Auction shots of me doing my Etch art of what Not product art to sell on my auctions whilst respite Care.
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
How Does A Blind Person Train For A Marathon?
A blind Royal Navy veteran who is running the London Marathon this weekend has trained by running hundreds of laps around the same park.
Wayne Pope, 45, from Bridgwater, is having to do three laps and a length to cover a mile in his local park because it is the only place he can train without a guide.
Pope’s degenerative condition is known as retinitis pigmentosa, which worsens his vision over time. It means he cannot see what is coming towards him so he prefers to run familiar routes.
He said he was “buzzing” with excitement about getting the marathon under way on Sunday.
‘Could easily trip’
Pope said his biggest obstacles were dog walkers and electric scooters and having to be constantly vigilant could be exhausting.
“My brain has to work a lot harder so that uses more energy,” he said.
“I have to fight for those senses that others take for granted so it takes more energy and I have to concentrate harder.”
Pope served on board HMS Chatham and HMS Monmouth in his four-and-a-half years of service and he was diagnosed with his condition in 2022.
He started running in 2024, to train for the Worthing 10k in 2025, which he said completely changed his life.
Since then he said he had noticed how his view had become “smaller and more fatigued”.
He said: “I try not to think about what it’s doing and I just run on.”
However, he said he was “really looking forward” to running the iconic race in London with his guide.
“My guide is going to be looking out for runners going past me,” he said.
“I can sense those steps but I could easily trip.
“There’s going to be so much going on so my guide is going to be my second pair of eyes.”
Richard Phinbow, from Blind Veterans UK, said: “Running a marathon is a huge achievement for anyone and sight loss brings additional challenges to this.
“Wayne can’t just put on his trainers and go for a run like you or I could.
“He needs to carefully plan his training routes to make sure they provide a safe environment.
“Wayne is an inspiration to his fellow blind veterans and we are incredibly proud of his journey so far.”
‘I’m Forced To Change My Disabled Child On Toilet Floors’
A mother whose daughter was born with a severe brain injury has called for better changing facilities for disabled children in public venues.
Ella Dean, 31, often has to change four-year-old Ada on a dirty toilet floor because standard baby changing units only take a maximum load of 15kg (33lbs) – about the size and weight of a two-year-old.
The situation poses a “massive risk” to Ada, who was born with a rare Arachnoid cyst causing brain damage, blindness and seizures.
Dean, from York, said: “It’s degrading. There’s no dignity. I just think we could do such much better to make sure our children are included without worrying about basic human rights.”
Although Ada has impaired vision and is unable to talk, she is “fully aware” that she is being changed on the floor, Dean said.
She recently started a government petition, which currently has more than 5,500 signatures, calling for larger venues such as supermarkets and family attractions to provide accessible changing benches.
A changing bench gives people who use incontinence pads or who need help undressing to use the toilet a stable and hygienic platform to get changed on.
Some models enable the bench level to be adjusted, making it easier for a carer to assist with the transfer.
Dean said: “A lot of disabled toilets actually have adequate space to be able to provide this.
“But I think because there isn’t really anything in the law that states what is needed in these disabled toilets other than ‘reasonable adjustments’, businesses are not going to know what people with complex needs actually need.”
Dean said the lack of accessible changing facilities had affected the whole family.
She and partner Drew Millard, 31, also have an older daughter, aged nine, who does not have disabilities and wants to go on days out to family attractions.
“She wants to go to theme parks, she wants to go to water parks, she wants to do all these fun activities.
“And most of the time, we can’t. Or if we do go, I’ve got to pull her away from it early (if they lack changing facilities suitable for Ada).”
Jenny Miller, CEO of the Changing Places Consortium, which is a group of organisations and individuals campaigning for extra equipment to be installed in all big public spaces, said the petition shone a light on an issue that families experience “far too often”.
She added: “Across the UK, each nation’s building regulations now require Changing Places toilets in many new and significantly refurbished large public buildings.
“However, many existing buildings and community spaces remain excluded. Ella’s call is about dignity, safety, and the right for families to participate in everyday life.”
She also sounded a note of caution around introducing large changing benches into standard accessible toilets without the required space or lifting equipment, including a ceiling track hoist.
“It may give the impression that needs are being met, while in reality placing disabled people and carers in unsafe situations.
“There is also a danger that partial solutions become a ‘get‑out clause’ for venues, undermining the clear case for fully equipped Changing Places toilets and leaving families without a genuinely usable facility,” she said.
Shopping Hall Part 3
From Cancer Research Charity Shop Whilst in Respite Care
Terminally Ill Sailor Happy To Be Alive
A terminally ill sailor from East Sussex who completed a solo voyage around the British Isles has said she almost died over Christmas.
Jazz Turner, from Seaford, lives with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a debilitating genetic condition that affects connective tissue.
She became the first person living with disability to sail around the British Isles solo, completing the 2,070 mile (3,331km) trip in 27 days.
Looking back at her feat, Turner said there were times she thought about “giving up”.
But it was her determination to achieve Project Fear, which is her goal to raise money for the charity Sailability, that motivated her to carry on, she said.
She added her partner, Lottie, who was her friend at the time of her voyage, also supported her throughout the journey.
“She was on-call for 24/7 for the full 27 days. She sent me supportive messages and songs to get me through the hard times,” Turner said.
Following her return her health started to deteriorate, she said.
‘Something to live for’
“I almost died at Christmas, it was a very scary time but it brought Lottie and I together,” Turner said.
“That experience just highlighted life is too short, so it pushed us to get engaged earlier.”
She said there was not “any way of coping”, adding that at the time, she had a sense of “peace”.
“I didn’t have a lot of unfulfilled wishes left,” she said.
Turner said then her health improved and she was “glad to get a second lease of life”.
“I am still recovering, I am starting to do more and trying to get back to sailing,” she added.
She said their wedding, which was “still at the planning stages”, as well as Project Fear, “gave her something to live for”.
Turner said she would continue to sail and support Sailability, a charity that supports people living with disability to sail.
She added she raised nearly £58,000 in her British Isles challenge for the organisation, which funded new equipment and their first team to compete nationally and internationally.
“Sailing has made a huge difference to my life,” Turner said.
“But there’s still a lot of barriers for people with disability to access this sport, and we hope we can give them opportunities to pursue their dreams.”
Shopping Hall Part 2
From Cancer Research Charity Shop Whilst in Respite Care
Artist Alison Lapper Aims To Encourage Others
The Worthing-based painter, who was born with shortened legs and no arms, says being told she could not be an artist as a child fuelled her determination.
Lapper urges anyone to fulfil their potential, and said: “If you want to do something, put your mind to it. You can do anything.”
Famously she went on to feature as a work of art herself – posing for a sculpture for Trafalgar Square’s fourth plinth in 2005.
Now Alison Lapper is displaying her latest work alongside more than 100 paintings from 35 countries in a new exhibition.
It marks the 70th anniversary of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists an organisation which provides disabled artists with support.
Lapper said her mission was to break down social barriers and the exhibition is part of that.
She said: “We are professionals at what we do and we are good, it’s not ‘come and see us because you feel sorry for us’ and I think the quality in the work really shows that.”
Lapper said there were still many barriers to being a disabled artist.
“Just the physicality of even painting, moving around the studio,” she said.
“It’s been a help that I have got an electric wheelchair now, because I can actually move around my easel which means I can work a bit bigger.”
She also highlighted attitudes towards disabled artists, saying some people assume they do not create their work themselves.
“I think people think that other people paint them and we just come in and sign it,” she said.
Tom Yendell, president of the International Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists, said its 720 members from 71 countries are an inspirational group and maintain their founder’s ethos.
“Eric Stegmann our founder believed really strongly that just because you paint with your mouth and foot you shouldn’t have to rely on charity.
“For 70 years we have put self-help and not charity on all our mailing and we feel very strongly, the artists feel they are earning a living and that is really important to us.”
He said they are “like a big family” and the exhibition at the Royal Horticultural Hall in London provides the artists an opportunity to meet and celebrate their work.
Shopping Hall Part 1
From Cancer Research Charity Shop Whilst in Respite Care
Tortured For Wanting An Education- Until He Lost His Hand
At the age of 13, Ovey Friday was accused of witchcraft by his stepmotherand taken to a traditional shrine in the central Nigerian state of Nasarawa, where he was tortured.
By the time a neighbour alerted police and he was taken to hospital, the damage was irreversible.
“The herbalist brought charcoal, put something on my hands, tied my hands [along] with my leg, put pepper there inside the charcoal, then cover[ed] me with a bedsheet,” recalls Friday, now aged 19.
Doctors were forced to sedate him and operate on him. Friday woke up to find his left hand amputated, while the fingers on his right hand were either amputated or permanently scarred.
“I cried and I cried,” Friday tells the BBC.
In the years that followed, people stared at him on the streets or taunted him.
“I wish they knew me, like, when I was born,” he says.
Alongside his grief was a steely determination to keep going.
Yet his academic ambitions were nearly interrupted two years ago, when he tried to sit Nigeria’s university entrance examination, run by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (Jamb).
The system’s biometric fingerprint process could not accommodate someone like him, as it could not capture his scarred thumbprint or the prints of the other two scarred fingers.
Thankfully he got lucky as one of his guardians, along with disability rights campaigners, pushed officials to accept his toe print as verification of his ID.
Friday is now studying English and literary studies at a university in Nasarawa, a state which borders thecapital, Abuja.
He is the first in his family to enrol at university.
“Not everyone has someone to push for them,” he says. “Some people will just stop trying,” Friday says
Scarlett Eduoku, a radio presenter in the northern state of Kano, has faced similar obstacles and says most identity verification apps fail to scan her face. She lost her left eye when she was 18 months old.
This is a constant headache and also meant she could not upgrade her Sim card from 3G to 5G remotely.
Instead, she had to travel to the headquarters of her phone provider in Kano’s city centre.
More than 35 million Nigerians, roughly 15% of the population, are estimated to live with some form of disability, according to the executive secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Ayuba Burki-Gufwan.
Landmark legislation was passed by parliament in 2019, prohibiting discrimination against disabled people and guaranteeing them access to public services.
