Survival! A memoir

 Let me tell you, there's a real buzz of excitement leading up to giving a presentation. An energy comes from being wanted and valued. It's a thrill, but also nerve-wracking - motivating and exhausting in equal measure. I'm no longer surprised when the neat linear story in my head, backed up with 34 slides, rarely matches the beautiful messiness of the actual conversation in the room. Years of delivering keynotes don't quite prepare you for the joyful chaos of building understanding together in that space. I always start with a trigger warning, not because it's trendy, but because a staggering 9 out of 10 disabled people report experiencing hate crimes every year. So we can assume that trauma and violence have likely touched many lives in most rooms. Be aware 1 in 10 individuals can potentially identify as disabled. I explain that while it's my personal story, we're engaging in professional dialogue, framed by evidence and theory from fields like disabilit...

Let me share a story with you. A while back, a colleague pointed out that a book I was reading had half its reference section missing. I was puzzled, but he explained how this denied recognition to the voices the authors had drawn upon to write the text. That really stuck with me!    Years later, I started using references to gauge whether writers had truly engaged with key voices in their field. I noticed that even books about equality, diversity, and inclusion rarely went beyond a cursory mention of disability in the introduction. The core sections lacked references indicating any real understanding of disability perspectives and scholarship. Inequality persisted through to the conclusion, with ableism rarely referenced alongside other forms of discrimination. You see, correctly using academic form upholds crucial values like honesty, accountability and fairness in research. Ignoring it compromises objectivity and disciplinary integrity. Embracing intersectionality, or at le...

Whose focus is it anyway!? I'm always amazed at how many people want to tell my story their  way. For example, rephrasing my challenges as a right of passage, or my achievements as proof of privilege. Acknowledging privilege and disadvantage more explicitly does more than show respect, it avoids framing individuals as sinners or saints. Finding joy in the lives of those who face the weight of society’s misrepresentation is not the way to go!? I do not want to be framed as inspirational but equally hard-working. In reflecting on the power of language and the narratives that shape our understanding of disability, it's crucial to acknowledge the voices of those living with the experience, working in the area and knowledgeable about the subject. For example, I have had experiences as a woman, learned understanding as a feminist, and gained wisdom as a student of gender studies. Similarly, as a disabled person, a disability equality trainer and a student of Disability Studies, I f...

I t never ceases to amaze me how many people I encounter who opt to lecture rather than inquire about a topic they haven't even bothered to search! They'll go out of their way to emphasise that they don't personally identify as disabled, only to then proceed to spout off everything they think they know about disability. They're essentially talking nonsense while disregarding over fifty years of my experience, a thirty-five-year career in disability equality training, and a decade of academic pursuit (that’s a whopping 5,200 hours of study!?! And approximately 3000 texts!). Not only is this behaviour irksome, but it's downright rude! This wilful ignorance is occasionally topped by those who, having seen a programme on disability, the Social Model, or the Disabled People's Movement — possibly through a passing tweet or post — declare that they don’t believe in SUCH ideas. Seriously?! As if the invaluable contributions to professional wisdom, research, and the arts...

  Navigating the Intersectionality Roundabout As I sit down to delve into the complex realm of intersectionality, I find myself reflecting on the conversations that have sparked my thoughts on this topic. Gratitude goes out to friends, and their feminist ideas, which have reignited my passion for exploring the intricacies of oppression and identity. Two recent encounters have particularly stirred my contemplation on intersectionality. The first involves a well-known figure proclaiming that homophobia surpasses all other forms of oppression. The second revolves around an anti-racist argument that inadvertently perpetuates ableism. Both instances left me grappling with a sense of unease and compelled me to delve deeper into the nuances of oppression. The way I read it, oppression rarely exists in isolation; it's inherently intersectional. The notion of being caught between two roads feels inadequate; many of us find ourselves spinning between many intersecting identities. Years ago, ...