Skip to content

me and the Hagrid robot mask which was used for the actor who played Hagrid in all of the films/TV series of

June 19, 2026

How Blind Football Captain Samantha Gough Earned An MBE

June 19, 2026


When Samantha Gough receives her MBE as part of the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours, she won’t just be celebrating a personal achievement. She’ll be shining a spotlight on the power of inclusion, resilience, and the life-changing impact of the right support.
At just 23 years old, Samantha has already established herself as one of Britain’s most accomplished visually impaired athletes. As the first-ever captain of the England Women’s Blind Football team, a national goalball player, a para-rowing champion, and an advocate for the visually impaired community, her story is one of determination against extraordinary odds.
A Journey Marked by Challenge
Born with cerebral visual impairment (CVI), Samantha’s eyes are healthy, but her brain struggles to process visual information effectively. In 2014, her sight deteriorated significantly, forcing her to relearn many everyday skills that most people take for granted.
The transition was difficult. As her vision worsened, opportunities in sport began to disappear.
“It wasn’t very long ago that I didn’t think I could take part in sport at all,” Samantha reflects. “I went from being registered partially sighted to severely sight impaired and was basically excluded from all sport. Instead of asking how they could support me, I was seen as a problem.”
For many young people, such experiences could have marked the end of their sporting ambitions. For Samantha, however, they became the beginning of a remarkable new chapter.
The Turning Point
That chapter began at Sight Scotland’s Royal Blind School in Edinburgh.
Samantha describes attending the school as a turning point that transformed her confidence, independence, and outlook on life.
“The Royal Blind School was a real turning point for me,” she says. “I was given tailored support and the opportunity to learn vital independent living skills, which really helped rebuild my confidence. It also helped me accept myself and my disability, which was such an important part of my journey.”
The support extended far beyond the classroom. Samantha learned braille after losing the ability to read and write as her sight deteriorated. She developed practical skills such as cooking, shopping independently, and advocating for the support she needed.
Learning to use a white cane proved particularly transformative, helping her navigate the world with greater confidence. More recently, her guide dog, Helga, has provided even more independence and freedom.
“All the amazing things that have happened to me through sport and my advocacy work would not have been possible without the incredible teachers at the Royal Blind School,” she says. “They believed in me when I struggled to believe in myself and gave me the skills and confidence to move forward. It quite literally changed my life.”
Making History in Sport
Armed with renewed confidence and determination, Samantha went on to break new ground in British sport.
In 2022, she became the first-ever captain of the England Women’s Blind Football team, helping to shape the future of a rapidly growing sport. The following year, she led England at the inaugural IBSA Women’s World Championships, marking the team’s first appearance on the world stage.
Her achievements are not limited to football.
As a goalball athlete, Samantha became one of the UK’s leading female goal scorers and represented Great Britain at the 2022 European Para Youth Games, earning a bronze medal. In rowing, she claimed gold at the 2023 British Rowing Indoor Championships and secured selection to the Great Britain Para Rowing performance pathway.
Using Sport to Drive Change
While Samantha’s sporting accomplishments are impressive, she sees her platform as an opportunity to create wider change.
Having experienced both exclusion and empowerment, she is passionate about raising awareness of visual impairment and increasing access to sport for disabled people.
“I want to use my platform, whether through sport, social media, visiting schools to talk about my disability, or working with organisations like Sight Scotland, to show what is possible and help influence positive change,” she explains.
She is already making a significant impact through her advocacy work. In 2023, she received a Midlothian Young People’s Award, was commended in the UK Parliament for her achievements, and continues to serve as an ambassador for Sight Scotland.
More Than a Personal Achievement
For Samantha, receiving an MBE is about more than recognition for past achievements. It is an opportunity to champion blind football, promote inclusion, and inspire others facing similar challenges.
“I want to use it to highlight blind football and visually impaired sport, and to show others what can be achieved if you follow your dreams,” she says.
Her message is a powerful reminder that talent can flourish when barriers are removed and support is provided.
“There are people who understand and want to help, and it really can make such a difference.”
As Samantha Gough adds an MBE to her growing list of achievements, her story stands as a testament to what can happen when determination meets opportunity—and when society chooses inclusion over limitation.
For young people living with sight loss, her journey offers a clear message: your ambitions do not have to be defined by your disability. With the right support, they can become your greatest strength.
This version is written in a feature-style blog format suitable for a charity website, news section, or corporate blog, with a strong narrative flow and clear headings.

The Harry Potter High Street. My trip to Harry Potter World by Warner Brothers Studios. My friends and I spent a day as a group in the Harry Potter High Street set, that appears in the Harry Potter film. It is accessible. It also appeared on bbc

June 18, 2026

Rosie Jones Tried To Prove Herself By Binge Drinking

June 18, 2026

Things you may find on my Whatnot auction selling platform that I have made myself feel free to download what Not and come and check out my products when you get a chance

June 17, 2026

Motability Changes Spark Concern Among Disabled Drivers In Rural Scotland

June 17, 2026

 

For many disabled people across Scotland, a car is far more than a means of transport. It provides access to employment, healthcare, social activities, and independence. Proposed changes to the Motability Scheme are now raising concerns that some of the people who rely on it most could face significant new costs.

What Is Changing?

The Motability Scheme allows eligible disabled people to exchange part of their disability benefits for a leased vehicle. The package typically includes insurance, servicing, maintenance, and road tax.

Beginning in July, new leases across much of the UK will come with a reduced annual mileage allowance of 10,000 miles, down from the previous effective allowance of around 20,000 miles per year. Drivers who exceed the limit will be charged 25 pence per additional mile.

While the changes are moving ahead elsewhere in the UK, discussions between Motability and the Scottish Government have delayed implementation in Scotland. However, uncertainty remains about when or whether the new rules will eventually apply.

Why Rural Communities Are Worried

For disabled drivers living in Scotland’s cities, public transport may offer at least some alternatives. In many rural and island communities, however, options are often limited or inaccessible.

People living in remote areas frequently travel long distances for hospital appointments, work commitments, family visits, and specialist services. A journey that might take a city resident a few miles can easily become a round trip of hundreds of miles in rural Scotland.

As a result, many disabled drivers believe the proposed mileage limits fail to reflect the realities of life outside major urban centres.

The Cost of Independence

One of the biggest concerns is the financial impact of excess mileage charges.

Drivers who currently use significantly more than 10,000 miles per year could face thousands of pounds in additional costs over the course of a three-year lease. For individuals already managing the extra expenses associated with disability, these charges could make participation in the scheme less affordable.

Critics argue that the changes could create unintended barriers to employment by making it harder for disabled people to travel to work or maintain active lifestyles.

Accessibility Beyond Transport

The debate highlights a broader issue: mobility is closely linked to social inclusion.

For many disabled people, a vehicle is the key to attending medical appointments, participating in sports, maintaining family relationships, and remaining connected to their communities. Reduced mobility can quickly lead to greater isolation.

Disability organisations have warned that any policy changes affecting transportation should consider not only financial sustainability but also the wider social consequences for users.

Motability’s Position

Motability says the changes are necessary to address rising operating costs. The organisation points to increased expenses linked to government tax measures and estimates that these could add hundreds of millions of pounds annually to the cost of running the scheme by the end of the decade.

According to Motability, approximately three-quarters of customers already drive fewer than 10,000 miles each year. The organisation has also stated that an exceptions process will be available for a limited number of customers with higher mileage needs.

Its goal, the scheme says, is to keep leasing costs manageable while continuing to support disabled people in living independently.

What Happens Next?

The Scottish Government is continuing discussions with Motability in an effort to reduce uncertainty and find a solution that meets the needs of disabled people across Scotland.

For now, many users are watching developments closely. The outcome could have a significant impact on thousands of disabled drivers, particularly those in rural and island communities where accessible alternatives are scarce.

The conversation ultimately raises an important question: how can mobility schemes remain financially sustainable while ensuring that disabled people retain the freedom, independence, and opportunities that accessible transportation provides?

Disability saying of the day

June 16, 2026

disability things of the day/month keep calm style Ellis things about being a Wheelchair user and being chronically ill

Disabled Model Samantha Bullock Denied Flight By British Airways

June 16, 2026

This is so upsetting to me. It shouldn’t still be happening in 2026 in Western countries.