The legislation led to the establishment of the NCPWD to advocate for their rights, but change has been “more or less at snail’s speed”, Burki-Gufwan tells the BBC.
He remains optimistic, however, saying that “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step”.
Burki-Gufwan points to some gains – Jamb has dropped examination fees for people with disabilities and has created dedicated centres for students with different needs.
A university in Nasarawa, the Federal University of Lafia, has also waived up to 75% of all fees for students living with disabilities.
“All of a sudden, the university witnessed a huge upsurge [in enrolment],” Burki-Gufwan says, “because every person with a disability wanted to benefit.”
Lagos-based special educator Chukwuemeka Chimdiebere says Nigeria has to step up efforts to address the needs of disabled people.
“Inclusion is not a favour. It is a responsibility,” he tells the BBC.
Accessibility, he explains, goes far beyond things like building ramps.
It means sign-language interpreters in classrooms, learning materials for visually impaired students, trained teachers and digital platforms designed with different users in mind.
“Many persons with disabilities are not limited by their impairment. They are limited by systems that were never designed with them in mind,” Chimdiebere says.
Abiose Falade, 48, an author in the south-western city of Ibadan, uses a wheelchair and says that disability “is part of the circle of life”.
“It can happen to you earlier, it can happen to you later. Sometimes it can be permanent, sometimes temporary. But disability is part of the dynamics of how God created us.”
Falade did not see herself as being different from anyone else until she enrolled for school at the age of 10.
“I was introduced to the world and its intricacies,” she says. “Persons with disabilities were not exactly part of what the world wanted.”
She feels like this to this day: “There’s a list of places I can go and a list I can’t.
“When I want to go out, I take someone with me so that when people start staring, start pointing, I don’t notice. It’s easier than facing it alone.”
The physical environment compounds the challenge.
In many Nigerian cities, pavements are uneven or interrupted by features like the wide gaps in open drainage channels designed for maintenance access, while dropped kerbs are few and far between, making them difficult or impossible to navigate. In rural areas, the absence of pavements means wheelchair users must rely on roads that are often unpaved or unsafe.
Public buildings rarely have ramps and wheelchair users struggle to enter banks, hospitals or government offices without assistance.
Making things worse is the fact that Nigeria has to import every wheelchair, hearing aid and mobility device.
“If nine out of every 10 person with disabilities requires some form of assistive device and none are locally manufactured, then we have a huge challenge on our hands,” Burki-Gufwan says.
Advocates are calling for 1% of budgets to be reserved for persons with disabilities at every level of government. They say limited public funding and competing priorities affect how quickly accessibility measures can be implemented, even where there is willingness.
Expanding inclusive infrastructure and assistive technologies would require significant investment, though advocates says that stronger commitment and enforcement of existing laws are just as critical as funding.
Opeyemi Ademola, 28, a project manager in Lagos, has a disability which is not visible.
He lives with mixed hearing loss. So every meeting requires intense concentration, and noisy environments leave him mentally drained.
“People assume that if you can speak fluently, you don’t experience communication challenges,” he says.
“But accessibility is not about ability. It’s about support.”
Simple adjustments, like written summaries after meetings and captions on video calls, could make a big difference, he says.
Burki-Gufwan hopes that one day there will be “true accessibility” for people with disabilities.
“It means no-one is left behind – in employment, in education, in political participation,” he says.
Back on campus, Friday is settling down as a student.
Between lectures and assignments, he is learning new ways to write again, to live independently away from home and to make new friends.
He is showing Nigerians that obstacles and prejudice can be overcome, and people with disabilities can succeed like everyone else if given the opportunity.
Pudding Heaven While At Respite
Supported by my own team.
New Boat For Disabled Passengers To Be Officially Named
A new boat to provide free pleasure trips on Poole Harbour for people with disabilities is due to be named later.
Dolphin IV, is the latest vessel run by Dorset charity The Friends of Dolphin, and follows the decommissioning of its predecessor, Dolphin III, in September.
The charity raised £150,000 towards the specially-adapted 10.2 metre (33 ft) catamaran.
The vessel is set to be officially named by ocean sailor Pip Hare at a ceremony at Poole Quay Boat Haven.
Dolphin IV was built on the Isle of Wight by Cheetah Marine in Cowes.
It features an extra-wide side door, allowing easy access for wheelchairs.
Special fixing points are provided for the clamping of wheelchairs.
The boat’s skippers and crew are currently being trained before the summer season gets underway in May.
The charity was founded in 1982 and, since then, has provided free trips around the harbour for around 60,000 local people.
Dolphin III was its third boat and the charity said that after nearly 20 years of “stalwart service”, a decision was taken for its “replacement and renewal”.
“We are so pleased to have reached this milestone,” Cox said.
“Our fundraisers have been busy for many years to ensure we can carry on giving free trips to those with disabilities.
“All our crew enjoy sharing their love of Poole Harbour with our passengers and we’re looking forward to a busy season with our lovely new boat.”
The charity said all funds raised through donations and sales of souvenirs go towards the annual running costs.
During the ceremony at 13:30 BST, Dolpin IV will be dedicated by the Reverend Lucy Holt, rector of St James Church, and named by Pip Hare, before a reception at the RNLI College.
Wheelchair User’s Struggles To Access NHS Dentists
The NHS needs to do more to make it clear whether dental surgeries are accessible to disabled people, according to one woman who uses a wheelchair.
The health service’s website, which allows people to search for dentists nearby, does not consistently provide details of how accessible they are, Sarah Rennie, from Shrewsbury, said.
Finding an appropriate dental practice was “time-consuming,” Rennie said, adding that “this is a very common experience for disabled people”.
A spokesperson for NHS England said “we know there is far more to do to ensure everyone gets easy access to NHS dental services,” adding that they “are working alongside government to introduce further reforms.”
Rennie, 40, said she tried to find a dentist in Shropshire after moving to the county, using the NHS online tool to find a local surgery.
But she found that there “was no way of filtering to find out if they were wheelchair accessible,” and upon inspection “many of them were completely silent on whether they were step free”.
Conducting her own research to track down a practice that was both accessible and accepting of NHS patients, Rennie said she found that “of all the ones listed [on the NHS website], only one in five provided access information on their website”.
She called for the health service to make it easier for people with disabilities to find appropriate dental care which catered to their individual access needs.
“Everything should have transparent and accurate information, but they don’t”, Rennie said.
In her hunt for a suitable dentist, she found that “some of the information [on the NHS website] contradicted what was on the [practice] websites”.
For example, she said, one dental surgery proclaimed to be “entirely step free” on the NHS site – but after getting in touch directly, Rennie found their treatment room was up a flight of stairs.
“The information is inaccurate and there’s an issue for the practices about whether they are fulfilling their reasonable adjustments duty,” she said.
The “frustration” Rennie and other people faced in trying to find dental care “can really put you off going”.
She added: “Then we ask ourselves – why is there social and health inequality?”
“This is the kind of reason then, that people don’t go for appointments, they don’t go for check-ups, they don’t follow up on things, and then they end up with serious health problems.
“I’m happy to wait in the queue with everybody else for an NHS practice. But when my turn comes in the queue I’ve got to hang around for an accessible slot.
“I don’t think that’s right.”
A spokesperson for NHS England in the Midlands said their service had “delivered hundreds of thousands more dental appointments compared to last year, but we know there is far more to do to ensure everyone gets easy access to NHS dental services.”
They added that they were “working alongside government to introduce further reforms in the coming months.”
In a statement, NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin said they were “sorry to hear about Sarah’s experience and recognise how upsetting this must have been”.
“Individual dental practices are responsible for providing and communicating information about their accessibility and facilities,” they added.
Ready To Forget The World & Have Some Fun At Respite
Deaf Umrah
Islamic religious practice is deeply entwined with sound, from the call to prayer to memorizing the Quran: learning to recite the holy text is very much an oral tradition relying on listening and repetition. All this poses a unique challenge for deaf Muslims who wish to engage fully with their faith.
In November 2025, a group of pilgrims from the United Kingdom travelled to Mecca for Umrah, supported throughout in British Sign Language. Led by Al Isharah, a charity focused on helping deaf Muslims access Islam fully, they take part in the pilgrimage in places where much of what is said and done is communicated through sound.
Through reflections from presenter Zainam Bostan and pilgrims including Jani and Zahid, the programme explores faith, belonging and accessibility, and asks what changes when religious teaching is explained visually, not only heard. The programme follows them through key moments, from the first sight of the Kaaba to the press of the crowds during Tawaf.
Neon necklaces that I made
Made this cute necklace for the store and auction it so on Whatnot. To purchase one of these either by auction (if am live on there) or buy it now storefront, please download Watnot today. Buy one of these if you would like it! Thank you I appreciate and feel accomplished with every purchase
Cruel People Ask Why My Husband’s With Me
‘Dancing Is About What You Are And What You Can Do’
A man with Down’s syndrome said landing his dream job in the performing arts has taught him about “finding yourself as a human and an artist”.
James, 23, recently joined York Dance Space as an assistant, teaching adult and toddler classes alongside the school’s co-founder Drew Wintie-Hawkins.
The opportunity arose through a partnership with Tang Hall SMART, which supports young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to gain qualifications in music, sport and the arts.
James, from York, grew up with a love of performing, and described his new job as “a great honour” because “dancing is about what you are and what you can do”.
He said: “It’s about the things you learn about yourself, the world, the people and what you can do to help them.”
James’ mum Sue described her son as a “born entertainer” who used to practice dancing in his bedroom from a very young age.
“James has found something really quite special for him, which is being able to express himself through dance,” she said.
“It’s opened up his horizons – he shines when he’s on his stage”.
James first attended a summer camp run by Tang Hall SMART as a teenager, later joining the charity’s programme through his Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.
Through this, he gained a Level 3 RSL vocational qualification, alongside performing at Northern Ballet in Leeds, and working at York Dance Festival.
Phyllis Hoyle, lead drama and dance tutor, said through qualifications, students not only tapped into their creativity but gained transferable workplace skills.
“We want them to get out into the world with as many skills as possible,” she explained.
“To see some of them going on and doing really great things like James is doing, it’s amazing”.
James’ natural ability to “make people feel like the best person in the world” made the role a perfect fit, she added, as well as having an accommodating workplace.
