The iBot is a miracle piece of technology that leaves most people in awe when they see it. When it turns transformer-like from a standard wheelchair into a machine on two wheels at standing level, or when it climbs an unexpected flight of stairs in a friend's home, most people begin to see the benefits [...]
Here is an article that appeared in the UK’s Observer newspaper on 4th December, the day after the annual International Day of People with Disability http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/dec/04/ian-birrell-prejudice-against-disabled It talks about the depressingly widespread “demonization” of disabled people – and a climate of hostility that is made more common in this era of global austerity. Without doubt [...]
Three years ago, when we decided to move to Australia, to live near Sydney in Pearl Beach, Justine said "I'm buggered if we're going to be in Pearl Beach in 2011, and unable to stroll along it hand in hand together!" So began our search to find a powered wheelchair that could cope with sand, [...]
I haven’t written this blog for a few months, because in July I moved to Australia. I won’t go into detail here about the enormous logistical task it was for my wife, myself (and our cat) to relocate to the other side of the world, but I will say hats off to Justine for bringing [...]
As I said in my last blog entry, I was due to contest a parking ticket that I was disputing, and which I expected to win. My date with the adjudicator was last week. I came out of the hearing only half-smiling. The lawyer who was adjudicating concluded that he could not deem the issue [...]
Next month, I will be spending an afternoon at the magistrates’ court contesting a parking ticket I received a few months ago from Islington Council. I fully expect to win. For me the issue is not really the fact that the ticket was wrongly issued and that I will have righted a wrong, but more [...]
Last week, I went to my local Vue cinema to see True Grit. My jaw dropped to the ground when I was asked by an eager young girl for a Cinema Exhibitors Association card, as proof of entitlement to a seat for my companion (without whose help I could not have got in to watch [...]
If you are into news or football, or both, you won’t have escaped noticing the furor, and public debate that followed, surrounding two of Sky’s (former) faces of the beautiful game. That Richard Keys and Andy Gray have left the channel following remarks about the professional capability of a woman linesman, and the sexist banter [...]
It’s New Year’s Eve. I’m full up after an overindulgent Christmas, and full of hope for the year to come. But, on reading the recent Office of National Statistics Life Opportunities Survey, my generally positive mood has been tempered by the survey’s bleak outlook for people with disabilities. The survey reveals that, wherever you turn, [...]
Idayah Miller is an 11 year-old black girl with cerebral palsy. She’s being discriminated against not because she’s black, not because she’s a girl, but because she’s disabled. Read all about Idayah’s story at http://bit.ly/fc2vWg After applying to one of the best schools in the country, her application was rejected because her wheelchair was deemed [...]