The Accessibility Crisis In UK Courts

June 16, 2026

For many people, attending court is already a stressful experience. Whether appearing as a professional, a witness, a juror, or a litigant, the legal system carries significant emotional and practical demands. But for many disabled people across the UK, simply entering a courthouse can become an exhausting challenge before legal proceedings even begin.

Recent accounts from disabled social workers, jurors, and legal professionals reveal a troubling reality: inaccessible court buildings and inadequate support systems continue to create barriers that undermine equal access to justice.

When the Building Becomes the First Obstacle

Former social worker Vikki Walton-Cole recalls arriving at court already in pain due to the lack of nearby accessible parking. At the time, she was not yet a full-time wheelchair user, but walking long distances was difficult. After making the journey, she discovered that the courtroom itself could only be reached by stairs.

The experience left her in tears.

For professionals expected to present evidence and conduct themselves confidently in legal proceedings, arriving distressed and physically exhausted creates an immediate disadvantage. Walton-Cole later described accessibility barriers within the court system as one of the factors that influenced her decision to leave social work altogether.

Her story highlights a broader issue: accessibility is not simply about compliance with regulations. It directly affects careers, participation, and inclusion.

A Jury System That Doesn’t Reflect Everyone

The UK jury system is founded on the principle that juries should represent society. Yet disabled citizens often face obstacles that make participation far more difficult than it should be.

Wheelchair user Victoria Gerrard recently served on a jury in Scotland and encountered numerous challenges throughout the process. Accessible facilities were limited, guidance was lacking, and building layouts forced her to take different routes from other jurors.

These alternative routes created an unexpected safety concern. Because she could not use the standard juror exits, she frequently encountered defendants and their family members in public areas. Following a particularly tense incident involving relatives of the accused, she felt exposed and vulnerable.

At the conclusion of the trial, while other jurors departed together, she was left alone outside the courthouse waiting for transportation.

Such experiences raise important questions about whether disabled jurors are receiving the same level of protection, dignity, and support as everyone else.

Lawyers Facing Barriers to Doing Their Jobs

Accessibility challenges extend beyond jurors and witnesses.

Barrister Holly Girven, who uses a wheelchair, has encountered numerous obstacles while carrying out her professional duties. In one instance, a court’s lift failure meant she had to join a hearing remotely from a nearby conference room while everyone else—including her client—participated in person.

Technically, she was present at the courthouse. Practically, she was excluded from the courtroom experience.

Girven argues that society would never accept a hospital that lacked wheelchair access. Courts, she suggests, should be held to the same standard.

The comparison is compelling. Both institutions provide essential public services. Both exist to serve all members of society. Yet while accessibility in healthcare is widely recognized as a necessity, accessibility in the justice system is still too often treated as an inconvenience or afterthought.

Accessibility Is More Than Ramps and Lifts

One of the most important lessons emerging from these accounts is that accessibility extends beyond physical infrastructure.

Equality law specialist Dr Gregory Burke argues that information, attitudes, and dignity are equally important components of inclusion. Disabled people should not have to spend weeks chasing basic information about building access, parking arrangements, toilet facilities, or emergency procedures.

The uncertainty itself creates an additional burden.

Every inaccessible entrance, broken lift, or missing piece of information forces disabled individuals to devote mental energy to planning and problem-solving before they can focus on the reason they are attending court.

Burke describes this as a “cognitive load” that can affect performance, concentration, and confidence. In environments where outcomes may affect someone’s liberty, livelihood, family, or reputation, such disadvantages carry serious consequences.

The Cost of Exclusion

Accessibility failures do not only affect individuals. They affect the justice system itself.

Reports have found that inaccessible court facilities contribute to low morale and even resignations among magistrates and court personnel. When buildings prevent talented professionals from participating fully in legal proceedings, the system loses valuable expertise and experience.

Moreover, barriers to participation weaken public confidence in the fairness of justice. If certain groups face greater obstacles than others when serving on juries, presenting evidence, or practicing law, the ideal of equal treatment under the law becomes harder to achieve.

Progress Still Needed

Court authorities acknowledge that accessibility remains a challenge, particularly within older and historic buildings. Upgrading these structures can be complex and costly.

However, many disabled court users point out that some improvements require relatively little investment. Clear accessibility information, better communication, proactive support, and consistent planning could significantly improve experiences for many people.

The goal is not simply legal compliance. It is ensuring that every participant in the justice system can engage on equal terms.

Justice Must Be Accessible to All

A fair legal system is one that serves everyone—not only those who can easily navigate its buildings and procedures.

The experiences shared by disabled professionals, jurors, and advocates reveal a gap between the principles of equality and the reality of many court environments. While progress has been made, significant barriers remain.

Justice should test evidence, arguments, and facts. It should not test a person’s resilience simply to enter the room.

Until accessibility is treated as a fundamental requirement rather than an optional improvement, many disabled people will continue to face obstacles that have no place in a modern justice system.

The pub that I wanted to win the house, jack pot. Despite not winning anything at all, I was proud to be there and taking part. I enjoyed the atmosphere.

June 15, 2026

Shopmobility: More Than Just A Mobility Scooter

June 15, 2026

For many people, getting into town is a simple part of everyday life. For others, it depends on services that make accessibility possible. That’s why the impending closure of Guildford’s Shopmobility service has sparked concern, disappointment, and a growing community campaign to keep it alive.

After more than 30 years of operation, Guildford’s Shopmobility service is set to close due to financial pressures. Operated by Age UK Surrey, the service has provided mobility scooters and wheelchairs to people with disabilities and mobility challenges, helping them navigate the town centre independently.

While the closure may appear to be a budgetary decision, for those who rely on the service, it represents something much bigger: the loss of freedom, independence, and social inclusion.

A Lifeline for Accessibility

Shopmobility schemes are designed to help people with mobility difficulties access shopping centres, high streets, and public spaces. By offering affordable access to mobility equipment, they remove barriers that can otherwise make everyday activities impossible.

For disability campaigner Shirlee Posner, the service has been transformative.

She describes using Shopmobility as something that allows her to feel “normal” and maintain her independence. Without it, she fears her world will become smaller and less accessible.

Her comments reflect a reality experienced by many disabled people. Accessibility is not simply about physical movement—it is about participation in society. When accessible services disappear, opportunities to work, shop, socialise, and engage with the community often disappear with them.

Financial Challenges Behind the Closure

Age UK Surrey announced that maintaining the service had become financially unsustainable. According to the organisation, the scheme has been operating at a deficit, and available funding has not increased enough to cover rising costs.

The charity described the decision as extremely difficult but ultimately unavoidable.

Like many community-based services across the UK, Shopmobility has faced growing operational costs while funding remains under pressure. Charities and local authorities are increasingly having to make difficult decisions about which services they can continue to support.

Community Response and Growing Support

The announcement has prompted a strong reaction from local residents.

A petition calling for the service to remain open has attracted more than 1,500 signatures, highlighting the value many people place on the scheme.

Among those leading the campaign are Ruth and Graham House, who say the service has been essential to maintaining their access to Guildford town centre. Graham described Shopmobility as a “godsend,” explaining that without access to a mobility scooter, visiting Guildford may no longer be possible.

The petition reflects a broader concern about accessibility provision and the need to protect services that enable disabled people to participate fully in community life.

Hope for the Future

Despite the closure, there may still be hope.

Guildford Borough Council has acknowledged the impact the decision will have on users and has stated that funding has been ringfenced to support a future replacement scheme should another charity or organisation step forward to operate it.

This offers a potential pathway for the service to return in a new form. However, until a replacement provider is found, users face uncertainty about how they will continue to access the town.

Why Accessibility Services Matter

The story of Guildford’s Shopmobility service serves as a reminder that accessibility is not a luxury—it is a necessity.

Services like Shopmobility help create inclusive communities where everyone can participate, regardless of physical ability. Their value extends far beyond mobility equipment; they provide confidence, independence, social connection, and dignity.

As communities across the country grapple with funding challenges, the debate surrounding Guildford’s Shopmobility scheme highlights an important question: How can society ensure that accessibility remains a priority, even during difficult financial times?