“It’s finding the right people within the performing arts world,” she said.
“We’re very lucky we’ve managed to pair James up with somebody who is happy to work at a different pace”.
Husband and wife dancing duo Drew and Hannah Wintie-Hawkins set up York Dance Space in 2016, and have worked with Tang Hall SMART students across various projects over the years.
For Drew, the partnership embodies the ethos that “creativity is for everyone”.
“For us as an organisation, to have people in leadership roles who are representative of all different backgrounds is absolutely needed,” he said.
Drew first met James through Everybody Dance Festival, an inclusive, annual event hosted at York Theatre Royal, where he quickly learnt about his passion for dance.
“He’s just so great, he throws himself into anything really,” he added.
“Because we’ve built up a relationship, he’s really comfortable and goes with everything that’s happening”.
‘Dancing is fun’
James is currently covering two groups sessions at the dance school as part of a mentorship, with the aim of the position becoming a permanent, paid role.
There also may be scope for him to develop his own professional dance work, supported by York Dance Space.
From a parent’s point of view, Sue said her dream was that “through his own hard work”, the job can be her son’s next step, after his EHC plan finishes later this year.
“I’m really hoping James is going to be so lucky and get a job that he’ll really love,” she added.
For James, he said he’s thoroughly enjoying his job so far, with his favourite part being “the things you learn about yourself”.
“Drew is one of the best dance teachers and it’s been such a great honour to actually be with him,” he said.
“Dancing is so fun, it’s about what you are and what you can do”.
Ragdoll cat cuteness
cute little moments that I managed to capture on photo and video of my cute ragdoll cats a couple of weeks ago.
An actor with motor neurone disease (MND) who won one of the UK’s biggest drama awards for a “legendary” performance as Richard III in a wheelchair has died aged 35.
Michael Campbell, also known as Michael Patrick, was diagnosed with the terminal illness in February 2023 and died on Tuesday at NI Hospice.
Posting on social media, his wife Naomi said his family was broken-hearted.
“He lived a life as full as any human can live,” she said.
Naomi’s post went on to say that “Mick was an inspiration to everyone who was privileged enough to come into contact with him, not just in the past few years during his illness but in every day of his life”.
“Joy, abundance of spirit, infectious laughter. A titan of a ginger haired man.”
Lyric Theatre Belfast, the venue where he performed the leading role in Shakespeare’s Richard III, said it was devastated to learn of his death.
In a statement Lyric’s executive producer Jimmy Fay paid tribute to Campbell, saying: “These islands have lost a great artist, and the sky is brighter tonight with his star.”
He said Campbell, who was from Belfast, had been part of the Lyric family for many years.
“Mick showed great strength and dignity in light of his diagnosis MND,” Fay said.
“He remained resilient and focused, creating dynamic work throughout his struggles.
“We at the Lyric pay tribute to his remarkable talent and send our deepest condolences to his wife Naomi, his mother and sisters, and all his friends, family and colleagues at this sad time.
Belfast’s the MAC theatre said everyone who encountered Campbell’s work would “carry a piece of him with them”.
“Michael was an incredible actor, writer, creator and friend to all of those lucky enough to know him.
“He lit up stages with his poignant storytelling where he laid bare his life experience.
“Exploring themes of death, grief and his more recent motor neurone disease diagnosis with bravery, and a fierce comic side.”
In January 2025 Campbell’s work creating and starring in his adaptation of The Tragedy of Richard III was recognised at a prestigious ceremony.
He received a standing ovation from the crowd after he won the Judges’ award at The Stage Awards, which celebrate theatre across the UK, at London’s Royal Opera House.
At the time he told BBC News NI that he and his writing partner Oisín Kearney had adapted Shakespeare’s play with his own illness in mind.
“In Shakespeare’s version Richard III is deformed from birth,” he said.
“They found his skeleton in a car park and it looked like he had scoliosis.”
“We changed it so that at the start of the play Richard gets news that he’s got a terminal illness, something like MND that’s going to get worse,” he said.
In a written tribute, Kearney described Campbell as “an actor of epic proportions”.
“He was able to make an audience laugh or cry in an instant. As a writer, he could express the knife-edge of comedy and tragedy that is human experience.”
Kearney said Campbell dealt with his diagnosis bravely and “showed us how we can do better when it comes to disabilities”.
He added: “I am so proud to call him my creative partner and even prouder to say he was my friend.”
What is MND?
MND is a condition that affects the nerves found in the brain and spinal cord, which tell your muscles what to do.
It causes weakness that gets worse over time and can significantly shorten life expectancy.
It is a relatively rare condition which is most common in people over 50, but adults of any age can be affected.
There is currently no cure, but treatment can help manage the symptoms.
It was while acting in a show at the Dublin Fringe Festival three years ago that Campbell, who has also appeared in award-winning police drama Blue Lights, started experiencing symptoms.
Less than a year after his diagnosis he could not stand up and had to use a wheelchair.
In his most recent post on social media, external in February, Campbell said his neurologist had given him about one year left to live and he had decided not to go ahead with a tracheostomy – an artificial airway fitted to the throat to help his breathing – so he could spend that time out of a hospital.
In the post he thanked the many people who had helped him with his MND and said he was overwhelmed by their generosity.
Campbell previously told BBC News NI that writing about his condition could be hard but also “cathartic”.
“You really have to tap in to what you’re feeling and what you’re going through, which is difficult, but at the same time it allows you to find the funny side of things,” he said.
“It does help with my own head writing about it.”
In its statement Lyric said Campbell’s work as a writer and actor had made a huge impact.
“Michael Patrick’s portrayal of Richard III in a now legendary production was one of the greatest performances ever on the Lyric stage,” Fay said.
“In its eloquence, wit and haunting bravery, he was inspirational.”
Blind Golfer Heads To US Competition
A golfer who lost most of his sight in three days will be among the sport’s top stars competing in the US state of Georgia this month after finding comfort in his lifelong passion.
Paul Innocent will fly to Columbus on Thursday to take part in the US Blind Golf Championships, external after winning a title in the British Blind Open in Scotland last summer.
The 43-year-old, a member of Sheringham Golf Club in Norfolk, will play at the international competition this week at the same time US Masters takes place elsewhere in the state.
Innocent, who will be assisted by his guide and fellow club member Rob, said: “We are going out there to compete and to do our best.”
He said he had “reasonable hopes” at doing well in the US after being heartened by his performance at Cardrona in the Scottish Borders.
Despite only playing blind golf for six months, Innocent finished as a runner-up in the whole tournament, after scooping a category title.
The golfer, who is registered blind having lost his entire vision in one eye and 70% in the other, said he uses his guide to put a coloured stick where the ball is for him to aim at.
Innocent was diagnosed with the rare mitochondrial disease Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy in 2023 and described how golf had provided him with a sanctuary.
“I had perfect vision, and never wore glasses or anything, and then I ended up contracting a disease in my nervous system,” he said.
“Within the next year or two, I could have a high possibility of being completely blind.
“It was difficult because I was at a practical job. I was a self-employed electrician and basically within a space of three days I’d had to stop work, I was registered blind and I had my driving licence taken off me and I didn’t know where to turn.”
Innocent said he had enjoyed playing golf all his life and his wife contacted the England & Wales Blind Golf charity about opportunities.
The pair, who had lived in Nottingham, relocated to north Norfolk in 2024 after they sold their electrical contractors and Innocent soon joined the coastal club at Sheringham.
“I’m going from strength to strength with the help of Rob – what he’s done for my game, with the lack of my vision, is help compensate for it,” said Innocent.
While he described his situation as “heart-breaking”, he said he had been thankful for the support shown by his wife and family, while some members of Sheringham Golf Club had helped pay for his flights to the tournament and the club itself had given him clothing.
“Until you get that knock on the door – as it were – you don’t realise how hard things can be, but they’re only as hard as you make them,” he said.
“There is hope out there and if someone could watch me playing golf and think ‘I could do that’ and it helps other people, then that’s what we’ve got to look forward to.”
Motability drivers under the age of 30 say they are “horrified” by rule changes that mean their vehicles will be fitted with compulsory black boxes.
They will monitor driving habits, such as speed and braking, and will provide a weekly rating.
More than four red ratings over 12 months could see drivers removed from the Motability scheme, which allows eligible disabled people to lease a new car using part of their benefit payments.
Critics say the UK-wide change will affect disabled people’s freedom and ability to work, but Motability says it is about “keeping prices down and keeping people safe”. It says it has removed 300 drivers since a pilot scheme began in Northern Ireland in September.
‘Disabled people need to have the choice’
Actor Keron Day, 25, who starred in the hit Netflix show Sex Education, has cerebral palsy and uses a specially adapted wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV). The car has a steering aid and indicators on the floor, as well as buttons for lights, wipers, gears and the handbrake.
Day says the car is an “amazing piece of technology”, but feels angry at having to have a black box fitted and his driving assessed when his access requirements mean he “can’t simply jump into another vehicle” or use public transport easily.
“Disabled people need to have the choice, just like everybody else,” he says.
“If I passed [my driving test] aged 17, I would have 13 years of a mandatory black box. None of my non-disabled peers would have that.
“We all have to pass the exact same driving tests that everybody else does, so it’s not a point about our safety.”
Black box car insurance has become a popular option for young drivers, who are often deemed to be more high-risk, as it offers lower insurance premiums.
Motability enables disabled people who have issues getting around to exchange their higher-rate mobility allowance for a new car. Although “premium” vehicles such as BMWs and Mercedes were removed from the scheme at the end of last year.
During last year’s Budget, the government removed its tax break on insurance and it must now cover 12% on each insurance premium. It must also now pay VAT on some vehicles meaning the scheme will need to pay out an additional £300m from 1 July.
Nigel Fletcher, chief executive of the Motability Foundation, said that would be the equivalent of a price rise of £1,100 for every driver on the scheme.
“A lot of disabled people won’t be able to afford that, so we’re now having to try and work out how can we make changes to the scheme that protects pricing as much as we possibly can,” said Fletcher.
He added that black box was about “keeping prices down and keeping people safe” and its data had also found younger drivers to be the highest risk.
He said, of the 300 drivers removed from the scheme, one had driven 117mph in a 30mph zone.
