Able and Disabled

Hey! Hope you are well. I've been pretty overwhelmed recently but today I wanted to discuss the access to BSL (British Sign Language) within our community. I've personally wanted to start learning BSL for sometime now, but along with being busy it's difficult to know my place within this particular space. BSL isn't just for the severely deaf but is used by many within the hard of hearing community who may struggle with clarity or understanding. Furthermore, sign language can be used by many without hearing problems but who struggle with communication for any reason, such as those living on the autistic spectrum. My hearing loss is mild. In 1:1 conversations or when I'm watching something on my own I can cope without my hearing aids. However, in loud or heightened social situations I can definitely struggle to gain clarity and fully know what is going on around me. In these kinds of circumstances knowing some basic BSL and being able to share that knowledge with ...

Hey Everyone! What I want to talk about today is a slightly different and complex issue; feeling confident when claiming multiple diagnoses or labels. There are hopefully lots of people who have no problem being confident when saying they have several diagnoses, but for others it may be a little more difficult. In a society that so often invalidates disability, especially when they are invisible or fluctuating, is it is understandable that some individuals may struggle to not feel like an imposter when declaring a handful of different diagnoses. In the UK we live in a society where people are frequently doubting disabled folks' rights to use accessible parking spaces and are often accusing disabled individuals of faking to receive benefits. This sense of insecurity can be heightened when someone is experiencing multiple diagnoses, resulting in increased self-doubt and comments like "can you really have all of those conditions?" or "that's a weird coincidence!...

Hey All! Hope you are all well! I now this post is coming to you a little early, with my weekly posts normally going on Wednesdays, but I thought I would give a little extra reading this week! I'm not entirely sure whether that is in fact a positive way of wording it but oh well, I have something really exciting to talk about today! As regular readers will know in June I became involved in an awesome project called 'Scope For Change.' 'Scope For Change' is a six month programme aimed at training young adults to become disability campaigners and at helping them set up their initial campaigns. Following the Launch Event in June, this weekend was the Residential, a REALLY fun weekend of both activities and talks, both of which were designed to bring us even closer together as a group and help us further consider what we want our campaigns to be. I thought I would post today to tell you a little about my experience of the Residential and the kind of direction in whi...

Hey All! Tonight's episode of Holby City (my absolute favourite soap opera, being the only one I follow) was a show dedicated to marking the 70th anniversary of the NHS. That's why despite the time, I thought it would be the perfect moment to write this particular post. If no one objects the following post will simply be me gushing over the NHS and all it has done for me personally, sorry not sorry! I think it's incredibly easy but dangerous for any of us with access to the NHS to take its services for granted. This is especially true within today's political climate, with certain individuals currently in power pushing for privatisation and allowing cuts that will only put our national health service under increased pressure. Indeed, less funding and support, as well as the potential loss of staff due to Brexit, have left our NHS fragile. However, some take this as a cue to criticise rather than support those who keep the NHS alive despite the interference of those ...

Hey All! As mentioned in my blog post this time last week I was preparing for a day out that would be the first step of an amazing opportunity! The big news I had been keeping under wraps was in fact that I have been chosen to participate in this years 'Scope for Change' programme, a six month project that will give me the skills to be an even more capable and avid activist for the rights of disabled folks. The purpose of this programme is to provide me with the networks and techniques to be an influential campaigner. Many involved within the UK Disability community will be more than aware of the work and significance of Scope as a leading national charity, meaning that excited does very little to describe how I feel about the prospect of this mind-blowing opportunity! My personal reasoning for participation in the programme, as a large proportion of my Facebook friends will know, is because I want to help create a world in which everyone finally understands that not all im...

Hey! Tomorrow I am travelling back into London for the day (I am currently home for the summer) for an event. Because of this absolutely amazing but potentially tiring day out I'm planning to get an early night, meaning this might be a slightly shorter and more concise post. Therefore, I thought this would be the perfect time to share my - tips for a day out when also dealing with chronic pain, fatigue, anxiety and potential overstimulation. I may seem particular but it's all entirely necessary for me to enjoy my trip. 1. Do any preemptive pain management methods recommended to you - for me this means possibly taking my medication to prevent pain rather than ease it, or this might just mean packing a few essentials (deep heat, pain killers, etc.) Of course when taking medication always follow the doctors instructions! 2. Do any planning that will put your mind at rest - I can experience reasonable anxiety if things feel unknown or out of my control and this can cause me t...

When you tell someone that you wear Hearing Aids the assumption often is that you are deaf or severely hard of hearing, and that you have been so since birth or early childhood. This is not always the case. For many hearing loss can be a more mild but still noticeable challenge, and can also be developed over time or due to circumstance. For me, my hearing loss was caused by a Gromit falling out from my left eardrum years after the treatment of tonsillitis. Due to the more circumstantial nature of my hearing loss it took time to worsen to a point that warranted the use of Hearing Aids, meaning that I didn't actually receive my Hearing Aids until my Summer exams in 2016. Next month I will have been using my Hearing Aids for just about 2 years. Of course, the causes and severity of my own hearing loss impacts the issues put forward by my disability. Because of the hole in my eardrum my ears are a bit like a dodgy speaker, the more noise you put through them the worse the sound qual...