For the people who depend on these services every day, the answer could determine whether their world stays open—or begins to shrink.

have a good day from the Wheelchair diva good morning from the UK to all the same difference Community and WordPress Community that follow me as the diva that I am hope everybody has a good day wherever in the world you are and enjoy whatever you do and I hope it’s sunny/good weather which ever country/part of the world you are in right now good morning have a good day.

June 14, 2026

pictures of the stage set up while I was waiting for the concert that I went to at my local music bar waiting for the concert to start.a few Fridays ago I just thought I’d show you the set up in case you want to attend music bars like this but worried about space for your Wheelchair/mobility aid the music bars I’ve been to which I’ve been to many certainly across London/Hertfordshire have lots of room not only for Wheelchair users but for everybody they welcome Wheelchair and mobility aid users and I find no discrimination in any of the music bars I go to I throut I share go to in case you but don’t know how people would react to you and your mobility aid or how much space there will be it is inclusive for everybody in all the music bars I’ve ever been in everybody is accommodating ensuring that where there needs to be the path is cleared of traffic and as the security guard they understand that I may need a bit more space to mobilise around my environment or the environment which am out in so please if you want to try music bars to give it a go because the security guards are willing to move out the way without you having the embarrassment if you are embarrassed to tell the public to move out the way for you to get through rather than waiting in a queue of drunk people for example just ask the security guards to do crowd control and you will be fine as the security guards will accommodate you certainly.A lot of these concerts I go to are hosted for free by the music bars.

June 13, 2026

wheelchair divas selfies on the dance floor thank you for supporting the diva that I am and always will be. This is nightlife as a diva who uses a Wheelchair on a Friday night experiencing nightlife within her Community who also relies on personal care Assistance PA. who works in shifts to support the diva’s chronic illnesses disabilities and dynamic disabilities as well as cerebral palsy blindness and more but they support the diva to live rather than just existing.take this now that the diva is adequately Funded other than her Respite Care finally after two years of fighting social services have given in and given the diva what she needs to live and not just exist don’t flow selfies of a diva who just is enjoying nightlife on a Friday night a few weeks ago when I went to a music bar concert with my PA enjoying the free concert on a Friday night and the dance floor/club vibe they provide before the concert what is your ideal Friday night as someone that uses a Wheelchair or mobility? aid?Tell me in the comments I love hearing comments/questions from you all will do a video series answering your questions just put them in the comments and my PAs will help me to read them and then I will create videos answering them. Thank you for your support always WordPress Community and same difference one Community. thank you from this diva who is now enjoying her life again and has more to her life than just being chronically ill so thank you for all your support on my post and interaction. It means a lot to this diva and her family

June 12, 2026

care hairstyles courtesy of my PA/personal care assistant conrow hairstyles Respite Care edition

June 12, 2026

Friday Fun: How To Sign World Cup

June 12, 2026

Some Friday Fun!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18tb4aC6PH/

One of my favourite handmade jewellery collections that I have made so far in 2026 for my wotnot auction platform page

June 11, 2026

AC/DC tribute band that was part of my Respite Care life 2026 fun things that I did and experienced I would highly suggest you go and see AC/DC either the real one or the tribute band if you love rock

June 11, 2026

Andre SCD Suggest

what’s the time right? To sell on my Whatnot fundraising shop in aid of fundraising for my Respite Care and support as well as suppository training and more that I am very proud of? Please take a look at my what Not which is Wheelchairdiva Art and jewellery on the app what not? This is a smart Phone app which you can download from the App Store/play store please check out my what Not and purchased something if you would like to the things I identified such as the Respite suppository training for my You will never live alive and have independence, autonomy, or choice in your life you have to fund raise or you won’t have autonomy

June 11, 2026

How Cats See Wheelchairs

June 11, 2026

It’s a slow news day, and I feel like some fun.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BS9St9Ssr/

me in the left four or five years ago when we were out of lockdown for the very final time and stayed out I went to the science museum in London after almost 3 years of being in and out of lockdown very much like a young it’s almost 5/6years ago already or more but I reflect on this time and think as a disabled person it was an unexpected bit of history that and bits you wish you didn’t see is there abit you are grateful for let me know in the comments. It was nice to see people being allowed to go about their day to day life in society again this is definitely if not seen as part of anybody else’s history that honestly I never thought I would manage without going mad it was like being put in prison but within your own house like a bit of house arrest during this lockdown of my life PA/carers/agency Care at the time was like having a heard of Smurf’s come and visit you every day that you couldn’t even hear the footsteps of the PA/carer because every person sounds the same when walking with the foot covers on.

June 11, 2026

quiz card which I got more right than I thought I would when I took part in the quiz on Monday night. This is what you call having adequate funding for your PA. It allows you to live rather than exist.

June 10, 2026

Disability Representation In Holyrood

June 10, 2026


Scotland has reached an important milestone in political representation. Following the most recent election, the country now has more disabled Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) than ever before. While this marks meaningful progress, campaigners and politicians alike agree that the journey toward true representation is far from complete.
According to Scotland’s 2022 Census, approximately 1.3 million people—around 24% of the population—live with a long-term health condition or disability that affects their daily activities. Yet disabled MSPs currently make up only about 7% of the Scottish Parliament. The gap highlights a continuing challenge: ensuring that the nation’s political institutions reflect the diversity of the people they serve.
For newly elected MSP Kayleigh Kinross-O’Neill, accessibility was a major concern before arriving at Holyrood. As a wheelchair user, she was encouraged to find that parliamentary staff proactively discussed her requirements and implemented practical adjustments before her first day. Features such as automatic doors, emergency evacuation plans, and provisions for remote voting have helped create a more accessible working environment.
These changes demonstrate the value of designing workplaces around people’s needs rather than expecting individuals to adapt to existing barriers. Accessibility measures that may seem simple can have a significant impact on a person’s ability to participate fully in public life.
Scotland has also taken a pioneering approach through its Access to Elected Office Fund, which helps disabled candidates meet the additional costs associated with running for election. The fund can cover expenses such as transport, interpreters, support workers, and other forms of assistance that enable candidates to campaign effectively. During the recent election cycle, 22 individuals received support through the programme, with five going on to win seats in parliament.
However, accessibility is not only about physical barriers. Hidden disabilities, including dyslexia and neurodivergent conditions, can also create challenges in political life. MSP Katie Hagmann has spoken about the importance of recognising these less visible needs. Adaptive software and other support tools are not luxuries; they are essential resources that enable many people to perform their roles effectively.
The Scottish Parliament has increasingly acknowledged this broader understanding of accessibility. Efforts now extend beyond ramps and automatic doors to include considerations such as lighting, acoustics, and sensory environments. These changes reflect a growing awareness that inclusion must address a wide range of experiences and needs.
Despite the progress, disability advocates argue that representation remains disproportionately low. Disabled people continue to be underrepresented compared with their share of the population. While the increase in disabled MSPs is encouraging, it is only one step toward a more inclusive democracy.
Representation matters because it brings diverse perspectives into decision-making and helps ensure that policies reflect the realities of people’s lives. When disabled individuals are able to participate fully in politics, society benefits from a richer range of experiences and insights.
Scotland’s recent progress shows what can be achieved when barriers are identified and addressed. The challenge now is to build on that momentum, ensuring that accessibility and inclusion become standard practice rather than special accommodations. Only then can political institutions truly reflect the communities they represent.
This version is written in a neutral, informative blog style suitable for a general audience, advocacy organisation, or public affairs website.

out at the pub taking part in the Monday quiz which I enjoy participating in and is lots of fun. Let’s see if I can win the next time I go there enjoy drinking my non-alcoholic cider as unfortunately at the moment I can’t drink alcohol due to taking morphine, but hopefully soon I can enjoy going to the pub with some alcohol once I am off the morphine.

June 9, 2026

How I Swear Changed John Davidson’s Life

June 9, 2026

For decades, John Davidson has dedicated his life to raising awareness of Tourette’s syndrome, offering support to others and challenging misconceptions about the condition. Today, his story is reaching audiences far beyond his hometown of Galashiels, thanks to the success of the award-winning film I Swear.