“This a serious safety issue, not just for that individual, but everyone else in that community.
“They will get lots of warnings before they get taken off the scheme. And then if they are taken off the scheme, we will need to start looking at what our policies are around allowing them back onto the scheme in the future.”
Motability has also decided that every vehicle with a named driver aged 30 or under will have the device fitted – which could include family, friends and personal assistants (PAs) who drive the vehicle.
“As a disabled person, my independence could be taken away as a result of a non-disabled person’s actions,” Day says.
“I’m experienced enough with PAs to know that not all PAs are amazing drivers. And that’s just a reality of life. I find the consequences horrifying.”
Motability will start to bring in the changes on new leases from 13 April for the first 15% of its 930,000 customer base. Then it will “review and analyse” whether to introduce it across the board.
‘There is a difference whenever I drive’
Eva Hanna, 21, has a car with hand controls and says she is happy to have a black box, but feels the amber and red reports she has received for jerky driving is a direct result of her adaptations and thinks the scheme needs to be looked at.
“The braking and acceleration can be a bit more sensitive, because obviously it’s not the same as using your feet,” she says.
“You have to pull on the brake a little, or you have to pull on the accelerator to get it going. So I’ve found that during my journey I might have braked too hard or accelerated too harshly.”
She says she has received amber ratings when commuting to Belfast for work and a red score when she had to brake sharply on a country road.
In comparison, when her parents have driven the vehicle manually, they received green scores.
“I know I’m not a dangerous driver, but there is a difference whenever I drive. I’ll always get knocked down a bit on the smoothness,” she says.
“I worry because the scheme is so great. For people to be kicked off just because of small things that aren’t their fault, it would be such a big let-down to a lot of disabled people.”
Fletcher says this was not something Motability was aware of, but it would look into and would continue to gather information over the coming months.
As well as the black box, Motability has introduced recommendations that drivers take a break every hour and aim not to do more than six journeys a day. If that is exceeded, the driver will receive a red score, but it will not impact their lease.
It has also halved the number of miles drivers can make each year before they pay an excess.
Drivers will now be able to drive 10,000 miles before paying 25p on any miles travelled over that limit. Previously, the mileage was 20,000 with an excess of 5p a mile.
Motability says its average drives clock up 7,500 miles a year and Scotland’s version of the scheme was still considering the cap.
But for Day, the recommendations are frustrating and impede his independence.
“I live in rural Cornwall, everything is an hour away,” he says.
“If I wanted to go to London, which is where the majority of my work is, and I had to stop every hour, I couldn’t get to work. It’s just madness.”
Even so, he is excited for the “freedom and access to the world” his new vehicle on the scheme will give him.
“I wouldn’t be able to go to work without mine,” he says. “I wouldn’t be able to have a social life.”
A government spokesperson said Motability was able to implement the new black box changes as it is an “independent scheme”.
They added that customers would “still be able to lease a car with just their qualifying disability benefit, and there will still be cars available through the scheme which require no advance payment”, following the changes announced in the Budget.
Action shot of me decorating my bookmark and designing it how I want it with diamantés to represent the diva that I am
‘I Adore Her Now’: Mother Learns To Cope With Child’s Autism In A Country With Little Help
Martha Ongwane looks adoringly at her bouncy, giggling four-year-old, unable to believe that just two years ago she had wanted to kill her.
Non-verbal, biting and unable to sit still, her daughter Rachael, who had been diagnosed with autism, had slowly overwhelmed Martha leaving her desperate and depressed.
She was shunned by her neighbours in the east African country of Malawi, who blamed her for what Rachael was doing. Martha was told to lock her little girl inside.
There was no sympathy, and little understanding of autism and how it should be treated.
Martha describes how she had poured poison into a cup, intending Rachael to drink it.
“I told myself it would be better if she died because that would mean she would rest and that would be the end of our problems.
“[But] my heart didn’t let me. I changed my mind and cried so much,” she says softly, looking down at her hands.
Two years on, it is hard to imagine that scene as mother and daughter share a loving domestic moment.
Rachael clambers onto her mother’s lap as they sit on the floor of their home in Mzuzu, northern Malawi.
The girl laughs, hugging Martha’s face, as the 33-year-old cuts vegetables to serve with nsima, a thick porridge made from maize, for lunch.
The transformation has been incredible and is largely down to the family getting access to expert care.
On one of their many visits to Mzuzu Central Hospital, Rachael was referred to Saint John of God, an organisation that helps disabled children.
Funded mainly by the Catholic Church, it not only provides community-based mental health services, but it has a school for children with special educational needs. It became a lifeline for the family.
Martha and her husband also received counselling.
Once isolated and stigmatised, the couple found a support network and educators who were able to deal with Rachael’s issues.
But most here are not so lucky.
According to statistics from the World Health Organization, Rachael is one of more than 60 million people worldwide who are on the autistic spectrum.
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disability – meaning it affects how the brain develops – and it influences how people communicate, relate to others and process the world around them.
It exists on a spectrum, affecting individuals in different ways and to varying degrees.
Many autistic people can show certain characteristics, including intense focus, strong memory and innovative thinking.
But in countries where spending on mental health and behavioural disorders is not a priority, often only those with extreme behavioural differences or challenges are noticed, and with that comes stigma and discrimination.
In Malawi, for example, there are just two developmental paediatricians for the population of over 22 million people, and three consultant psychiatrists.
The word autism does not exist in the country’s most commonly spoken language, Chichewa. It is often translated as “ozelezeka” meaning someone who is mentally challenged, or “ofuntha” meaning someone who is troublesome.
There are also a whole host of misunderstandings of autism.
Saint John of God is trying to change perceptions.
In a community centre not far from Martha’s home, religious elders, both Christian and Muslim, gather together on green plastic chairs. They are here for an autism awareness session run by the organisation.
Many here believe witchcraft is a root cause of autism and the discussion begins with the participants laying out what they think.
A vicar, with a large gold cross around his neck, says everyone knows that people can bewitch each other. Another man stands up claiming magic can be used against pregnant women and that is why children have autism.
Christopher Mhone from Saint John of God acknowledges there is little understanding of autism but uses these sessions to nudge the participants into a different way of viewing autism, showing that practical interventions can help deal with the symptoms.
Reflecting on Martha and Rachael’s case he says that “for a woman to come to a point where she feels like she should kill her child – as a nation we have failed her. Her burden has become so impossible to bear that she does not have the emotional and psychological capacity to cope.”
Mhone says most autism support is provided by the non-governmental or charity sector.
Life on the Spectrum
Africa Eye investigates the hidden struggles and reality of living with autism in Malawi
While basic mental health services such as assessment and referral are accessible at district and primary care levels, there is only one government-run psychiatric referral facility in the whole country – Zomba Central Hospital.
“Autism is not even mentioned in the Disability Act. For me, that tells you about the issue of visibility of the problem. If you don’t know you have this problem, there’s no way you can begin to sort it out,” Mhone says.
The BBC contacted Health Minister Madalitso Baloyi to request an interview about national provision for children with autism but did not receive a response.
Access to quality healthcare is limited in Malawi, and many turn to traditional healers and witch doctors as the first port of call for any medical or mental health problem.
This was the route that Natasha Lusinje took for her five-year-old son, Shalom.
Three-hundred kilometres (186 miles) south of Mzuzu, in a barren compound outside the capital, Lilongwe, the young boy, who is non-verbal and cannot feed himself, sits playing alone.
Natasha is alert, anxious.
“There are so many people who have told me this child was bewitched. People magically tied his tongue so he could not speak,” she says.
Nearly three-quarters of people in Malawi believe in witchcraft and Natasha is one of them.
For her, it offers both a reason for her son’s behaviour and a solution.
She has decided to take Shalom to a traditional healer in search of a cure. BBC Africa Eye is given rare access to their experience.
They travel by bus to the healer’s home on the outskirts of the capital.
Wearing a long white dress, the healer, Maness Sanjelekani, faces the wall and begins chanting: “We give praise to you God this evening, as you have sent your lamb seeking for healing here. Because he doesn’t have a soul, because evil people from the dark did this to him.”
She has no medical qualifications but the healer says in her view there are two types of autism – the one from God, which she cannot change, and the one from Satan which she can heal.
She says Shalom has the latter.
This is completely unfounded both medically and scientifically.
Natasha handed over 26,500 kwacha ($15; £11.50) and over the course of three weeks, Shalom is bathed with herbs and forced to drink herbal remedies daily, but he remains non-verbal. Natasha is also instructed to use a “treatment” that involves putting small cuts on Shalom’s skin.
When confronted about this, Sanjelekani denied any form of child abuse.
“I can only say I am trying to save his life. I am trying my best to save him,” she says.
When questioned about claims of two types of autism, accused of running a scam, and asked to admit she is lying, she says: “Let me just accept I have failed this child.”
Natasha eventually took Shalom home but still clings to her faith that God will help her find a cure. For her, this is still the only hope.
Back in Mzuzu, Martha helps Rachael get dressed in her blue-and-white chequered school uniform. She has been going to a Saint John of God school for a year now.
In the Mzuzu facility, the organisation has the capacity to help more than 600 children a year.
Rachael is learning to speak and when her name is called in class, she jumps up, grabs her friend’s hand and encourages her to stand and sing with her.
In the well-maintained gardens, young adults – some with Down’s syndrome, others with cerebral palsy, and autism – carefully tend their crops.
“I want us to conceptualise disability in a positive way,” says Mhone.
“Disability is ability, in a different way. And if society begins to understand that, then there will be less stigmatisation, and they will be looking at the positive things that can come out of those with disabilities.”
Martha can hardly believe the change in her daughter and in their lives.
She has shared her story in the hope that it will help other mothers and wishes she had got help sooner.
“When I look at her, I feel so guilty. Every day I think about the fact that my daughter could have been dead.
“I adore her now.”
 Happy Easter to those who celebrate it and hope you get an overload of chocolate eggs this year for Easter 2026.
Happy Easter bank holiday to all I hope you enjoy my content and have enjoyed it so far this year. Please let me know if there’s anything more of my life you would like to see such as stay in the lives or more.
This is the videomy dance class. Here I am learning about music, movement and travelling when dancing.
