a narrow train door way? No it is not. You could trip over my cane and fall, I could misjudge the gap between the train and the platform edge meaning I or you fall and seriously injure yourself.

As I got off a lady offered her arm and asked if I was ok. I said yes thank you and thanked her again for waiting. 

The third thing I am basing this post on is an event from yesterday. I was out to get my lunch in town and as I was walking with my cane, something happened. A lady was walking in front of me and as I walked past she said quite openly ‘You don’t need that…faker….you’re putting it on’. Now I am still wearing a mask when out and about, so I was able to pull a face which showed displeasure at this. I also scoffed. Which she clearly didn’t hear.

You might think I should have said something, but I was on my own. You have to wonder if they are willing to act blatantly ableist like that in the middle of a busy high street on a weekend, how are they going to react when confronted?

After posting about these various events on Twitter I got kind words from people asking if I was OK and expressing their concerns.

A few weeks another event occurred walking home. I was again minding my own business when two people wandered past and called me a blind c****. This I was upset by as I was already tired form a long day. But again what can you do? You can’t react because you don’t know how they will react.

The whole point of this blog is to make you aware that these things are happening to Disabled People and it can be very upsetting. It makes it more difficult to want to go out and leave the house.

If you experience someone who is being heckled or having insults thrown their way it can be difficult to know how to react. Potentially ask the person if they are OK? Maybe this will make the person who is being abusive stop as their actions have been noticed. I am not entirely sure how to fix this issue.

It’s upsetting and I wish the world was a nicer place.

Anyway I am cold. I’m off.