The film, based on Davidson’s life and experiences, has become much more than a cinematic achievement. It has sparked conversations about Tourette’s syndrome across the world, connecting people from different countries and cultures through a shared desire for understanding and acceptance.

Since the film’s release, Davidson has found himself at the centre of a growing international movement. Messages of support have arrived from across the globe, with individuals and families reaching out to share their own experiences of living with Tourette’s syndrome. The response has been so significant that he has reduced his hours as a community centre caretaker to devote more time to advocacy and awareness work.

Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological condition characterised by involuntary movements and vocalisations known as tics. While public understanding of the condition has improved in recent years, many people with Tourette’s still face misunderstanding, stigma and social isolation. Davidson’s experience demonstrates how powerful storytelling can be in breaking down these barriers.

The journey has not been without challenges. Earlier this year, a highly publicised incident at the BAFTA Film Awards drew attention when Davidson involuntarily shouted a racial slur while attending the ceremony. He later expressed deep regret and embarrassment over the incident, highlighting the often misunderstood realities of living with complex vocal tics. While the moment generated controversy, it also created an opportunity for wider discussion about the nature of Tourette’s syndrome and the importance of public awareness.

Perhaps the most encouraging outcome of the film’s success has been the noticeable shift in public attitudes. According to those close to Davidson, reactions from strangers have changed dramatically. Where there was once confusion or frustration, there is now greater empathy, recognition and support. This change reflects the impact that education and visibility can have on reducing prejudice.

Recent awareness events in the Scottish Borders have continued to build on this momentum, bringing together people with Tourette’s syndrome, their families and supporters. These gatherings serve as a reminder that awareness is not just about information—it is about creating communities where people feel understood and accepted.

John Davidson’s story is ultimately one of resilience, determination and the power of representation. By sharing his experiences with the world, he has helped countless people feel seen and heard. The success of I Swear shows that a single story can change perceptions, inspire conversations and build bridges of understanding across communities and continents.

As awareness continues to grow, Davidson’s message remains simple but powerful: greater understanding leads to greater acceptance, and acceptance can change lives.

Me last Friday night out underneath the neon lights of the dance floor with my PA who attended with this diva that is mysel.

June 8, 2026

Why Accessibility In Cinema Matters More Than Ever

June 8, 2026

For many of us, going to the cinema is a simple pleasure. We buy a ticket, find our seat, and immerse ourselves in a story on the big screen. But for millions of people with visual impairments, that experience can be far more complicated.

A recent story involving actress Kate Winslet and a young film enthusiast named Eryn shines a spotlight on a challenge that often goes unnoticed: the lack of accessible screenings and audio description services in many cinemas.

Audio description provides spoken narration of visual elements in a film, helping blind and partially sighted audiences follow the action, understand settings, and fully engage with the story. While the technology exists, access remains inconsistent, leaving many film lovers excluded from an experience others take for granted.

What makes Eryn’s story particularly powerful is her determination to advocate for change. Rather than accepting the barriers she faced, she spoke up about the need for better accessibility. Her efforts eventually reached Kate Winslet, whose support helped amplify the conversation and bring wider attention to the issue.

This is about more than one fan and one celebrity. It highlights a broader question facing the entertainment industry: who gets to participate fully in our shared cultural experiences?

Accessibility should not be viewed as a special feature or optional extra. It should be considered a fundamental part of how films are distributed and enjoyed. Just as cinemas provide wheelchair access and hearing support systems, audio description should be readily available and easy to access.

The film industry has made progress in recent years, but there is still work to be done. Greater awareness, improved technology, and stronger commitments from cinemas and distributors can help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the magic of storytelling.

Stories like Eryn’s remind us that meaningful change often begins with a single voice. When individuals share their experiences and others listen, barriers can be identified and solutions can follow.

Cinema has the power to transport us to different worlds, introduce us to new ideas, and connect us through shared emotions. Those opportunities should be available to everyone, regardless of how they experience the world around them.

Accessibility isn’t simply about inclusion—it’s about ensuring that no one is left outside the story.

Picture of me rejoicing in the fact that on this night I got to get out of the house and participate as a regular member of society with the right support not someone that is disabled but just someone who is attending there like everybody else

June 7, 2026

enjoying dancing on the dance floor, which this diva took up enthusiastically and joining in with the other attendees of the music bar concert a few weeks ago. I’d like to mention that you’re I often pre-plan my content. It is not necessarily a reflection on what is going on in my life currently. These posts are pre-planned weeks and months in advance.

June 6, 2026

this is to freedom autonomy and this is having your PA adequately Fund a few weeks ago. I went to a pub quiz night which is something I used to in Joy doing quite a lot before there were problems with my funding but then due to the problems with To stop going so finally reclaiming back a little bit of myself one by one hopefully I am allowed to continue reclaiming four months ahead yet but well I can I’m reclaiming bits that I used to enjoy and I’m finding I am still enjoying them as much as I did a year

June 5, 2026

Former Paralympian Josh Turek Wins Iowa Senate Primary

June 5, 2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/174BtrvcQu/

A potential disabled Senator with Spina Bifida. One activist reacts at the link above.

Being the diva that I am a diva who is definitely taking up the dance floor and does she care that other people want to dance no she really does Not instead she’s taking up the dance floor Wheelchair and all and being in the Wheelchair that she most definitely is, it’s more than just an Internet name

June 4, 2026

Supreme Court Ruling Redefines Consent And Liberty For Disabled People

June 4, 2026

The UK Supreme Court has issued a landmark judgment that could reshape how the law treats some of the country’s most vulnerable people.

In a ruling that has sparked both praise and concern, the Court decided that some severely disabled people who lack the mental capacity to make decisions about their care can nevertheless be regarded as consenting to their care arrangements through the wishes and feelings they express. The decision has significant implications for disability rights, social care, and the legal safeguards designed to protect people from being deprived of their liberty.

What Was the Case About?

The case arose from a legal question referred to the Supreme Court by Northern Ireland’s Attorney General. At its heart was a complex issue: if a person lacks the legal capacity to consent to their care arrangements, can their positive wishes, feelings, and behaviour still amount to valid consent?

For more than a decade, the legal position in the UK has largely been guided by the Supreme Court’s 2014 ruling in the landmark Cheshire West case. That judgment established an “acid test” for determining whether someone is being deprived of their liberty. If a person is under continuous supervision and control and is not free to leave, they are considered deprived of their liberty, regardless of whether they appear content or compliant with the arrangement.

The new ruling revisits that principle and potentially narrows the circumstances in which care arrangements are classified as a deprivation of liberty.

Why Does This Matter?

The concept of deprivation of liberty is not merely a legal technicality. When a person’s liberty is restricted by the state, important safeguards are triggered. These include independent assessments, reviews, and oversight mechanisms designed to ensure that restrictions are necessary, proportionate, and in the person’s best interests.

Supporters of the ruling argue that it reflects a more person-centred understanding of disability. They contend that people who cannot formally satisfy legal tests of capacity may still be capable of expressing clear preferences about where they live and how they are cared for. Recognising those wishes, they argue, respects dignity and autonomy rather than treating individuals as passive recipients of care.

However, critics fear the decision could weaken protections that were specifically created to prevent people with profound disabilities from being overlooked. Several disability and mental health organisations warned during the case that thousands of people could lose access to independent safeguards if their apparent contentment is treated as consent.

The Disability Rights Debate

The judgment has reignited a longstanding debate within disability rights law.

One side emphasises autonomy, arguing that disabled people should not automatically be assumed incapable of expressing meaningful choices simply because they fail a formal capacity assessment.

The other side stresses protection, warning that individuals who rely entirely on others for care may be especially vulnerable to having their rights restricted without adequate scrutiny.

This tension sits at the heart of modern disability law: how can society both respect personal wishes and ensure that vulnerable people remain protected from unnecessary restrictions on their freedom?

The Supreme Court’s ruling does not end that debate. Instead, it shifts the balance and raises new questions about how consent, liberty, and personal autonomy should be understood in cases involving profound cognitive disabilities.

What Happens Next?

The full impact of the judgment will become clearer as courts, care providers, local authorities, and regulators interpret and apply the ruling in practice.