When Gracie McGonigal was starting out in her acting career, she was told she would likely struggle to find roles because of her disability.
Now she’s in the new series of Bridgerton, one of the biggest TV shows on Netflix.
McGonigal was born with a limb difference – her arm stops just below her elbow joint – but she said she “hadn’t realised” she had a disability at all until she began acting professionally.
“I know that sounds crazy because I literally don’t have one of my hands, but when I started working in theatre, other people see it,” she told the BBC Access All podcast.
McGonigal knew she wanted to pursue acting in secondary school, and attended the Brit School at sixth form, a performing and creative arts institution.
From there, she attended Mountview Academy during the pandemic, before auditioning to drama schools for a university degree.
She said it was these auditions which occasionally cast doubt on her potential to find future roles because of her disability.
“I was getting quite unhelpful chat about casting and whether I would be a good option to take on as a student with the knowledge that I might not have any work in the future, because there might not be a role for me,” she said.
But McGonigal said those comments only spurred her on.
“You have to forge your own path – how are they going to have cast me already?” she said.
“They don’t know I exist yet. The universe doesn’t know I’m going to be an actor one day.”
She decided to take a step back from performing arts institutions and sought advice from friends who also had a limb difference and worked in the industry.
She had worn a prosthetic hand during auditions as she thought she would then be judged for her acting abilities and not her disability, but one of her friends encouraged her to stop wearing a prosthetic and “own” it instead.
“I think at the end of the day, you should do things that you want to do. If you feel really comfy wearing a prosthetic, you do that because that feels like the most authentic version of yourself,” McGonigal said.
“But, for me, it didn’t feel like the most authentic version of myself at that time.
“I was just trying to please other people, instead of doing things that made me feel strong and powerful.”
McGonigal has since been cast in numerous roles in the West End and landed the role as Hazel in season four of the hit Netflix period drama Bridgerton.
No-one with a limb difference has been on the show before, with Gracie saying it has become more than just an acting job.
“I’ve had to have a conversation with myself and realise, ‘Oh, no, so the impact of me doing things is greater than me just being happy that I’ve booked a job,'” she said.
She described joining the Bridgerton cast as both “nerve-wracking” and “the best” experience.
She said it was daunting at first, as many actors in the cast already knew each other from previous seasons, but that she soon felt “part of the family”.
“They were so gracious and wonderful and accepted me with open arms, it was really lovely to get to know everybody,” she said.
McGonigal’s character Hazel is a maid in the show, which can involve carrying “giant silver trays and baskets of sweet treats”.
“I was making sure that I carried appropriately sized things that I could not drop in scenes, being mindful of my arm so that I didn’t ruin any takes by accident,” she said.
McGonigal described Hazel’s character as very “fun to play”, adding: “She’s witty, she’s bubbly, she’s a bit of an airhead but then also very wise.”
She said her limb difference was mentioned only briefly on the show between characters Benedict and his mother Violet.
As Hazel is a maid, Benedict questions if Violet is OK with Hazel having a limb difference, to which Violet replies that it is not a problem if she can do the work.
“It was mentioned in a very small thing, genuinely blink and you’ll miss it, which was actually nice,” Gracie said.
She said it felt like a gesture from the writers to ensure the show was “acknowledging that she has a disability”.
On set McGonigal said her disability was not made a “thing”, and her costumes were tailored to suit her limb difference.
“My arm is a part of me, but it’s an extension of me,” she said.
“It’s not my most exciting feature, ideally. It’s not all of who you are.”
Since season four’s release, McGonigal said the fan response had been “unbelievable”.
“There is so much content being made online of people either with limb differences or just disabled in general, they have loved it so much, it’s been amazing.”
She feels herself and others are still “paving the way” for representation in the acting industry for people with disabilities.
“Disability is not a dirty word,” she said.
“I’m a very happy disabled person who’s thriving and doing well and acting.”
She said disabled people who want to get into acting shouldn’t be deterred by the idea that disabled actors would be “fighting for the same jobs”.
“I think when we’re sitting far back sometimes it’s hard to see the potential, but if there are more disabled actors, there will be more jobs and we will have lots of opportunities,” she said.
“So join in, get your training, or not, and give it a go, because it might end up well for you.”
Rob Burrow’s Father Dies After Short Illness
The father of rugby league star and Motor Neurone Disease (MND) campaigner Rob Burrow has died after a short illness, Leeds Rhinos has announced.
In a statement, the club said it was “with deep sadness that the club has learnt of the passing on Monday of Geoff Burrow after a period of ill health”.
The club paid tribute to Leeds-born Burrow, saying he had been a “tireless campaigner” for the MND community following Rob’s diagnosis with the disease in December 2019, and continued to do so after his son’s death in June 2024.
“A devoted husband, father and a grandfather, Geoff brought Rob to his first ever game at Headingley and started his love of the Rhinos,” the statement said.
The club added: “Geoff was always a champion for those who did not have a voice throughout his career as a trade union representative.
“The club would like to pass on our deepest condolences to Geoff’s wife Irene and the Burrow family at this sad time.”
Jamie Jones-Buchanan, a former Leeds Rhinos player and the club’s current chief executive, said Burrow was “always there” with them at matches.
“He loved rugby league. He loved what Rob did and he was part of the team, always will be,” he said.
“He’ll always be part of our history, our heritage.”
Last November, Burrow attended the opening of the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds.
At the time, he said the fact the facility had become a reality proved “dreams come true”.
The £6.8m centre was funded through donations to the Leeds Hospitals Charity, with much of the cash raised with the help of a campaign spearheaded by the rugby league player’s friend and former team-mate Kevin Sinfield.
Following the centre’s opening, Burrow said the centre was “not just for MND sufferers and their families, but for all the staff. The staff are marvellous, they’re angels”.
Reacting to the news of Burrow’s death, Craige Richardson, director of estates and facilities at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are really sorry to hear the news about Geoff Burrow.
“Geoff played a huge role in the development of the new Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease.
“He came to every stakeholder and development meeting over the two years, and he championed all the work taking place to build the centre.
“He had so much energy and enthusiasm to help create a legacy for Rob and support the MND community.”
Richardson added that it was “a significant moment to share Geoff and Irene’s first view of the new centre when it opened”.
“He loved it and he was incredibly proud. That will stay with us all,” he said.
“His passion for research and to find a cure for MND is something we will continue as a trust, as the centre progresses its first research projects this year.
“Our thoughts are with Irene and the entire Burrow family.”
‘Amazingly Inclusive’ Martial Arts Club Celebrated
A martial arts club where students “kick and punch with love and respect” has been recognised for its inclusive support of the community.
Nam Yang, based on London Road in Brighton, was presented with a Parent Carers’ Council award for excellence in the charity and voluntary sector.
Sam Byford-Winter, co-founder of Nam Yang, thanked instructors and volunteers for their “amazing” work to make the outreach work a reality.
Anita, whose son Josh attends classes, nominated “unsung heroes” Nam Yang for the award because of how “amazingly inclusive” the club is.
Josh started training with Nam Yang during the pandemic as part of a collaboration with Brighton Table Tennis Club, something that Anita says, “saved our lives”.
At first, Nam Yang ran private sessions at Josh’s home, but over time he was able to attend a weekly session at the gym in a mixed class.
“It’s given us all a sense of belonging, a sense of community,” she said.
Nam Yang’s diverse club membership includes people with disabilities, refugees and asylum seekers, members of the LGBTQ+ community and those from low-income households.
Anita has seen more than just the physical benefits of attending sessions adding that being welcomed in has also helped build Josh’s confidence.
She said: “If you are a part of one thing, it’s a gateway to feeling a part of everything.”
Inclusion and integration are central to the club with mixed ages, abilities and backgrounds training together.
Sam said this made people more “accepting and understanding of everybody’s needs”.
“It’s really lovely to have that nice balance of a national champion training in the same room as somebody with Down’s syndrome,” he added.
“If all we teach people at the end of the day is to kick and punch, then I think we’ve failed them a little bit.”
The club also works closely with local charities including supporting a volunteer-run scheme which provides meals and entertainment for adults with learning disabilities.
It previously gained recognition nationally, becoming the UK’s first martial arts “Club of Sanctuary” for its support of refugees and asylum seekers.
Sam remains committed that martial arts should be accessible and inclusive for all and that “nobody should be left behind”.
“We have a saying that we kick and punch each other with love and respect, and that sums us up quite nicely,” he said.
Councillor Fights Guide Dog Access Refusals
A north London councillor has described a “stark reminder” of everyday barriers faced by disabled people after repeatedly being refused entry to businesses with her guide dog.
She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service these refusals remain an “indignity” despite the Equality Act 2010.
Hanna Matin, a Liberal Democrat councillor for Alperton, qualified for her guide dog Wendy in 2021 after living with retinoblastoma, and since her 2022 election she has prioritised raising awareness among local businesses.
Her work, supported by Guide Dogs UK, has led Brent Council to target firms that deny access to assistance dogs.
‘I will make a difference’
Any refusal reported to Guide Dogs or another Assistance Dogs UK member can be flagged to Brent Council’s licensing team.
The council will then remind the business of its legal duties and responsibilities.
Matin’s campaign was motivated by being turned away soon after receiving Wendy, an experience she says no one should face.
“In the summer of 2021, I was denied access to sit inside the Costa Coffee on Wembley High Road. I was quite shocked as Costa is such a well established chain across the country. That was the moment I told myself, ‘I will one day do something to make a difference’.”
Matin said the refusal to allow Wendy in had happened at various premises, which she put down to a lack of awareness of either what an access dog is – or the laws businesses must follow.
Costa Coffee’s official policy is that “assistance dogs remain welcome in all branches” and that it continues to train staff to ensure customers “feel included”.
The company added: “While this specific incident dates back several years, we continue to provide clear guidance and training to our teams to ensure all customers can access and feel included in our stores, where we aim to create a warm and welcoming environment.”
canvas collage of my ideal Friday night treats that would make me feel rich even if I am not
Blind Patients Ask Hospital Staff To ‘Walk In Our Shoes’
Blind people have accused hospitals in Coventry and Warwickshire of discrimination, with one woman saying she was not even alerted to food and medicine placed next to her.
