There's a strange sort of inevitability about finally having a storm around ableism that's started by the existence of a ramp. It's one of the first examples that most people think of when talking about accessibility, a lack of one is the opening scene in the Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson's autobiography - a book that was … Continue reading The Ramp
It's that time of the year again folks! Yes glory be, it's the middle of May and it is once again 'Mental Health Awareness Week' here in the UK. Not to be outdone, the US designates May as 'Mental Health Awareness Month' thus ensuring that we get subjected to a deluge of platitudes and sugarcoating … Continue reading Mental Health Awareness Week: An Updated Spotter’s Guide
Today I'd like to share some thoughts with you. These are thoughts about mental health, public perceptions of it, and one especially touchy subject that many people find difficult to talk about. It's a dirty word uttered in hushed voices, and it begins with 'S'. It's also my least favourite word in the mental health … Continue reading Mental Health and the Other ‘S’ Word
Two months in lockdown. I have been outside of my house maybe a handful of times in that period. That's not a brag, but a safety measure. I happened to have a cold at the time when COVID-19 was starting to become a thing in the UK and thus have been locked down voluntarily without a complaint … Continue reading Not OK: Virus and Vulnerability
If you listen carefully right now you'll hear something that's actually been getting louder in past couple of weeks. It is certainly easier to hear it with all this social distancing reducing traffic and background noise, but it's unmistakable and picking up steam. It's the drumbeat of a deluge of hot takes telling us that … Continue reading Coronavirus Stress Response Disorder – And How To Avoid It.
Not learning anything new does not show a lack of discipline. It only shows that your discipline is deployed elsewhere.
I'll say it here and now. If you're not taking the coronavirus pandemic seriously, if you're not staying home, if you're not social distancing - you scare the hell out of me.
So, about Quaden Bayles. And no, I don't mean the conspiracy theory that he's an 18 year old actor. If you believe that given all the evidence to the contrary, I have nothing to say to you and no time for you either. I want to talk about bullying, disabled childhood, social media and privacy. … Continue reading Quaden, Consent and Bullies.
It's deeply sad that I have to write this, but it seems in the light of recent events - we need to talk about eugenics... Yesterday, the biologist, author and human controversy magnet Richard Dawkins once again put his foot firmly into his mouth, and made many secular humanists like me want to reflexively shout "Not … Continue reading Eugenics, Debate, and Dawkins
Anger has been one of the things that has driven my writing. Anger at a body that so often is not allowed or does not fit into our society, anger at having to deal with rampant, ableist microaggressions - and subsequent anger at these being excused for reasons of ignorance. Anger at having nobody to … Continue reading Anger Revisited