What is already evident is that the decision represents one of the most significant developments in mental capacity and social care law since Cheshire West. It could affect the legal protections available to thousands of disabled people across the UK and influence how care arrangements are assessed for years to come.

As policymakers, campaigners, and families digest the consequences of the ruling, the central challenge remains unchanged: ensuring that people with severe disabilities are both empowered to express their wishes and protected when their liberty is at stake.

Amazon wish list Please buy something of this wish list to allow me to fulfil my dreams of doing unboxing lives on TikTok and unboxing videos over here on WordPress

June 3, 2026

https://www.amazon.co.uk/registries/gl/guest-view/1UQ0DPDQ3O0L0?

UK Athletics Fined £350,000 Over Death Of Paralympian

June 3, 2026

Interactive experiences at Harry Potter world.

June 2, 2026

Here it’s possible to find out how the make up artists adds facial features for magical creatures and then applying them one by one in pieces so it moves naturally with facial expressions.

selfies, including make up going on the bus to one of my activities, a bus outfit of the day, including make-up of the day This was a couple of Fridays ago when I finally got full access to freedom again due to the funding being accurate due to a crisis in chronic illness ,why Is it that we have to wait till we are in a crisis to get the support that allows us to live or independent lives with freedom and full autonomy?

June 2, 2026

Me in the Harry Potter enchanted Forest film set when I went on a day trip with my Monday activity group a few weeks/months ago pictures like this just prove that with the right support we can live and do live an acceptable quality of life. Why did they deny us support as disabled adults? Why do they put us through it as disabled adults? Does anybody know because I would love you to enlighten me if you do

June 2, 2026

Disabled Singer’s ‘Unforgettable’ Moment On Michael McIntyre’s Big Show

June 2, 2026

Selfies of me at Harry Potter World

June 1, 2026

Here I am outside one of the shops on the Harry Potter High Street film set. Imagine the characters shopping here ….if only our shopping centres look like this in real life! LOL I had a lovely day! I am able to enjoy the freedom now to participate in my and in my friends’ lives! Thanks to PAs I can now live my own life, instead of mere existing in my own nightmare! When health and social care didn’t provide hours, I had to just exist in my own life. Finally now, I can exist in my own and friends life, as well as, can return to the voluntarily sector once again.

June 1, 2026

The Wheelchair diver princesses full hairstyle that was done for me that day to make me feel like the Wheelchair princess that I am courtesy of my PA who is very helpful because I am very able mentally but my PA is my hands that actually work LOL

June 1, 2026

Padlocked Out Of Nature: Why Accessibility In The Outdoors Matters

June 1, 2026


 
For many people, nature is a place of freedom, healing, and belonging. But for disabled people, accessing the natural world can often mean confronting barriers that others never notice.

Few stories illustrate this reality more powerfully than that of Welsh writer and disability advocate Bethany Handley.

Growing up in rural Monmouthshire, Bethany’s childhood was defined by the outdoors. She spent her days building dens in the woods, kayaking along rivers, hiking mountains, and surfing at the coast. Nature wasn’t simply a hobby—it was where she felt most at home.
Then chronic illness changed everything.
Over the course of several years, Bethany’s health deteriorated.

What began with glandular fever during her teenage years developed into a complex set of conditions that progressively affected her mobility. By the age of 22, she had climbed her last mountain. Within a year, she had lost the use of her legs entirely and became a full-time wheelchair user.

The physical challenges were immense, but what surprised her most was the sense of exclusion she felt from the landscapes she loved.
As she later reflected, discovering that she was “literally padlocked out” of her favourite places felt more disabling than many of her medical conditions.

The Hidden Barriers in Nature

When conversations about accessibility arise, they often focus on urban spaces—ramps, lifts, accessible transport, and step-free entrances. These discussions are essential, but they rarely extend to the countryside.

Yet many natural spaces remain inaccessible not because of the terrain itself, but because of human-made obstacles.
Stiles, locked gates, narrow kissing gates, and restrictive pathways can make entire landscapes unreachable for wheelchair users and others with mobility impairments. These barriers are often accepted as normal, despite excluding a significant portion of the population.

Bethany’s experience highlights an important principle known as the social model of disability. Rather than viewing disability solely as a person’s medical condition, this perspective argues that people are disabled by environments and systems that fail to accommodate different ways of moving, seeing, hearing, or interacting with the world.

In other words, the problem is not always the individual. Often, it is the design.

Redefining Adventure

Despite the challenges she faced, Bethany refused to surrender her connection to nature.
Through crowdfunding, charity support, and determination, she obtained equipment that allowed her to access outdoor spaces once again. A lightweight wheelchair transformed what was possible. An all-terrain wheelchair helped her return to mountain ridges she once thought she would never see again.

Her family also played a role in reimagining adventure. Her brother adapted a surfboard with handles so she could return to the sea and experience surfing in a new way.

These adaptations demonstrate something powerful: accessibility does not diminish adventure. It expands it.
Too often, society assumes that disability and exploration are incompatible. Yet disabled people continue to climb mountains, paddle rivers, explore coastlines, and engage with the natural world every day—when access is available.

Grief And Joy Can Coexist

One of the most compelling aspects of Bethany’s story is her willingness to talk openly about loss.
Losing mobility meant grieving a version of life she once knew. It meant facing inaccessible housing, extended hospital stays, and profound uncertainty about the future.
But alongside that grief, she speaks about joy.
Joy in watching birds visit a feeder. Joy in returning to a beloved landscape. Joy in writing, creating, and building community. Joy in discovering new ways to experience the world.
This perspective challenges the common narrative that disability is only about hardship. While barriers and discrimination are real, so too are resilience, creativity, and fulfillment.

Why Inclusive Nature Benefits Everyone

Making nature more accessible is not simply a disability issue. It benefits families with pushchairs, older adults, people recovering from injury, and anyone who may face temporary mobility limitations.
Inclusive trails, accessible viewing points, wider gates, clear signage, and adaptive outdoor equipment create opportunities for more people to enjoy the mental and physical benefits of spending time outdoors.

Nature belongs to everyone.

The idea that wilderness should only be accessible to those who can hike steep paths or climb over stiles overlooks countless people who value and need these spaces just as much.

Looking Forward

Today, Bethany lives in a small accessible home beside a meadow she is helping to rewild. She continues to write and advocate for a future where disabled people are not excluded from the natural world.

Her message is simple but powerful: there are landscapes that will welcome every body and every way of moving.

The challenge is not whether disabled people belong in nature.
The challenge is whether society is willing to remove the barriers that say otherwise.
If we truly believe that nature is for everyone, then accessibility must become part of every conversation about conservation, recreation, and public access. Because no one should be padlocked out of the places they love.

me and my diva princess crown a couple of weeks ago when I asked my PA to style my hair ready to go out for our activity I am one princess diva who uses a Wheelchair not all princesses have horses and cars some used mobility aids but can still wear crowns and I am definitely one of these princess Wheelchair divas/Wheelchair princess let’s normalise being a princess who uses a mobility aid because even though we are Wheelchair princesses/even by our own admission well I am certainly one Wheelchair isn’t all of our appearance neither is it all of our lives. We are just using this as a device to help us get around and be the divas and princesses that we are by our own admission

May 31, 2026

stage curtain decorations in their full glory clearly showcasing of the pure spark cleaners if only these were my curtains in my bedroom I would love this

May 30, 2026

me with my Caribbean club having a talk with the fire service one of our public service days a few weeks ago where the fire service came to talk to us about how they would rescue us with some of our needs and how they know if we’re Occupying a house that isn’t Assisted living when we call them using 999 for a house fire person’s reported I learnt a lot and as a comple needs GIRL It gives me peace of mind to know that they’re not just gonna let me burn to death but that they will actually rescue me and be able to evacuate me safely.

May 29, 2026

Mr crab man and me ,both making crab closs by making the shape with our hands for a photo opportunity courtesy of my PA

May 29, 2026

How One Family Turned Their Son’s Love Of Cooking Into A Community Cafe

May 29, 2026


In the heart of Shrewsbury, one small café is doing much more than serving coffee and homemade meals — it’s creating a welcoming space for families, children with special educational needs, and the wider community.