Partially sighted Sarah Lewis said the only way she found meals during a stay at George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton was “if I reached later for a drink and put my hand in it”.
Dexter, who did not want to give his surname, said his neighbours and GP receptionist would read University Hospital Coventry letters to him because staff refused to send them in an accessible format.
Trusts for both hospitals said they were committed to listening to patients and learning from their experiences. George Eliot’s chief nursing officer said she was “very sorry” high standards had fallen short.
Lewis spent three weeks in hospital after breaking some bones in her hip.
She said staff would come to her bedside to ask why her medication was still there.
“I was told why haven’t you taken the tablets? Because you didn’t tell me you were putting them down there,” she said.
The extra barriers she has faced to try and communicate with the hospital had left her feeling vulnerable and needy.
Dexter, 40, has multiple sclerosis. He said despite the word “blind” being written next to his bed, he did not feel he got any extra help during a recent stay at University Hospital Coventry.
At one point, five doctors were brought into his ward without being introduced and all he could see were shadows.
“It’s not going to take a lot to make a difference,” he said.
“I’m not asking for multimillion-pound initiatives. I’m just asking for people to put yourself in my shoes – how would you like to be dealt with?”
Hugh Sorrill, chief executive officer at the charity Coventry Vision Hub, said their experiences were sadly common.
“Whenever I’ve talked to people here almost everyone who’s been in hospital recently has said they’ve had all of those issues – so it’s pretty much across the board,” he said.
Hugh did not think the treatment was deliberate, but came from a lack of awareness of the impact of sight loss.
But he said solutions such as offering information in large print did not have to be expensive.
“Hospitals have a duty to train their staff to approach visually-impaired people in an appropriate fashion – it’s not rocket science.”
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) said blind and partially-sighted people “have a legal right to receive accessible health and care information, but too often this right was denied, creating serious risks to health and wellbeing”.
A spokesperson added: “How can anyone attend a hospital appointment if the letter about it was sent in a format you can’t read?”
A spokesperson for University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust said: “We are committed to ensuring reasonable adjustments are made to provide equitable access for all patients.
“The trust made every effort to resolve the concerns raised and, where appropriate, offer alternative methods of communication.
“We continue listening to feedback and to develop our disability awareness training in order to ensure staff can provide appropriate support.”
Meanwhile, Fiona Burton, chief nursing officer at George Eliot Hospital said: “We are very sorry to hear that the patient’s experience was not in line with the high standards which we hold ourselves to.
“We expect all our staff to provide appropriate support to patients with sight issues, or any disability, while under our care and we will review the training and support our staff are provided with as a result of this feedback.”
Airport Staff Blindfolded To Understand Sight Loss
The charity Guide Dogs has been training the staff at Exeter Airport to be “sighted guides” to make it more accessible for visually-impaired passengers.
Staff have been learning how different sight conditions can change how much a customer can see and how to offer assistance if someone requests it.
Working in pairs, the training involves one person wearing a blindfold, while the other guides them around check-in desks, through security and onto a flight all the time describing where they are going and what is around them.
It was hoped the training would allow staff to help those with sight loss navigate the busy airport environment.
Check-in, security, getting to the gate and boarding the plane; airports are busy, bright, noisy places that many of us find stressful.
Brandon Hulcoop says it is worse if you are blind.
He travels independently by bus and train, but finds airports a particularly intimidating experience.
“Getting members of staff to blindfold themselves and try to navigate an airport, it makes people feel exactly the way we feel and to be honest thats absolutely blinking terrified!”
He added he was pleased the airport was taking up this challenge and training its staff to help.
At the start of the course the airport staff are taught by the trainer about the different visual impairments customers might have so they get a better understanding of someone’s needs .
Carol Butler from Guide Dogs said: “One of the myths we try and bust is that people with sight loss can’t see anything at all.”
She added, that the “‘sim specs’ show what people can do with their functional vision.
“So you get central or peripheral vision and different sight conditions can affect the ways people see.”
Mandy Darling works for the charity Devon in Sight which said there were 51,000 people living in the county with a level of sight loss that seriously impacts on their lives.
She sits on the airport’s Passengers with Reduced Mobility group and has been advising them on what it is like to travel with a sight impairment.
She said their passenger assistance programme had been “a real asset, a real support to people with disabilities who are able to travel.”
Mariia Gorbacheva from Exeter Airport said: “It’s very important to educate us as staff members to ensure that all passengers travelling from our airport are able to have the best possible experience, make sure everyone is included, make sure we are aware of the best way to support them.”
Recondition- Accessible Clothes Brand
When a fashion student broke her ankle, she suddenly realised how inaccessible everyday clothes were.
The revelation after Ellie Brown’s injury in 2021 led to her setting up Recondition, a disability friendly clothes label.
The brand works with people with disabilities to create adaptable jeans, stoma bags, and other pieces of clothing.
Brown, from Manchester, said people – including herself before her injury – could be “naive” when it came to what accessibility looked like, yet subtle changes such as replacing buttons with poppers was “not rocket science”.
She said: “A lot of people who don’t have someone necessarily close to them or they don’t have a disability themselves are quite naive to what accessibility looks like.
“I definitely was.”
She looked into how the relationship between disability and fashion worked and “found this whole area of fashion that I had no idea even existed”.
From that light bulb moment, Recondition, which Brown said created every piece with accessibility and style in mind, was born.
“People want something that physically works for them, the function is there; with Recondition, it’s all about like marrying those two together.”
She said many of the features they had added to clothes were “not rocket science”.
Julie Blagbrough became a wheelchair user seven years ago and, overnight, she said she had to rethink her wardrobe.
“There isn’t any fashion for wheelchair users.
“You’re mainly in things like jogging bottoms and pyjamas, stretchy, elasticated waist.
“It made me feel like I’d lost my identity in a way.”
She is part of the Recondition codesign group, who make small changes to make fashion feel good again.
Julie said she loved not only the look of the jeans they produced but – with features like pockets on the front to make them really accessible and straps so she can lift her legs and a hook on the zip – they made “it really easy to get dressed”.
“They also look really trendy as well.”
She added: “It just makes me feel really happy to be able to walk outside and feel like I’m part of society.”
One of Recondition’s best-selling items are stoma bag covers.
Lucy Smith-Butler, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2017.
The Recondition model and fashion blogger said: “When I was lying in the hospital bed I was like ‘what am I going to wear; this is going to change my body how do I adapt to that?’.”
“I always say my stoma bag is just new accessory. It’s just another bag and that was where the whole idea came from to like make covers for it and have it as an accessory.”
Paige Dease is a Recondition customer and loves the label, which she says “allows her to rock her jeans”.
She said: “Seeing stoma bags that are glittery and frilly it shows people that we’re not just patients we’re actually people.”
when the performers give you a blowup woman with a tutu skirt and feather bower for you to dance with.
Fightback Asking For Advice About PIP Assessments
Dyslexic MP Demands ‘Sincere Apology’ From Trump
A Somerset MP has called for a “sincere apology” after US President Donald Trump said people with learning disabilities should not be president.
President Trump’s taunting remarks were aimed at California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has dyslexia. Trump also said Newsom, a potential Democratic presidential candidate, was “dumb” and made fun of his difficulty with reading and spelling.
Yeovil MP Adam Dance, who is dyslexic himself, said the comments were “deeply troubling, offensive and completely out of step with reality” and Trump owes the “dyslexic community a sincere apology”.
The White House doubled down on its criticism of Gavin Newsom when approached for comment by the BBC.
Dyslexia, a learning condition that disrupts how the brain processes written language, is believed to affect around 10% of the population, according to the British Dyslexia Association.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday that Newsom “has admitted that he has learning disabilities, dyslexia”.
“Honestly, I’m all for people with learning disabilities, but not for my president,” he said.
“I don’t want, I think a president should not have learning disabilities, OK? And I know it’s highly controversial to say such a horrible thing.”
Mum So Proud Of Deafblind Son’s Eastenders Debut
A mum whose five-year-old deafblind son has made his acting debut in Eastenders has said she is “so proud” of him and she hopes it will “break down barriers” for disabled children.
Harvey Hind, from Clitheroe, Lancashire, appeared in Wednesday’s episode of the BBC One soap, playing Arlo, a pre-school boy who is registered blind.
His mother Kimberly said: “I hope Harvey featuring in EastEnders shows other disabled children, especially those who are deafblind, that they can achieve anything.
“Harvey loves being in the spotlight but for us the most important thing will always be raising awareness and breaking down barriers so every disabled child gets the same opportunities as anyone else.”
She said: “Harvey did amazingly at the filming, I’m so proud of him. There were four cameras on him but he took it all in his stride.”
In the episode, Arlo and his mother visited Lauren Branning and Peter Beale’s house, where Arlo plays with their son, Jimmy, who was revealed to be blind in a storyline last year.
Arlo’s mother is shown to give Lauren advice on raising a blind child.
Away from the television storyline, when he was about four weeks old, Harvey failed his newborn screening hearing test, and his mum noticed a flicker in his eye around the same time.
The family paid for a private consultation and he was diagnosed as blind at three months old.
He walks using a red-and-white striped cane, which is used by deafblind people, and uses British Sign Language (BSL) to communicate.
He also wears cochlear implants which give him access to sound.
Kimberly said she found the first two years of Harvey’s life difficult as she struggled to communicate with her son, and had to leave work to care for him as he was becoming increasingly distressed attending a mainstream nursery.
Disability charity Sense eventually assigned a specialist in working with deafblind children to the family, which Kimberly said was “life-saving” for her.
She added: “I was so anxious when I found out Harvey was deafblind, so his character’s storyline resonated with me a lot.
“I didn’t have any experience with disability and I kept imagining the worst-case scenarios.
“Luckily, with the support of organisations like Sense, Harvey is now a really happy child who is eager to learn, loves exploring and has a cheeky personality.”
MP Raises Case Of Woman Involuntarily In Care Home
An MP has asked the government to investigate how a disabled woman was moved to a nursing home against her will.
Lucinda Ritchie was not allowed to return to her adapted bungalow in Billingshurst, West Sussex, in February after a hospital stay for pneumonia and was instead taken to a nursing home.
