I’m in the midst of preparing for my forthcoming webinar: ‘What’s it Like to be Disabled in Britain in 2021?’ with speakers Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Michelle Daley and Dan White.
And I have learned so much. – Especially from members of the public who’ve sent in descriptions of their experiences to me*.
Emma shared with me that being disabled in Britain for her is being anxious about an appointment she’s been to numerous times before, but never knowing if she’s going to be able to park safely. Or, even if she can park safely, being able to get out of the car.
It’s about never being spontaneous, because she has to spend hours on Google figuring out whether there’s a disabled toilet nearby or whether she can access a particular building. She described it as her freedom taken away from her.
Adam, a Masters graduate, shared with me that he’s overqualified for his job as a payroll assistant, but has found it hard to find work because potential employers have issues with the level of his eye contact and the sound of his voice. He’s scared to say that he has a disability at job interviews.
Paul told me that:
As COVID-19 has shown, disabled people are still often isolated and seen as an add-on to social and economic life.
The following video was sent to me by a member of the public, in response to our call for disabled people to share with us what it’s like to be disabled in Britain in 2021.
This video is just a sample of some of the harrowing accounts of life as a disabled person that have been sent to me.
It demonstrates just how far we, as a society, have to go to achieve equality for all:
https://youtu.be/APJySOPUaio
Join me, as we discuss these issues, possible solutions and much, much more on Thursday 11th March from 7pm-8:30pm GMT.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/whats-it-like-to-be-disabled-in-britain-in-2021-tickets-139461871211
*Send your 1 minute video/audio clips or any other format that works for you to: [email protected]
Note that we will be using the services of a British Sign Language interpreter and a transcriber for subtitling.
If you have any specific access requirements for the webinar, then please let us know: [email protected]
We’ll be accepting questions on the night via the QA function on Zoom, however, if you’d like to submit a question in advance, please do send them to: [email protected]
* Isabelle Parasram is the Vice President of the Liberal Democrats.
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4 Comments
I have found housing to be a real issue, Power Wheelchair accessible housing, is in extremely short supply. Power Wheelchairs are considered a fire hazard because of the need to charge large batteries.
I’ve often felt excluded by society. During my illness and prior to my need to use a Power Wheelchair, I was classed as visually impaired for several months. I went shopping with my long cane, one of the assistants said to the other, serve the blind lady by the door.
I’m identified by my Wheelchair, as I was by my long cane.
Us able-bodied often have little insight to the daily challenges faced by the disabled. I did have some insight into life with a temporarily disabled person about 10 years ago, when my wife had a hip operation and in the early stages of recovery was unable to walk without sticks or drive. It was not possible to get a limited time disabled badge for a car and so we could not use some of the facilities for the disabled. She recovered fully, but there remains the threat of the other hip needing the operation.
Whilst, life is not good for disabled people and we should keep pushing, we shouldn’t lose sight of things that have changed and perhaps could be better.
1. Banks are required to have accessibility support, like BSL interpreters. However, they tend to prefer to deliver this digitally as opposed to in-person (costs more and has a long lead time as it has to be arranged). All seems well… Well, the only issue we had was that the bank delivered the service via an iPad (10″ handheld screen and camera) rather than using the 32″ screen on wall being used to advertise the bank’s services… As I pointed out to the branch manager, some small changes in technology would massively improve both the service and its usability.
2. Home schooling has been a massive leveller, prior to lockdown, the children unable to regularly attend school, were struggling and falling behind. Teachers also focusing on the classroom, tended to prepare materials and/or address the camera for remote children as an after thought. In lockdown a friend’s daughter was both able to attend (as an equal) and catchup, but also help the Teacher to get to grips with the technology… I suggest we need to build on some aspects of lockdown and probably make remote tuition a normal and natural part of schooling.
I wanted to thank Ed Davey and his team for the zoom meeting on disability and the issues concerning us all.
I have felt very alone over my housing and the way things are. We were getting understanding of our problems and the fact we are human beings.
I have been told in the past that I should not have had children, also when I was talking to someone that I have great grandchildren. They stopped as they realised where the conversation was going, and apologised.
I know there will be others like me, who would wish to thank Ed Davey and all those concernedinputting the meeting together.