For Donna and Gregg Jones, opening the café wasn’t just a business decision. It was deeply personal.


Their 12-year-old son Harvey, who is autistic, has always loved cooking. From mixing ingredients in the kitchen to helping prepare food, cooking became a passion that gave him confidence and joy. Inspired by his enthusiasm, the family decided to create a café where Harvey could eventually work and thrive.

The café officially opened earlier this year after the couple renovated the premises to make it fully accessible, including installing wheelchair access and accessible toilet facilities.

Accessibility was a priority from the beginning because the family understands firsthand how important inclusive spaces can be.

Harvey has already started helping out with small shifts at the café, and the experience has been transformational. According to his mother, working in the café has encouraged him to become more social and interact with customers.

One recent moment stood out in particular — Harvey received a £10 tip from a customer after delivering food to their table, something that left him “absolutely made up.”

But the café’s mission goes beyond one family.
Donna and Gregg are parents to four children, including another son who uses a wheelchair.

Their experiences raising children with special educational needs opened their eyes to the lack of support and inclusive social spaces available for families like theirs.
Now, they hope their café can help fill that gap.

The couple wants the venue to become a hub for SEN families, offering opportunities for parents and children to connect through activities, meetups, and community events. They are also exploring ways to create inclusive employment opportunities, including plans to work with a care company to support an adult with Down’s Syndrome in gaining experience at the café.

What makes the story especially touching is how much of a family effort the café has become. Their younger daughter enjoys preparing tables at weekends, while their teenage daughter also helps out regularly. The business has evolved into a place where every family member contributes in their own way.

Donna says the world can sometimes be “ignorant” toward people with special educational needs, but seeing the positive impact the café has already had on Harvey gives her hope for what the future could look like — not just for her family, but for others too.

At a time when many businesses focus purely on profit, this small café in Shrewsbury is proving that compassion, accessibility, and community can be just as important as what’s on the menu.


Sometimes, the most meaningful businesses begin with a simple dream — in this case, a young boy who just loved to cook.

SpongeBob SquarePants the musical stage show selfies when I attended it of me in my yellow fashion in representation of my favourite cartoon when I was a child

May 28, 2026

‘I’ve Given Up Eating Hot Meals To Pay Energy Bills To Keep My Son Alive’

May 28, 2026

me and stage curtain decorations that I thought were really pretty and actually very metallic and shiny when I visited The SpongeBob SquarePants musical a couple of Thursdays ago

May 27, 2026

The Wheelie Good Walk Making Countryside Accessible

May 27, 2026

This is a video of me with the SpongeBob pirate in the background. It was an amazing night and I got to meet some amazing characters even if some of them were only from a distance like this one but I loved the effort that clearly went into all the costumes included included in

May 26, 2026

BA Refuses Teen Passenger With Tourettes

May 26, 2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1B6YiXmJCb/

Please click the link above for the full upsetting story.

Here I am all ready to go out for Grandad’s birthday a couple of Wednesdays ago ; wearing one of my new tops- courtesy of The Cancer Research charity shop, that I discovered while on my respite break. I love this outfit- I bought on my recent respite care break and am proud of this outfit of the day selfies

May 25, 2026

MR Krabs from Sponge Bob SquarePants – the musicle. A couple of Thursdays ago this was certainly a night shift with a difference! We decided to have some fun- with my foot problem/constant flare ups…. my chronic illness has been making me miserable . I have been ill for six months, so decided to have a night shift with a difference!

May 24, 2026

Amazon link of the day

May 23, 2026

A product which I am working on for my Watnot shop of a diamond art picture frame /find me on Whatnot the next post will give you the link to find me over on this app. I did this a couple of Wednesdays ago as a fun product Project in order to sell it on what not to my attendees to my auction over there. If you would like to buy this, please follow me on what Not and buy something from Wheelchair diva’s creations of art and jewelry. Thank you for all your continued support over here on Samedifference.

May 22, 2026

please watch the video of me explaining about my Amazon wish list and 2026 dreams of unboxing thank you from one disabled member of the Community to another

May 22, 2026

explain explaining all about my Amazon wish list and my 2026

This is me doing a stacking cups exercise at my tea and games afternoon to support my 2026 dreams.please buy from my Amazon wish list thank you.

May 22, 2026

‘We Must Prioritise Seaside Disability Access’

May 22, 2026

Busting myths of living with complex needs and disabilities

May 21, 2026

I’m

When Medically Fit Doesn’t Mean Free: The Hidden Crisis Trapping Disabled People In Hospital

May 21, 2026

    
For most people, being told you are medicall

y fit to leave hospital is good news. It means recovery, independence, and a return to ordinary life.
But for some disabled people in the UK, it marks the beginning of a different kind of ordeal.
One that can leave them trapped in hospital wards for months — not because they are too ill to go home, but because the support they need to live independently has been delayed, disputed, or withdrawn.

The recent BBC investigation into the experiences of Ravi Mehta and Lucinda Ritchie exposes a growing tension at the heart of the NHS: the clash between personalised care and financial pressure.

“My life has essentially stopped”

Ravi Mehta, a 36-year-old man living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, entered hospital in September 2025 for what should have been a routine ventilator adjustment.
He expected to be home within three days.
Eight months later, he is still there.

According to the BBC report, Mehta has been medically fit to leave hospital since shortly after his admission. The problem is not his health condition itself, but the breakdown of the support system that previously allowed him to live independently at home.

Before his hospital stay, Mehta had a personal health budget — NHS funding designed to let disabled people tailor support around their own lives and needs. That arrangement enabled him to work part-time, attend football matches, spend time with friends, and live with a degree of freedom many people take for granted.

Now, he says he feels as though he is “rotting away” on a hospital ward.

The emotional impact is devastating. Mehta describes feeling isolated, depressed, and increasingly physically weakened by prolonged institutional living. The longer he remains in hospital, the harder it becomes to maintain the independence he fought to build.

His fear is not simply about staying in hospital. It is about what comes next.


Independence versus institutional care

At the centre of Mehta’s dispute is a familiar issue in disability care: who decides what kind of life is considered “reasonable”?

Mehta says he is being pressured into accepting a care home placement rather than returning to his family home with 24-hour support. NHS South East London Integrated Care Board denies that cost is driving decisions, saying its actions are based on safety and long-term sustainability.

But campaigners argue this case reflects a broader trend.

As NHS systems struggle with staffing shortages and financial pressure, highly individualised support packages are increasingly scrutinised.

Complex home care arrangements can appear expensive on paper, even if they ultimately allow disabled people to live fuller, more autonomous lives.
The danger is that disabled people become viewed primarily through the lens of cost efficiency rather than human dignity.

Care homes and institutional settings may sometimes be appropriate choices. But for people who are mentally capable of directing their own lives, being forced into more restrictive environments can feel like the loss of adulthood itself.

This is not simply a debate about healthcare administration. It is a debate about autonomy, consent, and the right to shape your own future.

A wider pattern emerging

Mehta’s experience is not isolated.

The BBC also highlighted the case of Lucinda Ritchie, who has complex medical needs and previously lived independently in an adapted bungalow with round-the-clock nursing support.

After a hospital stay, she was moved to a nursing home against her wishes. Within two days, her condition deteriorated and she was returned to hospital.
Ritchie later described the experience as “akin to torture”.

Her case sparked wider concern, including discussion in the House of Lords, where fears were raised that disabled people are experiencing a “backward slide” away from independence and toward institutional dependency.

Former NHS England leader Frances Tippett warned that years of progress toward personalised care risk being undone.
That warning deserves attention.
For decades, disability rights campaigners fought to move society away from the assumption that disabled people belong in institutions. The principle was simple but transformative: disabled people should have the same right as anyone else to decide where they live, how they participate in society, and what kind of support enables them to thrive.

Personalised care budgets were supposed to advance that principle.

Now, many fear the system is quietly retreating from it.

The cost of keeping people “safe”

One of the most striking contradictions in these cases is financial.
Keeping someone in a hospital bed for months is extraordinarily expensive. It also places additional pressure on NHS capacity, especially when intensive care or specialist beds are occupied by patients who no longer require hospital treatment.
Yet despite this, disputes over community-based support continue to leave people stranded in wards.