John Milne, the MP for Horsham, asked the government to “look into Lucinda’s case” in the House of Commons on Tuesday.
Parliamentary under-secretary Jake Richards MP said he was “very happy to deal with that case in writing”.
Ritchie, a master’s student and charity ambassador, was admitted to hospital with pneumonia in April and suffered further complications that prolonged her stay.
Her condition deteriorated within two days at the nursing home after her discharge and she returned to hospital.
Ritchie has multiple disabilities. She has a tracheostomy and has primarily used eye-gaze technology to communicate since 2017.
Prior to her hospital admission, Ritchie had 24 hour, one to one nursing in her own home.
On the day she was transferred, Ritchie told the BBC that she was “devastated” and wanted to get back to her own home.
Chief nursing officer Allison Cannon said NHS Sussex’s “absolute priority is to ensure that Lucinda is able to receive safe, high quality, care that meets her health needs”.
NHS Sussex had “actively worked with the health professionals in hospital, Lucinda, her family, and her representatives to consider how she could be safely supported to leave hospital”, according to Cannon.
She said it was “not clinically safe for Lucinda to go home straight away, but we are meeting with all partners every week to work to support a safe discharge to her home”.
Milne told the Commons that “against her express wishes”, Ritchie had been moved into a nursing home an hour away from her family and “denied the right to return”.
He asked Richards to work with government departments “to ensure that people’s basic human rights are protected when it comes to medical decision making”.
Richards said: “The practicalities of that case are for colleagues in at the Department of Health and Social Care, but he’s absolutely right to say that human rights in a health setting are incredibly important.”
The department was contacted for comment.
Trump Says Presidents ‘Should Not Have Learning Disabilities’ As He Mocks Newsom’s Dyslexia
Donald Trump has said he believes people with learning disabilities should not be president, as he renewed his taunts at California Governor Gavin Newsom over his dyslexia.
President Trump said Newsom, a potential Democratic White House contender, was “dumb”. He also made fun last week of the California governor’s difficulty with reading and spelling, prompting Newsom to call him “a brain-dead moron”.
The National Center for Learning Disabilities told the BBC it was “disturbed by and strongly condemns” the Republican president’s remarks.
Dyslexia, a learning condition that disrupts how the brain processes written language, affects as many as one in five Americans.
“With a low IQ person, you know, because Gavin Newscum has admitted that he is a, that he has learning disabilities,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday. “Newscum” is Trump’s nickname for the governor.
“Honestly, I’m all for people with learning disabilities, but not for my president. I don’t want, I think a president should not have learning disabilities, OK? And I know it’s highly controversial to say such a horrible thing.”
He added: “The President of the United States, Gavin Newscum, admitted that he has learning disabilities, dyslexia. Everything about him is dumb.”
Newsom made fun of Trump for appearing to accidentally refer to the governor as president. “NO THANK YOU, WE BELIEVE IN FREE ELECTIONS!” he posted on X.
During an on-stage conversation last month with the mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, Newsom discussed his dyslexia.
“I’m like you,” the governor told the audience as he cited his poor exam results and difficulty reading.
“You’ve never seen me read a speech, because I cannot read a speech,” he added.
His remarks to a predominantly black audience sparked a chorus of conservative claims that he was talking down to African-American voters.
Trump also accused Newsom of racism and posted on Truth Social that he “can’t read, has dyslexia, and has a mental disorder – A Cognitive Mess!”
Newsom shot back at Trump on social media, saying: “I spoke about my dyslexia.
“I know that’s hard for a brain-dead moron who bombs children and protects pedophiles to understand.”
The National Center for Learning Disabilities criticised Trump’s comments on Monday.
The centre’s chief executive, Jackie Rodriguez, told the BBC that dyslexia does not impair a person’s intelligence, judgement or ability to lead.
“In fact,” she said, “people with learning disabilities have risen to the upper echelon of every public office in the United States, including former presidents.”
Past US presidents, including George Washington, John F Kennedy and Woodrow Wilson, may have had dyslexia, according to some researchers.
About 15% of the US population is affected by dyslexia, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Some estimate the figure may be as high as 20%.
Dance Centre Aims To Break Down Barriers
A County Durham charity working to transform lives through dance is seeking a new studio where disabled and non-disabled dancers can train, create and perform together.
TIN arts, which has been operating since 1999, said over recent years demand has soared but capacity was limited due to the size of its current space in Pity Me, Durham.
A fundraising appeal has been launched to transform a former county council building in Spennymoor into a purpose-designed, fully accessible dance training centre.
The charity said it would become a “vibrant, inclusive creative hub that breaks down the physical barriers that have held dancers back for decades”.
As well as a shortage of space in its current building, some areas are inaccessible leaving some prospective participants unable to participate fully.
Tin Arts said its high-quality studios and facilities would reduce waiting lists and “reflect the ambition and talent of the artists”.
The charity’s executive director, Martin Wilson, said: “For too long, we’ve had a community that welcomes everyone but a building that doesn’t.
“The TIN Dance House will remove those barriers for good – this is about creating a home where everybody belongs.”
A parent whose child currently attends classes said: “It lets people take themselves and their development seriously.
“It gives them a poise and a presence that challenges perceptions of disability and demands that the world take them seriously too.”
We Might Regret This
Kyla Harris, the co-creator and star of BBC comedy drama series We Might Regret This, has been with her partner for eight years.
But they won’t move in together, because it means she could lose some of her means-tested funding.
“No-one should have to decide whether to choose love or to pay their bills,” she says.
It’s an issue she draws on in her series, co-created with Lee Getty, which follows Freya, an artist with tetraplegia – a partial or complete loss of sensory and motor function in all four limbs – her boyfriend, Abe and best friend, Jo.
The Guardian has described the series as “trailblazing” and Harris says she wants the show to delve into issues that have “really not been on screen before”.
Anyone receiving means-tested benefits, for example universal credit, can have them reduced when moving in with a partner because you are treated as a household – meaning incomes, savings and circumstances are considered together.
Means-tested social care funding from the local authority may also be impacted by living with a partner, but these rules vary depending on your area.
The impact of benefit reductions can be greater on disabled people because of the additional daily living expenses they have.
According to a report from the charity Scope, for the year 2024-5, disabled households need on average an additional £1,095 a month to have the same standard of living as non-disabled households. Here, the standard of living refers to the ability to afford goods and services as well as carry out household tasks and manage finances.
The Department for Work and Pensions stressed the existence of several non-means-tested benefits for disabled people, including the personal independence payment (PIP), which supports “millions” each year. There is also attendance allowance.
“Eligibility for means-tested benefits doesn’t always become immediately restricted following a change of circumstances, but we encourage all claimants to report changes,” a spokesperson added.
Harris believes the rules around funding mean things like getting married and moving in with a partner pose a dilemma for many disabled people.
These are not talked about much because “a lot of people also don’t think that disabled people could be in relationships… or are entitled to sex and intimacy and love”.
In Harris’s view, the issue is “just not common knowledge and I think it needs to be”, adding she hopes the series starts a conversation.
A spokesperson for Disability Rights UK said people feeling unable to live with their loved ones because it may affect their benefits status was “nothing short of cruel”.
But Harris also thinks it’s important to bring “light and levity” to the situations disabled people go through and she strives to do this in her show.
“There have been so many awful situations that I’ve been in that you can’t help but laugh,” she continues.
The series also delves into what it means for others to profit from disabled identity.
For example, Freya’s wedding planning is turned into a problematic and cringeworthy social media campaign by her agents, the Olivias, played by Emma Sidi and Hanako Footman.
They shorten phrases like “inclusive representation” to “inclush-representash” and urge her to adopt the hashtag “wheely in love” to help it go viral.
The writer says it was “hilarious” to see the Olivias so unaware of how wrong their approach is, but also adds that “people make mistakes and that’s okay”.
Ultimately, Harris hopes people learn from the show. “I see disability as my biggest teacher and being disabled has taught me that irrespective of what people think and what I encounter, I am worthy of getting married.
“I am worthy of loving. I am worthy to be loved,” she says. “And I want people to feel that about themselves.”
Disability Panel Warns Police About Blue Lights Use
A police force on a mission to have a more diverse and inclusive culture has been told by a panel of people with autism that its use of flashing blue lights could cause distress.
Cambridgeshire police and crime commissioner, Darryl Preston, organised an event where people with neurodiverse conditions and those with caring responsibilities were shown body-worn footage of police interactions with disabled people.
The panel told police how emergency lights could heighten anxiety and raised the importance of “calm, sensory-aware communication”.
Cambridgeshire Police said it could “positively review our current practices” using the feedback.
Preston said the consultation was about “building trust, increasing understanding and ensuring our services are fair and inclusive”.
“Hearing directly from people with lived experience of autism provides us with invaluable insight into how police encounters are perceived and how improvements can be made,” he said.
Other “key learnings” from the event included consideration of using plain-clothed officers at certain incidents, and a greater awareness of the “Right Care, Right Person” model, external, to make sure people having a mental health crisis receive support from the most appropriate agency.
Attendees included representatives from social care champion Healthwatch, external and the UK advocacy charity, VoiceAbility, external.
A member of VoiceAbility, Sean, said: “This was a very interesting and informative session. The videos were very interesting to watch. The police explained everything well and I felt they listened to my feedback.”
Lucy Kennedy, from Healthwatch, said it was an “incredibly interesting experience”.
“We were pleased to be able to support those attending to inform police practice and training, and are delighted that as a result of the event one of our panel members is planning to become a regular volunteer for the Community Scrutiny Panel, external,” she said.
Rose Ayling Ellis Writes Children’s Story
I loved Sleepovers, like I did all of Jacqueline Wilson’s books. Usually late at night, hiding under my duvet with a torch, trying to not get caught on a school night. I loved the emotional depth, the messiness, the tragedy, the way her stories never pretended that everything is perfect.
What stayed with me, however, was something that felt small at the time but was actually huge. There was a disabled character in that book. Not as a lesson, not as a historical figure. Not a ‘problem to fix’. Just a character. A person. Existing.
That representation mattered, but the sadness came with it too, because even as a child, I noticed how rare it was; what I never saw were deaf characters. So I did what children do. I imagined them. I pretended characters were like me. I drew hearing aids on my Barbie. I made space for myself where none existed.