Why?

Part of the answer may lie in how healthcare budgets are structured. Individual home-care packages are highly visible costs attached to specific patients. Hospital occupancy, meanwhile, becomes absorbed into broader operational spending.
This can create a distorted incentive system where long-term institutional care appears administratively easier, even when it may be less humane and ultimately more costly.
But beyond economics lies a deeper cultural issue: risk aversion.
Systems under pressure often default toward standardised solutions. Personalised care requires flexibility, trust, and collaboration with the individual receiving support. That takes time, expertise, and resources.
When those elements disappear, independence can quickly begin to look like an inconvenience.

What kind of society are we building?

The stories of Ravi Mehta and Lucinda Ritchie force uncomfortable questions into public view.
What does independence really mean if it can be withdrawn when budgets tighten?
Who gets to decide whether a disabled person’s preferred way of living is “too expensive”?
And how should society balance financial realities against the fundamental right to autonomy?
These are not niche issues affecting only a small number of people with complex disabilities. They speak to something much broader: how a society treats people when they are most vulnerable.
A healthcare system should not merely keep people alive. It should help them live.

For disabled people fighting to remain part of their communities, maintain relationships, pursue careers, and preserve dignity, that distinction matters enormously.
Because being medically fit to leave hospital should never mean being left with nowhere truly free to go.

A bag that I designed using one of my friends dogs as a model for my new print on demand store coming soon.

May 20, 2026

Adults With CP Requested For Research

May 20, 2026

Sharing from Facebook group Cerebral Palsy Adult Advice UK:

Research participant request

Hi, I’m Jess. I’m a nurse and a Master’s student at King’s College London. I am looking for adults with cerebral palsy to share their experiences of pain in hospital.


Who can take part

Adults aged 18 and over with cerebral palsy
People who have stayed on a hospital ward in the last 10 years

You only need to share what you feel comfortable with. Adjustments can be made so you can take part in a way that works for you.

What is the study about

This study looks at how adults with cerebral palsy experience pain in hospital. Your experiences can help improve pain management and hospital care.

What taking part involves

A one-to-one interview at a time that suits you
The interview will take place on Microsoft Teams
You can speak or use a communication aid
You can pause or stop at any time

Your voice matters and could help make hospital care better for others.

Interested or want to know more?
Email: Jessica.mulligan@kcl.ac.uk

footage of me doing the echrt sitting at the table in my hotel room

May 19, 2026

Canada’s Assisted Dying Debate Reignited As Mentally Ill Woman Asks For Right To Die

May 19, 2026


Canada is once again confronting one of the most emotionally charged ethical questions of modern healthcare: should people suffering solely from severe mental illness be allowed access to medically assisted dying?
At the centre of this national debate is 49-year-old Toronto resident Claire Brosseau, a former comedian and actor who says decades of treatment for bipolar disorder and PTSD have left her exhausted, isolated and without hope for recovery. After trying therapy, medication, psychiatric programs and even electroconvulsive treatment, Brosseau believes she has reached the end of what medicine can offer.
Now, she is asking the courts for the right to die.
Her story has reignited fierce public debate around Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) programme — a system already considered among the most expansive in the world.
A System Under Scrutiny
Canada legalized assisted dying in 2016 for terminally ill patients experiencing intolerable suffering. In 2021, eligibility expanded to include people whose deaths were not reasonably foreseeable, provided they had a “grievous and irremediable” medical condition.
The next proposed step — allowing MAID for mental illness alone — has proven far more divisive.
The federal government has delayed the expansion twice, citing concerns from psychiatrists, disability advocates and policymakers who argue the healthcare system is not ready. A parliamentary committee is now reviewing whether the country should proceed at all.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he will wait for the committee’s report before making a decision, emphasizing the need for an “informed position.”
For many Canadians, the debate cuts to the heart of two competing values:
personal autonomy and the right to end unbearable suffering
society’s obligation to protect vulnerable people
“I Want a Safe Death”
Brosseau’s argument is grounded in equality.
She believes mental suffering should be treated with the same seriousness as physical suffering. In interviews, she has argued that if a patient with terminal cancer can refuse treatment and qualify for MAID, then someone enduring relentless psychiatric pain should not automatically be excluded.
Her legal challenge claims Canada’s current restrictions discriminate against people with mental illness by implying their suffering is somehow less legitimate.
This perspective resonates with many supporters of MAID expansion, who argue that mental illnesses can, in some cases, become chronic, treatment-resistant and unbearable.
For patients like Brosseau, the debate is not theoretical. It is deeply personal.
Critics Warn of Dangerous Consequences
Opponents of expansion argue the risks are simply too high.
Psychiatrists and advocacy groups have raised several concerns:
1. Mental illness is difficult to predict
Unlike many physical diseases, psychiatric conditions can fluctuate dramatically over time. Patients who once believed recovery was impossible sometimes improve years later with new treatment approaches, changing life circumstances or social support.
Critics argue this uncertainty makes it nearly impossible to determine whether a condition is truly “irremediable.”
2. Suicidal ideation complicates consent
One of the biggest ethical concerns is distinguishing between a rational request for assisted death and suicidal thinking driven by illness itself.
Some experts fear MAID could blur the line between suicide prevention and state-assisted death.
3. Social failures may drive requests
Disability advocates have warned that poverty, loneliness, lack of housing and inadequate healthcare can push vulnerable people toward assisted dying.
Critics say expanding MAID without first improving mental health services and social supports risks turning assisted death into a substitute for proper care.
Lessons From Europe
Canada is not alone in wrestling with this issue.
Countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg already permit assisted dying for psychiatric suffering under strict conditions.
In the Netherlands, cases involving mental illness remain relatively rare, but they have steadily increased over time. Supporters argue this demonstrates compassionate access for a small group of people enduring unbearable suffering. Critics see the rise as evidence of a dangerous normalization process.
Even Dutch psychiatrists disagree sharply about what these numbers mean.
That international divide mirrors the conflict now unfolding in Canada.
A Debate Bigger Than One Person
Brosseau’s case has become symbolic of a broader cultural and moral struggle.
To supporters, denying MAID to psychiatric patients reinforces stigma around mental illness and strips people of bodily autonomy.
To opponents, expanding MAID could fundamentally alter how society responds to suffering, disability and suicide.
The tension is especially powerful because both sides frame their arguments around compassion.
One side asks:
How can we force someone to continue unbearable suffering?
The other asks:
How can we safely approve death when recovery may still be possible?
There are no easy answers.
What Happens Next?
The parliamentary committee reviewing MAID is expected to present recommendations later this year. Its findings could shape the future of assisted dying policy in Canada for decades.
Meanwhile, Brosseau continues her legal challenge while living largely confined to her home, struggling with panic attacks and overwhelming anxiety.
Regardless of where one stands on the issue, her story forces a difficult but necessary conversation about suffering, dignity, autonomy and the limits of medicine.
Canada now faces a defining question:
When someone says they cannot endure life any longer, what is society’s responsibility — to help them die, or to help them keep living?