When you grow up not seeing yourself in stories, you don’t stop imagining. You imagine more, but imagination shouldn’t have to replace representation. So, I didn’t wait for change – I created the children’s book I wished I had growing up.
The Big Bang! is a story about three cats learning how to communicate with each other. I didn’t want the story about “overcoming”, I didn’t want an “inspiration” narrative. I wanted this story to be about trying and trying again. About making mistakes, learning, adapting and meeting each other halfway.
Halo and Rocky don’t just expect Casper to change, they learn that they have to do the work too. No one is left behind, no one is made to prove themselves. That is what real inclusion looks like. Not spotlighting difference, but normalising it.
Some people may ask, “Surely no child is thinking in that much depth?” Or, “Why is everything so ‘woke’ these days?” But if you’re only noticing representation now, then you’re one of the lucky few who didn’t need it.
For some of us, not seeing ourselves was impossible to ignore. And the truth is, I don’t want children to think about representation at all, in fact, I want the opposite. I want them to not notice it. I want it to feel natural, for them to just enjoy the story, falling in love with the characters and be entertained. Because the absence was loud for me and I hope it is quieter for deaf children today.
But children today are growing up with new challenges that many of us didn’t have.
I used to go to my local library to get books, then to Blockbuster to rent DVDs. It feels like a precious memory now. A time where life felt slower and choices felt more thoughtful.
As I got older, the torch under the duvet became a laptop, and the rented DVD became endless scrolling. My attention span got shorter as libraries started closing down. Now only one in seven primary schools has a library, and access to reading feels more fragile than ever.
World Book Day has never felt more important. I remember those days my brother dressed as Willy Wonka and I just wanted to be a fairy. Now that memory reminds me not to take stories, books or imagination for granted.
Now I put time limits and blockers on my phone. I put it away when I’m watching a film or a good drama. I read more. I’m more creative. My mental wellbeing is the best it’s been, I’m more patient. Reading slows us down in a world that constantly speeds us up.
If it’s making this much of a difference to me, what is doing to a child’s brain? Reading gives children something that technology can’t, having an imagination that isn’t algorithm-led.
I hope I’ve inspired you in some way not by my story or by being deaf but by something simpler. To slow down, to be more present. To make more space for stories, for imagination, and for each other. Next time you buy that book, really do make time for it.
Books don’t just teach us how to read, they teach us how to see. In a world that moves ever so fast, learning how to really see each other might be the most important story of all.
Rose Ayling-Ellis wrote The Big Bang! for World Book Day on Thursday 5 March 2026 – The Big Bang! is available now, and you can find out more about World Book Day at its website.
For years, Ryder, 10, who is visually impaired, has experienced football matches involving his favourite team with commentary from his parents.
But for a recent Cardiff City game he was loaned a virtual reality (VR) headset, transforming the way he connects with the sport.
Ryder described the experience at the club’s home game against Luton Town in March – as “100 out of 10”, saying he could “see everything”.
The headset, by GiveVision, allows fans to zoom in on the action, giving people like Ryder an enhanced match day or entertainment experience.
“Usually, all I can see are a couple of shapes and blurs, so I just look out for the blue shirts,” said Ryder, a Cardiff season ticket holder.
“When we score I can’t see it so I have to wait for the crowd.
“The headset was a lot better, I could see everything – all the goals, defending and goalkeeper saves. It was amazing.
“I had the choice to look around the stadium or watch the game, I could zoom in and out of the pitch whenever I wanted.”
Ryder was born with microphthalmia and coloboma – when one or both eyes are abnormally small and underdeveloped.
“It doesn’t hold him back,” said his mum, Kirsty.
“He goes on the biggest rollercoasters, biggest water slides, he plays football, he’s on the go non-stop.”
His dad David said that at games Ryder – who aspires to become the Cardiff City drummer – relies on commentary from his parents and the noise of the crowd.
David said he contacted GiveVision, a UK company who are developing technology that can enhance sporting and entertainment events for visually impaired people, believing the headset would be “great for Ryder”.
Stan Karpenko of GiveVision said: “We introduced the headset because over one million fans in the UK are currently excluded from live match day experiences.
“Currently, the attendance rate across the UK is approximately one visually impaired spectator for every 3,000 fans.”
He added: “To put that in perspective at Principality Stadium, we typically see under 25 users per match.”
Although available at a limited number of sporting venues, the company are planning to help a lot more venues adopt their technology.
“A number of Premier League venues will be coming online soon,” Karpenko said.
“Because many stadiums still do not offer this service, we loan the kit to supporters for free to help fans like Ryder and his family enjoy the match day experience.
“Any fans interested in a loan can contact us and we will happily provide a device.”
Ryder’s experience was certainly an enjoyable one and his mum could not help but feel emotional during the game.
“Cardiff City is his favourite place in the world, so for him to follow that game and being able to bring things closer to him through the headset has been really beneficial,” Kirsty said.
“I think he was a bit blown away with it all. I asked him how he rated his day out of 10, he said 100, and that it was the best day ever.
“I felt very emotional, knowing how passionate he is about Cardiff. It made us realise how much he’s missed out on.”
Ryder’s parents said although the experience had been unforgettable, it was “bittersweet” because the headset was given to him on loan.
“I feel like we’ve given him this opportunity and then we’ve sort of taken it away from him,” Kirsty said.
The couple are in discussions with the club in the hope of making more events more accessible to him in the future, while they also hope that talking about his experience can help raise awareness.
“Hopefully things will progress and we can get Ryder one for every game and hopefully anyone who needs them has access to them,” David said.
here are some photos of me participating in the music workshop playing maracas, drum’s sticks and creating a song.
we used provided words to create a song and learnt about different tempos and dynamics in music as well as having a go reproducing them.
this is inclusion. People may think that a quality of life is a flashy car or a very wellpaid career, but for me it’s being able to participate in my community, as I did before Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).
I cannot do this with insufficient funding, so here I am trying to somehow make the invisible visible by sharing my story. The quality of my life and people like me depends on funding providers that rely on box ticking exercise. I have a rare FND condition with fluctuating severity, so there is no box to tick. On the other hand, all the difference to my quality of life comes with the right support, such as from their specialist PA team and when my medical needs are met to participate in activities like today it makes up the quality of my life and makes feel like a human being again.
The quality of my life depends on people who make the decision actually caring about me and my right as a human, including the right to dignity, respect and appropriate privacy.
Making Canvasses to raise money. Join me on Whatnot this afternoon or in future sales to buy my canvases
PAs are support us to have showers or maintain personal hygiene they mean that we are able to try a new things such as why do social services put limits on our capabilities to be able to live the life we want and participate fully in our communities of which we live
you’re not disabled by our disabilities and deal with every day we disabled by funding system that doesn’t want to enable us. It wants to disable us to make us small and to make us feel like we are incapable/inadequate to contribute to the society we live in.Having disabilities doesn’t mean we don’t want a purpose and we don’t want a life. We’re entitled to a quality of life and not just to exist. The Care Act 2014 is supposed to ensure that we as disabled people wouldn’t have to battle for the things we need and we are entitled to live the life we choose. A lot of councils don’t listen to the Care Act and still make us battle for the obvious things, which makes me cross and also makes me smile because you don’t realise how ignorant they are. this is not fair😅😡🥵 and actually makes me proud when I achieve things, like this Scrabble at Friday Club. The battle we have to go through to get there and the amount of self advocacy we have to do as disabled people is just unreal, infuriating frustrating. It’s a form of neglect and is not allowed.
Bingo may not be the first thing you think of when you think of climate change.
But when you play with pictures of ideas for tackling the issue instead of numbers, it can help people like Patrick and Michael McKinney understand how they can make a difference.
The brothers both have special needs and live in supported accommodation.
They have completed a climate change training course for people with learning disabilities – thought to be the first of its kind in the UK.
Their accommodation is in Newtownstewart in County Tyrone.
And their top tips?
For Patrick, it is buying pre-loved clothes instead of new.
And for Michael, who loves gardening and growing flowers, it is collecting food waste for compost.
Michael is responsible for turning off the lights when the brothers leave the house in their new hybrid electric car.
Patrick mows the grass in the garden and puts the cuttings on the compost heap.
Both help sort recycling in their house and have reusable water bottles for when they go to the gym.
Patrick said the training was all “very good” – talking about animals, walking and learning about things they could do differently in the house.
The brothers attended classes over the course of several weeks in 2025.
‘Becoming a mum inspired me’
Hanna Coney works with the brothers in their Sperrins Supported Living Services.
She became a mother last year and found herself thinking more about the world her child would grow up in.
She thought the training would help build the brothers’ confidence and independence, but was surprised by just how much they got involved.
“The conversation of climate change can be quite a frightening topic, but I suppose for us as support workers, it’s to make sure that we’re not fear mongering the people we support.
“And they’ve really taken off with it.”
The training will be rolled out to other support services in 2026.
‘It’s been empowering’
According to the chief executive of Positive Futures, one of the groups behind the project, those with learning disabilities are affected differently by climate change.
Agnes Lunny said developing the training with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful had broken down barriers faced by her members.
“They get excluded from all sorts of issues facing all citizens.
“I’m not saying that that’s a malicious intent, but it’s just, ‘oh, well, you know, it’s too difficult, we can’t really do it, we can’t make our material accessible, we can’t do it and really, they don’t understand anyway’.
“Well, of course they don’t, if the information isn’t shared and if the information that is shared is inaccessible.
“So it’s been incredibly empowering.”
What is climate change training?
Climate change training teaches people about how their choices affect the planet and how they can do things differently to reduce their impact.
The plastic bag levy has been used to fund the training, provided by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.
The charity’s Strategic Lead for Climate Action, Scott Howes, developed the course and adapted it for a special needs pilot.
“It’s as much about action as about involvement in being in the natural world,” he said.
“So they’re encouraged to go out, walk in the woods, make drawings of the natural world, explore places with friends, and to come back and talk about what they’ve discovered.
“From that, we lead into thinking about how we can impact the natural world, the damage we can do to it, and the whole range of different ways that we can reduce our impact.”
Relaxing in bed
Same Difference 