I definitely agree with this sound people with chronic illnesses and especially me have a rare soul that feels more deeply then most people it’s definitely relatable is this sound? So I thought that some of you might relate because I definitely feel like oh experiences receiving medical care or from receiving past medical care and seeing friends also receive medical care makes us this way

May 18, 2026

Breaking Barriers Through The Arts- Suitcases And Skies

May 18, 2026


In a world where conversations around inclusion are becoming increasingly important, one production in Belfast is proving that the arts can do far more than entertain — they can transform lives.
This weekend, the legendary Ulster Hall will host Suitcases and Skies, a remarkable performance featuring 140 adults with additional needs. The show combines music, dance, drama, and visual art, but its true power lies in the confidence, connection, and community it has created behind the scenes.
For participants like 27-year-old Jamiee-Leigh Tweed, the experience has been life-changing. What began as a creative project evolved into a journey of personal growth. Jamiee-Leigh spoke proudly about learning new skills, making friends, and discovering confidence through singing and dancing.
That confidence is a recurring theme throughout the production. Fellow performer Adam Thompson described the joy of dancing with friends and contributing artwork for the stage backdrops. These contributions highlight something often overlooked in conversations about disability and inclusion: talent flourishes when people are given the opportunity and support to express themselves.
Directed by Ciara McGeown of CMAC Creative Arts and Wellbeing, the production brought together groups from across Belfast over six months of rehearsals. Coordinating such a large cast presented logistical challenges, but it also created a rare sense of unity.
The project demonstrates how creative spaces can become powerful social spaces. Participants who may once have felt isolated or hesitant found themselves collaborating, performing, and growing together. According to organisers, many cast members were initially too shy to participate in drama activities. Over time, they found their voices — literally and emotionally.
That transformation speaks to a broader truth about the arts. Inclusive creative programmes are not simply “activities”; they are platforms for empowerment. They help challenge outdated perceptions around disability while allowing individuals to showcase their abilities rather than their limitations.
The production is also part of the Belfast Local Community Action Plan supported by Peaceplus, reinforcing the idea that community-building and inclusion go hand in hand. Through shared artistic experiences, barriers between people can begin to disappear.
What makes Suitcases and Skies especially meaningful is that it shifts the narrative. Too often, disability stories are framed around obstacles or dependency. This production instead celebrates creativity, achievement, and collaboration. It reminds audiences that inclusion is not about charity — it is about opportunity, visibility, and recognition.
The choice of venue adds another layer of symbolism. The Ulster Hall has welcomed some of music’s biggest names over the decades, from Led Zeppelin to AC/DC. Now, its stage will belong to performers whose stories are just as important and inspiring.
At a time when many communities are searching for ways to become more inclusive, Suitcases and Skies offers a powerful example of what is possible when creativity, support, and opportunity come together.
And perhaps the most moving part of all is not the scale of the production or the prestige of the venue — it is hearing participants proudly say: “I’m really proud of myself.”
Sometimes, that is the greatest performance of all.

necklace designs that I came up with whilst-on respite please come to my auctions on what not to be able to purchase these with bigger beads and different shape beads as well

May 17, 2026

fan on TikTok a couple of weeks before I went away, including a minion dressing up costume.

May 16, 2026

come and set up my LED candles with me and turn them all on when preparing for my bath at Respite Care

May 15, 2026

Motability Withdraws Compulsory Black Boxes After Criticism From Drivers

May 15, 2026

out with all my friends for coffee a few weeks ago when I went on one of the daylight club trips before I went away

May 14, 2026

Boy, 9, Aims To Become Youngest Amputee To Complete Three Peaks Challenge

May 14, 2026

My afternoon as a auntie on wheels to twin girls who are now one years old helping bring up hopefully very inclusive human beings.

May 13, 2026

‘Having A Job Has Opened Up So Many Doorways’

May 13, 2026

awareness video about the importance of PAs when I was on my way to and a message to all social workers in the UK about the importance of these PAs/personal Respite Care originally for nine

May 12, 2026

Man With Disabilities Forced To Travel 23 Miles To Access Swimming Pool

May 12, 2026

join me to prepare my bath on day three of Respite Care Respite Care for me means extra independence extra accessibility and extra autonomy.

May 11, 2026

‘A Long Way To Go For A Movie’ – Blind Girl Travels 140 Miles For Cinema Trip

May 11, 2026

my new logo for my new Team Team Gem 💎 that they made for me while I was away. I love it and it represents me my personality whilst representing them part of their TikTok team/family and putting us in our own unique uniform badges you can join this team on TikTok where your individuality will be respected. Any access needs will be supported and you can find your truly inclusive place once you become part of them

May 10, 2026

One of my favourite selfies from the trip that I took for my Respit care

May 9, 2026

another well presented seafood starter by the hotel restaurant which I enjoyed dining in for nine days of all inclusive meals.

May 8, 2026

selfie of me on one of my Whatnot auction lives whilst on respite care you can interact in the comments like any other live platform it’s almost like the Internet version of homes under the hammer but for different products rather than houses.

May 7, 2026

me when a member of my team unleashed my hair from its Platz so that she could help me washing it this is my hair when it is left down to it natural devices do you like it? Not sure if I like it being left down to its natural devices as when it goes poopy after it dries I think I look like side show bob.Do you think I should wear it like this more often?

May 6, 2026

I made when focusing on product creation whilst on Respite Care please come to my auctions to buy necklaces like this one that are in the auction as I have several like this.

May 5, 2026

Wheelchair diva takes up the dance floor in her local music bar/nightclub. This is what the appropriate funding can help us do. Without it we have no access to our Community and are socially excluded and isolated; not by choice, but by just the lack of funding. They only care for funding personal care Assistants, also known as P.As, to provide time to shower and nothing else in our lives. Until crisis. The bare minimum is all that’s important to them not the fact that we are allowed other things in our life. This is why I am fundraising for my Care and support fund constantly, so I don’t have to wait for their permission to actually live a good quality of life where I have less flareups and less illness. People are with me to manage that illness if medical needs arise from it this is living a decent and acceptable quality of my life with FND and chronic pain including neuropathic pain

May 4, 2026

When you want to show your customers your jewellery but don’t have a jewellery stand so you put it on your nosseco bottles to show them what it looks like but then have to put the bottle is not included in the advertisement for the product. It was fun that I got to enjoy the funny moments of life like this because I wasn’t constantly worrying about the fact I am disabled and about how we can mitigate my disability while sticking to hours that don’t meet need it was nice to be me and enjoy the funny moments but this is just my kind of humour.

May 4, 2026

my outfit of the day a couple of Thursdays ago courtesy of cancer research charity shop while I was on respite, elegant charity shop fashion at its finest what do you guys think? Love the colour on me

May 4, 2026

relaxation time including a bubbly bath, electric candles and a lot of time focusing on self-care and relaxation this is the pamper life and the life of having time for self care .

May 3, 2026

immunology that I passed my diploma in a couple of weeks agobut didn’t have the chance to post it this is the life of a determined Wheelchair diva who is determined to have a career in young adult and palliative care specialising in palliative care for people with cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy.

May 2, 2026

The joy of breakfast in a queen size bed whilst on Respite Care this is the life of the Queen and her queen size bed.

May 1, 2026

Auction shots of me doing my Etch art of what Not product art to sell on my auctions whilst respite Care.

April 30, 2026

The new style of bracelets I have released on my Whatnot auctions that I designed and made with support from my PA whilst on the Respite Care break attend my whatnot auction lives to buy these.

April 29, 2026

respite Care restaurant life calamari edition you certainly wouldn’t be eating this in a respite care home and these are the things I like to eat as I have different taste like every other human and seafood is for the win with me. They wouldn’t offer that in a Respite Care home.

April 28, 2026

respite Care hairstyles courtesy of my personal care assistant Team also known as PA to do this I had to rely on fundraising and grants to Fund the support I need even though my team can meet my Respite Care support needs of going out with my hair actually don’t appropriately to face the Community and all my medical and social needs.

April 27, 2026

outfit of the day for an outing with Friday club to the pub for lunch on the last Friday of respite Care living in the appropriate Respite Care life and don’t want to be forced to live the inappropriate Respite Care life and our county is awful. I would like know how it Is around the country of the UK if you choose not to rely on fundraising and Respite respite Care grant that are provided or do they actually provide an appropriate Respite care life for you??

April 26, 2026

for Amazon unboxing future events in a previous post today I shared a poster about the Amazon and boxing event which I am planning here is instructions about how these events will work if you are from WordPress for example when you buy something off my Amazon wish list please put WordPress so that I know to add Post series about unboxing here on WordPress if you are on WordPress and TikTok or just Or just TikTok, please put TikTok live if you are on TikTok so that I have to unbox these on our live Platform if you are from just WordPress when it says leave a note to the person you are gifting Put WordPress so that I know not to unblock On my TikTok instead film it for my unboxing 2026 dreams post series over here but the ones that are on TikTok I know too do it on a live over there To say thank you Over on my channel on I will put the link in the Post also coming out today Thank you all for your continued support On my journey of being complex needs adult Who just wants her independence

April 25, 2026

Etch art which I made on Respite to sell in my what Not auction with one of my favourite words I would use to describe myself if asked

April 25, 2026